Hyatt Regency Under Attack for Hosting IML

Hello lovely people,

I just received an email this morning that I want to pass on to you, dear readers. The host hotel of the International Mr. Leather Contest, the Hyatt Regency in Chicago, is getting flack from a right-wing group, and now the Hyatt needs your love and support! I can say personally that the hotel did an incredible job of hosting the event, and I am planning on calling the hotel in support this very morning. The group is also condemning Kraft foods. Long live Mac 'n Cheese!

Cheers,
Lucky Lana

Gang, this is important!

It looks like a local right-wing group is attacking the Hyatt for its support of IML. Lots of lies and distortions.. maybe a good idea to contact the Hyatt and let them know they are supported, so this threat doesn't get any traction. Feel free to share with others....

I wanted to make you aware that a right-wing Christian group (the Illinois Family Institute, IFI) has called upon its fanatics to contact the Hyatt and complain for its support of IML. It is also condeming Kraft Foods and the Gay Games, since the Games had a booth at the leather market.

The IFI is more of a pain in the ass, but they can stir the pot a bit, so it's good to be ahead of them and take actions necessary to support the Hyatt and the City of Chicago.

They've also posted pictures from the leather mart—possibly from the imrl.com site, which could be a copyright violation. As well, one of these photos features Daddy Don with boy roger and another, last year's Mr. German Leather, Phillip Tanzer. These photos were used on their site without any photo release from the people featured in them, this de facto outs them in mainstream media. They also make the false claim that IML violates obscenity laws—a claim that should not go unchallenged. This cannot go unanswered.

I don't forward mail very often, but this one just burns me. Hate is a very loud and out there emotion. Respect (for differences) is much quieter. I wanted to tip you off to this, so you can re-assure the Hyatt Regency that its continued support of IML is the right thing to do—it's also a great revenue maker!

If you have your own mailing list, perhaps consider sending your own alert to counteract any negative calls from these right-wing kooks. Or perhaps put something on your own website and ask people to contact the Hyatt and your other sponsors, letting them know we support them.

Here is the link and text of their "call to action":

http://www.illinoisfamily.org/news/contentview.asp?c=25981

Please spend at least a minute letting someone know we do appreciate the respect and effort that the Hyatt, Kraft, and others put forth to recognize us not just as gay men and women, but as leathermen and leatherwomen.

Fortunately, the IFI was nice enough to give us the phone numbers of the Hyatt and others at the bottom of the "article":

Hyatt Regency Chicago
151 East Wacker Drive
Chicago, IL 60601
312-565-1234

Kraft Foods: 1-800-323-0768

Harris Bank (with more than 150 Illinois locations): 1-888-340-2265


With much respect,
Douglas Connors

Mr Leather Ottawa-Outaouais 2003