Observer Editorial - We Reserve the Right to Refuse Service to Anyone

In some businesses, one may find an antiquated sign still posted, saying “we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone” but now thanks to many laws still on the books has become irrelevant and potentially costly for the proprietors.

That saying still has a powerful meaning for the consumer, who can utilize it when they are spending their hard earned dollars on various goods, services and sundries.

Consumers expect honesty and to be treated equally and fairly from the businesses they deal with so if they are not, why should one continued to associate with and most important, spend their monies in such a place that treats them as second class citizens or believes these customers don’t deserve the same rights as other customers who utilize the business’ goods and services.

So those consumers, the LGBT (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender) community of Tucson, Southern Arizona and the rest of the Grand Canyon State in the wake of the passage of Proposition 102 - the marriage amendment, despite Arizona law and court precedent, on November 4, a boycott is in order of those businesses who supported the measure.

A boycott is a form of consumer activism involving the act of voluntarily abstaining from using, buying, or dealing with someone or some other organization as an expression of protest, usually of political, religious, and economic reasons. A boycott is normally considered a one-time affair designed to correct an outstanding single wrong. When extended for a long period of time, or as part of an overall program of awareness-raising or reforms to laws or regimes, a boycott is part of moral purchasing on those economic or political terms are to be preferred.

When Anita Bryant in the 1970's, launched her crusade against local anti discrimination ordinances, the LGBT community launched a boycott of the state of Florida and Florida’s orange juice industry - which subsequently dropped Bryant as a spokesperson.

In 1992, when voters in Colorado passed Amendment 2 - repealed all anti discrimination ordinances in the state, a national LGBT boycott was launched and subsequently the amendment was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.

AM/PM stores in Tucson where boycotted during the 1990's, when it was reported that they had fired individuals from a couple of their stores simply because the individuals were LGBT.

In September 2000, Tucson’s LGBT community launched a boycott against KGUN 9 for airing the “Dr. Laura” television program, hosted by Laura Schlessinger, known for her virulently anti-LGBT views, as well as those businesses who advertised on the program (all of whom were listed in this publication), for which the program was subsequently pulled and cancelled in March of 2001.

So as was done with the “Dr. Laura” program in Tucson in 2000, once again it is time for the LGBT community of Tucson and Arizona to speak with their purses and wallets about basic rights and equality, in the wake of Proposition 102 and the Observer, in subsequent editions, will report (using campaign finance reports - Filer ID 200810206) on those businesses and individuals who gave contributions or were supportive in regard to the Proposition 102 ballot measure and subsequent campaign.

So where was all the banking done for the proponents of Proposition 102? Try Bank of America, PO Box 25118, Tampa, Florida 33622.

How where the calls handled for yesformarriage.com, through Cricket, 2081 S Arizona Ave, Ste 133, Chandler, Arizona 85286.

Home Depot of Chandler, Mesa and Glendale was where Yes on Proposition 102 got their materials for those signs which polluted the landscape.

So as they did in Florida and California, the Knights of Columbus, 1 Columbus Plz, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, contributed as well, to the tune of $100,000.

How were Proposition 102's signs and other material carted around the state, thanks to Budget Truck Rental of Glendale and Mesa.

Need construction work done, don’t bother with the Pete King Corporation, PO Box 9158, Phoenix, Arizona 85068, they were major donors to yesformarriage.com, giving $100,000 (as previously reported) to the effort.

Here is a list of some other businesses as well on Proposition 102's campaign financial reports (either as contributors or doing business with).

Advanced Dentistry, PLLC, 1236 E Fry Blvd, Sierra Vista, Arizona 85635 (contributor)

Media Solutions 3755 E 34th St, Ste 107, Tucson, Arizona 85713 (advertising in Tucson)

Bell Landscaping, LLC 9355 E Wrightstown Rd, Tucson, Arizona 85715 (contributor)

2385 Limited Liability Company, 6820 N Moonglow Dr, Tucson, Arizona 85718 (contributor)

Mayfield Financial & Estate Protection Services, Inc, 2567 N 1st Ave, Tucson, Arizona 85719 (contributor).

This is just a microcosm of them and more will be following in subsequent editions, since this was not just a statewide initiative so more will be following and remember, as consumers, we have the right to refuse service to anyone as well. For those interested in even more details, the reports can be found online at azsos.gov/cfs/PublicReports/2008/F751795F-624D-4502-83C4-FD8E16844FC8.pdf, azsos.gov/cfs/PublicReports/2008/1660B06E-2440-4978-8490-1308210055EA.pdf, azsos.gov/cfs/PublicReports/2008/F13C4158-61AE-4EF7-A8BD-6B85801F0145.pdf.