This year the Capital Pride Alliance was sponsored by Hilton Hotels. The HRC has given them a corporate rating of 100% for 2016 & 2015.
While it's great that the corporation treats its gay customers and staff humanly, I am not willing to give them a free pass when it comes to their political contributions. While their overall contributions to Republicans and Democrats in 2014 were relatively even (they gave Republicans 60K compared to the Democrats 40K), they gave out a lot of money to anti-gay Representatives (which I define as a representative who scored a 0 on the HRC Scorecard.)
Below is table of the money that went to Republicans from Hilton Worldwide's PAC.
| 2014 Hilton Worldwide PAC FEC ID (C00213074) Contributions to Republican Candidates | |||
Name |
Amount* | Rank | 112th HRC Score |
| Comstock, Barbara (R-VA) | $7,600 | 1 | NA |
| Camp, Dave (R-MI) | $5,000 | 3 | 0 |
| Upton, Fred (R-MI) | $5,000 | 3 | 0 |
| Grimm, Michael (R-NY) | $4,500 | 7 | 0 |
| Cantor, Eric (R-VA) | $4,494 | 9 | 0 |
| Goodlatte, Bob (R-VA) | $3,500 | 11 | 0 |
| Love, Mia (R-UT) | $3,500 | 11 | NA |
| Bilirakis, Gus (R-FL) | $2,500 | 15 | 0 |
| Diaz-Balart, Mario (R-FL) | $2,500 | 15 | 45 |
| Heck, Joe (R-NV) | $2,500 | 15 | 0 |
| McCarthy, Kevin (R-CA) | $2,500 | 15 | 0 |
| McMorris Rodgers, Cathy (R-WA) | $2,500 | 15 | 0 |
| Ryan, Paul (R-WI) | $2,500 | 15 | 0 |
| Scalise, Steve (R-LA) | $2,500 | 15 | 0 |
| Noem, Kristi (R-SD) | $2,000 | 24 | 0 |
| Ribble, Reid (R-WI) | $2,000 | 24 | 0 |
| Terry, Lee (R-NE) | $2,000 | 24 | 15 |
| Katko, John (R-NY) | $1,500 | 27 | NA |
| Duffy, Sean P (R-WI) | $1,000 | 29 | 0 |
| Griffin, Taylor (R-NC) | $1,000 | 29 | NA |
| Issa, Darrell (R-CA) | $1,000 | 29 | 0 |
| Moll, Thomas (R-AR) | $1,000 | 29 | NA |
| Reed, Tom (R-NY) | $1,000 | 29 | 0 |
| Shuster, Bill (R-PA) | $1,000 | 29 | 0 |
| Total | $64,594 | Average | 3.16 |
Below is a table of the House Candidates that they donate to in 2014.
| 2014
Marriott International, Inc PAC FEC ID (C00284810) Contributions to Republican
Candidates |
|||
| Name | Amount* | Rank | 112th HRC Score |
| Diaz-Balart, Mario (R-FL) | $7,500 | 2 | 45 |
| Heck, Joe (R-NV) | $7,500 | 2 | 0 |
| McCarthy, Kevin (R-CA) | $7,500 | 2 | 0 |
| Bilirakis, Gus (R-FL) | $5,000 | 6 | 0 |
| Boehner, John (R-OH) | $5,000 | 6 | NA |
| Camp, Dave (R-MI) | $5,000 | 6 | 0 |
| Cantor, Eric (R-VA) | $5,000 | 6 | 0 |
| Grimm, Michael (R-NY) | $5,000 | 6 | 0 |
| Ryan, Paul (R-WI) | $5,000 | 6 | 0 |
| Ellmers, Renee (R-NC) | $2,500 | 20 | 0 |
| Goodlatte, Bob (R-VA) | $2,500 | 20 | 0 |
| Hanna, Richard (R-NY) | $2,500 | 20 | 97 |
| Hensarling, Jeb (R-TX) | $2,500 | 20 | 0 |
| Issa, Darrell (R-CA) | $2,500 | 20 | 0 |
| Kline, John (R-MN) | $2,500 | 20 | 0 |
| McCaul, Michael (R-TX) | $2,500 | 20 | 0 |
| McMorris Rodgers, Cathy (R-WA) | $2,500 | 20 | 0 |
| Scalise, Steve (R-LA) | $2,500 | 20 | 0 |
| DeSantis, Ron (R-FL) | $2,000 | 31 | NA |
| Gowdy, Trey (R-SC) | $2,000 | 31 | 0 |
| Pompeo, Mike (R-KS) | $2,000 | 31 | 0 |
| Ros-Lehtinen, Ileana (R-FL) | $2,000 | 31 | 98 |
| Terry, Lee (R-NE) | $2,000 | 31 | 15 |
| Harris, Andy (R-MD) | $1,000 | 39 | 0 |
| Labrador, Raul (R-ID) | $1,000 | 39 | 0 |
| Poe, Ted (R-TX) | $1,000 | 39 | 15 |
| Posey, Bill (R-FL) | $1,000 | 39 | 0 |
| Rigell, Scott (R-VA) | $1,000 | 39 | 0 |
| Roskam, Peter (R-IL) | $1,000 | 39 | 0 |
| Smith, Lamar (R-TX) | $1,000 | 39 | NA |
| Total | $92,000 | Average | 10 |
| * Figure does not Include Contributions to Leadership PACs While I do not think the community should automatically cut ties with these sponsor, I do believe some very important questions need to be answered by both the community and the sponsors. Can we use our purchasing power to sway companies into pressuring anti-LGBT law makers into making better choices? If we can, is it worth temporarily slowing progress in exchange for long term gains? If can't should the community be in business with companies that give money to our opponents, even if they are great to us? Are gay people just walking money sacks with a high disposable income to be exploited? I don't think these will be answered anytime soon. Not that they are easy to answer nor would necessarily be of benefit. To reiterate, I'm all for inclusion, but should that come at a cost of our rights, privileges and benefits? | ||
Liam '16
