My Sexuality is Corporate Sponsored Apparently

With inclusion into mainstream society, Pride has attracted large name companies as sponsors. Hurrah for inclusion, we've made it and advertisers want our money.

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

Unfortunately Hilton is not the only sponsor of Pride in the same boat. Hilton's competitor, Marriott, likewise donate to a slew of anti-gay politicians.

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