Prop. 8 Boycott Spreads to Movie Theaters

UPDATED: PROBLEMS AT SUNDANCE - America Blog is reporting that the Cinemark complex is the MAIN location for the Sundance File Festival. I'm not sure how this will play out, but it doesn't look good in my view. Here are some highlights:

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I reported earlier today that Sundance was going to be screening films at a theater owned by a top donor to Prop 8. According to my source, the Holiday theaters are THE central location for anything and everything Sundance. Yes, there are several sites for screenings - the Egyptian, the Library, etc. - but the Holiday, with multiple screens, is the main location for non-premiere screenings (especially competition films), and is one of the two primary locations for press screenings (the Yarrow is the other).

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If you attend Sundance in Utah, your money is quite literally being funneled to people who took away our civil rights. Sundance has a real problem here. As do any films being shown at the hate theater.

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I continue to be amazed at the stupidity of supporters of Proposition 8 who gave money apparently believing that their contributions would somehow remain secret as opposed to becoming public record - I guess the directive from the Mormon Church headquarters left out this tidbit of information. Now, more and more businesses (and not just those that are Mormon owned) are finding out that bigotry does have a cost and that customers will take note. In terms of movies, the ability to boycott can be shared nationwide by avoiding Cinemark movie theaters (Adam Stock, the CEO gave $10,000 to support Proposition 8). Here locally, the LGBT community can avoid the Cinemark 18 at Military Circle in Norfolk. A complete list of Cinemark theaters nationwide can be found here. Here are some highlights from the Los Angeles Times as to how this might impact the Sundance Film Festival in January, 2009:

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The boycott effort against businesses whose owners backed Proposition 8 appears to be picking up steam. Dozens of groups have sprouted up on Facebook.com urging its members to boycott businesses -- restaurants, jewelry stores, car-repair shops and more. Other activists have gone onto Yelp.com and other business rating sites, posting messages telling users which restaurants donated to the "Yes on 8" campaign.

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There has also been talk of a boycott of the Cinemark movie chain, whose CEO gave money to "Yes on 8." This could have a major effect on the Sundance Film Festival, which uses the chain's theaters to show movies.

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The actions have alarmed supporters of Prop. 8, which banned gay marriage in California. "Since Proposition 8’s victory, a series of protests against churches, small businesses and individual supporters of traditional marriage have taken place in cities across the state."