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The history and use of corporate support for civil rights is simultaneously a tricky slope — particularly for the LGBT community. This isn’t without logic: before the LGBT community became what it is (we, after all, have openly gay politicians, openly gay performers, television shows that depict us outside of steretypes, films dedicated to LGBT issues…), it was corporate suicide to openly endorse what was widely seen as a disease-spreading, drug-addicted, morally-inept group of outsiders.
Beermaker Coors was infamously anti-gay throughout the 80s and 90s, leaving Budweiser to consume an entire market that has been beneficial for both parties (I encourage you to find a major gay event in which you do not see a Bud Light sponsorship). Of course, Coors has recanted this sentiment, officially buying ads in gay publications and entering a new phase of support for the LGBT community.
But not all is still well.
After bravely announcing his public endorsements of every major LGBT-rights issues, Goldman Sachs Group’s chief executive Lloyd Blankfein announced he lost a major money management client afterwards. Following their merge, ExxonMobil — the world’s largest revenue generating company — has denied domestic partner benefits since 1999; Wal-Mart also refuses to offer domestic partner benefits. A-1 Self-Storage Company gave a staggering $693,000 to the Yes on 8 campaign.
However, we can’t always look at this as a struggle — because, when it comes down to it, there are people and businesses who are bravely supporting the LGBT community. And Long Beach is lucky in this sense, for Hotel Maya is one of its largest supporters, thanks in part to general manager Kristi Allen and their support of local networking group LGB2Network, which begun to transform the way the community connects with its offbeat mixers and popular events.
“We approached Hotel Maya with the idea of co-hosting our summer pool party series early last year and Kristi could not have been more supportive,” said LGB2Network co-founder, Steve Sheldon. “Kristi and her staff really have rolled out the red carpet for our group and made us feel very welcome.”
For Pride, the hotel will be hosting and sponsoring one of the most popular events of the weekend, Play@ Maya, a pool party that will have everything and everyone from an Andrew Christian fashion show to local LGBT leaders mingling poolside.
“We are so grateful to Hotel Maya for partnering with LGB2Network to host the Play@ Maya Pool Party Series. The hotel itself is gorgeous with the only pool in Long Beach that is literally on the waterfront. It’s the perfect venue and the staff has always welcomed us with open arms. Hotel Maya is very special to us as that is where LGB2Network got its start. We hosted our first-ever monthly mixer on the patio of Fuego almost two years ago” said the other half of the LGB2Network, Heber Siquieros.
Play@ Maya will occur tomorrow at Hotel Maya from noon to 6:00pm, with music blasting all day (including famed Vegas DJ Morningstar) and more treats than one. For tickets, click here.