Real Estate Blog - Boycott El Coyote - Restaurant owner voted "YES on Prop 8"

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Boycott El Coyote - Restaurant owner voted "YES on Prop 8"

A part-owner of a Mexican restaurant in the Fairfax area of Los Angeles (on the West Hollywood border) - El Coyote - confirmed that she donated money to the "Yes on 8 Campaign" in the restaurant's name. El Coyote has 89 employees, many of whom are gay.

El Coyote has a loyal gay clientele and has been a succesful family-owned restuarant since 1931.

Apparently - Marjorie Christoffersen - a part-owner of the restaurant, made the donation when requested to do so by the Mormon Church. Christoffersen said she simply did what her church told her, "El Coyote is as diverse as its clientele is. Our customers are part of our family and I responded to the call of the Mormon Church to donate."

When asked if she would reconsider her actions and make a donation to the "No on 8 Campaign", Christoffersen replied "I can not and will not change my lifelong commitment to the Mormon Church."

Although she claims she didn't mean to hurt anyone by the donation, one can't help wondering if Ms. Christofferson gave any thought to the implications of what she did. Marjorie Christofferson tithes 10% of what she makes from El Coyote to the Mormon Church. The irony of the situation is that the $100 she gave to Yes on 8 was in part money paid by gay clients - and her income was used to strip these customers of their basic rights.

There is now a strong call for customers to boycott the restaurant.

It will be interesting to see how El Coyote responds when their business decreases as their former customers stay away. It will also be interesting to see how the Mormon Church responds to the sacrifice made by a member in their name.

Posted by Stewart Penn - Los Angeles Condo Specialist on 11/13/2008 03:40 PM

Comments (30)

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Originally posted at: LA Connection Property Blog: Boycott El Coyote - Restaurant owner voted "YES on Prop 8"

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30 Comments on Boycott El Coyote - Restaurant owner voted "YES on Prop 8"

NOV

2008

Stewart - I have been quite vocal on the fact that I would have voted "no" if I had been in CA and did indeed vote "NO" on 2 in Florida. BUT - and I think this is really important - I would be horrified if I discovered that "yes" people were trying to boycott my business because of an opinion. Surely this is not where we live is it? I do understand the situation with the restaurant and its gay staff and clients and if they choose to make that call so be it. But for an organised boycott to occur? That is something entirely different and is really disturbing to me.

Hi Stewart,

I could not believe it when a friend of mine Scott Sealey told me about this. I was so outraged. There is no excuse! I am a strong believer of equality and fairness for all. And it is wrong to strip away a right that had already been given to the gay community. JUST WRONG! I am a strong supporter of Prop. 8. NO on 8 teaches you to hate!! We'll have to see how it turns out for El Coyote. But in the meantime, Margaritas at El Compadre! :0)

Simon - You ignore the fact that part of the donation came from income received from the very people whose rights she wants to undermine and remove.

Luisa - There are many great Mexican restaurants in Los Angeles. I'm perfectly comfortable with the boycott.

Stewart - not ignoring it and I am appalled that the people of California made this decision - and indeed the people of Florida. I'm just not a fan or organized boycotts becuase of a political position. Let me put it like this. If I was there and I knew what she did then I would not go to her place to eat. That is not the same as an organized boycott. Anyway - we are fundamentally on the same page here.

WOW - Simon - Finally, we sort of agree on something.

As the details emerge I'm confident we'll learn that the Mormon Church sent money from Utah to ensure "Yes on 8" in California.

Stewart, I'm surprised she admitted giving the money - unless there was a public record of some sort that busted her. I'd think twice about eating there.

I'm still boycotting a local bakery whose owners behaved badly in a real estate transaction.

It is well within your rights to not eat at a restaurant that donated money to supress your rights. I am ashamed that the people of this state had a chance to be a shining light in a new era of tolerance and instead let themselves been perceived as bigots. It's really a shame.

Stewart,

Remember The Coor's Beer Boycott

There is a public record of who donated to "Yes on 8" - so eventually anyone who donated to strip gays of this basic right will be outed for all to see.

NOV

2008

November 13, 2008

Marjorie Christoffersen

Bob Montoya, Floor Manager

As a patron of El Coyote for over 15 years and the owner of WestHollywoodLimousine.com I was astonished to hear that sweet smile that goes from table to table saying hello was only because the gay patrons were paying her mortgage and other bills (trust me I realize her many mortgages are probably already paid off). If I had known that Marjorie was a bigot and didn't think that GOD loves all people (not just some, here and there) I would never have stepped foot into her restaurant. I have absolutely nothing against Mormons, people of the Jewish faith, etc. Obviously, Marjorie Christoffersen, decides who the good people are that deserve rights and who does not.

Isn't Marjorie aware that she employs Gay waiters and staff? Do she have any ethics at all? I will ensure all of my clients and my patrons that they go to El Compadre and help spread the word that El Coyote is prejudice and doesn't believe all people deserve the same rights.

I can't tell you how hurt I was to find this out (the donation and support to YES on prop 8) after seeing her smiling face for so long and finding out it was a front (a hypocrite). I promise to be as clear as possible to indirectly stear my clients and friends away from your restaurant and BOYCOTT it as Barneys Beanery was done years ago.

Regards,

Carlo Conti

Monaco Limousine

Owner, www.WestHollywoodLimousine.com

Marjorie ...

I hope you will consider and understand, faith is a personal issue. Business is an issue of community.

Both the Mormon and Catholic churches appear to believe they have religious authority in a secular country and they are mis-taken. It was a secular approach that protected religious beliefs.

I have four sons, the youngest is gay. He has suffered as a result of religious harassment. Mormons and Catholics contributed 24M to deny human beings their rights.

We families ...who love and support our chidren will not allow any business to thwart their rights, and will boycott, seek restitution and supreme court action to secure them.

Beth

First...Majorie is idiot, how really clueless is she that does not note that the MAJORITY of her clientele are gay men and women and more her employees!!! To not notice or to not care even though you know, I just can't fathom it. I have boycotted quietly so many different places of the years, i recall from my childhood boycotting Sambo's here, my entire family did, our friends did and so and so. No signs in front, no shouting, we just did not eat there and I can't recall what happened to that sad little chain, gone for years. I don't also eat at Carl's jr for their political donations. i feel the same about El Coyote...No Mas, I cannot tolerate hate or ignorance, or do i want to give my hard earned money to someone who refuses to think for herself. It has to start somewhere, let it start in their wallet.

If she didn't know which side her bread is buttered on now she knows.

Thanks to everyone for making extremely valid and pertinent points on this topic.

A special thanks to Beth Kirland - who as a parent of a gay son, displays a wonderful love and understanding.

I find it disturbing that this board is being used ot promote this issue at all . i fail to see what prop 8 has top do with Real estate?

I do however think harming El Cyote will be detrimental to the overall area .

how would it sit with Stewart Penn if we as an example said do not do business with him he supports No on 8?

would you be ok with that???

I Blog on all matters happening in Los Angeles - Real Estate and more.

I would happily not do business with a client who is prejudicial or would want to strip me of equal rights.

Stewart,

They were just talking about El Coyote on MSNBC - You guys just made National News

STewart. Thank you for bringing this up it is important to be talking about this we need to boycott every place that donated to the yes on 8 thank you allen in michigan

Hi Stewart... I hope that the boycott is successful in sending a message, not only to Marjorie, but to all business owners. The fact is that this is not a boycott based on a political position. This is a boycott based on a HUMAN RIGHTS position and a choice to promote discrimination. That is not politics, that is morals and that is personal ethics.

NOV

2008

Hey, Carlo Conti! Bob and I are loyal customers of Monaco Limousine. How cool to see Carlo participating here!

I am really, really surprised about Marjorie, especially given her clients and staff.

I guess we won't be visiting El Coyote anytime soon. But there are plenty of good Mexican eateries here on the Eastside.

P.S. The Californians Against Hate website has a list of pro-prop 8 donors. Some of the huge amounts from out of state are pretty amazing.

Stewart,

I wonder if her gay employees are looking for other jobs? (I hope so) I agree this has NOTHING to do with Politics. It is pure and simple DISCRIMINATION. I owned restaurants in Lake Arrowhead for 12 years and I could not imagine supporting the opposition in regards to my employees and customers without expecting consequences.

As one of the granddaughters of the owner of El Coyote and niece to the manager I feel it is important to express my view on Prop 8...I voted against it. It is unfortunate that the community has exclusively associated Marjie to El Coyote because there are other relatives that are a part of the restaurant and do not agree with her political views. Yes, Marjie is a major fixture in the Coyote, however there are other family members involved in the restaurant that do not share her views.

To the granddaughter of the owner of El Coyote:

How can Marjorie accept business from her gay clientele while wanting to strip them of basic rights? Seems disingenuous to me.

As her family member you should ask her why she made the donation in the name of the restuarant. Perhaps at the same time you could ask her to explain her logic on how same-sex marriage would hurt her .... instead of her blindly following what the Mormon Church disctates.

I think that the use of organized boycotts has been an effective tool in the struggle for civil rights from the days of the bus boycotts in Alabama and the civil disobedience of the participants in the Boston Tea Party to more recent actions. Dissent is healthy for a rigorous democracy. The issue of whether this is a political cause or a civil rights cause is an argument in futility and really being used as a straw man. Civil Rights and the institutionalized granting or denying of them is inherently political. Being political does not diminish the cause. For example the suffrage movement was not diminished because there was a corresponding political aspect. While I do think states have a place in determining their course, it cannot be effectively argued that states, nor the federal government have the right to limit, deny, or otherwise infringe on inherent civil rights. I hope the boycott works to the same degree of severity her donation caused the community she is a part of. She must realize that nothing happens in a vacuum.

NOV

2008

I am amazed to See how Many Realtors are on the list on contributrs to passing prop 8. I would wager not a ONE of them would turn them away as a client and take thie commission from the sale. while stabbing them in the back. SHAME SHAME SHAME.. if you have the balls to do something hateful like that then you SHOULD have the balls to say sorry to thier business.... ooopppps can we say discrimination .. oh yeah thats illegal withthe oathe we take as realtors

NOV

2008

I read a comment in the Palm Springs newspaper written by somone who wanted to list all of the businesses that supported a yes vote so we could boycott the businesses. But, she didn't............I wish she did!!

Stewart: Thank you for posting this. In Massachusetts, there is a list of those who gave to the anti-equality forces and I imagine that there was some backlash towards those people. The donations were nothing on the magnitude as in California. There were two people in Massachusetts that gave to the Yes on H8 that were notable....Jennifer Romney, daughter-in-law of Mitt Romney and Danny Ainge's wife. He is a former Boston Celtic and the GM of the club today. The owner of the Celtics is a friend to marriage equality.

NOV

2008

I think its great this has hit the US like wild fire. I firmly believe that all of us LGBT members be sure to continue the fight agaignst hate and Prop 8 every where. there is a TON of HATE flying around on these boards just from our peers. We need to keep up the fight and not stand down. Like I stated earlier I was AMAZED on How many Realtors supported prop8 and contributed monies all while taking monies from LGBT customers.

We need as a LGBT community to stand united with our brothers and sisters to support thier businesses and to use them for refferaals when at all possible. I know I do its an easy thing to do even when your in a small town just do it.

Stewart keep up the great work i appreciate your voice

NOV

2008

I don't care how she voted but would like to know how are the cheese enchiladas at El Coytoe?

Stewart I think it's great to hold folks accountable for their actions. In fact, HRC has published a list of donors to Yes on 8. The LGBT/allied community needs to look at this list and make changes in companies they conduct business with if their names appear on this list. And we shouldn't be afraid to go to our bosses if these companies are vendors for the companies we work for and ask that the relationship be reconsidered.

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