8 Responses to “Video of El Coyote Remarks, And My Follow Up Question”

1. Stop The Mormons » Blog Archive » El Coyote Ugly: LDS Owner Talks to Gay Patrons Says:
   November 13th, 2008 at 2:11 pm

   [...] friend Sam posted video of the LDS owner of El Coyote, a restaurant with heavy gay and liberal minded patronage, responding to her donation to the Yes on [...]

2. Jonathan Says:
   November 13th, 2008 at 4:29 pm

   Let’s all take a couple of deep breaths before we turn in to a lynch mob.

   I am incredibly angry at the passage of Prop 8, and angry that somebody affiliated with a business which makes the bulk of its money off of the LGBT community would support its passage.

   But the El Coyote, folks, is just the wrong target. It remains a gay-friendly business, in spite of Christoffersons’ actions. We seem to be labeling the entire restaurant as being homophobic based on this single $100 donation by one of its owners. I hate the fact that she gave money to Prop 8. I’m disgusted by the fact that she won’t apologize for her actions. But I am not so sure we need to close the whole place down because of this. And let’s face it, if we want to, the El Coyote can be put out of business within a matter of months if we boycott it. And then what? An Applebees goes up in it place? No thanks.

   There are better targets—namely, businesses that do not have a gay-friendly history. We can dig through the donor rolls and find numerous examples.

   We also need to remember that we need our straight allies. I think we look not only foolish, but heartless, in going after this frail woman. Perhaps we look heartless protesting in front of churches, as well, but that is an entirely different argument.

   We currently have the sympathy and good will of much of this state, and country. It somehow reminds me of the days following September 11, when the US had the love and sympathy of the entire world, yet acted to squander that good will by acting foolishly. Please, let’s act responsibly.

3. matthew thompson Says:
   November 13th, 2008 at 6:28 pm

   Sorry, I don’t agree… gay money is enriching her… she used that money to take our rights away. She can have her religious views without meddling in our lives… the only thing she can do to make it right is to make an equal donation to repeal prop 8. If not, our money should not be spent at her restaurant…

   This isn’t about mob mentality… If you continue to spend there, then there is nothing to stop her from once again making a donation to fight the repeal of prop 8. If you do not spend money there, then maybe she won’t have the money to make further donations to our enemies.

4. Jonathan Says:
   November 13th, 2008 at 6:59 pm

   I understand your point, Matthew. It’s just that I really don’t think we need to make this the focal point of our anger. I would much rather send a message to a corporation like Jet Blue, which also supported Prop 8–a national company that all gays can boycott and send a clear message of disapproval.
   If we are going to direct our anger (and we have a lot of it), let’s go for a corporation more deserving of it, rather than a restaurant where one of the owners/managers (depending on which account you read) donated $100 to our enemies.
   If you don’t want to eat there, great. I’m not planning on eating there, either. But we have the eyes of the media right now. Do you really think that this local restaurant needs to be our focal point?

5. Bronson Page Says:
   November 13th, 2008 at 7:38 pm

   Matthew,
   It’s the woman’s right to donate to any cause she wishes, and I stand by that right. She employs gay people. They are making a sizable contribution that now looks like extortion, thanks to the over the top anger displayed at El Coyote. She invited people into her establishment and made amends the best she could without forsaking her beliefs – beliefs that she’s had for longer than she’s had El Coyote. That’s called integrity. What more could she do? If we expect compassion, we’re going to have to show it as well.

6. Todd Bianco Says:
   November 14th, 2008 at 11:40 am

   I’d like to point out some inconsistencies in Marjorie’s story. She says she’s a life long Mormon. We are also told that her mother owns the restaurant, but the rest of the family isn’t Mormon. So if her mother isn’t a Mormon and the rest of the family isn’t Mormon, how did she become a life-long member of the Mormon Church? Something’s not right.

   I also don’t believe she doesn’t own any part of the business. Common sense dictates that the family has done tax planning and transferred interests/shares in the business the children and relatives. She also tithes to the church, giving it endless and unquestioned support for their various causes. This support is way more than $100, particularly if she has any ownership interest (even if it’s sitting in a trust). What’s the truth here?

   I know we should have compassion and she is just one cog in a steam roller. I just get the feeling that she likes the gays, and has fun with us, but her “religious beliefs” compel her to support the denial of our rights. “I have lots of gay friends” – heard that before, huh?

   So what to do? Hey, the food isn’t that great there to begin with. Nevertheless, I’ve enjoyed going there with friends. I’m not convinced I should go back. Something just gnaws away at me over this.

   Yes, there are bigger fish to fry, but it looks like we were bought off cheap with a $5000 donation here and another few thousand there. Is that the price for our loyalty? Think about it.

7. Corey Says:
   November 14th, 2008 at 5:36 pm

   I think it is unfortunate that she acknowledges the history and the work of an establishment that has always been an inclusive family, yet in the same breath wants to do as she pleases against those same ideals; and then (tears streaming) shield herself behind her aunts legacy. So she gets to have her faith and eat it too! She hypocritically benefits from those she and her church is trying to do harm. It would be more honorable to just not work for the family business because it is incongruent with her beliefs, or place a sign that says “fags begrudgingly allowed”, both would be MORE honest. The outrage is because of the betrayal! She is not separate from the organization; she gets paid by the organization, her family IS the organization; that money came DIRECTLY from my Meals at El Coyote. And I refuse to pay for my own destruction!

8. denise Says:
   November 14th, 2008 at 5:54 pm

   Wow, don’t mess with the gays. She left town in a hurry. Maybe you could track her down.