Don't Give Cinemark Your MILK Money!

Here's one for ya: Alan Stock, the CEO of Cinemark (which operates Century, CineArts and TinselTown theater chains) reportedly donated $9,999 to the Yes on Prop 8 campaign. To add insult to injury, not only is he happy to take away our civil rights, but he's happy to take money FROM us to do so!

In what could be classified as the height of hypocrisy, his theater chain is scheduled to show MILK starting November 26th. Can someone 'splain to me how a person can sleep at night rescinding the rights of a group with one hand and profiting from that same group with the other? Oh, and by the way, he lives in Texas, not California.

A group of industrious watchdogs is encouraging everyone to boycott Cinemark chains and find alternative theaters to see MILK. It's a shame this movie, which I can't wait to see, has to be caught up in the middle of this, but think to yourself: WWHD (what would Harvey do?) If we can bring in big money for the movie at theaters NOT owned by Cinemark, maybe it will occur to Mr. Stock to mind his own freakin' business. You can learn more about the boycott effort here: http://www.nomilkforcinemark.com/

(Photo: Getty Images)

Comments

[David]

I can't believe what I'm hearing. I'm appalled at what I'm hearing. I live in Canada, and I guess I take for granted the right to marry whom I choose, but it is suck a crock to take money from a group you just shelled out to smother.

[HT]

What else is new? It's about money and greed; they'd put on a rainbow flag and stick a rainbow colored knife in your back afterword.

Boycotts never work, and some sponsors pimp themselves everywhere.

[Glenn Lennox]

Thanks for giving us this information. I will boycott and I will spread the word to others.
I think gay.com should have a section somewhere where we list all anti-gay companies. Then when I want to buy something - whether it's clothes or a freezer or whatever - I can check the list first.
At the moment I am confused as to which gas company to buy gas from - I know Exxon is the worst but what about the others ?

[Scott]

A boycott against Cinemark is stupid, people need to think about their actions before they pick up signs and start screaming & yelling. Any attempt to hurt Cinemark financially, will only result in hurting others too, like employees who get their hours cut or laid off. Some of those employees might even be gay.

Big effing deal if Alan Stock donated $10k in support of prop 8, no where do I read that the money was donated in the name of Cinemark, and he is only a Cinemark employee, CEO's don't OWN the company.

Keep your emotions in check people!

[Chemosh]

Thanks for the info. I really don't believe that boycotts do any good. A good example is the Christian Right boycotting Disney because the park allowed GAY DAYS. It was completely ineffectual. But without a doubt it does make a difference to me. I will still not enter a Cracker Barrel Resturant, and I do not buy gas from Exxon because of the overt discrimination they practice against gays. I will now include Cinemark. Its like voting. One person on a very rare occation can make a difference. I cannot darken their door again knowing that the head of their company is willing to fork over thousands to make sure I remain a second class citizen. That is not an emotional reaction. That is simple self preservation.

[gg40]

I think the guy's allowed to do what he wants. Not everyone gay person supports this petition or whatever its called.

And i think it's even more hypocritical to say they do !!!

gawd !!!

gg..

[calikydd]

Ok guys, I have to say what I am reading from some of you is suprising. I am proud to call myself a gay male, and although I am against Prop 8, I am not going to boycott Cinemark. Alan Stock like myself is a business man. Who cares if he as an individual donated money, that has nothing to do with his company. That would be like saying if I donate $10k to Childrens hospital that I am representing my company. This is not true in any way!

So if you are going to boycott a business, a school, the government or what have you. Make sure you get your facts correct and its for the right reasons.

Like it was said earlier you are affectings peoples jobs by this who have nothing to do with what he did as an individual. If Judy Garland were to commit some hateful crime today, would you think it be fair for the whole gay community to pay for her actions? No you wouldnt! You would protest your rights as an individual wouldnt you.

It's the same situation genius. One individual makes a move on something you disagree with, and you make hundreds of people suffer because you want to punish one man, who in no way included the company he works for.

As a gay man who believes in equal rights and fighthing for them, you sadden me by the way you freely just protest anyone anymore. Focus on law makers and the government, not on businesses who do not deserve this treatement.

I mean come on who is the better person here? Who are you really hurting?

[A Milk Fan]

Remember CEO's are apointed by a board of directors. It will not hurt thousands. Hold the company accountable until he is no longer part of the picture. And remember there are cinemark employees charged with mining the web and keeping the hype up about movies. What do you think they would say on a board like this?

[Tim]

Is this the gay's solution to EVERYTHING? Get out the picket signs and go protest? No wonder everyone calls gays drama queens.

[glaciermark]

You can add me to the list for the boycott!

[Matthew]

Its unfortunate that everyone thinks that we cannot fight back. And in some situations we cannot. Look how we all banded together across this nation to protest Prop 8. That kind of action got a reaction in the state of CA supreme court. We should stand together more often; not to protest, but to collectively make a point. A ban would work, but it should be a more organized ban on Cinemark. The American gay community is like the largest grapevine in the world that stretches across to other nations. You just have to take action and DO IT.

[John McLoughlin]

They're right. Boycotts never work. Rosa Parks inadvertently started a boycott that failed miserably. What was she thinking? You know, I don't think it's so much about boycotting, but why not give your money to other gay business people? It's the only vote that really makes a difference. Trust me, been there.

[John McLoughlin]

"Who cares, what he does personally has nothing to do with his business" Are you kidding me? I own the only and fastest growing 100% Natural Skin Care company in the United States. Know how I got here--Business IS Personal. Entirely gay-owned and operated. Not necessarily because we wanted it that way. It's just that only gay people seemed to want to work for us.

[John McLoughlin]

So, ah... Good luck with that. But then I guess you're a successful business owner who knows better.

[ASAndy]

MONEY and GREED!!!
What a hypocrit!!!!

[Jamie]

I'm shocked at the attitude that a CEO has no connection between his personal and professional decisions. He's not shucking fries at McDonald's; he's determining the rules and operations of a corporation. Business typically tries to excuse itself from responsibility by pulling out the "it's only business, nothing personal" line, or the "don't attack my business, you'll just hurt the employees." Well, that's too bad. Mr. Stock knows that money is how you influence decisions - money he earned by running his corporation. So the only appropriate response is to use our money to influence his actions as a corporate chief. If he wants to take away one group's basic human rights, then he doesn't deserve to have his company profit from that group.
Business isn't amoral. The people who run them or work for them are responsible for their actions. It's time you (in the US) all stopped worrying about hurting others and looking bad, and got angry enough to fight back and make life hell for anyone who fights to remove/block your 'inalienable human rights.'

[Sun DiEgo Greg]

I love going to Protests.
You find the hottest men/boys there no matter whatever the stupid cause may be.
It is sort of like fore taste to foreplay as you get to see all the hotties get all hot & flustered as in heat of the moment passion.
All there red flushed complexions & hard core temperments.
How intense.
There there now Babe, you are all tense.
Let me massage you to help you release some of that tension & save some of that swet for me.
LOL

[milton]

busco hombre lindo guapo que meentienda yme aga el amor

[MarkF]

Normal, decent people are disgusted by homosexuality. We don't hate it, we're disgusted by it. That's a big difference. And this is not prejudice, it's experience with it. You all clamor for your "rights" which are nothing more than a misguided wish to grant special benefits to a BEHAVIOR. How about showing some concern about the sewer behavior that goes on on this site every moment of every day? How about some concern for the predators on here who prey on children? All the drug addicts on here? All the other assortment of head cases?

[Jack]

Start your own theater chain if you don't like it.

[John]

Get over it people, my God...I'll continue to go to cinemark theaters and enjoy movies, while you all stand out in the cold and whine and get spit on by people walking by.

[Jamie]

So you're going to spit on protesters while you walk in to watch your movie and help support a bigot? Typical selfish and shallow behaviour.

[sragg]

Iam boycotting too!!

[Queerplanet]

Rent the video.

Who goes to theaters anymore? It's so icky in there.

Having to actually sit in a chair where a heterosexual family sat.

Ew.

[fan]

Your article got my attention until your last comment about showing "Mr. Harvey to mind his own freaking business". He has the right to donate money to whatever cause he wants to, it is his money. That last comment makes you a big hypocrite for wanting rights for you but not for others.

[Mikey Mike]

First, the guy just shows movies. He doesn't make 'em. I'm sure he's shown a lot of movies in his theatres and he's like WTF? Leave him alone.

Secondly, the film is not JUST for/about gay people. Or if anything, it probably doesn't have much a do with being gay than it is about being HUMAN. If you recall its theme: "His life changed history. His courage changed lives." It was about Harvey Milk, HIS life--I don't it was made so that the rest of the world can once more admire how fabulous WE are. (Please, the QAF and WILL & GRACE era is OVER!) It's not always about us, people.

Dunno 'bout the rest of you, but I'd for sure be there with bells and whistles on. God knows how few good movies there are these days!

[HT]

Re: Rosa Parks. I'm sure the bus was sponsored by Reynolds Wrap aluminum foil and Cigarette company...

[zarxo]

Bigots.

Socrates said that a [human] who is a champion for justice would be killed by politicans and the public.

For the good for the court's state god, Socrates was condemned to death. Socrates' argument in favor of eternity and god(s) was never reasonably countered.

Since the American people now have time on their hands since there is no work--and not enough money to spend, the politicians MUST WATCH their Ps and Qs because with nothing but time, YOU, the politicians have everything to lose.

Don't you love it when the sword slices both ways. Even William Shakespear said:

There is a tide in the affairs of men/Which, taken at the flood, leads on to fortune;/Omitted, all the voyages of their life/Is bound in shallows and in miseries.
(Julius Ceasar 1564-1616).

This happens because "they considered that a prince had nothing else to do than to excel all the rest in idleness, indulgence, and every other variety of pleasure" (Machiavelli).

Lacking virtue to grasp her, This Wisdom, "they are afraid of losing other pleasures which they desire, so they refrain from one kind becuase they cannot resist the other. Although[,] they define self-indulgence as the conditon of being ruled by pleasure, it is really becuase they cannot resist some pleasures that they succeed in resisting others; which amounts to what I said just now--they they control themselves, in a sense, by self-indulgence, [a type of hedonistic calculus]" (Plato, The Last Day of Socrates 69a).

[zarxo]

With that, the day's of the CEO are OVER!

[sosad4u]

Fan - why is it hypocritical for the writer to tell Mr Stork to "mind his own freaking business"? The point is this guy is from TEXAS and he donated to a proposition in CALIFORNIA. The writer isn't saying "don't donate money" - I think we all know people can donate to whatever they want...just be accontable for it.
And for all you sad men who say boycotts don't work, for us to get over ourselves...really, for something as simple as seeing this moive in a different theater, are you that lazy that you can't even exhibit a modicum of self-respect? Yes, he's the CEO, so the relationship between showing the movie in "his" theaters and "his" money is tenuous, but it exists. And he is a Mormon, and undoubtedly tithes to the LDS Church - so god knows how much money out of his $8M salary goes to the Mormon church and their causes. Grow up people, take some responsibility. NObody is asking you to effen picket the theater - just spend your hard-earned money elsewhere.

[Me]

How is this different from what the Democrats did in 1993 and 1997 under Bill Clinton and top Obama advisor (and then-Senator) Sam Nunn?

1993: Democrat Sen. Sam Nunn (now a top Obama advisor) vowed to completely remove the right of gay and lesbian servicemembers to serve in the US military if Bill Clinton signed an executive order fully opening the military to openly gay and lesbian servicemembers. Nunn vowed to allow commanders to openly pursue and kick out anyone even suspected of being gay. Masculine female? Lesbian! Kick her out! Feminine male? Homosexual! Kick him out! Bill Clinton rolled over without a whimper. Clinton and Nunn are both Democrats and as I said, Nunn is now a top defense and foreign policy advisor to President-elect, Democrat Barack Obama.

1997: The Defense of Marriage Act (DOMA). This is the federal law that takes away the right for your same-sex marriage conducted in state A to be recognized by state B. Bill Clinton signed away that right without so much as a whimper or threat of a veto.

Democrats: They take your vote in one hand and screw you with it in the other. Yet gays and lesbians flock to the polls election after election to vote Democrat without question.

[Your_Fear]

Regardless if he donated money as an individual, he surely spoke as a Cinemark's CEO. One of the things CEO's are bounded is company policies, that is why they get nice bonuses at the end of the year and since he personally donated money for a cause against a minority he spoke on behalf of the company, boycotting Cinemark surely will get the attention of the board who will do the right thing if they want to solve this problem which won't be nice for their business, they will have to fire the CEO. He got the right to donate to whatever cause he thinks is just but once you are a public figure you have to be really careful on how to do it. I said boycott and not one step back.

[Roger]

Geesh, I don't remember the gay movement here in Canada being so fragmented. I was in it from about 1973 through the late 1980s. Sure we had the extremes lefts and rights in our movements but when push came to shove, we stood together and shoved back. Maybe all this instant communication online isn't all that helpful. It seems to fragment and stop concensus.

[tomarkf]

dear mark f.

just a reminder

predators, drug dealers, and the other assortment of head cases are also on str8 chat rooms. i love how you speak on behalf of all normal decent people. i think we are all glad that you come onto gay.com! you know, just to read message boards and all. not to chat or anything like that. just to see what's going on in the gay world, cause your not interested in gays or anything, well you know because your normal and disgusted by us. thanks for the support.

[Tim in Morningside Park]

WOW THIS BOARD IS FLOODED WITH FAKE COMMENTS FROM PEOPLE HIRED BY CINEMARK and YES ON 8! You can tell because they're using the same ill-logic they always use, that it's OK for anti-gays to use 1st Amendment rights, but when gay people do it they're "drama-queens" or "sore-losers" or "ineffectual". Even if the boycott doesn't bring down the company, REAL gay people would like to be able to make an informed decision and not patronize a business run by a guy that spends their money against them.

[marty]

the reason gay.com doesnt have a boycott list being owned by aol/time warner they'd be on it themselves now. boycotting does work coors spoke ill of us we only started to boycott them and they now sponsor everything we have ever thought of doing to saty in our graces their sales slid so much from just the talk of actually removal from all our bars. as some of the comments mentioned a ceo can make a private donation but he is held publicly responsible ceo's are fired all the time for what they do in there private life we only need to be reminded of pee wee/paul ruebens and his years of hiatus for being arrested in a adult theater not even looking like the pee wee character his cartoon show was canceled that was his private time it wasnt even during filming when it occured. back to the boycott subject they do work the problem is some people go to far never go back after business makes reparations(know people that refuse to drink coors ever again because they slighted us before dont care if they are supporting us now), or we as a community let businesses off the hook when they havent fixed something they've done.( bofa supports boy scouts butthats ok now that the courts said it was legal who cares if its moral or not to exclude gays)courts will overturn prop8 legal precident supports it but this guy who doesnt even live in ca sholud definitely be taught a lesson, and if all we have to do is go see the movie at a different theater how hard is that come on guys get it together. its not like we asked you not to see it. in his contract he signed to be ceo he was told be careful what he does he represents the company all the time. apparently he thought it was ok to piss us off? this is us telling him no, unless we choose to do nothing and tell him its ok to walk all over us? buy your movie tickets at the theater next door please show him at least that hypocrisy isnt tolerated.

[Gregory - iconicscooter (gay.com)]

And is ANYONE surprised at this:

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/21/obama-to-delay-repeal-of-dont-ask-dont-tell/

Gays will not learn that Democrats are NOT on their side; watch what people do NOT what they SAY they're going to do.

This is a repeat of Clinton when he took office. AND he signed DOMA!

For DECADES the Dems have had the power to enact so much to reduce discrimination and HAVE NOT.

And how many other "special interest" groups and "minority groups" have they done this with and yet claim they are the party of such.

WATCH WHAT PEOPLE DO NOT WHAT THEY SAY THEY'RE GOING TO DO!

Get a clue!

[Kiefer]

I think it's appalling to watch the gay "community" (and I use that term loosely, as you all seem to) flock together to verbally bash anyone (and any organization) that has an opinion different than their own. This is in the exact same vein as how the christian right bashes others with their bibles in ill fated attempts to spread their faith.
Until this so-called community quits acting like spoiled children that want what they want when they want it, I doubt that the rest of America will vote for it.

[Tim]

Thank you, Kiefer. My thoughts exactly.

[qnw]

This bastard helped take away our right to marry and you think not going to see a movie at his theater chain is a disproportionate response? Of course boycotts don't work, but I still try to support business that are gay friendly and avoid business I know to be run by hateful bigots. It makes it easier to look in the mirror.

[Cooler Heads]

No rights were taken away. Gay and lesbian Californians still have the same rights, if not the same privileges, as straight Californians.

You can get married in a church or place of your choice. You just don't get the privilege of using the word "marriage" to describe it.

Don't anyone try to use the "separate but equal" BS either. There are no separate lines at the courthouse for straight people and gay people to probate their significant other's will when they die. There are no separate lines to visit your loved one in the hospital or direct that loved one's care if they are unable.

There are plenty more examples.

The bottom line is that nobody, gay or straight, needs a piece of paper or a court order to love someone else with all your heart.

[robert moore]

I think boycotts do work I think of what happenned with South African. boycotts and moves to have investment funds and colleges disinvestment of South African stocks really made a difference

[Susan]

As a heterosexual female, I doubt my opinion matters one tiny bit here, but I would like to express it anyway if you all don't mind. My roommate and best friend in the world is a gay man, and we have had many conversations regarding the gay marriage issue. He, as a gay man, is actually AGAINST gay marriage for the following reason: "marriage" originates as a religious institution where a man and woman are joined together as one in the sight of God and others. My friend is all for legal civil unions and ceremonies which would grant the same legal rights and tax benefits to gay couples. This makes sense to me - why would you want to utilize a tradition that comes from a religion that also says your lifestyle is unnatural and immoral? Thanks for letting me voice my opinion.

[Juan]

Unfortunately for me and fellow Albuquerqueans, no other theaters are showing Milk but Century movie theaters.

[tom]

I SAY BOYCOTT! WE NEED TO STAND WITH EACH OTHER TOGATHER AS ONE. SOME ONE QUOTED ROSA PARKS, WELL ROSA STARTED A MOVMENT AND IT CONTINUES TODAY. PEOPLE NEED TO BE HELD RESPONSIBLE FOR THEIR ACTIONS. WE HOLD SOME PEOPLE TO A CERTAIN.IF SOMEONE THINKS SOMEONE SHOULD BE DENIED RIGHTS WELL I SAY THEN THEY GET THE BAGAGE THAT GOES WITH IT. THEY NEED TO ACT RESPONSIBLY OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES FOR THEMSELVES AND THERE COMPANYS

[Lost in Chicago]

can I boycott all this boycotting? BTW :P who cares about some right wing CEO creep. Don't like his point of view, well try to let him know, email his secretary. He's not the problem, lack of education about real gay people is the problem. I'm talking about the ones they see on the evening news or Mr Stocks adaptation of H. Milk, for the vast majority of Americans, THATS THE PROBLEM! They only know what the news and media has shown them. Do you know the solution? Let's EDUCATE THEM! Do you know how to educate them? Talk (with anyone) let them know you exist, email, write a letter (to anyone) send emails to your local government, Text your friends, just don't forget the pen is mightier than the sword!

[Wyatt1969again]

I agree – with some of you,

Right or wrong – we can’t go around telling people what they can or cannot do with their money. Lest we let them tell us who we can marry?

Don’t get me wrong – dude can take his donation and shove it up his ass – besides – he might dig it anyway – probably does.

Don’t like Cinemark? Don’t go to a Cinetheatre! It’s that simple. Don’t bitch about some dude – some CEO who could give two shits about what you think. You’re forgetting you’re a consumer and you will in fact be treated like one - the kind of human whose attention span is expected to last all of 12 seconds.

Still not happy? Still looking for a real solution? Looking to have a real voice? One that WILL be heard by Cinemark et al. (?)

Then get off your ass and do real research. Look into Cinemark. Who are they – REALLY? Do they hold other companies? Are they owned by another company? To what degree?

Pay attention and start thinking like Rosa Louise McCauley – better known as Rosa Parks…

That’s right – get the fuck off the bus and walk!

You’ll never go through the front door of Cinemark and get the respect you deserve. Ever. They are too big – too powerful - and like I said, their expectations of you are pretty low. And you can’t bitch about that at all. Because my dear consumers – if you don’t want to be treated like a monkey with his hand caught in the tree – then don’t act like one.

Recognize who we really are!

We are one of the most powerful segments of consumers with arguably the most leisure income to spend. And it’s true – and ironic. That’s right – we aint got no kids and so we don’t have as many bills. (Now don’t freak out my Gay bro’s and Sisters - TG/TV whatever the fuck etc – yes some of us do) But you get the point.

If Cinemark wants to tout such a broad sweeping presents across the nation then ask your self where do they do business? In large cities where rent and really – every cost to operate is triple that of the norm – like say – New York, Chicago, Seattle etc.

Who goes to these places? Who still goes when the economy sucks? Who can afford to go when others cannot?

Gay and Lesbian people – that’s who.

Stop going to the movies altogether. That’s right – and don’t compromise. Ask yourself if there is anything else you could do with your cash and your two hours that’s still fun and has nothing to do with any theatre anywhere.

Unify and do it for six months – especially during the winter months – and if you want to be a real bitch – make a point a start not going to any theatre the day after Christmas for your six months. Why? Because they’ll be hurting more at this time than any other and they will be counting on whatever contingent of income spenders to keep them afloat.

So fuck it! Wait till they’re weak – and kick em when they’re down. Step on their necks and lean down and whisper in their ear and say this:

I aint going nowhere bitch – and we can do this all day long!

God bless you all – and good luck!

[Rob]

Since this report speaks directly about the movie "MILK" and its relevance to today's issues, it seems worth remembering Milk's own feelings with Proposition 6. He felt that, if Prop. 6 was passed, that the gay community would rise up in an angry and perhaps violent offensive that would have been entirely understandable. The unfinished business of Milk's time is still affecting us today and it this generation's responsibility to carry it forward.

We are not in the midst of a polite debate. We are not haggling over a trinket in a foreign bazaar. Prop 8 singles out gays. It strips them of rights. It undermines the very foundations of the Constitution of the country - which has no relationship to biblical belief or religious fanaticism. If gays are going to be singled out through the passage of this proposition, then the supporters of it should expect to be targeted themselves. If they are in positions of power, such as CEO of Cinemark, then the foundations of their power ought to be attacked and brought down.

Cinemark is fair game as is the Mormon Church. We are not engaged in a friendly disagreement. These people have mobilized to strip Americans they don't like or respect of their civil rights. That's not politics. That is war. Gays have learned how to fight back and we ought to throw our full fury at individuals who funded this fight against us AND their power bases - period.

We must unite and fight together.

Civil Rights or Civil War. Gay Rights Now!

[Rob]

Since this report speaks directly about the movie "MILK" and its relevance to today's issues, it seems worth remembering Milk's own feelings with Proposition 6. He felt that, if Prop. 6 was passed, that the gay community would rise up in an angry and perhaps violent offensive that would have been entirely understandable. The unfinished business of Milk's time is still affecting us today and it this generation's responsibility to carry it forward.

We are not in the midst of a polite debate. We are not haggling over a trinket in a foreign bazaar. Prop 8 singles out gays. It strips them of rights. It undermines the very foundations of the Constitution of the country - which has no relationship to biblical belief or religious fanaticism. If gays are going to be singled out through the passage of this proposition, then the supporters of it should expect to be targeted themselves. If they are in positions of power, such as CEO of Cinemark, then the foundations of their power ought to be attacked and brought down.

Cinemark is fair game as is the Mormon Church. We are not engaged in a friendly disagreement. These people have mobilized to strip Americans they don't like or respect of their civil rights. That's not politics. That is war. Gays have learned how to fight back and we ought to throw our full fury at individuals who funded this fight against us AND their power bases - period.

We must unite and fight together.

Civil Rights or Civil War. Gay Rights Now!