Gay groups battle over Arizona boycott

(Reuters photo)

Fox News reports:

A Phoenix-based gay business group is pleading with other gay rights groups across the country to drop their Arizona boycott, saying their "political" and baseless attempt to compel the repeal of the state's immigration law will only hurt local businesses.

The Greater Phoenix Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce on Monday blasted out an e-mail to hundreds of its members along with two groups spearheading boycotts against the state -- the Human Rights Campaign and the National Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce. The e-mail, which urged those two groups to "rescind" their boycott and chamber members to pester them until they do, came after the Phoenix chamber was unable to privately convince the national groups to cool their rhetoric....

"They haven't even read SB 1070. ... They don't even really know what's going on around here," Joseph Gesullo, chairman of the Phoenix gay chamber, said of the organizations calling for boycotts. "It's really just hurting the people of Arizona." ...

Gesullo also ridiculed the Human Rights Campaign since the group didn't have any meetings scheduled in Arizona in the first place.

"This is so political. They weren't coming here anyway so why do you need to sign onto something where you're not really taking a giant stand?" he said.

In general, I think boycotts are a lousy substitute for electioneering. But at the very least, boycott organizers should consider who is likely to be harmed by such an effort. Not that such considerations matter if you're just grandstanding. Queerty sympathizes with the Greater Phoenix Gay and Lesbian Chamber of Commerce.

(Hat tip: Towleroad)