Pro-Gay Groups Pressure Marriott for Hosting Ex-Gay Conference

Two pro-gay groups are putting pressure on the Marriott hotel line for their decision to host an ex-gay therapy conference for the National Association of Research and Therapy of Homosexuality's (NARTH) at an airport Marriott in Phoenix.

According to an article in the Huffington Post, the groups SumOfUs and All Out are circulating a petition calling for pressure on the Marriott, citing the American Psychological Association's stance that gay cures "have a serious potential to harm people."

"Gay cures' violate your human rights policy, so please cancel the booking for the NARTH conference in November and promise not to host 'gay cures' conferences in the future," reads the petition, which has currently attracted more than 51,000 supporters.

Marriott has a reputation as an ally to the LGBT community, and is sponsoring the 2014 Gay Games. The international hotel chain has endorsed key civil rights legislation like the repeal of DOMA, and consistently gets a high rating on HRC's Corporate Equality Index.

"We realize that there are many strong opinions about this issue, and as an advocate for diversity and inclusion, including our friends in the LGBT community, we take this matter very seriously. That's why we believe that we must maintain our obligation as a public hospitality company to open our doors to everyone, regardless of sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, race/ethnicity, culture or religion. Acceptance of this, or any other business, in no way constitutes support or endorsement of the group or its cause," wrote a spokesperson from Marriott in response to queries about the decision from the Huffington Post.

To sign the petition, visit https://www.allout.org