Hotel Bel-Air and Beverly Hills Hotel face boycott over anti-gay laws in Brunei

Anabel Munoz Image
Wednesday, April 3, 2019
Hotel Bel-Air and Beverly Hills Hotel face call for boycott
Hotel Bel-Air and Beverly Hills Hotel face call for boycott over anti-gay laws in Brunei.

LOS ANGELES (KABC) -- Los Angeles city leaders gathered outside City Hall Tuesday to call for a boycott of the Hotel Bel-Air and Beverly Hills Hotel.

Both hotels are owned by the royal family of Brunei, a country that recently announced new laws that call for a death sentence for LGBTQ people who engage in sex.

LA City Controller Ron Galperin and City Councilman Paul Koretz are among the city leaders calling for the boycott.

"If this is allowed to happen without tremendous outrage and push back, this may happen in other countries more actively," Koretz said.

Actor George Clooney also called for a boycott of the two hotels and several others in Europe owned by the Brunei royal family.

Koretz is introducing a resolution that officially condemns the government of Brunei and boycotts the two hotels unless the laws are repealed.

Dorchester Collection, the company that operates the two hotels, released this statement: "Dorchester Collection's Code emphasizes equality, respect and integrity in all areas of our operation, and strongly values people and cultural diversity amongst our guests and employees. Inclusion and diversity remain core beliefs as we do not tolerate any form of discrimination."