The Stonewall Young Democrats have joined the union Unite Here in pressuring the Los Angeles Gay & Lesbian Center to honor a labor boycott of Hyatt hotels by moving its Nov. 13 gala from the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza. Center staffers have said they've tried to move the event but haven't been able to find a suitable substitute location.

Stonewall President Christopher Braun and political vice president  Ari Ruiz sent a letter Oct. 26 to center Chief Executive Officer Lorri L. Jean calling on her to uphold the boycott of three LA-area Hyatts that began Sept. 15. "We understand the difficulty in which the decisions of greed from the corporations and wealthy investors have put the LA Gay & Lesbian Center," they wrote. "We stand in solidarity with you on your amazing contributions to the most vulnerable of our community who heavily rely on your services. However, it is our hope that you will move the venue of your awards and stand with us in supporting our allies in the labor community."

Unite Here Local 11 called the Hyatt boycott because the union says the hotel chain hasn't offered its workers a fair contract. The boycott also includes West Hollywood's Hyatt Andaz and the Hyatt Regency Long Beach.

"The very day that we learned about the union boycott, which was Oct. 8, we immediately began investigating other options to move the event," said Jim Key, chief public affairs officer for the center. "Unfortunately, there aren't other venues in Los Angeles… that can accommodate events of this scope."

The center has offered to make announcements from the stage during its event expressing solidarity with the union and explaining the situation to its guests.

"I really hope that we can come to some kind of resolution," Key said.

Other organizations have moved their events from the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza, said Ruiz.

"For example, Equality California moved their venue from the [Hyatt Regency Century Plaza] to the Ritz Carlton in downtown L.A. for the same reason," he said.

Key pointed out that the Equality California event isn't comparable in size to the center's gala.

"Finding a venue for their smaller event, next summer, is hardly comparable to our struggle," Key wrote in an e-mail to Patch. "With just weeks to go before the date of our event, there isn't another venue that can accommodate us."

Ruiz acknowledged that moving the gala would be difficult for the center, but said the union has made sacrifices too. "When you call a boycott… it's not a very easy decision to make, because you have workers who will be at risk of being fired when their contract is up,"  Ruiz said. "They are depending on their wages to support their family. And then you have the center who is going to pay a penalty charge because, unfortunately, the corporation won't let them go without forgiving their deposit… I think it is worth it."