Affirmation: Gay & Lesbian Mormons

Gay Group Boycotts Ken Garff Dealerships
CEO's Wife Personal Donation Helped Pass Proposition 8

February 2009

An anti-Prop 8 group on Wednesday announced it has targeted the Salt Lake City-based Ken Garff automotive dealerships in retaliation for $100,000 donated by the CEO's wife to supporters of a California ballot proposition eliminating same-sex couples' right to marry.

Fred Karger, founder of Californians Against Hate, said the boycott will use an Internet campaign to ask people to boycott the automotive's 40 dealerships in Utah, California, Texas and Iowa.

Karger accused CEO Bob Garff of "hiding behind his wife's skirts" by claiming the $100,000 donation was a personal gesture. At a news conference in Salt Lake City, Karger also said the cash was "a family contribution" that was derived from dealership revenues.

Garff's wife, Katharine, gave to ProtectMarriage.com a week before the Nov. 4 election that overturned a state Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage, according to filings with the California Secretary of State's Office.

John Garff, who is company president, said the donation was "a personal decision based on my mother's personal conviction of marriage. It had nothing to do with my father, who supported her decision, with me or with the company."

Garff also pointed to the company policy against harassment or discrimination of any kind in the workplace, and benefit packages that are favorable for gay and lesbian employees.

But Karger brushed aside those efforts, saying gay marriage is a matter of "civil rights and equal rights."

Karger said the donation was a family contribution funded by the sales of Ken Garff Automotive.

"We are asking that if you are going to buy, lease or service a car, go to any other dealer," Karger explained. "$100,000 is an exorbitant amount of money and we need to fight back."

A reporter at the press conference offered John Garff's card to Karger, saying that Robert's son would like to meet with Karger. Karger readily accepted, saying he "would be delighted" to meet with John Garff to work something out together.

According to Michael Marriott of the Human Rights Campaign Utah Steering Committee, the Ken Garff Automotive Group has sponsored the HRC dinners at the home of Bruce Bastian since their inception.

Californians Against Hate set up a Web site for the boycott at www.BoycottKenGarffAutomotive.com.