The National LGBTQ Task Force condemns Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and its brutal, violent actions against our communities. ICE is a tool of a cruel administration that relies on fear, family separation, detention, and deportation to maintain power. We stand in unwavering solidarity with immigrants, undocumented people, asylum seekers, and all communities targeted by state violence. We believe no corporation, institution, or individual should facilitate or normalize ICE’s harm.
As we gather for Creating Change, we know many in our community are holding deep anger, grief, and concern. Those feelings are real, and we share them.
The recent incident in Minneapolis, where a Hilton franchise was removed from Hilton’s system after refusing accommodations to ICE agents, has rightly drawn widespread criticism of Hilton corporate. To be clear: we agree with the hotel’s decision to put the safety of guests, workers, and communities first and to lawfully refuse any cooperation with ICE. We have communicated our opposition directly and unequivocally to Hilton Corporate.
We want to be transparent about the situation now facing the Task Force, our partners, and attendees, as we are aware of several calls to boycott Hilton hotels.
This contract was signed years in advance, as conference contracts almost always are. Canceling Creating Change at this point would have a devastating financial impact—not only on the Task Force as an organization, but on other movement organizations, local partners, workers, and activists who depend on this gathering. Under our contract, the Task Force–and not Hilton–would assume the costs for all cancelled reservations.
We will always do our best to align our investments with our values. Host hotels for Creating Change and all Task Force events are selected based on their stated commitments to LGBTQ+ inclusion and fair treatment of workers. Hilton has historically met those standards. This recent corporate decision deeply concerns us, and it will directly impact where we choose to sign future contracts.
Here are some of the actions we are taking to address the situation:
- We are centering the union workers at this hotel, who are often the first to suffer when corporations make decisions that harm communities;
- We are working with local and national partners to support workers, including Unite Here! Local 25, SEIU and Pride at Work, who support us on our efforts to advocate for change and make clear we are very much in disagreement about Hilton corporate policy;
- During Creating Change, we will uplift concrete calls to action, including collective pressure on Hilton corporate;
- We invite attendees to organize with us and with our local partners to strengthen and elevate the ongoing work to lawfully resist ICE, defend immigrant communities, and build power beyond this moment, consistent with the Task Force’s commitment to nonviolent engagement and advocacy.
- This Hilton location has assured us that ICE will not be staying at the property during Creating Change.
It is undeniable that we are living in a time of chaos and unrest, as we see fascism rise in this country and marginalized communities come under relentless attacks. At Creating Change, we will come together to organize, to resist, to learn from each other and be in community, harnessing the power of queer joy and the energy we manifest when sharing space to prepare ourselves for this year and beyond.
To make your voice heard, we urge you to join this call to action: actionnetwork.org/letters/tell-hilton-ice-out-of-our-communities/.
-30-
About The National LGBTQ Task Force:
The National LGBTQ Task Force builds power, takes action, and creates change to achieve freedom, justice, and equity for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer people. As the progressive voice of the LGBTQ movement and the LGBTQ voice of the progressive movement, the National LGBTQ Task Force organizes people and money in pursuit of liberation for all.
