The American Psychological Association (APA) will reduce its use of a San Diego hotel being boycotted by a coalition of gay rights groups and union leaders when it holds its annual convention in August.

Californians Against Hate first launched the boycott against Doug Manchester's two San Diego hotels, the Manchester Grand Hyatt and the Grand Del Mar, in July 2008 after the hotelier donated $125,000 to the campaign to ban gay marriage in California, Proposition 8.

The APA Convention, which draws up to 14,000 attendees, will take place at the San Diego Convention Center. However, the Manchester Grand Hyatt is one of three hotels to be used for governance meetings, social events and guest accommodations.

“The number of governance meetings and social events taking place at the Hyatt has been greatly reduced,” APA Spokeswoman Rhea Farberman told On Top Magazine in an email.

The group's governing body, the Council of Representatives, announced last week that it will not meet at the Manchester Grand Hyatt.

“Today's decision allows Council to make an important statement that it stands in solidarity with the LGBT community and its allies in protest of Mr. Manchester's political views,” Dr. Carol Goodheart, the group's president, said. “Members of our Council will now not be faced with having to choose between their responsibilities as members of Council and their wish to express their opposition to Mr. Manchester's action by not entering his hotel.”

“The Council of Representatives meeting is our largest governance meeting,” Farberman added “There are other smaller meetings and social events also moving out of the Hyatt.” Approximately 30 meetings have dropped plans to meet at the Manchester Grand Hyatt.

Fred Karger, founder of Californians Against Hate, hailed the group's decision.

“Kudos to the leadership of the American Psychological Association (APA),” Karger told On Top Magazine. “They have shown great courage and dedication to the cause of equal rights for all by supporting our boycott of the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego.”

“The APA joins the ever growing list of major national organizations saying no to Doug Manchester because of the obscene amount of money he gave to qualify and pass Proposition 8. Prop 8 took away marriage equality from millions of Californians,” he added.

By most accounts the boycott has been successful. A conservative estimate, Karger said, would be $18 million in lost revenues for the Manchester Grand Hyatt alone.

While the APA is not calling for a general boycott of the Manchester Grand Hyatt, it has made other meeting spaces and lodging choices available for members who do not want to use the hotel.