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Theater official quits over anti-gay donation

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The artistic director at California's largest nonprofit musical theater company resigned Wednesday amid protests over his donation to a campaign to ban gay marriage in the state.

Scott Eckern stepped down from his job at the California Musical Theater in Sacramento after some gay activists called for a theater boycott.

He said he is leaving "after prayerful consideration to protect the organization and to help the healing in the local theatergoing and creative community."

Eckern said he "chose to act upon my belief that the traditional definition of marriage should be preserved" but had no idea his contribution would generate such controversy. He said his sister is a lesbian in a domestic partnership, which he understands to carry the same legal rights as marriage.

The boycott calls — led by artists including "Hairspray" composer Marc Shaiman — began after activists learned Eckern contributed $1,000 to the Yes on 8 campaign. Last week, voters approved Proposition 8, which changes the constitution to ban same-sex marriage.

Lisa West, regional spokeswoman for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said Eckern is a member "in very good standing" and the Mormon church supports his decision to resign.

Fred Karger, the founder of Californians Against Hate, which was created to publicize donors to the Yes on Proposition 8 campaign, said he was not involved in the theater boycott effort and was saddened that Eckern resigned.

"That's not good news, but there's going to be a lot of fallout from this (gay marriage ban)," Karger said. "Of course, a lot of lives were ruined on the other side."

He said his Web site has received thousands of visits from those tracking Yes on 8 contributors.

Ron Prentice, chairman of the Yes on 8 campaign, issued a statement criticizing gay marriage supporters who "cherish tolerance and civil rights (but) are unabashedly trampling on the rights of others."

The theater company, Sacramento's oldest arts organization, said it is not involved in political issues but doesn't interfere with employees' rights to express their views. The company issued a statement thanking Eckern for his 25 years of service.

Eckern was the company's chief operating officer and its artistic director since 2002. The company produces Sacramento's annual Music Circus and plays at Broadway Sacramento and the newly opened Cosmopolitan Cabaret.

Eckern said he "chose to act upon my belief that the traditional definition of marriage should be preserved" but had no idea his contribution would generate such controversy. He said his sister is a lesbian in a domestic partnership, which he understands to carry the same legal rights as marriage.

To him it was all about the traditional definition, not about rights. 

All he is intolerant of is changing definitions. 

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gutnLWP4KNjECVTydghhwRVzJikAD94DOQ380 (http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gutnLWP4KNjECVTydghhwRVzJikAD94DOQ380)

He resigned rather than risk having the theater closed down due to boycotts and protests. 

The intolerance of people never fails to amaze me.

I still say that most of the resistance comes from the prospect of redefining the word marriage.  Make it 100% equal but just use a different word and I think there'd be much less resistance.

Yeah, that's a much better idea than making it 100% equal and just finding a different word.

...People will not allow it to happen because of their religious beliefs.

Eckern said he "chose to act upon my belief that the traditional definition of marriage should be preserved" but had no idea his contribution would generate such controversy. He said his sister is a lesbian in a domestic partnership, which he understands to carry the same legal rights as marriage.

No surprise that you omitted the fact that the "prayerful consideration" was in regards to him leaving the theater and unrelated to his reasons for supporting the proposition. 

The intolerance of people never fails to amaze me.

So it is your theory...

Read it yourself, RTW..."prayerful" implies religious consideration.

And please don't try telling me that one sentence in his statement should be taken at face value while we ignore the preceding sentence entirely, because that's the happiest type of horseshit.

He didn't contemplate his navel for guidance... He didn't consider the personal, social and political ramifications and make a logical decision... He prayed, ergo religion influenced his decision.

Yes, relative to his decision to step down.  His reasoning behind his support of Prop 8 is devoid of religion.

Bullshit.

I'll add my own "bullshit" call to that one as well...and wonder why I even bother arguing with RTW when he only argues for the argument's sake.

Eckern said he "chose to act upon my belief that the traditional definition of marriage should be preserved" but had no idea his contribution would generate such controversy. He said his sister is a lesbian in a domestic partnership, which he understands to carry the same legal rights as marriage.

You guys should let Dave do all your arguing.    ;)

You guys sound a lot smarter when you let Dave argue for you.    ;)

You guys sound a lot smarter when you let Dave argue for you.    ;)