Call for boycott forces theater director out

[run_to_win]

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

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.

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.

[Dave Gray]

I see nothing wrong with this at all.  If you support intolerance, don't be surprised if people don't support your business.  This is what boycotts are all about.

[run_to_win]

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. 

[Dave Gray]

Well, then he can change the definition of his job to "unemployed", while he's at it.

[Buddhagirl]

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

All he is intolerant of is changing definitions. 

This is the beauty of a boycott. People have the right to spend their money wherever they would like just as he has the right to donate to whomever he wants.

This is no different then when the religious people threaten a boycott against something they don't like.

[Defense54]

You run a Theatre and yet you support banning Gay Marriage?

That's like a condom maker supporting abstinence. 

Life is full of decisions..........I don't feel for the guy in the least.

[MyGodWearsAHoodie]

I see this no different than radio stations that refuse to play the Dixie Chicks. 

[CF DolFan]

Not sure what Defense is trying to say.  My uncle in law danced ballet in Las Vegas for many years and has many ... I do mean many gay friends.  He doesn't agree with marriage for them as he probably doesn't agree with many other things they believe that have nothing to do with being gay. 

I think they should be able to boycott if they like ...  I mean that's certainly a part of free speech.  Unfortunately for them making a few people lose their job or lose some money won't change the minds of the masses.  In fact ... it could do the opposite and that's a risk they run.

The problem I have is with the "hate" moniker people use.  It isn't hate if you disagree with most things but it is if it's homosexuality.  Whenever anyone uses that word it really means they have no better argument and can only resort to name calling.    

[bsmooth]

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.

They should just get rid of all the special benefits that married people get. You want to get married, fine, but you should not get anything more than an unmarried couple.

[run_to_win]

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

[StL FinFan]

I have heard it said that if they would have used something like "civil union" instead of "marriage" fewer people would have been put off by the whole thing.  I don't know.  Apparently, they also saw it as a civil rights issue and counted on the African American vote, but failed to see the religion side.

[bsmooth]

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

It is not about a word. The fact that blacks voted for it overwhelmingly shows it is all about religious beliefs, and therefore gay marriage in any form or definition is wrong. You are trying to play semantics and split hairs instead of addressing the root cause. People will not allow it to happen because of their religious beliefs.

[run_to_win]

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

Except for this guy, of course.  Other than him I'm sure you're right though.  He's the only one.

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.

[Sunstroke]

^^^ No surprise that you omitted the line before that one, where it said "after prayerful consideration...," as it wouldn't have supported your point very well.  I suppose it's possible that they could have been non-religious prayers or something.

 

[run_to_win]

I just quoted the entire relevant paragraph.

My apologies if that offends your sensibilities.

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.