Artistic Director of California Music Theatre Apologizes for “Yes On Prop-8” Contributions- Page 3

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/11/08 at 12:31am

Um, there have ALWAYS been civil marriages and religious marriages.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/11/08 at 12:33am

Again, where does anyone get off thinking they have the power to decide what is right or wrong for other people, as long as no one is getting hurt?

That would be a good question to ask every person who has voted for a measure to deny rights to gay people.

[sparrman]

Posted: 11/11/08 at 12:37am

"That would be a good question to ask every person who has voted for a measure to deny rights to gay people."

PRS, I really, really hope it's clear to you that that has been my point all along.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/11/08 at 12:39am

HOLY CRAP. I AM SO SORRY!

I completely misread you. It may be time for bed.

[Liza + Jesus = Patti]

Posted: 11/11/08 at 12:45am

"Change is coming."

Not in the next four years, at least...

you DO realize that both Biden and Obama are (or were? perhaps they've flipped flopped now) against Same Sex Marriage.

so where's the "change"

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/11/08 at 12:47am

Your screen name, for starters.

[jrb_actor]

Posted: 11/11/08 at 12:51am

The ONLY thing that Obama or Biden have said that goes against the gay community is their stance on gay marriage.

A stance that any politician today must take if they want to win the White House.

What's more important are their actions. And their actions have been very supportive on this issue.

Obama and gays:
http://advocate.com/letters_detail_ektid59698.asp

Michelle and gays:
http://advocate.com/issue_story_ektid59804.asp

Biden and gays:
http://advocate.com/issue_story_ektid60855.asp

[Anakela]

Posted: 11/11/08 at 1:19am

From the apology: ...I support each individual to have rights and access and I understood that in California domestic partnerships come with the same rights that come with marriage."

Seriously?? I'm a registered NY voter and I could tell you that in California domestic partnerships do NOT come with the same rights that come with marriage. As could pretty much any voter I know. Geez. If you're going to make a Prop 8 donation then own your Prop 8 donation; the half-assed, post-election 'apology' just rings hollow.


Kate Shindle talks about Eckern on her blog, it's interesting to hear another actor's thoughts:

Applause to Susan for bringing it to light--I don't think actors will ever stop working at any theater en masse, because that's just not how actors operate--but I think that unless they handle this with singular brilliance, the Sacramento Music Circus auditions may be a little less full for the next couple of years.
shindle's list:uh-five-six-seven-h8te!

[Anakela]

Posted: 11/11/08 at 1:19am

Updated On: 11/11/08 at 01:19 AM

[Liza + Jesus = Patti]

Posted: 11/11/08 at 1:20am

"The ONLY thing that Obama or Biden have said that goes against the gay community is their stance on gay marriage."

That "only thing" is a HUGE thing.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 11/11/08 at 2:21am

Way to not quote the second part of that statement.

[Radioactiveduck]

Posted: 11/11/08 at 2:37am

I voted No on 8, but dang...what about some personal life vs. professional life separation? How does his donation to Yes on 8 make him any worse at his job?

He doesn't owe anyone an apology, he has every right in the world to his opinions. I am scared of a world in which opposing views can be so strongly discouraged.

[logan0215]

Posted: 11/11/08 at 2:47am

Sure he does, but that would be like someone working for PETA then giving a large donation to the Butchers Union (yes, I made that up).

He took money that he made largely based off of the gay community to donate to a cause that directly contradicts its civil rights.

[Radioactiveduck]

Posted: 11/11/08 at 2:54am

He was the head of a legitimate, for profit business...the fact that many of his customers are gay is irrelevant.

He is free to do whatever he wants with the money he is paid as a salary from a for profit business.

[logan0215]

Posted: 11/11/08 at 3:22am

Right, and it is the law that any donations of a certain amount are deemed public knowledge and put in to public record.

So it is our right to judge him for that decision and render a boycott on him and his organization.

[BrianS]

Posted: 11/11/08 at 3:38am

exactly. What is your point, radioactive?

Of course he has a right to voice his opinion and donate as he chooses. What we are saying is that we will choose to voice our opinion by boycotting CMT auditions and not buying tickets to their shows. CMT is highly dependent on their ability to pull "Broadway talent" to head up their season. Since you speak of for-profit businesses, I'm assuming you are a fan of free market capitalism. What is wrong with us voicing our opinion with our wallets? That is what free-market capitalism is all about.

[LePetiteFromage]

Posted: 11/11/08 at 4:05am

Updated On: 5/1/09 at 04:05 AM

[PalJoey]

Posted: 11/11/08 at 8:18am

He doesn't owe anyone an apology, he has every right in the world to his opinions. I am scared of a world in which opposing views can be so strongly discouraged.

And I am scared of a world in which religious organizations pay millions of dollars to hoodwink voters into voting away our civil rights.

He DOES owe his lesbian and gay colleagues an apology. And they are entitled to have an opinion on the sincerity of the one he offered.

[Craig]

Posted: 11/11/08 at 8:55am

I am not defending him in the slightest. But no one ever owes anyone an apology really, do they? What they do have to live with are the choices they make and the consequences of their actions. Should he apologize? Would the gay and lesbian community like him to apologize - no question.. but he doesn't "owe" anyone anything.

Also the example above, "Sure he does, but that would be like someone working for PETA then giving a large donation to the Butchers Union (yes, I made that up). "

That's not a good example (I think personally). There's a difference between someone working for an organization specifically on a mission to protect the ethical treatment of animals and someone who works for an organization that some/most/part of its workforce is a member of a specific group. The theater industry isn't in the business of supporting or campaigning for gay rights. PETA is (for the ethical treatement of animals).

Again - I am not defending his actions, etc - just adding to the conversation here...

Updated On: 11/11/08 at 08:55 AM

[Neverandy]

Posted: 11/11/08 at 9:24am

Child molesters can marry-as long as it's heterosexual
Rapists can marry-as long as its heterosexual
Murderers can marry-as long as it's heterosexual
Wife Beaters can marry-as long as it's heterosexual
People who have never met can go into a courthouse and marry-as long as it's heterosexual

Don't tell me this is about "Sanctity" or about Children.It's about FEAR. Fear that the people next door are different. And different=bad. It's about people taking advantage of that honest animal instinct (that is many times necessary) and perverting it.

Conservatives-not necessarily Republicans-but Conservatives-have been on the wrong side of almost every major issue (certainly every social issue)since even before this country was founded. And what do they use as their weapon to further their agenda? FEAR.
Their Track Record:
Against Independence
Against the abolishment of slavery
Against fair treatment of Native Americans
Against Woman's Suffrage
Against the Abolishment of prohibition
Against Civil Rights-including Interracial Marriage until 1967
Against ERA
Against blacks having the right to vote
It's a history that brings to mind the witch hunts of the McCarthy era, and the police riot gear and attack dogs of the Vietnam War Era. A tradition of People as Property and Woman as uneaqual silent passengers. It's the Bus Driver who told Rosa Parks to sit in the back of the bus because that's where Negroes bleonged, and it's the preacher who says that two men can't marry because "It just ain't natural".
At one point all of these issues were scary. Even more so than what we are debating now. But History has proven time and again that the fear was irrational. But more so it has shown that in every case we probably waited to long to change.

What is there to be so afraid of? No one has ever been able to really answer that question.

[PalJoey]

Posted: 11/11/08 at 10:09am

I agree with you, Craig. He doesn't "owe" an apology.

I should have said "His lesbian and gay colleagues DESERVE an apology." There's a difference.

[Liza + Jesus = Patti]

Posted: 11/11/08 at 10:45am

Neverandy. Did you ever take a History course in high school or college?

It was essentially the Democrats that were AGAINST the abolishment of slavery. not the Republicans. You nitwit.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/11/08 at 10:48am

Sockpuppet/HD/CB, you should reread what he wrote. He didn't say Republicans, he said conservatives.

[Liza + Jesus = Patti]

Posted: 11/11/08 at 10:52am

I read it loud and clear.

Over half of that list of issues were democratic conservatives. not republican conservatives.

there are still many Liberals (the modern-day democratic conservative kind) who are AGAINST Gay Marriage.

I won't deny that the majority of the reason is religion and fear ... as the Bible states, a marriage IS holy between a man and woman.... but there is still a good percentage out there who have other reasons to vote for this.

Don't be so naive. It's not attractive.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 11/11/08 at 10:55am

I don't care what you find attractive about me and what you don't. Your antics are wholly unattractive and yet here you are.

And quick - Quote what the bible says about marriage.