Prop. 8 repercussions hit Sacramento theater

The blowback from last Tuesday's passage of Prop. 8, which prohibits same-sex marriage in California, has hit the California Musical Theatre, a major nonprofit stage company in Sacramento, following the revelation via the Web that its artistic director gave $1,000 to back the state constitutional amendment.

Among those weighing in with dismay over Scott Eckern's donation are Tony winners Jeff Whitty, who wrote the book for "Avenue Q," and Marc Shaiman, composer and co-lyricist of "Hairspray." Shaiman said Tuesday that he phoned Eckern on Friday to protest, then e-mailed more than 1,000 contacts to alert them about the donation.

"Of course it's his right to donate the money," said Shaiman, who was disappointed that Eckern, a California Musical Theatre employee since 1984 and its artistic director since 2003, had benefited from last season's touring production of "Hairspray," then piped money to a cause the L.A.-based Shaiman deplores. In their conversation, Shaiman said, "he basically gave me that thing we're just sick of hearing -- 'these are my religious beliefs, but it's nothing personal' " against gay people. "I don't want to hear that anymore. I just told him I'm disgusted at that use of money that came in some way from a show I created." (Update: The “Hairspray” production at California Musical Theatre last August was not a touring production, but one mounted by CMT itself. A touring version of “Hairspray” was seen at the theater in 2004.)

Whitty, whose "Avenue Q" is scheduled to play the Sacramento theater in March, was among those alerted by Shaiman's e-mail. On Monday,  he wrote in his whitless.com blog that "like Marc, I'll work to prevent CMT from producing any of my future shows with Mr. Eckern at the helm. To me, he's one of those hypocrites who profits from the contributions of gays ... but thinks of us as ultimately damned."

But today, despite wanting to "make an example of somebody," Whitty blogged that he reversed his stance on a boycott, writing that Eckern had given him a "convincing and sincere apology" and didn't deserve to be targeted for more censure. Whitty said he would "look forward to working with the California Musical Theatre in the future."

Shaiman said he would keep pushing for public acknowledgment and redress that would not damage the theater for one individual's political views but would make it clear that anti-gay views won't be accepted in the theater community. A benefit event at California Musical Theatre might be appropriate, he said, allowing backers of gay marriage an artistic platform while raising money to help mount a legal appeal to overturn Prop. 8.

In any case, Shaiman said, the response should be measured. When told that Eckern's donation had been posted on a website called antigayblacklist.com that calls for a boycott against businesses and professionals who backed Prop. 8 -- including some public school teachers -- the composer, who also writes film music, questioned using the word "blacklist," the term for the exclusion of artists in 1950s Hollywood for having suspected Communist leanings. "We have to watch ourselves and not become what we're fighting against," he said.   

Eckern released a statement today apologizing "for any harm or injury" caused by his donation. He said he would donate $1,000 -- commensurate to what he gave Prop. 8 backers -- to the Human Rights Campaign, a group that supports equal rights for gays and lesbians. Update: Eckern’s full statement is here.

After talking with many friends and colleagues, he said, "I have a better idea ... how deeply felt these issues are, and I am deeply saddened that my acting upon my religious convictions has been devastating to those I love and admire." He noted that his sister, a lesbian, is in a domestic partnership relationship.

Richard Lewis, the executive producer whose family founded California Musical Theatre decades ago, said Eckern's views were his own, not the theater's, and affirmed "appreciation ... for the [lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender] community who have played a crucial role in our success." A torrent of e-mails and calls protesting Eckern's donation began on Friday and has continued, said Lewis, who likened the  blowup to when Los Angeles Dodgers executive Al Campanis questioned on national television whether black ballplayers had the right stuff to be successful baseball managers.

"We're looking at the magnitude of the situation and need to discuss whether we take any action.... We don't want to rush into things and do something foolish," Lewis added. "We just put the initial statement out there: 'Don't punish the theater for what Scott chose to do.' "

The theater, which presents touring Broadway shows and produces its own summer musical festival of seven shows, hiring scores of actors and designers who commonly work in New York, has no policy against employees being politically active or making political contributions, Lewis said. He dismissed the notion that Eckern could be fired for backing Prop. 8 or that it would be allowable under California employment law.

-- Mike Boehm

Photos: Marc Shaiman, top; Jeff Whitty, with Tony Award

Photo credits: Shaiman, Al Seib / Los Angeles Times; Whitty, Jeff Christensen / Reuters

Comments

[ap]

yes I would love a list of those businesses in favor of prop 8 so I can start buying at their store and so would friends and family. Marriage between a man and a woman is the center of society and f you want to change that then make your own word for your union. Marriage is not a right it is a legally binding contract between a man and a woman. I am sick and tired of being labelled homophobic bigot just because I am in favor of prop 8..I guess by the same standards those against prop 8 are heterophobic and bigots too... yep in times like today let's show the world what our internal state of affairs is

[Jim in California]

Most of the comments for Prop 8 on this comment site is from one person -- you can just tell from the structure of the posting/sentences. This is a civil rights issue -- that simple. Marriage is a contract that is recognized by the government. No church has or will be forced to marry gays. No child will be forced to watch gays marry. But, the Supreme Court will eventually rule that you cannot deny any class of people the right to enter into a contract. Whether tomorrow or a year from now, this discrimination BS will end. Old people and church goers will have to deal with it. In the end, it will do no harm to society. What a crock to think otherwise. Until then, gays and lesbians should use their financial power to deny supporters of Prop 8 their hard-earned $$$.

[Zippy5150]

"I am sick and tired of being labelled homophobic bigot just because I am in favor of prop 8..I guess by the same standards those against prop 8 are heterophobic and bigots too"

Are you serious? I don't recall anyone against prop 8 calling for the elimination of heterosexual marriage.

[sebastian]

If marriage is the so-called center of society, then let's outlaw divorce. Multiple marriages and divorces do more to damage the notion of "traditional" marriage than letting gays marry. Most gays and lesbians I know have been together way longer than straight couples. My father is on his third wife, my brother on his third wife as well--but I can't marry my partner of seven years. Ludicrous.

[John Cross]

Let's face it people, the gay theather community was hurt upon learning that one of their friends betrayed their trust. He is a part of that community, he is a friend to many of them. To those people whose yelling for boycott, how will you feel if one of your friends betrayed your trust?Im sure that this is only due to emotions brought up by unfortunate event. And I know gays will condone such actions.

To those people who voted for 8, is the love of a gay couple who has been faithfully together for 20 years less than the love of a straight couple who were togethere for the same years? You may not have a brother, sister or a friend that is gay, but when you look around and you see a gay helping others or building the community or the company that you are in, is he performing below your expectation because he is gay? Does my idea of honesty and integrity differs on your meaning of honesty and integrity? If I feel lonely because my boyfriend and I broke up, is it different than how you feel when you broke up with your special someone? Am I less of a person than you are because Im gay? Is my love less than your love?

Ask yourself thruthfully and conscientiously. If your answer is NO then you should have voted NO on 8.

[John Bisceglia]

Here's a thought for my fellow LGBTIQ Americans -
The MONEY TALKS PROJECT:

Go into ANY business. Ask, without revealing which answer you desire -

"Do you support same sex marriage?"

A - YES
B - NO
C - Undecided
D - No Answer

YES gets our business; NO is self-explanatory. UNDECIDED earns a nice little "educational sheet", and NO ANSWER is a cop out, so that is a NO.

Unless you WANT to support businesses that do not support you.

[kettasii]

"I don't ask you to "tolerate" me."

http://gaylife.about.com/od/gayteens/ss/studentteacher.htm
You must be in a different gay community or this gay person does not know what he is talking about.

[kettasii]

"He is a part of that community, he is a friend to many of them."

This just shows that he is not homophobic, but that does not mean he cannot have his own point of view as many of the "yes on 8". Traditional marriage and gay marriage are not the same. There is no equality issue here. It is biology.

[Jeff Whitty]

In light of Mike Boehm's poor reporting of this story, I'd like to make a few clarifications. I never received a personal apology from Scott Eckert -- I referred to his public apology in my letter. But now that it's been reported, it's apparently fact. Mr. Boehm also picked out the most incendiary sentence in what is my attempt at an even-handed and not entirely unsympathetic look at Scott Eckern's situation. I never called for a group boycott, though in addition to many, many other points noted my support for those who decided to speak out by engaging in a number of actions, including returning tickets or (gasp!) writing letters or canceling their personal subscriptions. This support is held against the fact that I don't think Mr. Eckern should be fired, which isn't apparently incendiary enough for Mr. Boehm to note. My position wasn't a call for a wholesale boycott of California Musical Theatre.

At no point was I contacted by this reporter to clarify anything,

The word "boycott" is being thrown around extensively in these comments, and it's interesting given that the word is used twice in the article: once in a misleading light in regards to my letter, and once in regards to a website I'd never heard of before reading this article. There's a turn of "anti-gay-hysteria hysteria" that isn't necessarily supported by any real-life facts in regards to this case.

In addition, Mr. Boehm refers to my "blog," on my homepage which says, "This is not a blog." This isn't any big deal, but an amusing example of the level of this reporting.

I won't be returning to the deep and wise well of these reader comments. Kvetch away.

[John S.]

Should all the straight people stop going to the theater since the theater only represents gays viewpoints and bias?
I think it is time to ban the arts since that is just a codified word for supporting gays.

[MS]

You have become what you are fighting against.

[science_based]

I am appalled at the bigotry and hateful persecution being targeted at Scott.

To all of us: Please take a stand in supporting the human decency, tolerance, and respect for diversity that theater and other arts should be leading us towards. Any pressure to censure or punish Scott by extreemists in the GLBT community or by the CA Music Theater and Music Circus is taking us back to the dark days when people were harassed and persecuted for expressing their beliefs and opinions.

If anything, we need more brave souls like Scott Eckern in theater, who are willing to break out of the shackles of conformity to what is politically acceptable and ensure that the color and diversity of all people are discussed and respected in the public square that the theater represents.

[Norman]

If you don't "believe in" same-sex marriage, don't do it. But don't tell me I can't. And one is entitled to his or her religious beliefs and is free to conduct their personal lives in accordance with them (as long as no harm done to others.) But don't impose your religious beliefs on me.
So much of what I read mentions people's "religious beliefs" in the context of their opposition to same-sex marriage - that is a very important part of this issue.
One can donate to or vote for anything one chooses, and others can respond to that as they choose (as long as the response is legal).
A person can refuse to work for someone else for any reason at all, or for no reason - the reverse of that principal is called "slavery."
And describing our government as a "democracy" is incomplete - we live in a CONSTITUTIONAL democracy - I think it would be better if it was called that as a matter of course.
The point of a constitution is to protect the rights of the individual and of minorities from the majority.
The rights of minorities are not up for a vote - why this is not universally understood remains a mystery.

[jonathan phillips ( outraged in Ca.)]

I find it strange. I read a lot of articles trying to understand why anyone in their right mind would have voted for prop 8. I actively engage in conversations with those I know who voted yes to try and understand why anyone would vote against human rights. With some I see that it's ignorance no matter what you ask them about their stance they always fall onto the bible and God “says it's wrong" and I'm like "said it to whom?" These days anyone walking up to you on the street telling you he or she just spoke with God would be seen as completely insane. And yet... these people still walk among us.
Hatred, being Gay my whole life this one I have encountered plenty. To the haters I don't have much to say except "get over it, someday you'll get your chance to be hated for no reason other than fear. Lie out loud all you want we know you hate us because your afraid of us and how happy God made3 us. Some haters are jealous of our nice cars, homes and disposable income. Then there are the imports from Russia and other nations where people’s fundamental rights are trampled everyday. For them I have only a question. What will you do once you finished making our country the same as the failing nation you and yours fled from? Let me guess. Move again and ruin some other nation that was all about freedom until you and yours showed up. Freedom has a price people, its called tolerance! You can't demand to be free to live your life the way you see fit while demanding the rights of others be revoked unless they choose to live as you do. That’s not freedom it's hypocrisy. I have I must admit saved the best for last. The majority of yeser's that I know , work with or run into have bought the party line and tell me they aren't against Gays they are for protecting marriage and that they wouldn't oppose us if we called it something else. Funny, aren't these the same people who fought against domestic partnership when it was first conceived? The religious right, the Fundi's and the Mormons. What’s really great is ask one of them to imagine that prop 8 is a proposal to remove marriage from the law completely making it a religious ceremony only and that if anyone gay, straight or otherwise wants the rights now afforded by marriage they must file separately for domestic partnership with the state. Then stand back and watch them explode with indignation and offense at anyone suggesting their husband or wife be reduced to a domestic partner. So if you really believe in equal but different put your self in the other side’s shoes and imagine waking up only to turn over and find your spouse is gone and all that remains is a domestic partner. So I ask all of these , why is it I should be ok with "domestic partnership" when clearly it's not equal since it's not ok for you and yours, only me and mine ? So there's the ignorant, the bigots, the zealots and of course the just plain stupid. Kind of makes me happy to be Gay at least this way I know eventually we will win. There's no stopping us, only delaying the inevitable and spending 73 million dollars to pass a prop that doesn't stand a chance in real life of stopping anyone. Well, I have tried really hard to avoid calling anyone stupid but you be the judge.

[Patrick ONeill]

Think of this as education - when we vote again in two years Mr. Eckern will not be able to claim that he didn't know what he was doing when he contributes to anti-gay causes.

[mike moore]

to all the Yes-0n-8, anti-gay bigots ...

you took our rights away, you forced your personal values on strangers like me, who you do not know, and you've eff'ed with our families ...

you've made it clear we are enemies, and now the gay community will fight you as such: at your work, at your church, at your home, and in the courts.

when you decided it was ok to take away our rights, you showed when a bunch of un-American bigots you really are. The war is on.

[Josh]

The people saying that Eckern is being persecuted do not know what they are talking about.

Yes he has the right to his speech and beliefs and his right to be against gay marriage...

BUT the rest of us also have the right to dislike his views and the right to stop buying his product/service.

He gets his money in large part from gay workers and yet he seeks to legislate discrimination against them. He is a hypocrite and we are going to make that known.

Marriage Equality and gay rights are Civil Rights issues. Its going to come down to who is for equal rights and who is not.

[Gene S]

The "no" on Prop 8 folks have become what they claimed they were fighting against!
I also am appalled at the bigotry and hateful persecution being targeted at Scott as his donation and position should never have been an issue in our democratic society. Those that threaten Scott should be taken to Court and be made to pay the price for violating his civil rights.
If anything, we need more brave souls like Scott Eckern, who are willing to ensure that the color and diversity of all people are discussed and respected by society. Thanks, Gene

[Mike]

To those who say that gays are not a hard pressed minority right now....

I am a gay man who was fired from his job because my employers found out I am gay. They told me they would inform other employees that I am a health and safety risk for bring AIDS into the office. I am HIV negative and said no to this, so they fired me.

This is completely legal in my state. Gay marriage is important, but let's not forget our gay brothers and sister who are living in small towns and rural communities where even basic civil rights are being denied.

[Claude]

Let me get this "straight" - Eckern works in MUSICAL THEATER, but HATES GAYS?

This imbues new meaning the term "oxymoron."