Another One Bites the Dust...

I think folks are finally starting to get the message. They're finally waking up to the smell of that proverbial french roast. Snapping out of their pathologically self-centered fog to the fact that the gays are pissed. Are we fuming over the fact that 52% of Californians voted against same-sex marriage for some esoteric reason that I still don't get? Are we unhinged by the unemotional, flaccid No on 8 campaign? Absolutely! Amen! But I think the crux of this unbridled fury is aimed at a new trajectory. In the cross hairs of our rifle: Hypocrisy. That funny feeling you get when someone says one thing, and does another. Or when someone says, after an off-color reference, "Hey, some of my best friends are _____!" Like America on Black Friday this year, we're not buying it. I don't buy your sham. I'm not swallowing your hate-the-sin-not-the-sinner justification anymore. I pulled your covers, sucka!

An article in the LA Times was published recapping more fallout over supporters of Proposition 8. Specifically, those in the arts that donated their money to the cause. Citing their religious beliefs, many donors are shocked at the public outcry for boycotts against them. They are using the ol' my-religion-told-me-to-do-it-so-it's-okay excuse to justify intolerance and bigotry. How convenient. And how 1967. Are you kidding me!? If the pope told you to play on the 405, would you do that too? I mean, is there no thought process that goes through your head? Hypothetically, say... 'Gosh, my pastor says that we should donate money to support Prop. 8. I need to protect the sanctity of marriage. I'm not sure how I feel about that. My neighbors are gay, they've been together for 20 years, and they really love each other. My cousin in Atlanta is a lesbian; we were best friends growing up, so I'm conflicted.' I've often wondered if this self-dialogue goes on, or if like scores of cute little rodents, they join the herd? Do they drown out the small, still voice of reason--of God (gasp!)--with centuries-old rhetorical nonsense or do they stop to think how this will affect their colleagues?

The director of the LA Film Festival, Richard Raddon quit his job after his $1500 contribution to the Yes on 8 campaign surfaced. This is what he had to say about his resignation: "I have always held the belief that all people, no matter race, religion or sexual orientation, are entitled to equal rights. As many know, I consider myself a devout and faithful Mormon. I prefer to keep the details around my contribution through my church a private matter. But I am profoundly sorry for the negative attention that my actions have drawn to Film Independent and for the hurt and pain that is being experienced in the GLBT [gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender] community." You believe in equal rights, Mr. Raddon? Did you read the text of Proposition 8? You said you believe in equal rights and yet you donated money to a cause that took them away from a minority group. What's worse, you decided that it might make you a bit more comfortable to take the marriages of 18,000 couples, and put them up for discussion in a court of law. Did it not occur to you for a moment that this was a bad move? Not just politically, but morally?

In November, Artistic Director Scott Eckern of the California Musical Theater in Sacramento resigned because of pressure from playwrights who were stunned by his donation to Yes on 8, according to the NY Times. Not because he's a Mormon. But because he supported a constitutional amendment to take away rights from a minority group. (Let me be crystal clear about this.) Let's recap: a man who makes a living off of musical theatre donated money to a cause that took rights away from gay people. Musical Theatre. He's the Artistic Director of a huge theatre. That performs musicals. Written by gay people. Isn't musical theatre the gayest thing on Earth?! Come on, man! Of course, he too issued a statement: “I understand that my choice of supporting Proposition 8 has been the cause of many hurt feelings, maybe even betrayal. It was not my intent. I honestly had no idea that this would be the reaction.”

Really? Well Mr. Eckern, you did betray us. Indeed, you hurt us deeply. But not only did you hurt me, and my friends who are married, but you hurt progress. You, in fact, poisoned the zeitgeist. It wanted to move forward. It ached to flourish. Your desire to protect marriage stripped it from those who wanted it. Chose it. Isn't that what this is about, anyway? Freedom of choice? You have the luxury of belonging to whatever religious denomination you wish. And it's protected in The Constitution. In fact, wars have been waged over it. Men and women have perished, and continue to perish for it. And hello? That's how we all got to this continent! Sheesh. I do not wish to repeal your freedom of speech. I am not saying you cannot practice the religion of your choice. I'm just saying you made a really bad decision. Because gay people made it possible for you to have a job. And feed your family. We wrote the plays that echoed in your house and composed the lyrics that got stuck in your head. We bought the tickets that filled your seats. And most devastatingly, we helped put the money in your bank account to write that fateful check. And then, you sucker punched us. Right in the kidney. When we weren't even paying attention.