Scott Eckern Releases Statement and Announces Resignation as Artistic Director for California Musica

[Ichingcarpenter]

Source: CBS market watch

SACRAMENTO, Calif., Nov 12, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- Scott Eckern, Artistic Director for California Musical Theatre, released the following statement regarding his resignation. The statement is released as follows:

"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. I chose to act upon my belief that the traditional definition of marriage should be preserved. 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.

My sister is a lesbian and in a committed domestic partnership relationship. I am loving and supportive of her and her family, and she is loving and supportive of me and my family. I definitely do not support any message or treatment of others that is hateful or instills fear. This is a highly emotional issue and the accusations that have been made against me are simply not true. I have now had many conversations with friends and colleagues,and I am deeply saddened thatmy personal beliefs and convictions have offended others. My choice to support the Proposition was personal, and does not represent the views and opinions of California Musical Theatre or the many people associated with the organization. I was required by law to identify my employer and occupation at the time of my donation.

Read more: http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Scott-Eckern-Releases-Statement-Announces/story.aspx?guid=%7B05F4A0A1-84FA-496A-92EF-2B418ADB1CC2%7D

[mondo joe]

1. No idea? NO IDEA? He's lying, or too stupid to be employed.

Either way, good.

Examples must be made.

[musette_sf]

2. good riddance

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

3. Buh-bye.

Perhaps there are still some opportunities for you in Utah or Alaska amateur summer stock theater? Just a thought.

[IndianaGreen]

4. Adios pato!

And good riddance you Mormon piece of shit!

[Joszef Pelikan]

5. I don't think this man should lose his job for contributing to

prop 8. It is his right to contribute to whatever campaign he wants. I would never fire an employee for contributing to a campaign.

Enough with the vengeance. First it was the fault of the Black community, now this. We need to be spreading our message in way which does not cause further division.

I will continue to fight for same-sex couple equality, but I will not join this witch hunt.

[mondo joe]

7. He shouldn't be fired. But he resigned.

And people need to know if they attack our families they cannot expect our support.

[yardwork]

8. Nobody fired him. He resigned. I would never fire an employee for contributing to a campaign,

Political contributions are a matter of public record. When I donate to political campaigns, I am required by law to give my name, address, and employer. That protects us, the American people, from secret donations influencing our elections.

Anyone who contributes to a political campaign knows that their name and contribution is a matter of public record. I'm not ashamed of anything I support. Apparently this guy thought it would be fine to contribute a significant amount of money to a campaign to strip rights from a minority group, and he didn't expect anyone to know about it. Well, everybody is allowed to know what anybody contributes to any political campaign. Our votes are confidential, but our monetary contributions are not.

If people want to contribute to hateful, bigoted campaigns like "Yes on Proposition 8" then they need to know that their contributions will be a matter of public record. The lesson is - don't contribute to anything you would be ashamed to have the public know you support.

[Eryemil]

11. I'm done bending over, time for someone else to get sodomized

On second thought, probably not the best analogy.

[JerseygirlCT]

12. As a non-profit, they will be depending on the community's

support.

The board and this guy probably realized that once his support for 8 was known, it would have serious ramifications on financial support for his theater. Thus his resignation.

That's the way the cookie crumbles.

[JimDandy]

6. If that's how he shows SUPPORT, what does he do when he's NOT being supportive?

"My sister is a lesbian and in a committed domestic partnership relationship. I am loving and supportive of her and her family..."

It takes a lot of chutzpah for him to say that with a straight face.

She doesn't legally HAVE a family and he just voted against her having a legal right to a family. x(

[DavidDvorkin]

9. There is indeed a great deal to be said for the traditional definition of marriage

But I know that my wife would disapprove of my having a second wife, as my biblical ancestors did.

Our house is too small, anyway.

[Hassin Bin Sober]

10. The only thing the sniveling prick is sorry for is they lifted up the rock he was hiding under.

[Joe Bacon]

13. He sure slapped his sister down

Nice to see these bigots get bitten in the ass,