Letter from Susan Egan...
Posted by JamieMcG 2008-11-10 11:10:29.0

Subject: California Music Theatre - Scott Eckern

Dear Friends --

I thought you might be interested to know that Scott Eckern, Artsitic Director of California Music Theatre (Sacramento Music Circus) contributed $1000 in support of California's divisive Proposition 8, which eliminates (not just bans) the right for same-sex couples to marry and receive all of the emotional, economic, and social benefits that married couples often take for granted. Mr. Eckern's affiliation with CMT, as well as his title and the amount donated to legislate the lives of others, is public information that can be found at

http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://antigayblacklist.com

Marc Shaiman, composer (most notably of "Hairspray", which was produced at CMT last year) has already contacted Sacramento's CMT and expressed his disgust with the idea that a theatrical organization, employing and making money from gay artists and audience members, harbors an executive who uses a portion of his income to publicly support hate legislation (my term). I believe Mr. Shaiman may have told them they would no longer be allowed to produce his work, and has contacted the creators of "Avenue Q" (to be produced in March of '09) to enlighten them.

I am deeply troubled by the news about Scott, as I have worked for and known him since 1993. I find his behavior hypocritical at best and, more likely, distressingly prejudiced. Many of you friends who, like myself, have worked for Scott might be floored to know this news. I think at this point I shall do my best to "out" him and any others like him. Folks who show (and make money) playing one game, but with an inner intolerance that denies everything our industry represents.

I have personally been in contact with Marc Shaiman to confirm all the information. In his words:

"Yes, it's all true! Of course, there is nothing much I can do since they've already done HAIRSPRAY, but the AVE Q guys (at least one of them) may do something, perhaps picket his own show! But, as I hope people realize, it is not really up to a writer to cancel a production that has already been licensed.

What I could do I did, which was to call Mr. Eckern directly and say what I had to say.

Reading this past week how people still actually think being gay is a choice (the only choice we make is not to lie about who we are) and that that one line from a beautiful book proves we are sinners (a book that also allows for the stoning of wives and of people who wear two different kinds of fabric at the same time), well, I am starting to feel that the only way to make people change is, I think, to now greet every person I meet and say "Hi, I'm Marc, God made me gay and I think that that He and I are both fabulous!" and leave the rest up to them."

Sacramento Music Circus holds a cherished place in my heart, primarily because of Leland Ball and the inspirational talents he would gather for his productions. I feel the spirit of Leland is lost under Scott's leadership. As a private citizen I choose not to support California Music Theatre while it operates under Mr. Eckern's tenure.

I support Marc Shaiman in his boycott of CMT, and hope others will follow -- as ticket-buyers, writers, musical directors, crew, designers and performers and more.

I feel compelled to write because I have heard from so many beloved friends the last few days. People who are in every way caring and generous citizens. Friends who are for the most part very quiet on the political front, who have had to awaken because of last Tuesday, due to their shock that their lifestyles are not "accepted" by so-called friends!! The irony of electing Obama and Prop 8 passing astounds me.

I am not ordinarily a political fighter, but I do believe in information for all, and let them decide. And more than anything I believe in "holding the space" for what is right.

In support of my gay and lesbian friends I find it a travesty that the entire arts community is not standing in solidarity for equal rights. Shame on Scott.

That our industry should be the first to raise money and awareness for AIDS to the result of awakening a country and world to the issue ... well then, marriage (and every other sort of) equality is a no-brainer ... and a duty and obligation.

I hope with this email to find others to "hold the space" with me .... full equality in marriage rights. If you should feel compelled to pass the information about Scott Eckern on to others .... by all means do.

Hoping for change .... still,

Susan Egan

nycdncr posted this yesterday in the thread on the Off Topic Board, where there's a very spirited discussion going on.

Artistic Director of California Musical Theatre

I love that woman.

Bravo Susan! Not every actor would have such integrity to stand up for other's rights if it meant possibly losing future jobs. I hope more actors will follow suit.

What a pig that man is. And just to name a few, this theatre's website lists THE COLOR PURPLE, with lesbian themes, THE LION KING, with an out gay composer, and AVENUE Q with at least an out-gay book writer and other gay elements.

So, they can make money off of gay people, but we just can't marry. Scott Eckern should go work in a barn.

Susan Egan is my new hero.

As for the issue of donating (I mean, it is his money after all...as douchey as it is), couldn't he just have donated several times in cash in increments of $5, if he wanted to keep it on the down low?

It should also be noted that (according to his bio) Mr. Eckern is president of the League of Sacramento Theatres and sits on the board of the National Alliance for Musical Theatre. He is also an adjunct professor of theatre at Sacramento State University and American River College.

If you donate that much money, you must legally disclose it and it is public record. Your donations are aggregate so smaller donations won't hide the total amount.

Scott is a nice man, but his actions on this issue are reprehensible. He has every right to donate his money however he sees fit, but this is a free market and patrons have every right to choose to not give money to CMT in return. For those of us who see this as a civil rights issue, it is absolutely no different from the head of an organization donating money to a "separate but equal" bill for African Americans and then those of us who believe in equality for all boycotting said organization by not spending our money there.

CMT is a great theater with an amazing staff that puts on some great shows so it sucks if they are all affected by this, but I really hope people rally to fight for equality after the shameful results in multiple states.

Vote with your ballot and vote with your wallet.

Morosco - NAMT's website lists this as their board of directors. I don't see Eckern's name there, unless I am missing something. Maybe they bumped him? In which case, bravo for NAMT!

NAMT Board of Directors
Dennis M. Reagan, The MUNY (MO), President
Nick Manos, Theater of the Stars (GA), Vice President
Marilynn Sheldon, The 5th Avenue Theatre (WA), Vice President
Kevin Moore, The Human Race Theatre Company (OH), Secretary
Louis G. Spisto, The Old Globe (CA), Treasurer
Brett Bernardini, The Spirit of Broadway Theater (CT)
John C. Breckenridge, Theatre Under The Stars(TX)
Sean Cercone, Carousel Dinner Theatre (OH)
Kathy Evans, National Alliance For Musical Theatre (NY)
Harriett Guin-Kittner, Goodspeed Musicals (CT)
Robb Hunt, Village Theatre (WA)
Lester Malizia, Seaside Music Theater (FL)
Sharon Maroney, The Broadway Rose Theatre (OR)
Kent Nicholson, TheatreWorks (CA)
Thomas M. Scallen, Chanhassen Dinner Theatres (MN)
Mark D. Sylvester, Walnut Street Theatre (PA)
Daniella Topol, The Lark Play Development Center (NY)
Kumiko Yoshii, Gorgeous Entertainment (NY)
Marsha S. Brooks, Brooks & Distler, Legal Counsel

Here's a link to his bio on the California Music Theatre website. (Insider2...I'm not challenging your post. It will be interesting to keep an eye on his CMT bio.)

http://www.californiamusicaltheatre.com/index.cfm?page=474824

He was on the board and hit a term limit. This is very common.

cry about it.

It just baffles my mind. You know gay people. You know them as human beings. You work with them. And yet you send $1000 to help make them second class citizens.

Sad.

people have done worse.

you can thank the state of California for the proposition 8 mistake... not this dude.

I don't care either way. I'm all for Gay rights (I'm a homosexual myself) but sometimes you people get your panties in a tight twist over nothing really.

it's $1,000. not like $100,00.

"you people"?

I don't care if it was a DOLLAR.

So, it would be ok to make a donation to the KKK as long as it's only $1000 and not "$100,00".

(Why AM I engaging the stupid sock puppet?)

Because, Jrb, it never hurts to sprikle a lil Febreeze on a stank sock :)

that comparison is irrational.

the KKK was responsible (and still is) for thousands upon thousands murders.

who's getting killed in this whole debacle? and please, remember, that I AM homosexual and support gay marriage.

I just think the overreacting is absurd.

"Overreacting"? You are gay and supposedly support gay marriage, but those of us that are upset that our rights are slowly being taken away are "overreacting"?

We are in THEATER! While this man may have donated personal funds to Prop. 8, where has he made this money? Partly off of the fabulous gay men and women that work for his theater and pay the tuition to attend his class(es).

Maybe I am overreacting. But I'm also pissed. And it is the lax attitude of people like you that put this cause back when we should be moving forward.

/end rant.

Perhaps his comparison to the KKK is unfair, but I do believe my comparison to supporting "separate, but equal" facilities is dead on. There were policies in place that regulated blacks to second class citizens. Those policies are now gone.

This is a civil rights issue.

I can understand the outrage over illegalizing gay marriage and I am for it being legal, myself, but not everyone agrees that marriage is a civil right.

Anyway, he has the right to believe what he wants, and people have the right to boycott his product for said beliefs.

It's not the amount of money that Mr. Eckern donated. It's the sentiment attached to it that hurts. I am an avid theatre-goer and would hate to find out that my hard earned money was going to support someone's homophobic agenda. As a lesbian with no desire to get married, I would like to have the option to change my mind in the future if the right woman comes along. If you are gay and think the actions of people like Mr. Eckern are no big deal, then you don't support gay marriage! IMO!

"homophobic agenda."

do you know how many gay AND straight liberals (democrats, left-wingers... whatever) vote against Gay Marriage because it opens a terrible can of worms? a can of worms that will have the country questioning the entire Constitution, the Bible, and the Government?

for many, it has nothign to do with gay marriage.

Why do we always assume it's them being "homophobic" ?? I don't get it.

Okay people, take action:

This is the "contact us" section of California Music Theatre- write in how you feel, and recommend that they fire him. If nothing else, it will give this guy an idea of how unpopular he is with the message board demographic.

http://www.californiamusicaltheatre.com/index.cfm?page=445683

As for opening a "terrible can of worms"...I don't think so. Not that many liberals voted FOR prop8, and those gays who voted for Prop 8 have more issues then we can get into on this board without one of us being a trained psychologist. Was letting women vote a terrible can of worms? Blacks being freed from slavery and eventually allowed to attend the same schools, eating at the same places, and ride anywhere on the bus they wanted to with all the other races didn't open any can of worms we couldn't handle. Nor did the legalization of interracial marriages, so to yap about how gay marriages opens a can of worms is just uneducated and truly sad.

It's not really them being homophobic, IMO, it's them just being bigots. And since when shouldn't we question things like The Bible? We question everything else, question scientologists, muslims and all thats in between so why not be fair and turn an eye to The Bible and why people are using it to take away US citizen's rights?

As taxpayers I do believe it is our right to question the constitution, and the government, and religions influencing the government. To think otherwise is just scary.

I see in his bio that Mr. Eckern has a masters degree from Brigham Young University. That explains much. The Mormon church members contributed millions to the defeat of prop 8.

Why should they fire him...should we now fire every person that works in the arts that said YES to 8?...this is way out of control...poor guy, he just stood up for what HE believed in, even if he works with those who think differently. Producing shows should have nothing to do with who you marry or not. All he cares about as that the show is produced and it makes money...that's his job, period!!!

No, producing should have nothing to do with who you marry or not, but in this case, he donated money he earned off of the work of many performers, composers and stage managers and crew who are homosexual. For that, he is wrong.

Yes his money is his to do with as he pleases, but if we are looking at this from a purely theatrical standpoint, it's like a producer of Dreamgirls, or Ragtime, or Smokey Joes Cafe, or even Hairspray, donating to a cause that promoted racial segregation, and inequality for African Americans.

There is no legal reason he can be fired for his donation, but his company can lose money due to a boycott. I will not attend Music Circus this summer, or go see a show playing under the CMT umbrella ANY time of year, while he is still with the company.

True beans to that Jarrett! Well said!

He doesn't work with those who THINK differently -- he works with, and has a job that depends largely on the talents of the community to whom he's working to deny basic civil rights. Big difference.

And I love Susan Egan.

Be it $1 or $1,000,000 he still supports a bill that denies a basic civil right to a group of Americans. I am straight, but I will no longer support, or perform for CMT as long as Mr Eckern is employed there. This is a huge thing, and I will pass this on to everyone in my address book.
Bravo Susan Egan!

Does anyone think it Ironic that because of the massive African-American turnout in the past election, Prop 8 passed? Studies show that whites voted 49%-51% in favor of it, and african american's voted 70-30 in favor of it. If all of the african americans that usually stay home during elections did for this one as well, Prop 8 would not have passed.
Seems like change only matters when it concerns yourself. Change? Seems like more of the same.


I am a constant supporter of Civil Rights in this amazing and wonderful country of ours. Mr. Eckern (sp?) can do what ever the heck he wants with his money. Firing him you cannot do because it would be firing him based on discriminatory practices and not because of anything job based. He would sue the theater and win.
I applaud the people here who would like to show their dissent to his action by writing a letter informing the theater of their views. But if anyone here really thinks that the majority of actors in the Union where only 6% have health insurance and 8% made over $50,000 last year will stop auditioning there, I think you are sorely mistaken.
Maslow's hierarchy of laws tells us that some things are just too important.

I don't normally post here- but was glad to see this thread.

I received a forward of this same email from a director friend of mine.

I am disheartened and dismayed that someone who works in theatre is personally working towards denying the civil rights of many who work for him.

I clicked on his bio- Scott Eckern (Artistic Director)....(http://www.californiamusicaltheatre.com/index.cfmpage=474824) ...
after noting that he graduated from BYU, the bio ends with a mention of his wife and children.

I happen to be gay. Apparently Scott Eckern (Artistic Director), who makes money from the talents of many gay theatre artists ( and patrons) - believes that we should all be bound by his personal religious beliefs. Which means that Scott Eckern (Artistic Director) is opposed to my right to have a family as he does, because I am gay.

I do find it ironic that in the middle of a huge forward movement for civil rights gay people have been disenfranchised.

I found Susan Egan's letter heartwarming.

I would not feel comfortable working for or going to ( as an audience member) a theatre with administrative people at that level who oppose my civil rights. And yes, I do consider marriage a civil right. Whites and blacks were unable to marry once. I am saddened that religion is somehow being put forth as a reason to deny me and many others a basic civil liberty. Separation of church and state?

As both a member of the theatrical community ( in the unions) and an audience member, I am disturbed that someone at that level of administration in a CA theatre is opposed to gay rights.

Re: Susan Egan and Mark Shaiman- I am glad they noticed- and cared.

It will be interesting to see what happens. CMT doesn't audition uniil the spring so there is a chance that this issue will have blown over by then.
Some people are scared of what they don't understand. Think of it this way- Interracial marriage was illegal in 17 states until The US Supreme Court Ruled it was unconstitutional in 1967. 1967! At that time the 51% of the Country was against it. That's only 40 years ago! And now we have a Black President-Elect-a product of Interracial Marriage to boot! If people went to the polls a week ago with the idea that this country really couldn't elect a black man to the highest office in the land, what would have happened? McCain's final message in the last week before the election was one of safety-Obama is friends with terrorists, terrorists will "test" Obama. "Safety" is the second level of Maslow's theory.Maslow's hierarchy of needs didn't come into play last week. Lightning can strike twice.

Not everyone who is against gay marriage is against it because of religious reasons.

Really? Because, it seems every argument as at least a tenuous grasp on the god stuff. What other reason is there? Some state amendments not only prohibit gay marriage, but any sort of union that would give gay people the same rights and status as marriage.

It's on Perez
http://perezhilton.com/2008-11-10-hairspray-composer-shows-us-how-to-stand-against-h8te

Spork Im dying to hear the non-religious based reasons against gay marriage!

A copy of the Shaiman email from the Perezhilton article:
http://perezhilton.com/2008-11-10-hairspray-composer-shows-us-how-to-stand-against-h8te


Friends,
This weekend, due to it being public record, I learned that a Mr. Scott Eckerd, Artistic Director, California Musical Theatre (where "HAIRSPRAY" was performed last year, one of our first licensed regional theatre productions) donated $1000 towards YES on Prop. 8

Well, I did what I felt I needed to do, I called him right up. "Hi, it's Marc Shaiman, co-creator of HAIRSPRAY, would you please call me back?" He did. I asked him how a man who makes his life and living working with (and I assume befriending and loving) gay men and women could possibly think we were less entitled to the same basic rights he enjoys. He basically said "it's not a personal thing against people, it's my belief regarding the protection of marriage…etc. (I'm paraphrasing his words, but that is the gist of it).

I then told him the idea that money from his salary that was, in a small way, made from a production of HAIRSPRAY had now been put to use to pass this bigoted Proposition truly hurt and sickened me and that no future project of mine would ever play his theatre.

(Oy, let's hope I have some future projects!)

So, ladies and gentlemen of the-ay-tuh, what can we do? We can picket (our own shows!), deny rights, etc. And I am all for that.

But how can we CHANGE MINDS?

Oscar Hammerstein (what a guy!) wrote "You've Got To Be Taught". That's what gets me. People aren't born with the belief that gays are "sinners", they HAVE TO BE TAUGHT. All of religion is TAUGHT.

As the pie of reality hit me (and so many others) in the face last week about how many people still believe that one sentence from one lovely book "proves" we are an "abomination", (a book that also allows for the stoning of wives or people who wear two different threads of material and don't get that book started on shellfish…) I believe I must now greet every person I meet with "Hello, my name is Marc, God made me gay and I think that THAT and He are both fabulous."

Or maybe "Hi, God made me gay, so please doll, take it up with Him"

I have a gospel station programmed in my car radio, and when it came on yesterday morning, I found myself turning it off due to quotes I've read these last few days. For me personally, there is nothing more gut-wrenchingly sad to me than that moment. I joyfully bypass talk radio, I enjoyed muting the TV when Sarah Palin came on or changing the channel anytime Bush appears, but TURNING OFF GOSPEL MUSIC? It was then that I truly realized I have got to do something to start changing minds because people, I AM NOT GIVING UP GOSPEL MUSIC!!

I'm blabbering now, and to people I have great respect for, so, what am I trying to say here?

Please contact Mr. Scott Eckerd, Artistic Director, California Musical Theatre

http://www.californiamusicaltheatre.com/index.cfm?page=572414

and ask him why he thinks I (and maybe you) am less a person than he. I don't want to attempt to affect the livelihood of folks who work at this particular theatre (as if that was in my power) but we have GOT to stop sitting back and accepting this bigotry, particularly from people in our own field.

No more apathy! I believe we all thought there was NO WAY discrimination could actually be written into the constitution, but WE WERE WRONG. And what the hell (pardon the pun) happened to the separation of church and state??

Today I will read my morning paper, and take a plane to New York and do many other things that people who believe as Mr. Eckerd will profit from it and I can't YET figure out how to live an entire life without inadvertently supporting folks like that, but for the love of God (pardon the pun), can we all start putting our money where our mouths are??!

I believe we all thought there was NO WAY discrimination could actually be written into the constitution, but WE WERE WRONG.

Sure, it's not like those twenty-odd states that already did it matter.

Responding to Liza + Jesus

"you people"?!? I smell internalized homophobia, dear. This is not "us people" getting our panties in a twist, this is a fight for civil rights, something you seem to think others should be doing for you. "I'm all for gay rights." Sure you are, as long as you don't have to break a sweat, and then have the nerve to bitch about the people that do the work. Get a clue.

for all prop 8 supporters-take 6 1/2 minutes to watch this
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/27652443#27652443

Oh Lord. OLBERMANN!? really? it's the oreilly of the left. I am so darn sick of newscasters not reporting the independent news. It's like all of these news shows have to have some announcer who is LEANING SO Far to one side the boat should tip over.
MSNBC is like air america on tv
while fox news is limbaugh land. Neither can be trusted or listened to. NPR and the BBC are the only ones left. (no pun intended)

Massofmen-Olbermann makes no bones about the fact that he states his own beliefs on his show. Besides stating the obvious-that he is a Liberal-why don't you address what he said in his commentary?

Before I give the general reasons, let me state once again that I do not buy into any of these reasons myself. So please don't expect me to argue for them.

- A lot of people think that the very foundation of civilization is marriage between a man and a woman. Even the Romans, who were perfectly fine with homosexuality, did not legalize homosexual marriages.
- Many feel that the government needs to stay out of marriage, period.
- Slippery slope argument: if being able to marry anyone you want is a right, where does it stop?
- Again, the idea that marriage to anyone you want is not a right
- (Remember that these people tend to feel that homosexuality is a choice) Everyone has the same right: if you are a man, to marry a woman, and a woman, to marry a man

I never said that they're good reasons and you may find holes in them, just as I did. However, for many it's a more complicated issue than just close-minded homophobes oppressing people for fear God will smite their city if they legalize gay marriage.

this is true Spork.

Another reason:


The rights of Children: Children, society’s most voiceless and vulnerable group, have rights that should be defended. Consider the following quotes from a LIBERAL DEMOCRAT in favor of prop 8:

"Marriage is a gift that society bestows on its next generation. Marriage (and only marriage) unites the three core dimensions of parenthood — biological, social and legal — into one pro-child form: the married couple. Marriage says to a child: The man and the woman whose sexual union made you will also be there to love and raise you. Marriage says to society as a whole: For every child born, there is a recognized mother and a father, accountable to the child and to each other.
Marriage is society’s most pro-child institution. In 2002 — just moments before it became highly unfashionable to say so — a team of researchers from Child Trends, a nonpartisan research center, reported that “family structure clearly matters for children, and the family structure that helps children the most is a family headed by two biological parents in a low-conflict marriage.”
For these reasons, children have the right, insofar as society can make it possible, to know and to be cared for by the two parents who brought them into this world. This human right, concerning children, protects those who are typically society’s most voiceless and vulnerable group.

Do you think that every child deserves his mother and father, with adoption available for those children whose natural parents cannot care for them? Do you suspect that fathers and mothers are different from one another? Do you imagine that biological ties matter to children? In making the case for same-sex marriage, more than a few grown-ups will be quite willing to question your integrity and goodwill. Children, of course, are rarely consulted.

I believe with all my heart in the right of the child to the mother and father who made her, I believe that we as a society should seek to maintain and to strengthen the only human institution — marriage — that is specifically intended to safeguard that right and make it real for our children."

Consider the following quotes from a LIBERAL DEMOCRAT in favor of prop 8

...without any attribution...

If we're going to look the Romans for things, then I'm gonna suggest we start hurling a few Christians to the lions.

I wish the government WOULD stay out of marriage, but that we require all civil marriages to be dissolved.

It stops at one person being able to marry another person. Unless the Mormons decide to go back to polygamy.

And the last two don't even warrant comment.

"...without any attribution..."

here you go, Lizzie.


http://whatistheharm.org/story/2008/10/13/9312/0551

don't provoke Liza+Jesus=Patti.

it will get you know where.

it will get you know where.

LOL

Here's tip-off from that "liberal Democrat" (ahem, ahem) website:

read the complete story at mormontimes.com

Yeah. Sure I will.

you people DO realize that the people of California, who are predominantly Liberal (did we forget that it's a Blue state??), voted for this.

it's not all about the religious or political views. there's a lot more to it.

Here are the websites linked on that "liberal Democrat" (ahem, ahem) website:

+Defend Marriage
+Focus on the Family
+Protect Marriage
+Institute for Marriage and Public Policy
+National Association for Research and Therapy of Homosexuality
+The Howard Center

With liberal Democrats like that, who needs BIGOTS?

you people DO realize that the people of California, who are predominantly Liberal (did we forget that it's a Blue state??), voted for this.

Have you ever been to San Joaquin, Orange or Placer County?

there's a lot more to it.

Nope. Just that enough people are uncomfortable with butt sex. That's all.

Is this person HD? Or the person who pretended to be HD?

"Even the Romans, who were perfectly fine with homosexuality, did not legalize homosexual marriages."

Not true at all.

Slippery slope?

People said the SAME thing when interracial marriages were fought for.

And if marriage is about children and mommies and daddies, why do we allow infertile couples and couples who never want children to get married? Why do they bother?

The fact is that there are many gay couples who ARE raising children.

I have yet to hear one single, rational, true reason why gay people shouldn't be allowed to get married.

Not one.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0mlDi0sLutg

I have yet to hear one single, rational, true reason why gay people shouldn't be allowed to get married.

Not one.

Ta-da!

Is Susan Egan a lesbian?

I am one of those people who Marc sent his email to and like Susan Egan, I passed it around with Marc's permission. What Scott did also angered me because like Marc stated, the money donated to YES on Proposition 8 most likely came from the money made off of Hairspray and the like, whose authors are gay.

By now Scott Eckern has been beaten up on enough. I think he gets it. Now, what he does with this information is up to him HOWEVER, because of this incident and what it represents, perhaps it will encourage us all to focus on and to be mindful about who we give to or who we allow to make money off of our talents. Simple as that.

As for references made about the KKK, as a black woman, I can tell you that blacks and gays are still being killed. It doesn't matter how many, it just still is.

Does it matter what Susan Egan's sexual preference is? As long as she's got a mouth and her actions and intentions are honorable...? Look at this thread and the diverse thinking that is being expressed. And a big shout out to Marc for standing up as well as OUT.

Yes, because only gays care about gays.

I don't think Ms. Egan is gay, but it doesn't matter. There are lots of straight people who see this as discrimination and are fighting this fight with gay people.

Because this fight isn't for gay people. It's to end discrimination on gender and sexual orientation. For all people.

Sanda--you seem to have missed the point ENTIRELY.

What Susan Egan did was very brave--and her bravery gave a great many other people the courage to speak out against bigotry.

Chris Sieber isn't happy, either. And before you ask, yes, he actually IS gay, Sanda!

(see comments below linked post)

Link

I am not a member of the gay community, but as a member of the human race, the bigotted stance of so many individuals on this issue sickens me.

This is about human rights and human DECENCY. Nothing more, nothing less.


I cried tears of joy when Senator Obama became our President-Elect last Tuesday night. What a wonderful, extraordinary thing for this country and the world! How sad that that same night, I cried tears of shame, anger, and sadness for the human race when I learned of the anti-gay initiatives passed in several of our States.

Separate is NOT equal.



Note-

It's been posted, but it bears repeating: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2008/11/10/keith-olbermanns-prop-8-s_n_142862.html

Mr. Olbermann's comments are intelligent, honest, appropriate, and heart-felt. He should be commended for what he said last night.

California Musical Theater has made a statement:

"Any political action or opinion of Scott Eckern is not shared by California Musical Theatre. We have a long history of appreciation for the LGBT community and are truly grateful for their long-standing support. We acknowledge the dedication, patronage, and hard work of the many members of the LGBT community who have played a crucial role in our success. Our only mission is to present quality theatrical productions to enrich the cultural life of the community. "

If any of you know this company, you know this to be true. It is filled with wonderful people who love to do shows and I applaud them addressing this issue. I know this won't be good enough for some of you, but I know this is how the company feels and we should not judge them for one person's mistake. I have my own feelings about Scott Eckern and what he did (and they are not nice feelings) but my issue is with him, not CMT.

I will post this on the other threads as well.

"I believe with all my heart in the right of the child to the mother and father who made her"

As someone who is adopted, I can tell you this is pure nonsense. Genetics don't count for crap. All I care about are the wonderful parents who raised me who are my ONLY parents. The people that donated sperm and eggs and nothing more than science to me.

A child does not have a NEED to be with their biological parent. There are too many terrible biological parents for this to be true.

A child has a need and a right to be with a LOVING caring parent, and I'm here to tell you that that brand of parent comes in all shapes, sizes and sexual orientations.

Susan Egan is married. She and her husband have an ADORABLE little girl named Nina together.


"This is about human rights and human DECENCY. Nothing more, nothing less." End scene, thank you. :)

I don't have a point. I like Susan Egan. Saw this title and clicked in. After reading the entire letter, that's the first thing coming from my mind. That's it. By the way, if Ms.Egan is gay, I like her no less.

I don't have a point.

LOL

Lizzie,
bie2 tai4 xiao3 cong1 ming2.
satisfied?
:)

To answer and put to rest a few mis-conceptions:

- Susan Egan is heterosexual and married to a man. She does however feel that gay citizens deserve the same rights as heterosexual citizens and does include the right to marry. There are many straight people who also believe in marriage equality for all.

- Mr. Eckern converted to the church of Latter Da Saints as a teen-ager. He's a devout Mormon who evidently felt he has to enforce his religious beliefs on the rest of the non-Mormon population.

- While Mr. Eckern made a 180 degree turn and apologized, the damage has already been done. My life-partner and I planned to get married next summer and will not be able to get married "legally" in California. If we got married in Canada or Massachusetts, we would still not be recognized as married under California law.

-It now looks like Mr. Eckern will keep his job after the apology and its acceptance by Jeff Whitty, the openly gay playwright. I will personally not attend any more Sacramento Music Circus shows and I would not be surprised if Sacramento loses out on several high profile musical theatre folks who will choose not to work for Mr. Eckern.

I'm very sorry to hear, BroadwayBaby. That's why I don't understand where the apology is really coming from. The damage is already done. Isn't the passing of Prop 8 what he wanted? If he's sorry about hurting people and understands the discrimination, then he shouldn't have donated in the first place. A donation to another cause is nice but still doesn't reverse anything. The dirty deed is done.

~Steven

As a child I did many stupid things. Some I got away with, but most of them I got caught. One thing my parents taught me is that my actions had consequence. I could say "I'm sorry" all day, but that still did not change the fact that I was about to get a spanking.

Our actions have consequences.

I guess the board of California Musical Theatre is okay with the consequences of it's leaders actions...

are you?

Okay, let me get this "straight," you make your living from musical theatre and you insult gays and lesbians? I'm guessing that Mr. Eckern's days are numbered.

He's not breaking a rule, though. He was donating to a cause that was clearly legal.

Yes, his actions have consequences and he will have to come to terms with them, but you don't have to share the politics of the people you work with. Even if those politics are something you feel consists of basic human decency.

Mr. Eckern just resigned.

Re. Prop8, I was talking to someone about it, and they said something like, "If only the gay community would call it something other than 'marriage' -- if they cloaked it some other way, maybe called it 'gay-riage,' then maybe it would be more acceptable." And I asked them why should gay people have to call their marriages by some other name? That's not right.

An adult couple, gay or straight, should be able to get married if they wish. Some day -- I truly believe this -- this will not be a big deal to most people. Same with gay people having kids. Children need loving, stable homes, period, and a gay couple is every bit as likely to fit that bill as a straight couple is.

Scott Eckern has announced his resignation as artistic director of California Musical Theatre following public turmoil in response to his financial support of California's Proposition 8.

In a statement released Nov. 12, Eckern said, "I am leaving California Musical Theatre after prayerful consideration to protect the organization and to help the healing in the local theatre-going and creative community. California Musical Theatre will continue to welcome with open arms all staff, artists and audiences who collaborate in the experience that live theatre does best – to lift the human spirit. I will continue to be in the audience to cheer on all the good work. It has been an honor to serve alongside those I love and respect in this noble profession. I am disappointed that my personal convictions have cost me the opportunity to do what I love the most which is to continue enriching the Sacramento arts and theatre community."

In his letter of resignation, Eckern also said that while he helped fund Proposition 8, his sister is a lesbian in a committed domestic partnership, adding, "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 that my 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."

California Musical Theatre has not issued a statement on a replacement for Eckern.
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This was from Playbill.com

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I worked for this company for three years and my parents have been subscribers for years and years. Some of the very first shows I ever saw where at this theater. My family and I are very disappointed and saddened about the whole thing.

It's really a shame about Mr. Eckern. I'm certainly not happy that he had to lose his job over this. However, I think he should have known better. Yes, he is allowed to support whatever he wants, it's a free country, etc., but he is at the head of a well known theatre company, and the theatre community is primarily gay-friendly. Of course his donation was going to piss off the theatre community or at least create some kind of drama. I'm not saying that he had no right to do what he did, but he just should have known that it would hurt and upset many people with whom he works and associates. I wish Mr. Eckern all the best, but in the end, actions have consequences.

~Steven

In the NY Times he was also quoted as saying, “I understand that my choice of supporting Proposition 8 has been the cause of many hurt feelings, maybe even betrayal,” Mr. Eckern said. “It was not my intent. I honestly had no idea that this would be the reaction.”

Huh? What reaction did he THINK it would get? Or did he think at all? My guess is that he didn't.

"I'm not saying that he had no right to do what he did, but he just should have known that it would hurt and upset many people with whom he works and associates. I wish Mr. Eckern all the best, but in the end, actions have consequences."

I mean, yeah--he totally had every right to make that donation. It gets sticky when you realize, though, that his salary is coming from the blood and sweat of the very people who's rights he was fighting to take away.

AND just like he has the right to make that donation, all of us would have had the right to not support California Music Theatre, which is probably why he was asked to resign.

Put it this way: He has a right to vote the way he wants (even if I don't agree with it AT ALL), but when it comes to donations, they are public record. He should have realized that and not donated at all and kept his vote private. He would still have his job today if he hadn't made that donation. That $1000 cost him a whole lot more, especially in this economy.

You have to be smart about your convictions and actions. I work in the media for a company. I have to be smart about my political affiliations and I have to even be smart about what photos I choose to put up on my FaceBook profile. It is a public era with the internet. All actions have consequences and Scott's story is a classic tale of that.

Look... He may have had the right to donate to whomever he chose but he represents the California Music Theater as Artistic Director. The bottom line is when word like this gets out people will refuse to work with him and his company and the whole theater could and wold suffer.
It is one thing if you are just a schmo in the company but you are the head and you represent the whole theater.
Yes it is a free world and he can do whatever he wants with his money but there are always consequences for actions taken.

Yeah, it's amazing how much all those good people who voted for Proposition 8 really love gay and lesbian people, even their brothers and sisters who are in domestic partnerships or civil unions. If all those supporters of Proposition 8 were really in favor of civil unions, then one would expect there to be civil unions in Utah, where Mormons predominate. Or that the Roman Catholic Church was busy lobbying in favor of civil unions in the 40-odd states that do not have them. But alas no, the Mormons and the Catholics and the Evangelicals have fought tooth and nail against any attempt to establish civil unions, and even to repeal them as they did in Oregon and Washington. Don't believe the hype: people who voted against marriage equality would also vote against civil unions if they had the chance.