California theatre arts director calls it quits after being protested

The Art Director for the largest non-profit musical theatre company has quit after protests and boycotts resulting from the fact that he dared to give money to the "Yes on 8" campaign, which passed California's marriage amendment last week.

Scott Eckern stepped down from his job at the California Musical Theater in Sacramento after some gay and lesbian activists called for a theater boycott.

He said in a statement that he is leaving "after prayerful consideration to protect the organization and to help the healing in the local theater going and creative community."

Eckern said he "chose to act upon my belief that the traditional definition of marriage should be preserved" but had no idea his contribution would generate such controversy. He said his sister is a lesbian in a domestic partnership, which he understands to carry the same legal rights as marriage.

The boycott calls led by artists including "Hairspray" composer Marc Shaiman began after activists learned Eckern contributed $1,000 to the Yes on 8 campaign. Last week, voters approved Proposition 8, which changes the constitution to ban same-sex marriage.

Lisa West, regional spokeswoman for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, said Eckern is a member "in very good standing" and the Mormon church supports his decision to resign.

Which just goes to show that when conservatives suggest that the arts and entertainment businesses have become havens for liberals and those promoting the gay agenda...and that conservatives need not apply, we're not just making this stuff up.  Goodness knows that business has few enough conservatives as it is, let alone when you begin to run off the few that are there now.

Maybe conservatives (or shareholders?) should begin calling for the resignation of Apple CEO Steve Jobs, who had that company give $100,000 to "No" campaign...or Levi-Strauss, which pitched in $25,000.  And these are publicly traded companies...contributing with funds that come from the same pot that stockholders dividends come from...not from their own personal pocketbooks.

But no, there's not fuss over that...just attacks over an individual that contributed some of his own after-tax income to support his values.