L.A. Film Fest Director's Resignation Over Prop. 8 Donation Not Accepted

Perhaps the LGBT community should begin a petition drive to pass a Proposition of its own. Proposition: The State Constitution of California should be amended to forbid same-religion marriage. Two individuals of the same religion would no longer be allowed to marry one another in the state of California. Since a person's religion is a matter of personal choice, the person can choose to marry someone outside his or her religion. This does not violate freedom of religion, because the law does not forbid the practices of any religion. Any religious group could still choose to perform commitment services for their members, but these would no longer be recognized by the state if both parties were the same religion. That kind of a proposition would get their attention. It might even cause a few of them to think about how their actions have affected the LGBT community in California.

Can you imagine if someone like Raddon (or the Mormon artistic director of the Sacramento Music Theatre) donated money to deny rights to blacks, Latinos, women, Italians or Republicans? Their butts would be out of there so quickly, they'd have whiplash. Yes, all Americans have a right to their opinions and their vote. But if you support - with your dollars - legalized discrimination, why would you be surprised if those people don't want to work with you?

If California passed a measure taking away the right of Mormons to marry, there would be such an uproar, we would never hear the end of it. Would people who donated to that campaign be allowed to retain their jobs after resigning, in an organization that was known for exhibiting Mormon films? Somehow I doubt it. Why is it that when the civil rights of law-abiding, taxpaying, gay Americans are voided, there's always an excuse to ignore it?

Just as we don't want to lose our jobs, etc. based on who we are - we should respect those rights equally. I have family/friends that voted and/or would have voted YES because of their (faulty) convictions. Though it sickens me, fighting this fight in the manner of calling others "HYPOCRITES" etc. is an exercise in futility and in fact stooping down to a level that is counterproductive. His beliefs and his money can do whatever it wants. We have the task of rising above that, educating others and approaching this with passionate, intelligent and grounded conversations.

Prop 8 wasn't a political issue. It was about civil rights. He chose to donate to a campaign that was for denying gay people civil rights. I will not buy anything from Film Independent, Richard Raddon or anyone that denied gay people civil rights.

Poor Mr. Raddon and poor Morman Church. Not all Mormons believe as their Church does; for instance the Mormon Moms who campaigned against Prop 8. So sad to live in the middle of hypocrites, and work with them, too. I don't think it is ethical to make money from the talent, and jobs that GLBT have in the entertainment arena, and then not uphold them in equal rights in our country. A certain entertainment capitol of MO, known all over the world makes money in this fashion. It will be a more enjoyable place to go when our country's courts will say we are all equal. I suffer from a guilty conscience every time I spend a dollar there.

Poor Mr. Raddon and poor Morman Church. Not all Mormons believe as their Church does; for instance the Mormon Moms who campaigned against Prop 8. So sad to live in the middle of hypocrites, and work with them, too. I don't think it is ethical to make money from the talent, and jobs that GLBT have in the entertainment arena, and then not uphold them in equal rights in our country. A certain entertainment capitol of MO, known all over the world makes money in this fashion. It will be a more enjoyable place to go when our country's courts will say we are all equal. I suffer from a guilty conscience every time I spend a dollar there.

He has a right to do what he feels is right in his persona life, and so do I. I won't be renting or buying any films from this Independent again. I won't have my money going to pay someone that doesn't believe that I am a citizen just as he is.

He shouldn't be fired for a donation in such a controversial measure. He should just quit, because when you work in the arts, in LA, must be really tough to face your coworkers every day knowing that you have a problem with their sexual orientation. I mean, too bad that Utah and the GOP have so minimal representation in the entertainment industry. And no, I don't feel sorry at all for this person.

Both Joel and Adrian make good points. I agree that no one should be fired from their job for their personal beliefs, even if I don't agree with them. But at the same time, we need to start voting with our money and let businesses know that if high level employees are going to use our consumer dollars against us - then we will take them elsewhere. For this reason, I will no longer eat at El Coyote on Beverly or El Pollo Loco at Sunset Junction. Nor will I attend the Los Angeles Film Festival.