The Scott Thing

My heart is breaking. I have gone through such a gammot of emotions regarding the donation to Prop 8 that Scott Eckern, artistic director of California Musical Theatre, made and his subsequent resignation. On the one hand, I find it horrible that he could work for a musical theatre company, an organization that relies so heavily on gay performers, directors, patrons, etc., and yet he donates to a cause that will strip them of their rights. For that I say that sometimes descrimination comes with a price, and he is paying that price. For most people, their descrimination goes unpunished, but it caught up with Scott.

On the other hand, we claim this is a free country. Despite me thinking that voting or donating to Yes on 8 is sickening, a private citizen has the right to vote and donate the way they like. Granted, Scott should have taken a moment to realize that given his position and his company, such a donation would have its consequences when it came to light, but he should still have that freedom. Instead, he has been made an example of because people wanted a scapegoat.

But what really upsets me through all this is the damage it has done to California Musical Theatre. This is a precious company in my life. My love for musical theatre was born in Music Circus when my parents would take me summer after summer. I saw my first Broadway-quality shows put on by CMT at the Community Center Theatre - specifically, my Nana took me to "Chorus Line" as part of CMT's Broadway Series. I have worked for the company, off and on, for the past 8 years. I love CMT. I love the shows, I love the good CMT does in the community, and I love Richard Lewis (the executive producer), whose family created the company and maintains it to this day, 57 years later. It breaks my heart that people on both sides - those against Scott who called for boycotts only to now be apologizing for their hastey words, and those for Scott who have decided to make his resignation an act in vain - for making CMT an innocent victim. CMT didn't donate money, but it is CMT that is being attacked and punished. I think the people on both sides who are doing this are just as bad as those who voted Yes on Prop 8 in the first place. Shame on all of them.

And, while some may disagree with me, I am sorry that Scott had to resign. At first, quite honestly, I was happy because I felt like he was being punished for his descrimination. And still, I am not sorry he was punished for his descrimination - I think descrimination of any kind is unacceptable, regardless of whatever religion you want to support it with. I am sorry because CMT has lost a man who was extremely passionate about the company, he gave his all to make sure the shows were as wonderful as they could be. Again, CMT must suffer something in this whole process.

Of course I voted No on Prop 8, and of course I think that voting or donating to Yes was wrong, but I am heartbroken that it has come to all this. And if you think I am wrong, that's okay because you don't have the same feelings for this company that I do. But if you did, you might be heartbroken too.