The LA Times has an "editorial" on their Web site lamenting the fact that some anti-gay bigots felt they had to leave their jobs in gay-oriented businesses after it was discovered that the bigots had donated to Proposition 8. The LAT thinks that goes too far.
Let's get something straight here, as it were. The LA Times finds it queer that someone working in a pretty much gay owned and operated business like theater in California is now facing scorn from their gay coworkers and gay audience members after embracing anti-gay hate.
Anyone else scratching their heads?
Here's what the Times wrote about gays:
As much as we abhorred Proposition 8, there's nothing to cheer about when private individuals are afraid to donate to the political campaigns of their choice because it may cost them their livelihood. In the case of Scott Eckern, who resigned from the California Musical Theatre in Sacramento, the future of the nonprofit company was at stake after some artists refused to work with him. But what if that situation were reversed and Eckern were targeted because he opposed Proposition 8? Or because he was gay? Professionals have to look past their personal and political differences or everyone with an opinion will be on an official list of undesirables.And here is what the Times would never dare write:
As much as we abhorred slavery, there's nothing to cheer about when private individuals are afraid to donate to racist political campaigns of their choice because it may cost them their livelihood. In the case of Sam Eaton, who resigned from the California Black Musical Theatre in Sacramento, the future of the nonprofit company was at stake after some black artists refused to work with him. But what if that situation were reversed and Eaton were targeted because he opposed slavery? Or because he was black? Professionals have to look past their personal and political differences over slavery or everyone with an opinion will be on an official list of undesirables.Gosh, I never thought of it that way. If blacks hate Klansmen, then Klansmen will hate blacks, and then where will we all be? Can't we all just get along with people who are beating the crap out of us?
Now for some real world examples.
What do you think would happen to a production assistant at Black Entertainment Television if someone found a white hood and a 7 foot burning cross in his office? Oh, I'm sorry, that's too mean of an example. Forget the Klansman. The production assistant is simply found to have donated money to an effort to overturn Loving v. Virginia and make it illegal for black men to marry our white womenfolk. I'm sure the racist's black coworkers and black audiences would embrace him in the morning for his principled stand against miscegenation. I mean, it's just his opinion.
Or how about an employee of the local Jewish Community Center. I mean, he wasn't an actual Nazi, he just thinks that Jews are money-grubbing long-nosed thieves and therefore donates his money and time to David Duke's "European American" "civil rights" group. I'm sure the anti-Semite's Jewish coworkers and Jewish community members would embrace him for his principled chutzpah.
It's time for the Los Angeles Times to own up to its own homophobia. They wouldn't dare tell blacks and Jews to stop being so mean to the bigot in their midst. But when it comes to gays and lesbians, somehow the crime is never as great, and the punishment never as deserved.
