Prop 8 Reaction

The Nov. 20–26 article “The Outing of Scott Eckern,” by Lauren Horwitch, covered the resignation of California Musical Theatre artistic director Scott Eckern in response to backlash from his support of Proposition 8, a referendum to ban gay marriage in California. The following letters came in response.

Mr. Eckern did not deserve to be treated this way. It is possible to love people with attraction to the same sex and still believe that their attempt to feel validated through the acquisition of special privileges from the government is not in anyone’s best interest. Mr. Eckern should have had the right to donate to any political cause without having to resign his job.
—Alex Walker
Stockton, Calif.

It made me very sad that someone feels they have to resign because of pressure from anyone who does not believe the way they do. Susan Egan was way out of line. Her righteous intolerance towards anyone who supports anything other than her views is so disturbing—not very open-minded. She has been very destructive not only to a man’s career but to the “cause” itself. I do not approve of her methods…. Obviously she is unapologetic and still feels that the theatre community only agrees with her. Maybe her intolerance prevents people who are close to her from speaking their minds.

Perfect example: Look what happens when someone disagrees with her! I personally, on hearing about the picketing at El Coyote, went the next weekend to support them. I hate harassment. Susan Egan can try to justify her actions all she wants, but she is wrong. If Susan Egan were performing right now, I wonder how she would feel if those who were in support of Prop 8 were outside the theatre picketing her because of where she stands on the issue.
—Marina Palmier
Los Angeles

Submit to our column The Last Word, in which we publish reader responses to a question about acting. Simply read the questions below and email your answers (no more than 100 words each) and a headshot to West Coast News Editor Lauren Horwitch at lhorwitch@backstage.com. Please include the name of your city or town. Your response and headshot could be published in an upcoming issue of Back Stage. The current questions are:
• What is the strangest role you’ve played?
• Have you played or would you play a character of a race different from your own?
• What is the best investment you ever made in your career?
• What do you know about acting now that you wish you’d known when you started?