Scott Eckern exercised his constitutional right of free speech and, following the advice of his church - the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints - donated $1,000 to the campaign supporting California's Proposition 8, banning same-sex marriage in the state.

Supporters of same-sex marriage exercised their constitutional rights and publicized Eckern's donation - and the fact that Eckern is artistic director of the California Musical Theatre, the state's largest nonprofit musical theater company.

These supporters of gay rights encouraged their artist friends who are gay and lesbian to boycott CMT. One artist who took up the boycott call is fairly famous in musical-theater circles: Mark Shaiman, who composed the songs for the musical version of "Hairspray."

Today, according to this report, Eckern resigned his job at California Musical Theatre, "after prayerful consideration to protect the organization and to help the healing in the local theatre-going and creative community," he said in a statement.

I feel sorry that a guy lost his job. I also feel sorry that 18,000 gay and lesbian couples who have married legally in California this year were told by voters that their marriages don't count. There are no winners in this mess, only victims.

Labels: LDS, politics