Prop. 8 support fells another entertainment figure

This time, Variety reports, it's Richard Raddon, director of the Los Angeles Film Festival. Raddon, a devout Mormon, was spotted on a donation list as having coughed up $1,500 for Yes on Proposition 8. 

Raddon offered to resign when his gift to bigotry came to light, but was turned down. In his second, and accepted, resignation letter, he seems to want it both ways: 

"I have always held the belief that all people, no matter race, religion or sexual orientation, are entitled to equal rights. I prefer to keep the details around my contribution through my church (italics ours) a private matter. But I am profoundly sorry for the negative attention that my actions have drawn to Film Independent and for the hurt and pain that is being experienced in the GLBT community."

Where to begin? First, he attempts to cloak his political act in his religion. California's Fair Political Practices Commission is on to this ruse, and the upcoming investigation into the Mormon church will be pleasant to see. Second, he (and many other foes of equality) are under the sad and mistaken impression that a political act is private.

Third, he wants not to be judged on his act, even though it was itself an act of judgment against a whole class of people. Here he might have a case: Some people are afraid that the Prop. 8 backlash is degenerating into a witch hunt, and that people and firms who may have done positive things for gays are being condemned for a single act. For example, boycotting Cinemark over its CEO's $9,999 donation might throw gay employees out of work. Also, Variety reports, Cinemark brought "Brokeback Mountain" and is bringing "Milk" to small towns and many screens where people might otherwise not see it.

That said, I think the L.A. Film Festival is well able to find an executive who is less naive and more appreciative of where his paycheck ultimately derives.   

(Image courtesy Getty Images)