"I Meant My Rights, Not Yours," or The Relativity of Civility: Curmudgeon's Corner (9)

      Smokey Burner, the Broken Stove's resident curmudgeon, is not a political animal. Smokey is registered Independent, votes on a regular basis, and has strong opinions that he is not reluctant to share, but Smokey has never actively campaigned for a political candidate and has no particular axe to grind. Smokey is glad that the ACLU exists, but is sometimes dismayed by the cases they take on. Smokey believes in the ethical treatment of animals, but wishes PETA were not on his side. Smokey voted for Obama, but won't believe Change is afoot until he Sees Some. You get the idea.
      Having said that, Smokey hopes not to be dismissed as a radical leftist when he reports that he's disappointed that California passed its Proposition 8 to ban gay marriages in that state. Smokey cannot see any way in which his own happy marriage is threatened or diminished by loving same-sex couples seeking the same comfort, stability, and benefits which a committed, monogamous, state-sanctioned relationship offers him. Homosexual couples view this as a civil rights issue, and Smokey agrees. Civil rights, however, are a two-way street. And some gay rights advocates are hogging the road.
      Smokey is referring to a recent AP wire story about the resignation of a Sacramento theater director under pressure from the gay community. Here's an excerpt:

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — The artistic director at California's largest nonprofit musical theater company resigned Wednesday amid protests over his donation to a campaign to ban gay marriage in the state.

Scott Eckern stepped down from his job at the California Musical Theater in Sacramento after some gay activists called for a theater boycott....

Eckern said he "chose to act upon my belief that the traditional definition of marriage should be preserved" but had no idea his contribution would generate such controversy....

The boycott calls — led by artists including "Hairspray" composer Marc Shaiman — began after activists learned Eckern contributed $1,000 to the Yes on 8 campaign. Last week, voters approved Proposition 8, which changes the constitution to ban same-sex marriage.

      Not cool. Even if Smokey were willing to concede that a non-profit organization maybe has a little more leeway than a for-profit company or the government in expecting its members to conform to a group ideology (which is a big "if," by the way), think about this. What if it had been reported that a director for a conservative group--like, say, the Boy Scouts of America--had donated $1,000 to the Vote No on Prop 8 campaign, and members of the Boy Scouts had subsequently threatened to withdraw their support unless the offending director resigned? The very same folks behind the threatened Sacramento theater boycott, those responsible for the resignation of a man who was exercising his right to hold a belief which they found offensive (a man who worked closely with gay artists his entire professional life even though his church told him they were sinners), would scream bloody murder and have the Boy Scouts in court for it before you could shout TIMMAYYY! (Smokey apologizes for the possibly-obscure South Park reference).
      Guys. Lots of people just like Smokey want to be on your side. But you can't have your gay rights cake and eat it, too. Tolerant is as tolerant does.