Prop 8 and "McCarthyism"

At what point is getting a person with whom you disagree "politically" fired OK in this country? (I'll explain the scare quotes around politically later.) The response most everyone (I hope) would instantly give is "never". Yet, this is what happened in Sacramento, and for once, I am not so disturbed by it - in fact, it is validation of an American market economy at work.

As is well-known now, CA Proposition 8 - which amended the CA State Constitution so as to redefine "marriage" between a man and a woman - passed 52 to 48. Many people who voted for this did not see this as taking away anybody's rights, but as a way to draw a box around something they thought they knew. Others, like myself, see it as a way to make sure gay couples know they are second class. I can only imagine how gay couples feel.

This story begins, however, with the finding that the director of the California Musical Theater in Sacramento - an outfit that employs, patronizes, and uses as suppliers untold numbers of gay people - donated $1,000 to Yes on Prop 8. Once this broke, gay people in the business immediately called for a boycott of the theater.

He has since resigned and released the following statement:

I understand that my choice of supporting Proposition 8 has been the cause of many hurt feelings, maybe even betrayal. It was not my intent. I honestly had no idea that this would be the reaction. I chose to act upon my belief that the traditional definition of marriage should be preserved. I support each individual to have rights and access and I understood that in California domestic partnerships come with the same rights that come with marriage. My sister is a lesbian and in a committed domestic partnership relationship. I am loving and supportive of her and her family, and she is loving and supportive of me and my family. I definitely do not support any message or treatment of others that is hateful or instills fear. This is a highly emotional issue and the accusations that have been made against me are simply not true. I have now had many conversations with friends and colleagues,and I am deeply saddened that my personal beliefs and convictions have offended others. My choice to support the Proposition was personal, and does not represent the views and opinions of California Musical Theatre or the many people associated with the organization. I was required by law to identify my employer and occupation at the time of my donation.

I feel for this guy, I do. But only to a point. His feelings aside, he works with a lot of people for whom his vision of the world directly harms their idea of their family. Their inclusion in the American dream. It was an idiotic, brazen move, and if he did not see how hurt people would get, then people are simply not listening. So, I feel that folks did have the right to choose to not work with, or patronize, the place where he works. This is America, and that is a valid protest.

A comparison with McCarthyism is unfair - McCarthy had the full weight of the Federal gummint to root out leftists and ruin their lives. This guy's job propects - he ruined them himself.

BTW Why is it that a guy who works this closely with the gays who he feels are ruining his idea of marriage is only talking to them now?

UPDATE: Katherine Mangu-Ward has a post, contra mine, and makes a good point: campaign finance laws are really responsible for the outing of this guy. True true. And I imagine if the situations were reversed, would I be angling for the rights of the conservatives in this case? And, yes, this guy is clearly not a homophobe (how could he be??). That said, those who stick up for causes must face the consequences. Campaign finance laws are in effect, and this guy should have known that. His stance did hurt the feelings of those with whom he worked, and he paid. Maybe the campaign finance laws are a travesty (I'm not so sure), but there they are.