More Learning Curve On Donations To Yes On Prop 8

by: Autumn Sandeen

Wed Nov 26, 2008 at 15:30:00 PM EST

"I have always held the belief that all people, no matter race, religion or sexual orientation, are entitled to equal rights. As many know, I consider myself a devout and faithful Mormon. I prefer to keep the details around my contribution through my church 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 [gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender] community."
--L.A. Film Festival director Richard Raddon

Filling in the background of that public statement, the Los Angeles Times is reporting the following in their article L.A. Film Festival director Richard Raddon resigns:

Richard Raddon, the director of the Los Angeles Film Festival who has been at the center of controversy ever since it was revealed almost two weeks ago that he had contributed $1,500 to the campaign to ban gay marriage in California, resigned from his post over the weekend.

The nonprofit arts organization Film Independent sponsors both the Los Angeles Film Festival, held in May, and the popular Independent Spirit awards. Raddon is a member of the Mormon Church, which actively called on its congregants to work for the passage of Proposition 8, the constitutional amendment defining marriage as only between a man and a woman.

...After Raddon's contribution was made public online, Film Independent was swamped with criticism from "No on 8" supporters both inside and outside the organization. Within days, Raddon offered to step down as festival director, but the board, which includes Don Cheadle, Forest Whitaker, Lionsgate President Tom Ortenberg and Fox Searchlight President Peter Rice, gave him a unanimous vote of confidence.

Yet, the anti-Raddon bile continued to bubble in the blogosphere, and according to one Film Independent board member, "No on 8" supporters also berated Raddon personally via phone calls and e-mails. The recriminations ultimately proved too much, and when Raddon offered to resign again, this time the board accepted.

That $1,500.00 donation to the Yes On Prop 8 campaign has essentially cost him his career; it's has cost him his ability to make a living in his chosen field.

They're feeling this same lesson about how LGBT people vote with their wallets in Texas too, of all places. From the Austin American-Statesman's Prop. 8 backlash reaches to Texas; Austin Web site has 'blacklist' for businesses linked to money that supported gay marriage ban:

[Below the fold: Dell, Cinemark, wingnut Michelle Malkin, and reference to a 2001 survey by Harris Interactive/Witeck-Combs Communications.]

Gay marriage activists who lost at the ballot box in California are now lashing out at businesses that supported the ban - and their anger reaches way beyond the borders of Golden State.

In Austin, a gay community Web site has published an "Austin Anti-Gay Blacklist" that encourages consumers not to spend money at companies that financially supported California's recent Proposition 8 ballot initiative that rescinded gays' right to marry inside the state.

...No. 1 on the group's anti-gay "blacklist" - errantly enough - is Dell Computer Inc. That's because the biggest Austin-area donor to the Yes on 8 campaign was apparently Spencer Wheelright, a Dell marketing employee who gave $25,200 to support the gay marriage ban, according to records from the California Secretary of State's office.

Dell had nothing to do with the donation and, in fact, the company has an internal rule prohibiting it from taking a position or making a donation regarding any state or local ballot initiatives, said company spokesman Bryant Hilton.

Cinemark Theaters are already feeling the heat because their CEO gave $9,999.00 to the Yes On Prop 8 campaign. It's coming to a head over the release of the film "Milk":

"Milk" will open at the Cinemark Legacy theater in Plano [Texas] on Dec. 12, creating the possibility of an LGBT protest in the city where the movie chain is based.

A field representative for Focus Features, which is distributing the film about gay rights pioneer Harvey Milk, said Tuesday that it isn't scheduled to show in any North Texas theaters owned by Cinemark before Dec. 12. "Milk" will open Wednesday, Nov. 26 at the Angelika Dallas, and Dec. 5 at the Angelika Plano, according to the field representative, who asked not to be identified.

Cinemark Theaters, the nation's third-largest theater chain, has become the target of LGBT boycotts and protests over CEO Alan Stock's contribution of $9,999 in support of Proposition 8, a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage in California. Last weekend, about 400 people attended a protest outside a Cinemark-owned theater near Chicago.

Proponents of the boycott are hoping to piggyback on the hype surrounding "Milk," and a Web site, NoMilkForCinemark.com, has been created to raise awareness about the issue and encourage people to see the film at gay-friendly theaters.

Creators Syndicate's Michelle Malkin is calling this "insane rage" --

[I]n the wake of campaign 2008 there's only one angry mob gripped by "insane rage": left-wing same-sex marriage activists incensed at their defeat in California. Voters there approved Proposition 8, a traditional marriage initiative, by 52 percent to 48 percent.

Instead of introspection and self-criticism, however, the sore losers who opposed Prop. 8 responded with threats, fists and blacklists.

That's right. Activists have published on the Internet an "Anti-Gay Blacklist" of Prop. 8 donors. If the tables were turned and Prop. 8 proponents created such an enemies list, everyone in Hollywood would be screaming "McCarthyism" faster than you could count to eight.

Maybe she has a point. But, what's happening now with pink dollars was very predictable -- Look at the media release for a 2001 survey by Harris Interactive/Witeck-Combs Communications, which included the following:

[S]even out of ten gay consumers sampled (72%) agreed it was important for companies advertising products to LGBT consumers to "demonstrate effective corporate citizenship" by supporting lesbian and gay causes. Seven out of ten sampled (71%) also stated it was important for companies advertising their products to "establish and publicize progressive policies towards gays and lesbians."

"In a market so information-driven, it's not surprising that gays and lesbians ask why companies reach out to them," said Bob Witeck, CEO of Witeck-Combs Communications. "Reputation clearly matters, and companies that develop smart practices internally find they establish deeper connections and loyalty with customers. Lesbians and gays appear to learn quickly how their choice of brands stack up by judging the company that advertises those brands."

...Or do a Google search of Manhunt McCain, and see how gay/LGBT consumers responded to having a company they do business with appear to have leadership that doesn't have progressive policies towards LGBT people.

C'mon. The LGBT consumer backlash to businesses that now appear to be anti-progressive towards an existing fundamental right for same-gender partners was very, very predictable.

That some folks that donated to the Yes On Prop 8 Campaign appear to just now be learning what's been quite knowable about pink dollars shouldn't have been a surprise to them -- but it was a surprise for them. The learning curve has been extremely steep and incredibly cost-heavy...Just ask Richard Raddon.

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Related:
* The Economic Learning Curve For Businesspeople Who Supported Prop 8

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