L.A. Film Festival Director Donated Money to Yes on 8

Los Angeles Film Festival director Richard Raddon turned up on the secretary of state's donation list as having given money to Yes on 8, backing the California ballot measure that banned same-sex marriage throughout the state.

Movie City News blogger David Poland turned up the $1,500 donation Wednesday morning on the California secretary of state's website. Raddon is a Mormon and the producer of a number of independent films, including the Lili Taylor-Guy Pearce movie A Slipping-Down Life.

Raddon has been with the festival since 2000. Film Independent made a statement to Poland, saying no employee can be fired for their religious affiliation. (The Advocate)

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Name: Paige
Date posted: 12/1/2008 11:57:00 AM
Hometown: Dallas

Comment:
I agree that we should vote with our dollars. But this was not a contribution that a company made in favor of Prop 8. This was a private contribution made by a private citizen. If this man should lose his job for his private religious beliefs then how is that different than firing someone because they are gay? If we cannot see the obvious hypocrisy here...just think what could happen to the gay community if the social/political tides turn drastically back in the other direction. If the gay community condones the persuction of someone for their private beliefs then that can be a scary, scary thing for the gay community!
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Name: Michael
Date posted: 11/30/2008 10:02:00 PM
Hometown: Sacramento

Comment:
I'm so pleased to see the complete resurrection of McCarthyism as a political tactic. I guess the blacklist is next. Oh what fun!
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Name: WD Butler
Date posted: 11/27/2008 12:40:00 PM
Hometown: NEw York

Comment:
What a bunch of hypocritical garbage...this was a man's personal belief and personal preference. Shame on those that "outed" him and forced him to make a drastic decision to save the Festival...
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Name: Dan Brigman
Date posted: 11/27/2008 12:29:00 AM
Hometown: San Francisco

Comment:
Exactly, Janis. What good does it do to berate people for they're opinions. If I support gay marriage and put money towards enacting that, what difference is there in what he did? Should he lose his career because of his viewpoint? Absolutely not! How dare any of you purport to be tolerant? Only tolerant of others if they share your views, you mean. Shame on you!
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Name: Janis Soard
Date posted: 11/26/2008 10:20:00 PM
Hometown: SF

Comment:
I support prop. 8 and support Mr. Raddons agency to exercise his feedom of religion. What hippocrites !
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Name: Toby
Date posted: 11/23/2008 1:58:00 PM
Hometown: Palm Springs

Comment:
Michael, you say that its "dedicated to diversity" yet does nothing about someone directly connected doing the opposite Richard Raddon, shame on you for your fear of standing up to these so called "dedicated to diversity" folks!
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Name: Johnny
Date posted: 11/21/2008 2:36:00 PM
Hometown: Los Angeles

Comment:
He is the Director of The Los Angeles Film Festival. It is his baby, he's in charge of it. Boycotting it would ruin him. There should be picketing as well. Many of his employees are gay and we should be the voice for them.
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Name: Michael
Date posted: 11/18/2008 8:53:00 PM
Hometown: Los Angeles

Comment:
The difference between boycotting EBay and Film Independent is that Meg Whitman is the former CEO and current board member and Raddon is an employee of a non-profit organization. Raddon's an employee of Film Independent. The organization has not taken a position on Proposition 8 and can't control - nor should it control - the political contributions of its employees. While I have been involved in the No on Prop. 8 campaign, I understand that the rationale approach is to dialogue with those who are "movable." It is a mistake, and a waste of resources and energy, to boycott an organization that is dedicated to diversity (including gays and lesbians) rather than those with real power.
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Name: kidfromnyc
Date posted: 11/16/2008 8:38:00 AM
Hometown: new york

Comment:
money talks bullshit walks,so if people want to do things that are reprehensible then they need to learn a lesson, and in these days of money worries what better way to learn than boycotts with money losses,,no one is bigger than the next guy believe me. If gays used the n word blacks would be out in force to correct that, so get out and avoid paying for peoples ideology...remember Obama won because economy trumps ideology
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Name: JM
Date posted: 11/16/2008 1:19:00 AM
Hometown: Washington, DC

Comment:
I enjoy it whenever someone says "boycotting won't help." You see, everyone has two options: to participate or withdraw from society. Everyone who withdraws surrenders their decisions to other people, like me, who participate. So to everyone who's not supporting boycotts, thank you. You have surrendered your opinions to me. I'll take over from here. Go back inside where everything's warm and cozy, and you can pretend like nothings wrong.

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