L.A. Film Fest Director's Resignation Over Prop. 8 Donation Not Accepted

Film Independent released a statement on Friday in response to Los Angeles Film Festival director Richard Raddon's donation to the campaign for Proposition 8, which succeeded in banning gay marriage in California. "As a champion of diversity," the statement said, "Film Independent is dedicated to supporting the civil rights of all individuals. At the same time, our organization does not police the personal, religious, or political choices of any employee, member, or filmmaker."

According to Oscar pundit and film critic David Poland, whose Hot Blog is hosted by Movie City News's website, Raddon actually submitted his resignation on Thursday, but Film Independent's board chose not to accept it. Instead, they were meeting as a group to decide what to do next.

Film Independent declined to comment further or to confirm that Raddon had in fact submitted his resignation, saying, “We don't discuss internal employee issues."

On November 14, Poland reported that Raddon had personally donated $1,500 to the Yes on 8 campaign. The Los Angeles Film Festival is one of the many divisions of Film Independent, a nonprofit film organization that also host the Independent Spirit Awards.

For an organization located in Los Angeles and known for exhibiting LGBT films, this came as a shock to some.

Raddon is a Mormon and the producer of a number of independent films, including the Lili Taylor-Guy Pearce movie A Slipping-Down Life. (The Advocate)

Keywords: Prop 8

Related stories from Advocate.com

2009-07-02: The Faces of Federal Prop. 8
2009-06-20: The Great Undoing?
2009-06-03: The Upside of Prop. 8
2009-05-29: Pastors: No Marriage for Straight People
2009-05-28: Aftermath: Day of Decision

Reader Comments

These comments are reproduced as written by visitors to this Web site. They have not been edited for content, grammar, or spelling. The viewpoints appearing here are those of the writer, and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or views of advocate.com, The Advocate, or its affiliates.

Name: Brian
Date posted: 2008-11-20 12:13 PM
Hometown: Nashville

Comment:

I agree that one should never be fired for his political beliefs - to not accept a resignation is utterly different. If Mr. Raddon wants to work in an industry that is generally gay inclusive, he needs to re-examine his views. If he wishes to work in an industry that generally excludes gays, then he needs to find a job there. Raddon put his money behind a cause that took existing rights away from a minority of people and he works with members of that minority. I couldn't work with him any more if I worked there. I couldn't look him in the eye every day and know he's my boss and he thinks of me as a second class citizen. He's made his nest. Now he needs to lie in it.

Name: Michael Hill
Date posted: 2008-11-19 12:58 AM
Hometown: Louisville, KY

Comment:

Perhaps the LGBT community should begin a petition drive to pass a Proposition of its own. Proposition: The State Constitution of California should be amended to forbid same-religion marriage. Two individuals of the same religion would no longer be allowed to marry one another in the state of California. Since a person's religion is a matter of personal choice, the person can choose to marry someone outside his or her religion. This does not violate freedom of religion, because the law does not forbid the practices of any religion. Any religious group could still choose to perform commitment services for their members, but these would no longer be recognized by the state if both parties were the same religion. That kind of a proposition would get their attention. It might even cause a few of them to think about how their actions have affected the LGBT community in California.

Name: Carol
Date posted: 2008-11-18 2:55 PM
Hometown: MO

Comment:

Poor Mr. Raddon and poor Morman Church. Not all Mormons believe as their Church does; for instance the Mormon Moms who campaigned against Prop 8. So sad to live in the middle of hypocrites, and work with them, too. I don't think it is ethical to make money from the talent, and jobs that GLBT have in the entertainment arena, and then not uphold them in equal rights in our country. A certain entertainment capitol of MO, known all over the world makes money in this fashion. It will be a more enjoyable place to go when our country's courts will say we are all equal. I suffer from a guilty conscience every time I spend a dollar there.

Name: Carol
Date posted: 2008-11-18 2:52 PM
Hometown: MO

Comment:

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