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November 18, 2008

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 
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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: Paul
    Date posted: 2008-11-18 9:10 PM
    Hometown: New York

    Comment:

    Can you imagine if someone like Raddon (or the Mormon artistic director of the Sacramento Music Theatre) donated money to deny rights to blacks, Latinos, women, Italians or Republicans? Their butts would be out of there so quickly, they'd have whiplash. Yes, all Americans have a right to their opinions and their vote. But if you support - with your dollars - legalized discrimination, why would you be surprised if those people don't want to work with you?


  • Name: Michael
    Date posted: 2008-11-18 8:12 PM
    Hometown: Clayton

    Comment:

    If California passed a measure taking away the right of Mormons to marry, there would be such an uproar, we would never hear the end of it. Would people who donated to that campaign be allowed to retain their jobs after resigning, in an organization that was known for exhibiting Mormon films? Somehow I doubt it. Why is it that when the civil rights of law-abiding, taxpaying, gay Americans are voided, there's always an excuse to ignore it?


  • Name: Gayle
    Date posted: 2008-11-18 6:07 PM
    Hometown: LA

    Comment:

    Just as we don't want to lose our jobs, etc. based on who we are - we should respect those rights equally. I have family/friends that voted and/or would have voted YES because of their (faulty) convictions. Though it sickens me, fighting this fight in the manner of calling others "HYPOCRITES" etc. is an exercise in futility and in fact stooping down to a level that is counterproductive. His beliefs and his money can do whatever it wants. We have the task of rising above that, educating others and approaching this with passionate, intelligent and grounded conversations.


  • Name: Max
    Date posted: 2008-11-18 3:10 PM
    Hometown: San Jose

    Comment:

    Prop 8 wasn't a political issue. It was about civil rights. He chose to donate to a campaign that was for denying gay people civil rights. I will not buy anything from Film Independent, Richard Raddon or anyone that denied gay people civil rights.


  • 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:

    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: David
    Date posted: 2008-11-18 1:24 PM
    Hometown: McKinzie

    Comment:

    He has a right to do what he feels is right in his persona life, and so do I. I won't be renting or buying any films from this Independent again. I won't have my money going to pay someone that doesn't believe that I am a citizen just as he is.


  • Name: O Sandoval
    Date posted: 2008-11-18 1:17 PM
    Hometown: Sacramento

    Comment:

    He shouldn't be fired for a donation in such a controversial measure. He should just quit, because when you work in the arts, in LA, must be really tough to face your coworkers every day knowing that you have a problem with their sexual orientation. I mean, too bad that Utah and the GOP have so minimal representation in the entertainment industry. And no, I don't feel sorry at all for this person.


  • Name: Eric P.
    Date posted: 2008-11-18 12:28 PM
    Hometown: Pasadena

    Comment:

    Both Joel and Adrian make good points. I agree that no one should be fired from their job for their personal beliefs, even if I don't agree with them. But at the same time, we need to start voting with our money and let businesses know that if high level employees are going to use our consumer dollars against us - then we will take them elsewhere. For this reason, I will no longer eat at El Coyote on Beverly or El Pollo Loco at Sunset Junction. Nor will I attend the Los Angeles Film Festival.


  • Name: Joel
    Date posted: 2008-11-18 11:25 AM
    Hometown: Phoenix, AZ

    Comment:

    Adrian, while I am opposed to Proposition 8, I believe that any company that lets an employee go due to a political decision they made is in the wrong. Just as you would think it wrong for your employer to let you go for donating to no on Prop 8. Do I disgree with his beliefs? Yes! Should he lose his job over it? No!


  • Name: Adrian
    Date posted: 2008-11-18 3:02 AM
    Hometown: Northridge

    Comment:

    It's not wise and not smart to "sleep with the enemy". Raddon is a backstabber and hypocrite. By keeping Raddon, I think Film Independent is not dedicated to support civil right of all individual as they claimed to be but to support HIPOCRISY!!!


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