Faces of Intolerance: Justin Caster

Justin Caster is an actor; he is currently with the Chicago roadshow company of Wicked. Justin Caster is also a bigot. In spite of the fact that he presumably works with a number of gay people every day, Justin Caster donated $18,200 in support of California’s Proposition 8. Proposition 8 is on the November ballot. If passed, it would outlaw same-sex marriage in California.

Justin Caster is certainly entitled to his religious beliefs. However, by supporting Proposition 8, Justin Caster would have those beliefs imposed - by force of law - on everyone else.

 I have yet to receive a single, compelling argument that would support the notion that same-sex marriage adversely affects anyone else. Indeed, as Gail Collins pointed out in Yesterday’s NY Times:

After four years, same-sex marriage has also begun to feel normal in Massachusetts. It’s not something that comes up in conversation much anymore. There is no greater force against bigotry than the moment when something becomes so routine that you stop noticing it.

Collins goes on to write:

 My 83-year-old mother, who I have always thought of as conservative on matters like sex, has a home helper, Joe Wallace, who is gay. To say they hit it off would be a deep, deep understatement… . My mother has begun to make inquiries about whether anybody is interested in taking her to the next Cincinnati Pride Alive Parade.

Justin Caster already knows better - at least he should. He is in close, intimate contact with many gay people in his theater company. One would think - if not expect - that Justin Caster would know that we are not sick, evil perverts. It’s probably too much to expect Justin Caster to embrace our community for its goodness but not condemning us on religious grounds would at least be a good start.