Kansas City's diverse communities are still rising up against an upcoming party in the P&L District.
Thanks to rather AWESOME TKC TIPSTERS this blog has already reported some serious divisions among local contingents of the LGBT community.
Now, a ruckus over the upcoming KC Pride Weekend at the LIVE Stage seems to be bringing things to a head. (hehe)
This is a rather serious rift among one of Kansas City's most vibrant, politically active and well connected communities. It's also a seriously good look if the local LGBT leaders have anything in common with so many people of color in this town who have taken issue with discriminatory policies at The P&L District.
Check out the text of a recent facebook page organizing a LOCAL LGBT LIVE BLOCK PROTEST:
"Tired of having to fight for space within the queer community?Developing . . .
The Power & Light District practices politics and enforces policies that are racist, classist, homophobic, transphobic, sexist, ableist and [insert ism here].
Join us in protesting KC Pride's profit-driven agenda and support of Power and Light District's bigoted policies. We stand in support of ALL queer folks.
We are also compiling a calendar of alternative events for individuals who do not feel comfortable joining us at the protest, and/or would like to spend their money in a supportive and safe environment. Please share events in the Kansas City metro area and we will add them to our calendar!
We also want this event to act as an open forum for discussion and debate on these issues that are so important to our community.
And PLEASE join this event as a show of support for this cause, even if you can't actually attend!
When: Friday, June 4th
Where: Location of protest TBA"
hOLY SHIT
ReplyDeleteThere are all kinds of lifestyles in this country - redneck, biker, yuppie, gangbanger as well as gay and lesbian. All are discriminated against in certain ways. Anyone who expects to act and dress way outside the norm will be discriminated and laughed at occasionally. Most people in this day are rightly excepting of gay and lesbians but are not confortable with some of their more in your face antics.
ReplyDeletetony does this mean you might have to take a bus to go the event now? Who cares?
ReplyDeleteThe LGBT community is NOT protesting this event. Only a few activists are. Pride is a three day festival. They are moving the Friday night StreetBlast from 19th and Main St. where they formerly had to block off three blocks, build a stage and hire police. It cost thousands and there was no protection from rain - and it was rained out a few years. The P&L has a stage, a roof, and it's a financial win-win for Pride. The two day festival on Saturday and Sunday will still be at Penn Valley Park and only the Friday night StreetBlast will be at the P&L, and it will be a huge success.
ReplyDeleteThe protest will be FABULOUS! The signs with glitter and the silent glow stick light vigal.
ReplyDeletepillow-biters unite!
ReplyDelete10:53--I get fucked in the ass by my boyfriend every night, but I'm enough of a man that I don't need to bite a pillow.
ReplyDeleteI'm sorry, but what policies does the P and L district practice that are homophobic, transphobic, or ableist? I am in a wheelchair, and I found everything to be easy to get to...and I am gay and everyone there was perfectly nice to me...what am I missing here?
ReplyDeleteThe KC Pride Festival has been very sucessful over the last few years drawing tens of thousands of people to the free event. The "Street Blast" held on the first day of events, also has been equally sucessful. The "Street Blast" is normally held at 19th and Main and does cause traffic to be detoured and the extra expense of officers for traffic and crowd control. In only makes sense that if P&L is available, that the event be moved a few bocks north to save money and allow the gay community to enjoy what their tax dollars help create.
ReplyDeleteAs far as the rest of the Pride events, this is the first year they will be charging admission. Although I would love to attend, but I think its the wrong time to be charging admission.
No Gay Pride celebration should be conducted on a for-profit basis. The drive for profit destroys the public interest meaning behind the celebration, and invites screw ups like putting it in the Power and Light District.
ReplyDeleteagree @ 2:31
ReplyDeleteWow - actually bitching about the P&L's "profit driven agenda". What idiots. Do they think the P&L is a charity? How are they supposed to keep the city off of the hook for all the bonds the city floated if they don't turn a profit.
ReplyDeleteI compare the whole situation of Street Blast at P&L to those bars who are cool with having "gay night" on their slowest night of the week. P&L has never achieved what it was supposed to. Look at the number of those "oh so cool and trendy" restaurants that have folded.
ReplyDeleteOn the other hand, it is a very cost effective plan to have the Street Blast there. I suspect that it will be successful and I might even attend for the 1st time in years. I just wish that Pride Inc. or whatever it is called, would realize when they are planning events around gay pride, they should remember that gay pride doesn't end with one's 20s.
Should be an easy placement to take out a bunch of the enemy.
ReplyDeletethis is not a protest of the gay community by the gay community, it's a protest of the decision to use a space that discriminates for a gay event and claiming to represent the whole community. Show Me Pride, LLC, who is putting on the event, made a show of asking queer youth, low-income queers, queers of color, and transgender people what they thought about having the event in this location and then completely ignored what we said. this protest is a celebration of the diversity of the queer community and a show of solidarity for other communities who are discriminated against by the policies at P&L.
ReplyDeletefeel free to check out the facebook event if you have questions about the issues with P&L!