The Borderline Dance group, a regional ladies’s nation line dance group, was invited to the Emerald Metropolis Hoedown in Seattle final weekend to carry out by occasion organizers, the Rain Nation Dance Affiliation.
Rain Nation Dance Affiliation describes itself as creating “a friendly environment for LGBTQ people and friends to meet and dance in the Pacific Northwest. We support this Country Western dance community by providing opportunities to dance, learn, and perform. We cater to the LGBTQ community of Seattle and Greater Puget Sound but are open to all.”
Nevertheless, The Borderline Dance group’s American flag-themed shirts resulted in them being “effectively kicked out” of the occasion as a result of some attendees felt “triggered and unsafe.”
The group shared an announcement on Fb:
During the last two days, we’ve got been answering dozens of calls and messages from family and friends. Emotions have ranged all the way in which from outrage to sympathy to disbelief. We need to ensure that there’s full understanding and fact surrounding the occasions of Saturday.
I’ll attempt to make this as brief as doable. Our Dance Group together with just a few others have been scheduled to carry out on the Emerald Metropolis Hoedown in Seattle on Saturday. They’ve been asking us for 3 years to carry out however due to their Covid restrictions, we’ve got been unable to till this 12 months. Dance groups work their boots off getting ready for performances like these. Further practices, babysitters, ferry rides, hours upon hours of follow and commute time and time away from their households. All of us have been very excited to carry out for this occasion. Sadly, what our group was met with upon arrival was that our flag tops have been offensive to a number of the conference goers. There was a small group that felt “triggered and unsafe”. They’d a number of claims for this reasoning. Largely related to the scenario in Palestine and the Trans group in America. At first we have been instructed we’d simply be boo’d, yelled at and certain a lot of them would stroll out. This didn’t deter us. However then we got an ultimatum. Take away the flag tops and carry out in both avenue garments (which most didn’t deliver as they traveled there of their uniforms) or they might provide us with ECH shirts from years previous… Or, don’t carry out in any respect, which successfully was asking us to depart. Additionally, here’s a hyperlink to their web site that exhibits the photographs of our groups in our uniforms. So they might have identified what we have been going to put on.
We don’t converse for our group, we converse on behalf of them so the selection was theirs. As we knew would occur as a result of there actually was no alternative in our minds, it was a unanimous NO.
We weren’t alone on this. Our buddies, West Coast Nation Warmth, who have been additionally scheduled to bounce for the conference that night additionally didn’t carry out as they too proudly don the colours of our nation in the identical spirit of patriotism that we do. Each of our groups stood in solidarity and put actions to phrases.
Now, for the silver lining. Firstly, watching these groups band collectively was the best efficiency I’ve ever seen. These persons are sturdy, resolute and unwavering of their patriotism. They’re the households and buddies of people that have suffered the unimaginable in order that we could all have our personal opinions and sleep soundly in our beds at evening. THAT is why we put on the colours. As a result of though we could not all the time agree with the present state of issues, we acknowledge that being an American means true FREEDOM. All of us understood and accepted this and walked out with class and dignity regardless of the discrimination we had skilled.
Secondly, the help that we received from the vast majority of the group and even a number of of the organizers was wonderful. We had people from ALL walks of life method us and the message was clear “we want you”. The outpouring of affection and respect was inspiring. There was additionally a number of disappointment there. Disappointment locally they’re purported to really feel protected in. Disappointment that the spirit of this occasion, which is to share our love of nation dance, was overshadowed by the political beliefs of a small share. We solely wished to entertain. We didn’t get to try this however we did get to make new buddies and construct some bridges that possibly wouldn’t have been doable with out this incident.
Unwell go away it with this. Could you by no means end up able the place your freedom actually is taken from you. Could you all the time have the selection to agree or disagree with no matter scenario you end up in. And will you all the time shield another person’s freedom to do the identical. Whether or not or not it’s in your favor or not.
Rain Nation Dance Affiliation shared an announcement on Fb addressing the controversy.
Hello y’all! After the shut of one other wonderful Hoedown weekend, we all know there are some questions in regards to the Saturday evening efficiency line-up. We admire y’all giving us the time to clear up misunderstandings and deal with the scenario with individuals straight concerned. We might be posting a follow-up assertion later this week as soon as we’re in a position to have these conversations.
Board president Ziadee Cambier responded to a critic on Fb saying, “Hello Rose, thank you for your feedback. This is Ziadee, Board President. We will be in continued communication with the captains of the dance teams that were slated to perform Saturday. To clarify, as this was not a competition, no one was disqualified and no one was asked to leave. While we are mending our relationships directly with the dance teams we will be disabling comments on this post. We will be sharing more information later this week, to hopefully clear up any misunderstandings.”
