Some of you might have heard by now of the anti-gay marriage rant by (former?) lefty folk singer Michelle Shocked:
http://www.nbcbaya...cal/198977991.html

TL;DR version: She used to be big on the lesbian-folk circuit, but found God a few years ago, and at a show in SF, went on an anti-gay marriage rant that ended up with most of the audience walking out and the venue pulling the plug on her. Afterward, many (if not most) of the venues into which she was booked cancelled her shows.

Then there's this:
http://www.clevesc...-fun-of-jesus-once

I got my ass handed to me on another site for suggesting that, despite the venues being privately owned, Yoshi's in SF and the other venues were in the wrong for shutting her down because of her religious views. My argument was that they were committing religious discrimination by cancelling her contracts because of her religious views. The situation at the Winchester seems to be the same thing, except in the other direction.

Opinions?

I think the fact that her audience walked out on Shocked, and the shit storm that erupted about her in the media is a valid enough reason for venues to cancel, since their goal is to get audience members in the door, not to employ entertainers without discrimination.


The canceling of Hofstetter's show is different. There was no incident that caused a lot of people to say they wouldn't see him. There was one guy who saw something he didn't like, and decided he didn't want to host a blasphemer. Whatevs. I think that's his right to do, but he is an idiot for doing it if he is trying to run a venue. I think it would be fun to look at his calendar of bookings and send him clips of every performer doing or saying something that he doesn't agree with and see if his indignation outlasts his business.

Of course, Hofstetter is just milking it all for publicity, being all incensed and stuff. Douchebag.

Actually, I heard the audio of Shocked's "rant," and it was very... un-ranty. There's a video where a 'net radio host tries to interview her:



The TL;DW version is MS is listening to the show, and responds via Twitter, rather than talking on the phone to the show. When she does get MS on there, is babbling nonsense. But also, the host plays a recording of the show, and it doesn't sound like she's going off on a rant, it doesn't sound like Yoshi's pulled the plug, and, while there were definitely some disgruntled audience members, I think the reason they walked out is because the show was over. The plot thickens!

Two points I want to make re: the Winchester. Had I owned a venue, and some contemporary Christian artist wanted to book a show there, and I, unapologetic atheist that I am, said "Fuck no, I'm not gonna let some God-boy play here!" Do you think that artist would hesitate for a second before suing me? I think the only reason MS hasn't sued is because she's barking.

Um, I forget my other point.

I was expecting this thread to be about Michelle O shouting down Ellen Sturtz, the GetEQUAL activist sent to get some answers about why Obama has yet to honor his 2008 commitment to sign an executive order barring discrimination by federal contractors based on sexual orientation ...

And good for Ellen for having the stones to stand up.