Trump-Led Kennedy Center Cancels LGBTQ+ Performances, Faces Backlash

President Donald Trump's leadership overhaul at the Kennedy Center has led to the removal of LGBTQ+-focused acts, prompting artists and advisors to withdraw in protest.

• The International Pride Orchestra, a San Francisco-based nonprofit featuring drag performers and queer composers, was disinvited from performing at the Kennedy Center during WorldPride festival events.
• President Donald Trump, who assumed leadership of the Kennedy Center in February, cited a need to eliminate 'woke' programming, including drag shows and LGBTQ+-themed performances.
• Other canceled events include a Pride Month concert by the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C., and a children’s musical widely interpreted as an LGBTQ+ metaphor.
• Several artists, including Issa Rae and Low Cut Connie, have withdrawn from the Kennedy Center lineup, while advisors like Shonda Rhimes and Ben Folds have resigned in protest.
• The Kennedy Center has seen a 50% decline in ticket sales since Trump's restructuring, while affected groups like the International Pride Orchestra have relocated their events to alternative venues.

3 Articles

San Francisco Chronicle Raw Story SFGATE