BY AMY WOOTEN
Some local LGBT-identified musicians were angered by Pride Fest's supposed lack of LGBT musicians this year, but organizers of the June 24 event say that the assertion is simply not true.
R.J. Chaffin, president of Northalsted Area Merchants Association ( NAMA ) , Pride Fest's sponsor, said that besides the three or four divas typically billed, Pride Fest had numerous LGBT-identified acts.
'They jumped the gun very much,' Chaffin said, referring to a press release sent out by NAMA prior to the event that named key acts, but didn't include all that performed. The press release spurred a petition circulated by many local musicians and a flurry of criticism. Acts at Pride Fest included the Chicago Spirit Brigade, ROTC, Lakeside Freedom Band, Bear Naked Lads Singing, cabaret faves Amy and Freddy ( of which Freddy is gay ) and others. Also, 'all DJs in the tent were gay and lesbian,' Chaffin added.
'We are always very open to acts, but they have to contact us,' Chaffin said, adding that NAMA simply doesn't know all the LGBT bands and acts that are out there, but encourages those interested in performing at future Pride Fests to send them their demo tapes and information.
Prior to Pride Fest, a petition had been circulated by many local musicians in response to what they called NAMA's failure to book LGBT musicians on the entertainment stage at this year's Pride Fest.
This year's Pride Fest was headlined by Irene Cara, and also featured Jenna Drey, Kim English, Lyrisis and Jeanie Tracy. Local DJs Dragonfire, Laura B, Oskar and Matthew Harvat—all familiar faces in the LGBT community—also performed at the annual event.
After Gary Airedale and his band, Flesh Hungry Dog, played at Milwaukee's Pridefest—where the organizers proactively sought out LGBT-identified bands—he felt the line-up at Chicago's celebration paled in comparison.
'I know from personal experience that there is a large audience out there for queer rock, pop, folk and other types of music,' said Airedale, who books music acts for the monthly LGBT live rock show, 'The Flesh Hungry Dog Show.'
'I'm not sure if it's ignorance, laziness, arrogance or something else that caused this serious oversight,' he told Windy City Times before Pride Fest. 'I have nothing against disco or club music, but when it's the only thing offered to the exclusion of all else, and, we have no LGBT-identified acts at Pride Fest, we have serious problems. I would suggest a diverse lineup, representing a variety of musical styles, with a strong emphasis put on LGBT-identified talent.'
Chaffin said it is unfair for musicians to compare Chicago's Pride Fest to Milwaukee's, which is larger, has far more money and a has longer history of throwing such an event.
According to local musician Scott Free, Chicago has one of the most vibrant queer music scenes in the U.S. 'And yet, with all of this incredible activity going on in Chicago and around the country, our own Pride Fest seems to be completely unaware of this—and possibly worse—completely uninterested,' he said.
Some local musicians told Windy City Times that some local LGBT-identified bands and musicians had contacted NAMA, but were never given a response.
Martie Marro of the Stewed Tomatoes was one of many LGBT-identified bands to voice their opinions about this year's lineup. Marro explained that she doesn't mind that her band wasn't chosen—after all, the theme of this year's event was disco and her band is an all-lesbian punk band. 'I was, however, upset that no LGBT disco acts were chosen, either.'
Hank Zemola, CEO of Chicago Special Events, was upset by the response by many LGBT musicians prior to the festival. 'There are several gay acts, and you have people from the community booking your entertainment,' he said. 'There are always a couple of straight or fringe musicians who are booked because they appeal to the gay community, but the majority are gay because it's, after all, Pride Fest. We're not crazy!'
Zemola feels that some of the misunderstanding was due to the fact that Pride Fest organizers try not to have the same acts every year to keep it 'fresh and interesting.'
'We're addressing the needs of the community,' he added. 'We've been really working hard. Each year we get a little bit better at addressing more and more things.'
