Experience outside Elsewhere last night
so let me start off by saying i appreciate the support from the staff at the venue who helped me and my friend navigate this — elsewhere is a venue i have played many times and absolutely adore.
last night, after playing for book club radio, i went over to elsewhere to meet up with my friend remniqe who played earlier in the night in the main room.
while waiting, this drunk young man approached me and proceeded to ask me very invasive questions about my gender. after not giving him anything and literally telling him to leave me alone, he proceeded to play the victim: “i am entitled to my opinion” and “i’m not wrong — you’re the sinful one” etc. etc.
it was giving transphobic incel brainrot.
my friend came out and they immediately stepped in and said to go away and leave me alone. this man had to audacity to raise his voice and then another bystander, who we didn’t know, stepped in and told this man to back off.
things escalated from there. halal food was thrown. people got punched in the face. that’s all i’ll say.
the reason i’m detailing this experience here is because there is an insidious rising amount of people like this a-hole coming into dance spaces which, i’m sure many of you already know, have been historically pioneered by marginalized people. and a lot of people are either choosing to ignore it for the sake of keeping the peace *or* choosing to play devil’s advocate.
with the way things are going in this country, we need to start speaking up more. i am not the first transgender woman to be accosted outside a venue and i won’t be the last. if you consider yourself a real ally, the time is *now* to set the tone.