The Kennedy Heart’s struggle on the performing arts continues to wage on underneath the Trump administration as a sequence of occasions deliberate round Pleasure Month have quietly been canceled or relocated.
In line with The Related Press, artists concerned with the Kennedy Heart’s Tapestry of Pleasure — scheduled for June 5 to eight throughout Washington, D.C.’s World Pleasure Pageant — have been knowledgeable that the occasions have both been canceled totally or moved to different venues.
Following the cancelations, Washington’s Capital Pleasure Alliance disassociated from the Kennedy Heart. “We’re a resilient neighborhood, and now we have discovered different avenues to rejoice,” mentioned June Crenshaw, deputy director of the alliance, advised the AP. “We’re discovering one other path to the celebration … however the truth that now we have to maneuver on this means is disappointing.”
Whereas the Tapestry of Pleasure occasion remains to be listed on the Kennedy Heart web site, no particulars or particular occasions are listed. “Additional particulars to be introduced. Within the meantime, take a look at the opposite festivities at WorldPride,” the Heart’s web site says.
A consultant for Capital Pleasure Alliance clarified in an announcement Friday to NBC Washington, “The reporting by the AP is correct, however to be clear, not the entire Tapestry of Pleasure occasions have been canceled by the Kennedy Heart. As said, occasions being produced by the Capital Pleasure Alliance have been proactively relocated by CPA to make sure our complete LGBTQ+ neighborhood will likely be welcome. These occasions haven’t been canceled.”
Following Trump’s self-appointment as Kennedy Heart chairman, not less than 26 performances have been canceled, together with 15 by the scheduled acts themselves. Issa Rae cancelled her Feb. 14 present, citing “an infringement on the values of an establishment that has faithfully celebrated artists of all backgrounds via all mediums.” On Feb. 13, Low Reduce Connie, the Philadelphia rock and soul band fronted by Adam Weiner, cancelled their March 19 live performance.
Lin-Manuel Miranda and Jefferey Vendor have been speculated to convey Hamilton to the Kennedy Heart in 2026, however cancelled the run, saying, “The Kennedy Heart was not created on this spirit, and we’re not going to be part of it whereas it’s the Trump Kennedy Heart. We’re simply not going to be a part of it.” A live performance by the Homosexual Males’s Refrain of Washington was additionally canceled.
In March, Guster protested the adjustments on the Kennedy Heart — which included the cancelation of performances of the LGBTQ+ musical Finn — by having that present’s forged seem onstage throughout their live performance on the performing arts venue.
