Cincinnati was an interesting choice for a gay & lesbian chorus exhibition considering:
1. The conservative nature of the tri-state area (Ohio/Kentucky/Indiana).
2. Several newsworthy events that have occurred in the past 20 years in the city involving censorship which include: a. Larry Flynt's pornography trial. b. The infamous Robert Mapplethorpe photo exhibit in which the curator was arrested, tried and acquitted for displaying "offensive material" at the Contrmporary Arts Center.
3. The weekend before GALA, the Rev. Billy Graham Crusade came to town and in a 4 night period, over 188,000 people attended.
4. The economic boycott started by local African American leaders was still in effect over a year after the death of a black man by white police officers.
If I'm not mistaken, GALA decided to still have their event. And just the sight of openly gay people singing in public in a rather conservative area is a statement in and of itself.
A couple of interesting facts....
1. The conservative nature of the tri-state area (Ohio/Kentucky/Indiana).
2. Several newsworthy events that have occurred in the past 20 years in the city involving censorship which include:
a. Larry Flynt's pornography trial.
b. The infamous Robert Mapplethorpe photo exhibit in which the curator was arrested, tried and acquitted for displaying "offensive material" at the Contrmporary Arts Center.
3. The weekend before GALA, the Rev. Billy Graham Crusade came to town and in a 4 night period, over 188,000 people attended.
4. The economic boycott started by local African American leaders was still in effect over a year after the death of a black man by white police officers.
If I'm not mistaken, GALA decided to still have their event.
And just the sight of openly gay people singing in public
in a rather conservative area is a statement in and of itself.