A Seattle dance group says they were forced to remove their patriotic T-shirts before a scheduled performance, and now event organizations are facing backlash over the move.
The Borderline Dance Team is a group of nearly two dozen women who regularly volunteer to perform at events in Washington.
Many of the group members participated in workshops organized by Emerald City Hoedown organizers, which took place over three days.
But on the final day, one of the group’s members, Lindsay Stamp, said the women were given an ultimatum: Take off their American flag T-shirts or leave the show.
When dancers pressed organizers about the request, one of them said it “had to do with what was happening in Palestine and the LGBTQ community in America.”
A group of volunteer dancers were told they would have to take off their American flag t-shirts because of “what’s happening in Palestine and the LGBTQ community.”
The group was asked to change just 20 minutes after arriving at the hoedown venue, one of the dancers told local media. K5.com.
An organizer of the event, who worked for the local nonprofit Rain Country Dance Association, told the dancer that there were “some people within the community who felt unsafe and upset, provoked, so to speak, by our t-shirts with flags”.
The jerseys are red, white and blue and feature the stars and stripes of the flag of the United States of America; Otherwise, they have no signs, words or symbols.
Stamp added that the dancers were told that “a small population decided they were going to boycott or protest our performance.”
The choreographer said the group was baffled by the reason for the protest, but decided they would perform anyway, even if the crowd didn’t hug them.
‘I said, this doesn’t bother me. I understand that. And I respect your opinions and I respect your feelings. And that’s totally fine. But we are a dance team. “We don’t take a political stance,” she stated.
The jerseys (pictured) are red, white and blue and feature the stars and stripes of the flag of the United States of America; Otherwise, they have no signs, words or symbols.
The choreographer said the group was baffled by the reason for the protest, but decided they would perform anyway, even if the crowd didn’t hug them.
One of the group’s dancers, Carly Baker, said, “I really don’t know what’s going on or why it would be so important to carry the flag honestly.”
‘I am part of the LGBTQ community. My wife and I have been married for six years. And it was very difficult.”
The organizers offered the group alternative t-shirts, but they were adamant in their objection.
Team members said there had been no prior disputes between the team and the organizers, nor had any member made a controversial comment that anyone might have disagreed with.
Sharie Peterson, another of the dancers, said the incident was incredibly disappointing because her group has always extended acceptance to other groups and is “a community that really values inclusion that wasn’t extended to us.”
In a Facebook post, the president of the Rain Country Dance Association, which has been the subject of online outrage following its attempts to strip women of their shirts and/or their opportunity to perform, said she hopes to clear up any misunderstandings.
Sharie Peterson, another of the dancers, said the incident was incredibly disappointing because her group has always extended acceptance to other groups and is “a community that really values inclusion that wasn’t extended to us as well.”
One of the dancers in the group, Carly Baker, said: ‘I’m part of the LGBTQ community. My wife and I have been married for six years. And it was very difficult.’
Ziadee Cambier, the president, said the group was not asked to leave the meeting, but did not comment other than to say they are “in communication with those directly involved.”
Stamp confirmed that the group “extended their apologies.” And we are in communication trying to figure out how we want to move forward with this.”
The dance association’s president also said the group has received “credible” threats of violence since the incident made headlines.
Stamp said: “Violence and harassment are not something we tolerate towards any person or group for any reason.”