A Change.org petition concerning the Met Opera's opening gala... and Putin's anti-gay insanity.

[AlbertCat]

I posted this on Aug 1st in the classical music section (no one's looked at it....oh well)

But since this has gotten in the news lately, I'll repost it here. The conversation it has started is right interesting... concerning the place of politics in the arts, what power artists have, and of course exactly what's the big deal with the Met making such a pro-LGBT statement and why wouldn't they?

There are updates (in reverse chronological order) at the petition site so you can see how it kinda snowballed. The comments run from the enlightened to the usual debunked homophobic rants.

Anyway, here's the original post from the 1st of Aug.

A Change.org petition concerning the Met Opera's opening gala... and Putin's anti-gay insanity.

My friend, composer (Charles) Andrew Rudin, has started a petition:

"The Metropolitan Opera: Dedicate 9/23 Opening Gala to support of LGTB people."

"Peter Illyich Tchaikowsky is the beloved composer most widely known to have been homosexual and to have suffered for it in his lifetime. For America's leading opera house to open its season with one of his works, performed by a conductor and a leading soprano who support Putin's recent laws against homosexual people and those who support them dishonors the work of a great artist and his legacy as well as the progress made in our own country to secure equality for all citizens."

The petition is here:
http://www.change.org/petitions/the-metropolitan-opera-dedicate-9-23-opening-gala-to-support-of-lgtb-people?utm_campaign=share_button_action_box&utm_medium=facebook&utm_source=share_petition

Hope you'll sign.

[RKP5637]

1. K&R! n/t

[gvstn]

2. Signed. K&R.

Signing this petition may seem like a small gesture but if the Met chooses change then these minor social slights will continue to accumulate and perhaps make a difference as to how long it will take for Putin's Russia to back off using the LGBT community as a distraction to his politics at the great cost of the mental health of their LGBT youth.

Please consider signing.