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By Guy Page
Folk musician and political songwriter David Rovics says the Vermont–New Hampshire chapter of Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) withdrew support for a scheduled benefit concert this week, citing what the group called “an extensive history of making transphobic statements.”
The concert, planned as a fundraiser for the Middle East Children’s Alliance (MECA), had been organized with help from local JVP members. In a statement circulated on JVP’s public discussion list, the chapter’s steering committee said it “stands unequivocally with the Trans community” and recommended canceling the event after learning of concerns raised about Rovics’ past online commentary.
The committee linked to one of Rovics’ Substack essays and referenced “transphobia and defense of Nazis,” though the statement did not cite specific remarks. JVP apologized “to everyone harmed by our partnership with him” and urged anyone who chose not to attend the concert to donate to MECA directly. JVP wrote:
“We apologize to everyone harmed by our partnership with him. Now that we know about his transphobia, the steering committee no longer endorses the concert and recommends cancellation. If the concert happens, the steering committee would like an announcement stating the concert is not endorsed by JVP VT/NH to be read before the performance. We will not be the first to cancel one of his shows for this exact reason, so there is precedent for such action.’
Rovics protested the cancellation in a column on his Substack page, republished today in Vermont Daily Chronicle.
“To speak in the language that identitarians love to use, I am a victim of abusers. Cancellation campaigning, trolling, spreading false rumors and lies, these are all forms of bullying, which is a form of abuse,” Rovics writes. “They are also McCarthyite forms of abuse, intended to rob a person of both their reputations and their livelihoods.”
The concert cancellation was brought to VDC’s attention by Rovics’ friend Jamie Gage, who said that “as a multi-generational Vermonter and former liberal, I am aghast at the travesty of cancel culture run amok in our once great state – among many other issues.”
According to Rovics, the committee’s decision triggered additional pressure on the venue to cancel the show entirely. He said the venue ultimately agreed to proceed only if there would be “dialogue” between Rovics and his critics — a condition he rejected, saying he would not participate in a discussion arranged after what he described as an attempt to “cancel” the event.
Rovics, who is currently touring in the northeastern U.S., disputes all allegations of transphobia and says the accusations stem from his willingness to interview a wide range of political guests on his YouTube channel. He argues that his audiences have long included significant numbers of trans and Jewish listeners and says he has repeatedly spoken and written in support of both communities.
The musician likened the JVP steering committee’s actions to past efforts by other activist groups to pressure venues to drop his performances. He said he canceled the show himself once it became clear that the event would include what he called a “phony effort at dialogue.”
As of Saturday, the concert will not take place as originally planned.
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Categories: Society & Culture
Another political incompatibility is shaking the Vermont advocacy community? A Jewish organization is demanding trans-alliance? The Pride Center of Vermont folded up recently, at least temporarily, partially because the LGBT+#%$ group’s board could not agree on their stance on Palestine and 3 of the 7 board members who are Jewish resigned and not surprisingly the organization’s money dwindled. These groups need to be more focused on their central mission or at least live by their claimed mantras of “tolerance and diversity”. Before contributing time or money to any advocacy organization these days, it’s good to do a little research and see if they hate you first. And now we have a new word to embrace: identitarians. It is thoroughly entertaining watching the left self-destruct though, in so many ways.
…couldn’t agree on their stance on Palestine… how about everyone think for themselves, must it always be ‘group think’?
SMH
There is nothing tolerant in any organization that calls themselves LGBTQ…. Either agree with their view or be cancelled if they can find a way to make it happen.
Sounds like a defamation lawsuit to me….
Maybe nobody wanted to go to the concert.
Songs to flame the discontent?
Put on your marxist decoder ring….
Songs to stir up trouble and make people miserable.
Who wants to go to that concert?
Everybody, EVERYBODY, needs a marxist decoder ring.
I do not believe that there is such a thing as being transexual. Is that transphobic? No. I have nothing against anyone. God created humans as male and female.
Good point, Paul. But remember that these folks don’t operate from a foundation of reality and common sense.
Alas, the conformity of “non-conformity.” The intolerance of “tolerance.”
The utter silliness of the virtue-signaling of faddish identity politics.
You can’t make this stuff up.
To answer your question…yes. To question the concept of transgenderism or it’s many variations to any degree now makes you officially transphobic. If there could be such a thing as a moderate position on the issue, both sides could agree that the current understanding is that sex and gender are no longer the same, and that one side describes people using biology and the other using psychology.
Actually, some people are born transexual. They are a miniscule minority. Most “trans” are merely following a trend.
Rich i identity as a grapefruit. Do you affirm me. Also im 5’11” but i identify as 1’6″. Im officially the shortest man in the world. Do you affirm me?
I dont affirm anyone’s gender identity disorder or as some now refer to it as “gender incongruence”, or any fantasy about being a fruit. If someone I knew thought they were Napoleon, I would be doing them no favor by going along with their fantasy.
Gender dysphoria, gender confusion, gender rebellion, gender denial, etc. all real, painful illnesses. Transgender?….no, there’s no such thing.
Maybe JVP can instead hire a Mister Rogers impersonator to sing children’s songs about “Only girls can be the mommy, only girls can be the daddy…”
I think Mr. Chris already wrote that one.
My groomer, Mairna Brown, formerly Anthony Teski, made it plain that giving a “platform” to any dissent, That even questioning the orthodoxy of the movement, was not to be tolerated. Even when children are being mutilatec and women raped in restrooms and prisons.