Kansas City LGBT activist and Library dude Wick Thomas is a change agent, power broker and also the leader of a rather killer band.
Currently, in a proud local tradition of bickering that accompanies just about every local LGBT event . . . Mr. Thomas confronts an event fee required for an upcoming fundraiser for the Kansas City chapter of the Human Rights campaign.
No stranger to controversy within the LGBT Community . . .
CHECK OUT THIS EPIC RESPONSE FROM WICK THOMAS TOWARD THE KANSAS CITY HUMAN RIGHT CAMPAIGN FIGHTING FOR HIS RIGHT TO ROCK OUT WITHOUT CHARGE!!!
Here's the word via social media:
Wick Thomas - The local chapter of the HRC just asked us to pay them money to play a fundraiser for them. This was our response.
"Dear HRC-KC,
As the only band I know of in Kansas City who has all queer-identified members, I'm very glad you have heard of us and that you considered us for your event. We always want to give back to the community and have played top-surgery benefits and many fundraisers. I have personally organized many rallies and events for the LGBTQ community and devoted much of my life to activism.
That being said, it is very frustrating that the HRC, the most well-funded gay organization in the country, would ask working-class queer artists to not just play your event for free, but actually pay you to play it. Asking us to pay you $50 to play your event is insulting.
Our band is a very visible representation of the LGBTQ community in the Midwest and we love playing music, but are doing so at great personal expense. That an organization wishing to highlight LGBTQ musicians would ask us to pay them and then filter money raised from local artists to a well-funded national organization seems entirely backwards. Shouldn't you be celebrating the hard work and grassroots efforts of queer-identified bands like us rather than hitting us up for money?
And all of that could likely be forgiven if it weren't for the HRC's terrible history of exclusion of trans causes from the organization. The way that the HRC has handled ENDA it will take a very long time to repair that rift, and asking queer/trans artists to pay you to play your event is not going to help speed that up any.
Respectfully,
Wick & The Tricks"
##########
Now, take a look at Wick's KICK-ASS BAND at the center of this local controversy that often confronts local charity scene . . .
Developing . . .