In a bold display of political theater, five Democratic Senators collaborated with a producer from the acclaimed musical Hamilton to stage an LGBTQ Pride-themed concert at the Kennedy Center.
This event, held on Monday night, was a direct protest against the Trump administration's policies.
The concert, titled "Love is Love," was spearheaded by Senator John Hickenlooper of Colorado. Joining him in this endeavor were fellow Democratic Senators Tammy Baldwin of Wisconsin, Jacky Rosen of Nevada, Brian Schatz of Hawaii, and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts.
Utilizing a privilege afforded to members of Congress, Hickenlooper secured the Justice Forum, a modest venue with a seating capacity of 144, for the event.
As reported by Breitbart, the concert was produced by Jeffrey Seller, known for his work on Hamilton. The event featured performances by several Broadway artists and the Gay Mens Chorus of Washington D.C. Seller's involvement follows his and Hamilton co-creator Lin-Manuel Miranda's decision to cancel a planned 2026 showcase of the musical at the Kennedy Center, also in protest of President Trump.
Richard Grenell, the President of the Kennedy Center, issued a statement expressing his disapproval of the concert's political undertones.
He remarked, "Earlier this month, Senator Hickenloopers staff asked to rent space at the Kennedy Center for what his team billed as a first annual Talent show. We were pleased to welcome them to the Kennedy Center in this capacity. We were only later notified by the New York Times that Senator Hickenloopers event was instead an invite-only political stunt where, once again, the Kennedy Center was being used by political operatives to larp as victims of intolerance in order to get a story in the Times."
Grenell further criticized the event, stating, "No one has been cancelled by the Kennedy Center; we welcome everyone who wants to celebrate the arts, including our compatriots on the other side of the political aisle. We especially welcome artists and audience members who come to the Kennedy Center not for partisan political pranks but to experience excellence in the performing arts."
He also expressed disappointment with Seller and Miranda for their decision to boycott the Kennedy Center, accusing them of intolerance towards audience members with differing political views. "I cannot begin to understand what business it is of Mr. Seller or Mr. Miranda how audience members vote or how it could possibly be relevant to the sacred relationship between performers and ticket holders, but theyve made it clear that they wont perform for audiences that might contain Americans who disagree with them on matters irrelevant to the arts," Grenell asserted.
This concert highlights the ongoing cultural and political divide, with the arts being used as a platform for political expression. While the event drew attention to LGBTQ issues, it also sparked debate about the intersection of politics and the arts, raising questions about inclusivity and the role of cultural institutions in political discourse.
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