Rainbow Roundup 6/9: Say It Loud (And a Retraction)

Howdy, cowpokes!

First of all, thanks so much to everyone who has so generously contributed to the Rainbow Rodeo issue 3 fundraiser! In just 5 days, we’ve raised $1180! Only $220 to go, so consider pre-ordering your copy of the zine or joining the Patreon today!

In other news, I am once again the “voice” of Sirius XM’s Country Pride channel, which launches today on Channel 105 and will be available all month! You’ll hear me doing all the random interstitials. I’ve also curated a set of music by trans, non-binary, and drag artists called Wide Open Spaces. You can listen here at 5 PM today AND

Tues 6/13 @ 12pm ET

Thurs 6/15 @ 9am ET

Weds 6/21 @ 8pm ET

The link will go live at 5 PM!

OK, now the retraction. You probably know I like to to talk shit. Well, it’s time to put my foot (and all the poo it stepped in) into my mouth.

When Maren Morris, Jason Aldean’s wife, and Cassadee Pope got into it about trans rights on Twitter, I questioned the extent to which celebrities are actually helpful, and what I wished Morris would do now that this particular platform had been thrust upon her.

Reader, in her Billboard cover story this week, she hit every nail on the head. Morris used her space to host a round table with drag queens (and one king,) discussing the political and actual dangers they are in, focusing on their experiences, and creating space to discuss allyship and material support for the drag and trans communities. And she looked pretty cute in Willie Nelson drag. Not only that, but she leaves us with this kicker:

I don’t think any of us got into this art form to be an activist, but that’s ultimately thrust upon you to exist in this space and to feel like you can sleep at night. You’re going to lose fans along the way — that is just part and parcel of being public-facing. But there is a lane that you’re widening; I see it year over year at my shows, the crowd feels so diverse and so safe. I know everyone likes money, but is it worth your biography saying that you never picked a side because both sides pay money to buy a T-shirt?

— Maren Morris in Billboard Magazine

People grow and I hope others follow in Morris’ footsteps to become well-educated on political issues and actively give their platforms to others!

Rainbow Roundup

  • Rolling Stone’s Jon Freeman has declared country music to be queerer than ever
  • Ahead of CMA fest, Stephen Traegeser gives an update on the state of country music and shouts out a lot of queer artists in the Nashville Scene
  • Izzy Heltai spoke about his experience as a trans kid on Proud Radio (h/t Vanyaland)
  • Rainbow Rodeo contributor Bee Delores interviewed Brandy Clark for Holler
  • For Texans, Saddle Mountain Post spills the goods on the upcoming OUTlaw Pride Fest
  • Rae Spoon has put up a new album on their Bandcamp page. There’s no music yet but they do describe their experiences with cancer. The album looks to be pretty pop-oriented, but to learn more about Rae Spoon’s country roots, check out our podcast with Queer Country author Shana Goldin-Perschbacher

Album Releases

  • 6/2 — Beau Wheeler
  • 6/2 — Torey McDowell — Not a Man
  • 6/29 — Desert Mambas
  • 6/30 — Joanna Sternberg

Events

  • 6/12 — Brian Falduto will be playing City Winery’s pride show in NYC
  • 6/18 — Mercy Bell is premiering her musical, Leather Daddies, about Chuck Renslow and Dom Orejudos, forbears of the global leather scene.
  • 6/23 – 25: Melissa Carper, Alisa Amador, Maya deVitry, The Faux Paws, and Amy Martin are playing the Red Wing Roots Music Festival in Mount Solon, Virginia
  • 6/24 — OUTLaw PrideFest will have a stage at Austin Pride!
  • 7/8 — Margate, UK — The Queer Cuntry Summer Fair will feature a whole slew of queer country performers!

Artist Resources

*Correction: an earlier version of this piece listed Carly Pearce instead of Cassadee Pope. Thanks, Jada!

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