Feb 21
A Gay Men's Chorus Show was Scratched at The Kennedy Center – But the 'J6 Choir' will Take the Stage
Kilian Melloy READ TIME: 3 MIN.
The Gay Men's Chorus of Washington, DC saw their show – a queer youth metaphor titled "A Peacock Among Pigeons" – scratched from The Kennedy Center's schedule. But take a guess at who will be taking the stage now that Donald Trump has brought the venue under his control.
"During an appearance at CPAC on Thursday [Feb. 20], conservative activist and Trump ally Steve Bannon shared that the J6 Prison Choir, which is comprised of men previously imprisoned for their involvement in the January 6th United States Capitol attack, will soon perform at the Kennedy Center," Consequence reported.
"Bannon said he was informed of their invitation by Ric Grenell, who was recently appointed by Trump as Kennedy Center's interim executive director."
The "J6 Prison Choir" made its way to the top of Trump's hit parade with a recording titled "Justice for All," "which consists of Trump reciting the Pledge of Allegiance interspersed with the choir singing 'The Star-Spangled Banner,'" Consequence detailed. "At the beginning of his second term, Trump pardoned about 1,500 people convicted of offenses related January 6th."
The pardon extended to rioters who had been convicted of beating police officers, such as "individuals like Julian Khater, who assaulted US Capitol Police officer Brian Sicknick and later pled guilty to assaulting officers with a dangerous weapon; Devlyn Thompson, who hit a police officer with a metal baton; and Robert Palmer, a Florida man who attacked police with a fire extinguisher, a wooden plank and a pole," as well as "Andrew Valentin and Matthew Valentin, who both pleaded guilty in September to assaulting police and were each sentenced... to two-and-a-half years in prison" before being set loose by Trump, CNN reported.
"More than 140 police officers were injured during the seven-hour siege, which also led directly and indirectly to the deaths of four Trump supporters in the mob and five police officers," CNN recalled of the day in 2021 when a mob, spurred on by Trump, attacked the U.S, Capitol Building, delaying the certification of President Joe Biden's 2020 electoral victory.
Moreover, the news outlet detailed, Trump commuted "the sentences for 14 far-right extremists from the Oath Keepers and Proud Boys who were convicted or charged with seditious conspiracy."
Trump characterized those he pardoned and commuted as "hostages" to a justice system he has claimed was hostile toward him and his supporters.
While MAGA adherents celebrate the rioters, the Washington Gay Men's Chorus has proclaimed itself "deeply disappointed" at their performance – which was to have been a collaboration with the National Symphony Orchestra – being scrubbed from The Kennedy Center's schedule.
"We believe in the power of music to educate and uplift, to foster love, understanding, and community, and we regret that this opportunity has been taken away," Deadline quoted the chorus saying in a statement.
"We are grateful for those who have supported us, and we will continue to seek spaces where our voices, our stories, and our music can be heard," the chorus added. "To that end, we will be performing A Peacock Among Pigeons during our upcoming Choral Festival that is a part of WorldPride 2025."
But, Deadline added, according to the venue's leadership, the change was determined even before Trump forced out half the board of The Kennedy Center, replaced them with loyalists, and took over as chairman. The venue "provided a statement to Deadline from NSO executive director Jean Davidson," Deadline relayed, in which Davidson said, "We chose to replace it with The Wizard of Oz, another suitable program for World PRIDE participation."
Added Davidson: "We were unable to announce the replacement program until we had secured the rights to present it, but in the interest of transparency, we removed the original program from the website to prevent further ticket sales."
In the wake of Trump's takeover, "Shonda Rhimes has resigned from the board of the Kennedy Center," Deadline noted, "and Issa Rae has canceled a show scheduled for the venue."
Moreover, out singer-songwriter Ben Folds quit as the artistic advisor of the NSO, citing "developments at the Kennedy Center" for his departure.
Kilian Melloy serves as EDGE Media Network's Associate Arts Editor and Staff Contributor. His professional memberships include the National Lesbian & Gay Journalists Association, the Boston Online Film Critics Association, The Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association, and the Boston Theater Critics Association's Elliot Norton Awards Committee.
