A crazy activist-type idea... tell me if this might work.

There's this crazy fundie Christian group called Battle Cry, who among other things, are totally homophobic. They try and suck teenagers in by having these massive Christian Rock concerts, known as "Acquire the Fire". They usually have one in a small city about an hour and a half from where I live, every fall.

My idea is to have kind of a counter-event, around the same time, to promote tolerance and diversity. I was thinking, maybe we could have our own concert? It wouldn't be anywhere near as big, but I have some friends who are in bands, and I know some local musicians. I'd call it something like "Rock Against Hate" (I feel like that name might be taken though). And I'd donate the profits to an organization like the Matthew Sheppard foundation, as well as local organizations that work with LGBT youth.

I know it's a crazy idea, but it would be really cool if it happened. Do you think there's any way I could put this together? Any way at all?

It can be done if you and your friends are willing to do it. Good luck!

:bounce: go for it :woohoo:

down with hate :bounce: up with tolerance :bounce:

And what are the logistics of planning something like that?

which includes contracts, etc., not to mention dealing with egos in deciding who goes on when, etc.

• Dealing with the city. Laws, laws, laws and forms, forms, forms.

• Acquiring the venue. More contracts, etc. Many hassles with zoning, parking, health codes, etc. etc. etc. Plus, people who manage concert venues are usually not too easy to get along with, and they aren't at all charitable.

• Event insurance. It used to be that a $2 million liability policy was required for things like this. That figure's probably higher now.

• Ticket distribution. How y'gonna handle it?

• Promotion. Same question.

• Getting support people, such as police (they may be required by the city), parking directors, stage crew, sound crew, food and drink vendors (if any)...



I'm not trying to discourage you, but I've done this kinda thing, and it's full of hassles.

It's a great idea. I don't know anything about organizing stuff, though, but a lot of the folks in there do.

:thumbsup:

You might check with local UU and UCC churches for support and venue possibilities. A lot of Christians are fed up with the hate-mongers who seem to have hijacked Christianity's label for themselves.

We've also been able to get space from some of the small local art galleries before, too.

Also contact the station manager of your local NPR affiliate and see if you can get it announced. I think they are required to do a certain number of free public service announcements. Print up hand bills and take them to various places like music stores and coffee shops, ask them if you can leave a stack. Send them to the central branch of the library to be posted on all the community bulletin boards at all the branches. Any place you can possible think of that would be open to letting you leave handbills.

See if you have a local GLBT Human Rights organization in your town that is willing to help you, too.

I live in Canada , so I'm not sure if we have NPR around here, but we do have an LGBT-themed radio station. Except I'm mad at them because I know one of their former DJ's who they fired. :-P

Also, there is a local LGBT-oriented theatre which might be able to help... they also occaionally rent out part of their space, and it can hold 120 people on chairs or stools (more if it's standing room only). The only catch is, if it's on a Friday or Saturday night (which would probably be the best option), we'd have to be out of there by 10... which is rather unfortuanate.

so no, you probably don't have an NPR affiliate but don't be afraid to use that radio station you mentioned. Even if you are mad at them, the cause is greater than personal conflict.

If you check out http://www.tolerance.org/index.jsp they have some resources and materials and ideas about how to do just that. It's a great idea, not crazy at all.

Psychologically speaking, it's the best way to counteract hate.

Protesting the negative event doesn't do anything at all, but raise blood pressures and give them more publicity for their hate.

Organizing something positive to counteract them does not give them any publicity, yet it gives people an alternative to the hate group that is preying on them.

http://www.tolerance.org/10_ways/create/index.html

Hope you can get some ideas from the tolerance site. I'm sure they will help you out if you drop them an email with your idea.

I've seen that website before...awesome. I was actually really inspired by the stories of people who've had anti-hate events.

And I guess having a positive event is better than protesting their event... I've heard of people protesting BattleCry events before, but it only gives the BattleCry participants more of a reason to whine about how they're being "censored".

Thanks for the encouragement!

Don't forget to let local food vendors know, so there will be plenty of good eats available. Get permits and look into getting some porta potties.

Good luck! :yourock: