PITTSBURGH — Blue Moon Bar, a popular LGBTQ+ bar in Lawrenceville, is apologizing after photos from a drag performance last week appeared to show a performer in blackface.
The photos began circulating online, sparking outrage among members of Pittsburgh’s black and LGBTQ+ community.
“I was disgusted but not surprised,” said Ciora Thomas, founder of Sisters PGH, a nonprofit that supports Black and transgender communities. “This is something that we have been exposed to here in Pittsburgh for a long time, unfortunately.”
Thomas, who is also a performer, said the incident reflects a larger and longstanding problem of discrimination against Black people in LGBTQ+ spaces.
“To see it happening again right now is just too much,” Thomas said. “We continue to have these conversations about progress within community, [but] it’s really no progress.”
In a social media post Tuesday, nearly a week after the show, Blue Moon Bar management wrote:
“We’d like to apologize for the blackface performance that happened last week at our weekly Open Stage Wednesday. We were just made aware yesterday that this happened last week. We were not there and we did not witness it.
“We are not ignoring that this happened; we were just blindsided, horrified this happened in our bar, and had to first talk to the people who witnessed it and who were hosting the event to figure out exactly what happened before we could speak out.
“We’re amazed we even have to say this… but blackface is not OK! And we apologize to anyone who has been offended or triggered by the pictures shared of this performance or to anyone who unfortunately witnessed it. We’ve easily had over 1,000 different performers grace our small stage over the past almost 25 years of our bars existence.
“We’re proud to foster an environment where people can express themselves and share their art… this however, was not appropriate. We know that this new performer didn’t intend to cause such harm with their performance but unfortunately that is what has happened.
“Also, our two guest host (who don’t normally host open stage) somehow didn’t realize at the time what was happening. We aren’t excusing their behavior and we ask better of all of the parties involved.
“Whatever the intent, blackface is racist and harmful and it is never acceptable. We are sorry that it happened in our bar. We accept full responsibility for this performance happening in our bar. It is our responsibility to make sure that our events are welcoming and last week we fell short.
“In the future we will do a better job of screening performances that happen at our Wednesday Open Stage and we will be making sure that performers and are audience are aware that racially offensive performances will not be tolerated.
“Love to you all! Black Lives Matter!”
The bar also posted a photo of a dressing-room sign that reads “Absolutely no performances based on race, ethnicity, or nationality (that is not your own) will be tolerated!!!”
Thomas said she wants to see venues take more proactive steps to address racism.
“When you hear these kind of things, what are you going to do next?” Thomas said. “What’s your next action? Show us what it’s going to be when racism shows up in the bar.”
The performer has since taken down her Instagram account.
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