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LOU CHIBBARO JR.
Friday, July 30, 2004
BOSTON — The Human Rights Campaign says it stands by a decision to drop
bisexual comedian Margaret Cho from the roster of entertainers invited to perform
at a July 27 “Unity 04” party in Boston for gay delegates to the
Democratic National Convention.
Cho had promised to put on an “incendiary” act attacking President
Bush, according to HRC spokesperson Steven Fisher. Fisher said such a performance
would have diverted the event’s “message” away from the organizers’ aim
of helping to elect John Kerry president.
Some of Cho’s gay fans said the comedian became a victim of efforts
by the Kerry campaign and some of its gay supporters, including HRC, to tone
down controversial rhetoric inside and outside the convention hall.
They said HRC knew of Cho’s reputation for using bawdy language and
sharp political satire in her popular nightclub act at the time they invited
her to perform in the Unity 04 event.
Critics said HRC and its Democratic Party “overseers” appeared
to be reacting to the Republican Party attack on the Kerry campaign for a controversial
performance by Whoopi Goldberg at a recent fund-raising event for Kerry. Goldberg,
who laced her performance with four-letter words and sexual references, was
denounced by the Republican National Committee, which criticized Kerry for
associating himself with such material.
At least one of the Unity 04 sponsors, the National Gay & Lesbian Task
Force, withdrew its endorsement of the event and criticized HRC and the other
groups for rescinding Cho’s invitation.
Transgender right activist Mara Keisling said the decision to rescind Cho’s
invitation prompted some transgender rights groups to withdraw their support
for the event and to stage a competing event on the same night.
Gay playwright and political activist Larry Kramer issued a statement denouncing
HRC for attempting to censor Cho.
“You look worse running away than you would if you had gone through
with it,” Kramer wrote.
Fisher said that 10 of the 12 groups that signed on as sponsors of the Unit
04 party supported HRC’s proposal to withdraw the Cho invitation.
Fisher said HRC raised concerns after Cho informed the gay rights group through
her publicist that she planned to use new material at the Unity 04 event from
her “State of Emergency” national tour, which is set to begin soon.
He said HRC called Cho’s representative and asked to review the material.
Cho then informed HRC she would put on an “incendiary” performance
and would not in any way “tone it down,” Fisher said.
“We said we feel she’s great but this was not the right forum,” Fisher
said. “This is a political convention where everyone is on message.”
Added Fisher, “The one who wanted Margaret Cho the most was probably
[Bush administration political adviser] Karl Rove. The type of message of distraction
she would provide is what Rove would like.”
Rove has been credited with orchestrating Bush’s shift to the right
on a number of issues, including Bush’s decision to support a constitutional
amendment banning gay marriage.
Fisher said the Kerry campaign and convention organizers did not ask HRC and
the other sponsors to drop Cho from the Unity 04 party.
He said the Washington Times, which led the reporting among GOP-leaning news
organizations about the Whoopi Goldberg episode, sent a reporter to the Unity
04 event in anticipation of Cho’s appearance. Fisher said several cable
news outlets had planned to cover the event had Cho’s participation not
been cancelled.
In a past performance, Cho had this to say about Bush: “Maybe he needs
a new version of the Ten Commandments. Thou shalt not steal votes. Thou shalt
not covet they neighbor’s country. Thou shalt not kill for oil. Thou
shalt not take grammar in vein.”
At the time her appearance at the Unity event was cancelled, Cho cancelled
a separate appearance she was scheduled to make at the annual convention of
the National Stonewall Democrats, a gay Democratic Party group, which was held
in Providence, R.I., the weekend before the Democratic National Convention.
Cho’s cancellation of her NSD appearance forced that group to scramble
to find an entertainment act to replace her. NSD executive director David
Noble said NSD supported HRC’s effort to withdraw Cho’s invitation
for the Unity event.
In a statement released by her publicist, Cho said she was “very disappointed” in
the decision to cancel her appearance at the unity event.
“Although I don’t believe it was the right decision, I am not
angry with the HRC for withdrawing their invitation for me to perform,” Cho
said. “I will continue to support them, for we must remain united. Divided,
we are of little use to each other.”
Added Cho, “Unfortunately, I hear they have felt the destructive power
of division as a result of their actions. I regret any harm that may have been
done to them, and to the important cause of democracy.
HRC President Cheryl Jacques, when asked at the event to comment on the Cho
flap, said, “This was about John Kerry and John Edwards and the gay community
coming together uniting around one single mission to get them elected to the
presidency. And the crowd here tonight had a fabulous time.”
Lou Chibbaro Jr. can be reached at lchibbaro@washblade.com.
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