Michelle Shocked, the alternative folk singer whose career has spanned three decades, has had at least three performances cancelled by venues in California, Oregon, and Illinois, after telling fans on stage last night that “God hates fags.” Fans at the San Francisco venue were outraged and walked out en masse.
READ: Singer Michelle Shocked Says ‘God Hates Fags’ To Shocked San Francisco Audience
“When they stop Prop 8 and force priests at gunpoint to marry gays, it will be the downfall of civilization and Jesus will come back,” Shocked reportedly told the crowd last night:
With a broad smile, Shocked said. “You are going to leave here and tell people ‘Michelle Shocked said God hates faggots.'” That comment produced more gasps and more departures. Two-thirds of the audience had walked out by this point. Some left the club; others retreated to the club’s bar. It was then that the show ended. A Yoshi’s manager announced, “Thank you for coming ladies and gentlemen. This show is over.” “It’s not over,” Shocked protested and she continued to sing. Management cut off her microphone and shut off the stage lights. Shocked continued to sing for her few remaining fans.
Yoshi’s, where Shocked played last night, says she won’t be invited back. And Dean Biersch, owner of the HopMonk Tavern in Novato, California, has canceled the March 29 show, the Press Democrat reports:
“Due to comments made by Michelle Shocked at Yoshi’s in San Francisco last night, March 17, we have decided to cancel our show with Michelle on March 29,†Biersch said in a brief statement issued today (Monday, March 18.
Space, a venue in Evanston, Illinois, also cancelled Shock’s upcoming performance:
Shocked is scheduled to perform this Saturday at McCabe’s in Santa Monica, who say they haven’t made the decision yet to cancel her performance but will decide tomorrow. Several other venues listed on Shock’s tour dates website we tried to reach by phone were unavailable.
Glad to see that most of the venues I’m emailing have already cancelled their Michelle Shocked shows. Hope the rest will follow.
— Stacy Bias (@fatfeistyfemme) March 18, 2013
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UPDATE: Activist and writer John Becker has just posted a petition at Change.org requesting venues to cancel Shock’s upcoming concerts.