I’m pretty sure every woman off the top of their head can name at least one instance where they have felt unsafe or threatened. It’s especially disappointing when these incidents interrupt an otherwise enjoyable night out at a show.
Enter Speedy Ortiz. The Massachusetts-based band, led by frontwoman Sadie Dupuis, have opened a “help hotline” for fans, aimed at combatting racism, sexism, homophobia and transphobia.
The hotline encourages fans who are “being harassed, or feel unsafe and need help” to reach out to the band via text message. The band will then work with venue security to help out concert-goers.
Since the announcement, Dupuis has noted on Twitter that a number of other bands have reached out to enquire about setting up similar systems, which she sees as an indication that resources like these are widely needed.
While you would think that a band actively trying to creative a more inclusive concert-going community and look out for the safety of audience members would be totally fine and not something you could actually find anything to complain about, you would be wrong, of course. There has been an obnoxious minority accusing the band of being too PC.
Thankfully, Dupuis has responded excellently:
if "anti-PC" trolls are vilifying you yr doing everything right. keep dumping salt in the (patriarchal, white supremacist) wounds of society
— sadie dupuis (@sad13) September 9, 2015
The band kicked off their tour in Columbus, Ohio on Tuesday night and will finish up in November in Texas. The hotline will be available throughout the tour.
You can check out the band’s sound here: