"Gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth face harassment and violence in schools every day across the country. This is precisely why."

Outrage was expressed by leaders of The National Gay and Lesbian Task Force over the cancellation of a May 7 South Carolina High School Performance by the popular duo the Indigo Girls. The school's Principal, Gerald Witt, acted because the women are lesbians.

The Grammy Award-winning duo, Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, were  slated to give a free half-hour performance during a talent show at Irmo High School near Columbia. Irmo High School’s Principal Witt canceled the show, saying through a spokesperson it was because Saliers and Ray are lesbians. Since publicity arose about the cancellation, principal Witt is attributing the cancellation to other reasons, in addition to the sexual orientation of the performers.  

"The refrain of Ray and Saliers is integrity and respect for everyone.  Principal Witt certainly has a lesson or two to learn from the Indigo Girls," said Lobel.  

The Indigo Girls may be going forward with other arrangements for a show in Irmo next week. The Irmo High School show was part of a series of scheduled high school performances by the Indigo Girls. 
  

Indigo Girls & GLAAD:  “Cancellation Homophobic” 
  
The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD)  
and the Grammy Award-winning Indigo Girls expressed deep  
disappointment and shock at a South Carolina high school 
principal's decision to cancel a performance by the group. The Indigo Girls, who since 1989 have sold close to 8 million records, were to perform for free at the school and were planning to give interviews to local journalism students following the show. 

Earlier this week, Irmo High School Principal Gerald Witt canceled the concert after a number of parents complained about the openly gay duo's sexual orientation. Witt contends that it was not merely the complaints nor the duo's sexual orientation that had led him to cancel the show. According to a Knight-Ridder article, Witt cited worries about safety during the performance. 

Joan M. Garry, GLAAD's Executive Director and part of the team which originally launched and developed MTV Networks in 1981 was particularly troubled that such blatant prejudice was fueled by the leader of an educational institution. "It is a travesty that a performance by the Indigo Girls--who have long exemplified service and commitment to a diverse number of important social issues--would be considered anything other than enlightening and celebratory. Instead of Mr. Witt using this opportunity to teach his students how to dismantle homophobia, he has demonstrated precisely how to promote fear and intolerance." 

Emily Saliers of the Indigo Girls issued the following statement: "We are saddened and angry to hear that our show at Irmo High School has been cancelled. It is a blatant case of homophobia. The show was cancelled because we are gay. In the wake of recent violence in schools and the often bleak environment for kids which includes the cutting of school arts programs and lack of creative outlets," said Saliers, "we believe that playing free high school shows will provide a positive musical and emotional experience for high school students. Despite this particular cancellation, we will play in Columbia, SC and we'd like to thank the people there and elsewhere who support our collective message of respect and justice for all human beings." 

Jennifer H. Einhorn, GLAAD's Director of Communications, stated that, "Surely Mr. Witt would not prohibit an appearance by a multi-Grammy award winning group because of their religious affiliation or ethnicity. In that regrard, this egregious and hurtful decision is one all Americans must not tolerate."