Democratic senators, including Tammy Baldwin, Jacky Rosen, Brian Schatz, and Elizabeth Warren, organized a private ‘Love is Love’ concert at the Kennedy Center to protest alleged anti-LGBT bias. The event, described as ‘guerrilla theater’ by Senator John Hickenlooper, was funded through congressional privileges and invited only a select group, drawing criticism for its performative nature. The protest coincided with the Kennedy Center’s shift in leadership under President Richard Grenell, who is accused of favoring artistic excellence over identity politics.
According to reports, Hickenlooper reached out to Broadway producer Jeffrey Seller, known for the musical ‘Hamilton,’ to co-produce the show. Seller recently canceled a production at the Kennedy Center, along with show’s creator Lin Manuel-Miranda, also in protest against alleged anti-gay bias. The senators used a little-known provision that allows them to rent space at the Kennedy Center as a perk of the job.
Setting aside the fact that the Kennedy Center’s alleged anti-gay stance is questioned, the form of this protest by powerful Democrats warrants some scrutiny. According to The New York Times, Hickenlooper reached out to Seller and asked if he wanted to make some