DJ John Summit is headlining one of the biggest dance parties at New York City Pride this year, despite being a straight man with a minimal history of LGBTQ+ advocacy.
The curious decision generated a curious response, especially among those in the gay and electronic dance communities.
“Allies are welcome, but these spaces aren’t intended for you. For context, this is like having an ‘international women’s day’ event and booking Tiësto,” wrote a queer EDM enthusiast on social media.
How about we take this to the next level?
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A commenter on Reddit put their opinion bluntly.
“He is a massive name, but I am surprised that’s who they got since he is very much straight frat bro douche energy,” they wrote.
The DJ discourse begs the question: Should non-LGBTQ+ acts headline Pride events?
thoughts about the dreamland pride event in new york because people have been asking me in the DMs how i feel about it
Before we go further, it’s important to note that we’re not talking about longtime LGBTQ+ allies like Madonna, Paula Abdul and Kylie Minogue. Beloved pop divas are responsible for many of our favorite gay anthems. Plus, they have decades of advocacy to match their catalogue.
But the question becomes muddier once one considers an artist like, say, Taylor Dayne. The “Tell It To My Heart” singer, who’s performed at Pride events all over the U.S., also sang at a Mar-a-Lago party during the height of COVID.
That’s not OK, and neither was her hasty, typo-ridden non-apology.
“I’m saddened by all this,” Dayne wrote in a now-deleted tweet. “I have a 30 yr careers s that many diverse friendships .and I try to stay non political and non judgmental and not preach . I sing from my heart purely and from Source. I wish for all to be who they need to be .. and find their way.”
Or should LGBTQ+ roles go to actual LGBTQ+ actors?
Unlike Dayne, Summit has never performed at Mar-a-Lago (though Rudy Giuliani’s reaction to house music would be pretty funny). In fact, he pushed back against homophobic fans who are ripping him for his Pride Week gig.
“Lost a few hundred followers since i announced im playing a gay pride party lmfao peace out u insecure homophobes,” he wrote.
The “Where You Are” spinner followed up his statement of support with the ultimate affirmation.
“idc what u think u cannot deny that the gays know how to fkn PARTY,” he posted.
Right on… bro?
lost a few hundred followers since i announced im playing a gay pride party lmfao peace out u insecure homophobes
It’s worth noting, those criticizing the promoter’s decision to book Summit are quick to point out their beef isn’t with him.
“No shade to john, as i’m sure he feels honored to be asked to take part in a pride celebration, but he headlines every other space in the world,” wrote @BabyWeightMusic on X Twitter.
The argument about whether Pride events should only showcase LGBTQ+ talent draws some similarities to the long-lasting debate over whether non-queer actors should play queer roles. For decades, there was a dearth out actors in Hollywood, due to widespread homophobia.
With that in mind, some queer folx in the industry don’t think hetero people should play gay characters. “It’s about authenticity,” said Queer as Folk creator Russell T. Davies. “You wouldn’t cast someone able-bodied and put them in a wheelchair, you wouldn’t black someone up. Authenticity is leading us to joyous places.”
Along similar lines, gay people have an authentic claim to house music. The genre was “invented by Black and primary gay DJs in Chicago in the late 1970s and 80s,” as NPR reports.
When Summit was approached with that tidbit, he offered an ambiguous response.
“to be fair i fit that description too hahaha but never once claimed to have started the movement just trying my best to add to it,” he wrote.
I think its truly TRULY embarrassing that I, someone not in the music industry, could rattle off MULTIPLE LGBTQ DJs that wouldve been better fits as headliner for a major Pride event than John Summit
@johnsummit is an ally and he knows the roots of the music he creates are based in LGBT+ history. I think it’s awesome that he would say “fuck people who don’t respect this, I’m doing it for the gays.” If we don’t let ally’s support us, we are no better then those who hate us
So what do you think? Should non-LGBTQ+ people headline Pride events, or should the stage be reserved for out queer artists? Sound off in the comments below…
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Taylor Dane has a gay following. She also performed at several AIDS benefits. The Mar a Lago was unfortunate, but I’m not going to begrudge her forever. It’s not like she voted for that AH.
If it’s true that Summit is “very much straight frat bro douche energy,” I would look into who made the choice to book Summit, and whether the booker has some sort of particular interest in Summit. Imo, therein lies the explanation for this conundrum. Maybe a committee is needed if there wasn’t one.
NYC Pride, started in 1970 by Craig Rodwell, a gay man and owner of the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop, is now dominated by BLM, who won’t allow the Gay Officers Action League to march in uniform (even though making the New York’s cops LGBT-inclusive was a milestone for our movement), and Heterosexual Transwomen (who had zero to do with Stonewall or Pride) and now actually call our lesbian sisters “bigots” and “genital fetishists” for not being attracted to their biologically intact bodies.
That is the sad state of “queer” or LGBTQIA+ politics in 2024.
But yes, let’s get worked up about the bona fides of the entertainment.
Strangely, Inbama seems to have forgotten that it was c0ps arresting, attacking and brutalizing gay and bi men, drag queens and trans people that led to the Stonewall Uprising, out of which came the initial Pride March, and later Craig Rodwell, his partner Fred Sargeant, Ellen Broidy, and Linda Rhodes proposed an annual New York Pride March!
The successes of the Queer Liberation Movement came from building a LGBT community that could rally around priorities and not fall into the same pitfalls other minority populations have over human history. The future rights of LGBT citizens will depend on whether we can discern fact from fiction, justice from rainbow-washing and support genuine Queer Talent over gay-for-pay (whatever the genre or venue). You get what you give.
Your version of “Queer Liberation” doesn’t correlate with lived and historical reality. You need to read up a bit more, because you’ll see that the Gay Rights and Liberation movements did fall into some the very “pitfalls” you seem to think they didn’t. Cf. Lesbian separatism. Cf. the shift from a Left-leaning early gay rights discourse to increasing mainstreaming of gay rights, etc. Cf. the shift from gay to queer, which is not uncontroversial, even on this site.
I think if he uses this to establish and support a queer following it’s fine.
I (along with another gay guy and 3 lesbians) started a Pride in a small town back in the 80’s. It’s not only still going, it spread to at least one other town nearby! Now when I go it’s got most of this other community (over 60%) is involved including locally owned straight businesses and the police and fire. The EMT’s (all straight and married as far as I know) had to revive a drag queen who’d suffered heat stroke last year (never forget your fan when you’re wearing a wig kids, also drink lots of water! Having a hunky EMT, straight or not, nearby in case of emergencies is also a good idea!) Look, it’s a community effort and I, for one, am glad these people want to participate, even if they don’t share the 2SLGBTQIA+ experience. If he wants to join in and add his voice then let him. I hope he truly does embrace the community because do have room for the straight bros if they’re willing to embrace us. That was kind of the point when I started the parade in my town all those years ago. Sure, we were more desperate then and more set upon (some people got bottles thrown at them, I got comments at work and sideways demotion) but in persevering together we did a lot of good too.
One of the unsung heroes of our parade was a straight boss who let me have time off work to pursue this work knowing full well what I was doing and also was “sideways demoted” with me. She sacrificed something and John just “sacrificed” some followers and laughed at them for their homophobia. That’s a genuine investment even if it wasn’t huge numbers for him. I welcome that energy.
Gosh, does “author” Alex think that we should reject support from our supporters? Extremists demanding such non-sense are hurting our community with such illogical demands. It’s a foolish path that can lead to isolation and rejection from the greater community.
What ‘good’ comes from rejecting our supporters? Exclusivity? Now I can understand why support for LGBTQ is declining. Instead of rejecting support, we need to get back onto the path that won hearts and minds: acceptance, compassion and support for diversity and inclusion.
Yes Rongo, you are right, let the lgbt+ community give all the opportunities, platforms and voices to cis straight men because at the end of the day they deserve it more.
And regarding him being an ally, don’t forget that his only act of “allyship” is posting 2 tweets about losing fans, since when the bar of being an ally has been set that low?
This looks like a variation of I call ‘The RuPaul Effect’ – we are reminded by the Ru that we should all be “inclusive” – the upshot often being bars, clubs and events originally created for (and most often by) the gay community as safe spaces and places they can be themselves are now fair game for (mostly) straight women – usually in groups or, worse, bachelorette parties; sometimes with their one token gay friend, straight guy ally or terrified boyfriend – to consider it their inclusive right to be there, and behave as they see fit.
Okay, they appreciate the vibe and at they feel safe there, and we are encouraged to embrace that as being inclusive – but the bar, club or event loses what is was there for – *our* safe space. Because chances are pretty good if packs of gay guys going into a traditionally straight bar or club and the behaving as they see fit would not enjoy the same appreciation of inclusivity. Or feel safe.
Great to find allies, but there’s plenty of opportunities to celebrate the talents and desires of those within the community without looking elsewhere. We shouldn’t need to replace that with others who are there because someone decided it’s what the Ru would want.
Straight people as allies are great. They have a place at PRIDE.
As GUESTS. They are not us, though. An ally who has vocally supported us, even when it might hurt their career? They deserve a spot on the stage, even if they do NOT deserve a spot under the LGBTQIAA+ umbrella. Meanwhile, a performer who’s just looking for rainbow capitalism to enrich them can fuck right off. They aren’t an ally, so I don’t care if they make a fun dance bop. They don’t belong at PRIDE.
Just like cops don’t deserve any special recognition at PRIDE. PRIDE is about US telling THEM we won’t suborn ourselves to their hateful rules and regulations and expectations.
We’re here, we’re queer, get used to it.
We’re NOT here to enrich some breeder who was never there for us.
John Summit seems like a cool person and I’m sure he’s thrilled to be part of the party. But I’m pretty sure that the headliner for a Pride event should be an artist who is either LGBT or has exhibited a history of support for the community.
No doubt Summit has plenty of gay fans attending his events and enjoying his music. But a Pride event is a celebration of the LGBT community and should be headlined by artists who have played a significant role in that community.
Personally, I think there are so many LBGTQ+ performers, that they should be given opportunities to perform. Many straight performers play up to the community when it suits them but are not really involved otherwise.
Short answer- no they shouldn’t. If they don’t have prior history in supporting LGBTQ ppl then why are they invited to perform? A straight man with that big platform & following never uttered support for us or disagreement against homophobes until he got paid to perform at a queer space seems performative ?. I’m sure he’s not a homophobe but this was more to protect his image than actual allyship. This is like when straight actors are so super supportive of LGBTQ ppl, particularly talking about filming gay sex scenes, when their show or movie is out but is dead silence on political support when we need them the most.
His name probably will get more straight ppl to attended Pride and that’s not the goal of Pride. It’s not just a place to party and I hate that’s what most ppl think. It’s a queer space, straight ppl are welcomed as guests/ observers. The gig could’ve gone to a local queer or an LGBTQ person with a platform. Also this is how many gay bars became straight washed that made me hate most gay bars now.
I’m a bit torn on this issue. We want to dream of a day that we can live amongst them (straights) as equals and not stand out as being considered different, yet here we refuse to allow them to live amongst us. I can also see the argument that PRIDE is a celebration of and for LGBT communities so there is some validity in supporting only LGBT folks there, but sometimes it’s better to keep your arms opened and to welcome all so as to build an even stronger alliance. I’d rather think this incident is more worthy of a “hey we should probably consider supporting our own more the next time” and not get our panties in a wad over sharing the space.
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CornPopBadDude
If performing at Mar-a-Lago is cancelling issue for you; you don’t deserve your choice of acts.
dbmcvey
It does remind me of when Paris Hilton was the Grand Marshall of the West Hollywood Pride Parade. We were confused.
Chrisk
Oh no. Was it her “that’s gay” that she liked to use so much. Funny that she’s now come out and said her ditzyness was all an act.
dbmcvey
It’s more that she had never done anything to support or acknowledge gay people. She had gay fans but she had never been an ally.
dbmcvey
Taylor Dane has a gay following. She also performed at several AIDS benefits. The Mar a Lago was unfortunate, but I’m not going to begrudge her forever. It’s not like she voted for that AH.
Chrisk
Sounds as unfortunate as when Elton John performed for Rush Limbaugh’s wedding.
dbmcvey
Yeah, and I let that go a long time ago.
Fahd
If it’s true that Summit is “very much straight frat bro douche energy,” I would look into who made the choice to book Summit, and whether the booker has some sort of particular interest in Summit. Imo, therein lies the explanation for this conundrum. Maybe a committee is needed if there wasn’t one.
inbama
NYC Pride, started in 1970 by Craig Rodwell, a gay man and owner of the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookshop, is now dominated by BLM, who won’t allow the Gay Officers Action League to march in uniform (even though making the New York’s cops LGBT-inclusive was a milestone for our movement), and Heterosexual Transwomen (who had zero to do with Stonewall or Pride) and now actually call our lesbian sisters “bigots” and “genital fetishists” for not being attracted to their biologically intact bodies.
That is the sad state of “queer” or LGBTQIA+ politics in 2024.
But yes, let’s get worked up about the bona fides of the entertainment.
dbmcvey
What heterosexual transwomen are you talking about? Do you mean Sylvia Rivera?
Kangol2
Strangely, Inbama seems to have forgotten that it was c0ps arresting, attacking and brutalizing gay and bi men, drag queens and trans people that led to the Stonewall Uprising, out of which came the initial Pride March, and later Craig Rodwell, his partner Fred Sargeant, Ellen Broidy, and Linda Rhodes proposed an annual New York Pride March!
Jim
Follow the Benjamins
KissBananaPeels
always…there are BETTER DJs and they are Black…
flip-the-bird-Boston
The successes of the Queer Liberation Movement came from building a LGBT community that could rally around priorities and not fall into the same pitfalls other minority populations have over human history. The future rights of LGBT citizens will depend on whether we can discern fact from fiction, justice from rainbow-washing and support genuine Queer Talent over gay-for-pay (whatever the genre or venue). You get what you give.
Kangol2
Your version of “Queer Liberation” doesn’t correlate with lived and historical reality. You need to read up a bit more, because you’ll see that the Gay Rights and Liberation movements did fall into some the very “pitfalls” you seem to think they didn’t. Cf. Lesbian separatism. Cf. the shift from a Left-leaning early gay rights discourse to increasing mainstreaming of gay rights, etc. Cf. the shift from gay to queer, which is not uncontroversial, even on this site.
LAN8
I think if he uses this to establish and support a queer following it’s fine.
I (along with another gay guy and 3 lesbians) started a Pride in a small town back in the 80’s. It’s not only still going, it spread to at least one other town nearby! Now when I go it’s got most of this other community (over 60%) is involved including locally owned straight businesses and the police and fire. The EMT’s (all straight and married as far as I know) had to revive a drag queen who’d suffered heat stroke last year (never forget your fan when you’re wearing a wig kids, also drink lots of water! Having a hunky EMT, straight or not, nearby in case of emergencies is also a good idea!) Look, it’s a community effort and I, for one, am glad these people want to participate, even if they don’t share the 2SLGBTQIA+ experience. If he wants to join in and add his voice then let him. I hope he truly does embrace the community because do have room for the straight bros if they’re willing to embrace us. That was kind of the point when I started the parade in my town all those years ago. Sure, we were more desperate then and more set upon (some people got bottles thrown at them, I got comments at work and sideways demotion) but in persevering together we did a lot of good too.
One of the unsung heroes of our parade was a straight boss who let me have time off work to pursue this work knowing full well what I was doing and also was “sideways demoted” with me. She sacrificed something and John just “sacrificed” some followers and laughed at them for their homophobia. That’s a genuine investment even if it wasn’t huge numbers for him. I welcome that energy.
Ronbo
Gosh, does “author” Alex think that we should reject support from our supporters? Extremists demanding such non-sense are hurting our community with such illogical demands. It’s a foolish path that can lead to isolation and rejection from the greater community.
What ‘good’ comes from rejecting our supporters? Exclusivity? Now I can understand why support for LGBTQ is declining. Instead of rejecting support, we need to get back onto the path that won hearts and minds: acceptance, compassion and support for diversity and inclusion.
deann
Yes Rongo, you are right, let the lgbt+ community give all the opportunities, platforms and voices to cis straight men because at the end of the day they deserve it more.
And regarding him being an ally, don’t forget that his only act of “allyship” is posting 2 tweets about losing fans, since when the bar of being an ally has been set that low?
Baz01
This looks like a variation of I call ‘The RuPaul Effect’ – we are reminded by the Ru that we should all be “inclusive” – the upshot often being bars, clubs and events originally created for (and most often by) the gay community as safe spaces and places they can be themselves are now fair game for (mostly) straight women – usually in groups or, worse, bachelorette parties; sometimes with their one token gay friend, straight guy ally or terrified boyfriend – to consider it their inclusive right to be there, and behave as they see fit.
Okay, they appreciate the vibe and at they feel safe there, and we are encouraged to embrace that as being inclusive – but the bar, club or event loses what is was there for – *our* safe space. Because chances are pretty good if packs of gay guys going into a traditionally straight bar or club and the behaving as they see fit would not enjoy the same appreciation of inclusivity. Or feel safe.
Great to find allies, but there’s plenty of opportunities to celebrate the talents and desires of those within the community without looking elsewhere. We shouldn’t need to replace that with others who are there because someone decided it’s what the Ru would want.
Josh in OR
Straight people as allies are great. They have a place at PRIDE.
As GUESTS. They are not us, though. An ally who has vocally supported us, even when it might hurt their career? They deserve a spot on the stage, even if they do NOT deserve a spot under the LGBTQIAA+ umbrella. Meanwhile, a performer who’s just looking for rainbow capitalism to enrich them can fuck right off. They aren’t an ally, so I don’t care if they make a fun dance bop. They don’t belong at PRIDE.
Just like cops don’t deserve any special recognition at PRIDE. PRIDE is about US telling THEM we won’t suborn ourselves to their hateful rules and regulations and expectations.
We’re here, we’re queer, get used to it.
We’re NOT here to enrich some breeder who was never there for us.
ladron
So long the hired act isn’t actively working against LGBTQ+ communities (words, deeds, or contributions), let the man DJ.
It’s silly to subject others to vetting when LGBTQ+ community members have plenty to answer for themselves.
bachy
John Summit seems like a cool person and I’m sure he’s thrilled to be part of the party. But I’m pretty sure that the headliner for a Pride event should be an artist who is either LGBT or has exhibited a history of support for the community.
No doubt Summit has plenty of gay fans attending his events and enjoying his music. But a Pride event is a celebration of the LGBT community and should be headlined by artists who have played a significant role in that community.
pattygale
Personally, I think there are so many LBGTQ+ performers, that they should be given opportunities to perform. Many straight performers play up to the community when it suits them but are not really involved otherwise.
dwick
He shouldn’t be performing, or whatever it is that a DJ does. Give the gig to an LGBTQ person. Easy peasy
dmarcus
Short answer- no they shouldn’t. If they don’t have prior history in supporting LGBTQ ppl then why are they invited to perform? A straight man with that big platform & following never uttered support for us or disagreement against homophobes until he got paid to perform at a queer space seems performative ?. I’m sure he’s not a homophobe but this was more to protect his image than actual allyship. This is like when straight actors are so super supportive of LGBTQ ppl, particularly talking about filming gay sex scenes, when their show or movie is out but is dead silence on political support when we need them the most.
His name probably will get more straight ppl to attended Pride and that’s not the goal of Pride. It’s not just a place to party and I hate that’s what most ppl think. It’s a queer space, straight ppl are welcomed as guests/ observers. The gig could’ve gone to a local queer or an LGBTQ person with a platform. Also this is how many gay bars became straight washed that made me hate most gay bars now.
Openminded
I’m a bit torn on this issue. We want to dream of a day that we can live amongst them (straights) as equals and not stand out as being considered different, yet here we refuse to allow them to live amongst us. I can also see the argument that PRIDE is a celebration of and for LGBT communities so there is some validity in supporting only LGBT folks there, but sometimes it’s better to keep your arms opened and to welcome all so as to build an even stronger alliance. I’d rather think this incident is more worthy of a “hey we should probably consider supporting our own more the next time” and not get our panties in a wad over sharing the space.
Thad
There are some who won’t appear at Pride.
Since they exist, I will support others who will.