A Washington state country line dance team was forced to withdraw from a dance competition earlier this month after organizers of the event informed them they would have to change their uniforms.<\/p>\n
The event organizers claimed the dancers\u2019 uniforms, specifically their American flag themed shirts, \u201ctriggered\u201d some of the people in attendance.
\nAccording to Borderline Dance Team, they had been invited to the Emerald City Hoedown for the past several years, but due to the event\u2019s Covid restrictions, they were only able to make it this year.
\nThe team was excited and couldn\u2019t wait to perform. However, when they arrived the event organizers, Rain Country Dance Association, an LGBTQ+ dance community, cautioned them that their tops might be offensive to some of the guests.
\n\u201cUnfortunately, what our team was met with upon arrival was that our flag tops were offensive to some of the convention goers. There was a small group that felt \u2018triggered and unsafe,’\u201d the Seattle-based dance team shared on Facebook.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey had several claims for this reasoning. Mostly associated with the situation in Palestine and the Trans community in America. At first we were told we would just be boo\u2019d, yelled at and likely many of them would walk out.\u201d
\nThe dance team was unbothered by the potential disruptions; they just wanted to dance.
\nBut the event organizers wouldn\u2019t let them. Instead, they gave Borderline Dance Team an unltimatum.<\/p>\n
\u201cRemove the flag tops and perform in either street clothes (which most didn\u2019t bring as they traveled there in their uniforms) or they would supply us with ECH shirts from years past\u2026 Or, don\u2019t perform at all, which effectively was asking us to leave.\u201d
\nFeeling they didn\u2019t have much of a choice, the team unanimously decided to leave.<\/p>\n
According to a lengthy statement released by the dance team, another team was also faced with the same decision.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur friends, West Coast Country Heat, who were also scheduled to dance for the convention that evening also did not perform as they too proudly don the colors of our country in the same spirit of patriotism that we do. Both of our teams stood in solidarity and put actions to words,\u201d the statement read.
\nDo you think it was right for event organizers to tell the dance team they needed to change their shirts? Let us know your thoughts!<\/p>\n