It’s the latest salvo in the battle over same sex marriage. An openly gay entertainer is calling on the music industry to refuse to license certain material to LDS musical groups.

It’s a call for action – gay artists boycotting the LDS Church’s involvement in the passage of California’s Proposition 8 – the banning of gay marriage. Jon Powell says, “They can’t have it both ways. They can’t say they love us and take away our rights.” Powell is leading this front. He’s a former member of The Church, and of BYU’s Young Ambassadors. His website states, “I feel all gay artists should not allow their art, music, dance or theatrical piece to be used to promote the Mormon Church…. Please do not support them and do not allow them to use your work to support their message of hate.” 

Powell has talked with one artist in particular, Stephen Schwartz, the composer of the musical “Wicked” which the Young Ambassadors wants to use in their show. Powell says, “For me that material is so blatantly hypocritical… the use of it in the Young Ambassadors show.” Part of an email Schwartz wrote to Powell says, “I’m looking into it, and if this is truly a Mormon “promotional” group, rather than just student singers, I will try to do something about it.”   See Artist calls for boycott of LDS performances over same-sex …
ABC 4 – Salt Lake City,USA

The Lesbian and Gay Band Association, a musical group with members from gay marching and symphonic bands across the country, has been accepted by President-elect Barack Obama to march in the 2009 inaugural parade.

This is the first inaugural parade to feature a gay group. Former President Clinton allowed gay groups to perform on the sidewalk during the parade, but not to march. The Lesbian and Gay Band Association participated in both of Clinton’s inaugurations.

“This is the first time that an LGBT group will be represented in a Presidential Inaugural Parade, truly our chance to make history,” said the association’s inaugural committee to members Saturday.

 See Gay band association accepted for inauguration festivities
Washington Blade, DC