Dear All,

My partner and I are members of the HOB [House of Blues] Foundation Room in Las Vegas and I am horrified that you are actually willing to sell out our safety in order to make a buck. While I fully support the First Amendment and everyone’s right to free speech, I also believe in corporate responsibility. That said, it is your responsibility to cancel the upcoming Sizzla show in Cleveland. This is a responsibility that your company even has in writing in your commitment to “promote racial and spiritual harmony through love, peace, truth, righteousness and non-violence.”

What if instead of encouraging violence against gays Sizzla or another performer encouraged violence against African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians, or Jews? Would you cancel the show then? Without a doubt you would, and rightly so. So, please explain to me why my life, as a gay man, is less valuable to you than anyone else’s?

I have tried to think of some reason why your company would make such a heartless move. Even if you called it a “business decision”, that doesn’t add up considering that gays have the highest disposable income when compared to any other demographic. That spending power far outweighs the amount of money you would bring in off of one single hate-filled show.

However, this decision shouldn’t be about money, it should be about doing what is right. As if our struggle hasn’t already been difficult enough, the current political climate is making our lives harder and hate crimes are on the rise. We certainly don’t need your organization rewarding performers who only seek to make it worse.

If your organization does not chose to do the right thing by canceling Sizzla’s Cleveland show, my partner and I will have no choice but to cancel our membership and encourage our friends to do the same. While I have enjoyed our membership, I will not stand by a company that won’t stand by me.

Sincerely,