INDIGO GIRLS Statement 05-07-98

STATEMENT FROM AMY RAY OF THE INDIGO GIRLS

THE IDEA OF A HIGH SCHOOL TOUR CAME ABOUT AFTER EMILY AND I WERE JUDGES IN A STUDENT LYRIC WRITING CONTEST SPONSORED BY 
SCHOLASTIC MAGAZINE.  THE WORDS WE READ BEGGED FOR AND 
EXALTED IN THE CHANCE TO BE EXPRESSED.  THE 
BROAD RANGE OF TOPICS INCLUDED: POLITICAL ACTIVISM, LOVE, SONNETS, SEXUAL 
ABUSE AND ALIENATION.  WE WERE STRUCK BY THE STUDENTS¹ ENERGY AND 
WILLINGNESS TO ENGAGE IN AND QUESTION LIFE.  THE INTENT OF THIS TOUR WAS 
APOLITICAL.  AFTER CAREFULLY READING AND APPROVING OUR LYRICAL CONTENT 6 
HIGH SCHOOLS AGREED TO HOST A FREE SHOW WHICH INCLUDED A QUESTION AND 
ANSWER SESSION.  THE EXPENSES WERE TO BE COVERED BY THE INDIGO GIRLS.  WE 
HAVE HAD 3 SHOWS CANCELED, CITING REASONS SUCH AS PROFANITY AND MOST 
IMPORTANTLY SEXUAL PREFERENCE.  THE PROFANITY ISSUE IS AN OBVIOUS RED 
HERRING ­ THE IRONY BEING THAT WE HAVE MORE OFTEN BEEN ACCUSED OF BEING 
TOO SPIRITUAL AND "CLEAN."  A MINORITY COMPOSED OF HOMOPHOBIC NARROW 
MINDED PARENTS AND WEAK KNEED PRINCIPALS AND SCHOOLS BOARDS HAVE 
SUCCESSFULLY ENFORCED A POLICY OF HATE.  OUR PUBLIC SCHOOLS SHOULD BE A 
SAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR AN OPEN EXCHANGE OF IDEAS AND A CHANCE TO EXPLORE 
ONE¹S OWN INDIVIDUALITY.

THE IMPOSSIBILITY AND HYPOCRISY OF A SITUATION WHERE KIDS ARE EXPECTED TO 
BE HONEST BUT ARE JUDGED AND ALIENATED FROM THEIR COMMUNITY BECAUSE OF IT 
SHOULD NOT ESCAPE US.  IN RESPONSE TO THESE CIRCUMSTANCES WE ARE PLAYING 
ALTERNATE SHOWS - ALCOHOL FREE, ALL AGES, AFTER SCHOOL.  THANKS TO THE KIDS WHO ARE STANDING BY US.

Amy Ray ­ Indigo Girls

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