Iggy Azalea cancels Pride appearance, but critics wary; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 6/8/15

Chris Potter, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; Iggy Azalea cancels Pride appearance, but critics wary:

"Organizers of this weekend’s Pittsburgh Pride activities announced Monday evening that Australian pop star Iggy Azalea, the controversial headliner for a Pride in the Street concert on Saturday, was canceling her appearance at the LGBT event.

It remains to be seen whether the move appeases critics of the Delta Foundation of Pittsburgh, which sponsors Pride.

“We’re sorry that our headliner choice caused a division within our community but we believe that change happens through conversation,” Delta said in a statement. “We are meeting with key LGBT leaders to start a discussion that will make our collective community even stronger.”"

Some groups drop out of Pittsburgh Pride events in protest of Iggy Azalea; Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 6/2/15

Chris Potter, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette; Some groups drop out of Pittsburgh Pride events in protest of Iggy Azalea:

"Although pop star Iggy Azalea canceled her American tour last week, she’s still slated to perform at Pittsburgh’s Pride celebration June 13. So several LGBT-friendly groups who object to her inclusion are canceling their appearances instead.

“Our board voted last week to not march in the Pittsburgh Pride parade, due to the insensitive choice of Iggy Azalea as headliner,” said Vanessa Davis, who heads the Pittsburgh chapter of the youth-advocacy group Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network.

Other groups also are criticizing the event and its sponsor, the Delta Foundation. The Australian-born Ms. Azalea has been accused of co-opting African-American culture while making racist and homophobic statements on social media. And while many credit Pride with increasing the visibility of Pittsburgh’s gay community, critics say Delta turns a blind eye to issues such as race and the concerns of transgender people.

Even the starting ticket price of $45 can exclude those on society’s margins, they say."