Link to Article1. Harsh Reality has become the focus of a discrimination matter with Minneapolis Venue "The Toy Box" after having a show cancelled within hours of when Jendeen dropped off requested promotional materials to the Venue (Note this is when the venue first met a band member is person) . The reasons given were a worry of a possible no show and physical appearance being appropriate for the club. With two of the members of Harsh Reality being out and proud Transgendered ladies who have traveled the globe as well as receiving multiple awards and nominations for their history in the music scene the question rose quickly to exactly what the Venue representative Andy meant with that statement. Through an explosion on the popular internet forum MySpace Harsh Reality member Tempest took a hard stance demanding that the Venue explain exactly what was the issue with their appearance.
Through a series of public messages in the blog's of both Harsh Reality
www.myspace.com/harshrealitymetal and the Toy Box
www.myspace.com/thetoyboxmn Tempest succeeded in pointing out that the club was unfairly applying different standards to the Transgendered band members than genetic women performing or attending the club. It was stated in response to why the Transgendered band members were treated differently by the Club representative Andy that "how is that any different than a girl showing cleavage or too much of their leg?" In many aspects, it doesnt have any difference. But in many ways it does as well. You can either blame this on my personal standards/morals/expectations of band members, or you can blame it on the beliefs/standards of half the world"
Posted on: October 05, 2006, 10:39:11 AM
I do not have a MySpace account anymore nor will I ever open another one up. If there are any objectionable pictures within either of the sites listed, please let me know and I will remove the links.
Note on the venue's blog there is a rather interesting exchange taking place.
