Karen Henderson, Centretown News
Awar Obob is a local music promoter who advocates for zero-tolerance at arts shows.Imogen Reid is no stranger to discomfort at shows. When her band played a show in Toronto, it was no exception.
“I didn’t feel safe the moment I walked into the room,” says Reid.
“It just got worse from there,” she says.
As a trans woman, Reid often faces hostile and discriminatory treatment at shows. In response to the discomfort that Reid and many other members of marginalized communities feel, some venues have started piggybacking on a new trend: zero-tolerance policies.
A zero-tolerance policy outlines strict rules against prejudicial and discriminatory treatment including but not limited to racism, sexism, homophobia, transphobia, ableism and many other forms of discrimination.
While some venues say they’ve always held these ideologies, many have begun explicitly posting the policies on Facebook event pages.
Awar Obob is a member of Babely Shades, a collective of artists and activists of colour and marginalized genders.
They have a zero-tolerance policy at their shows.
“It pretty much just means one strike and you’re done,” says Obob.
While this may seem harsh, it isn’t usually permanent. Babely Shades provides the offending individual with resources they can use to change their conduct.
“You need to fix your behaviour before you’re allowed in,” says Obob.
Babely Shades aren’t the only ones propping up the policy. Funeral Home is a popular “house show” venue where bands play in the basement of a residential home.
The homeowners have only recently started explicitly stating their zero-tolerance policy, although they say they’ve always operated on those principles.
“We’ve always had a zero tolerance policy at all events held in our spaces,” says Jen, the owner of Funeral Home, in a Facebook message. She did not wish to have her full name printed.
For Jen, it’s important to put the zero-tolerance message out there.
“It’s our way of letting people know that we… respect everybody and we want everybody who is thinking of coming out to events in our space to feel safe and welcome. “
Recent events have underscored the importance of carving out a safe environment at shows.
A fresh controversy involving American punk band the Queerswas just one example. The band came under fire recently when community members identified that the lead singer, Joe Queer, had made some controversial statements that many described as racist.
Jeff Hurter is a music promoter with Crucial Collective. He witnessed worrying reactions from some members of the community in response to the protest.
“The peoplle . . . that are boycotting the Queers are getting people that are angry at them and yelling at them and sending them threatening messages,” says Hurter.
“With all the things that have been happening recently you really get to see what people are like, and their true colours,” he says.
According to Hurter, these events may have spurred the trend of venues emphasizing their zero-tolerance policies. Venues want to express that their space is safe for all members of the community.
For Reid, the policies are not enough.
While playing a house show with zero-tolerance policies in place, Reid was told that someone said, “yeah, that band was really good, but what’s up with all the trans (stuff)?”
Reid emphasizes that while the zero-tolerance policies aren’t a bad idea, if the homeowner doesn’t know what transphobia looks like they won’t be able to properly enforce the rule.
“If you can’t recognize what systemic oppression is, then what… is even the point of pretending,” says Reid.
“There’s more to transphobia than just somebody calling me (slurs) or trying to kick my ass at a show or grope me. There’s more to it.”
Reid says an unsafe atmosphere can become apparent before an actual incident occurs. She worries that homeowners might not be able to recognize that.
Still, many are optimistic that the policies are moving the community in a better direction.
One of those people is Babely Shades’ Obob.
They believe that more forethought and compassion are necessary, but they’re happy to see the new trend.
“I think more can be done but it’s a very good base,” says Obob.
“With the advent of more venues and promoters using (zero-tolerance policies), it just promotes safer spaces and it shows . . . inclusivity within the community,” they say.