DESTRA'S GAY PRIDE

Hey all!, This week I'm collaborating with my buddy, my pal, Early Pearly who runs all things LGBT over at The InQueery...#excitement.





Don't get excited because of the flag, let me squash that right now... Destra is not a lesbian, sorry guys...

...but she did perform at Canada's gay pride celebrations last year. I had no idea...

Apparently after winning Best International Act at the Black Canadian Awards (yes, that's a thing), she was asked to perform at their gay pride celebrations as the first ever representative of the Caribbean gay community.

At the end of every gay pride month, Canada hosts a Blockorama party to close of their celebrations. Destra performed as only she could, giving her absolute best. When she was asked about her experience, she said, "I have a lot of fans across the board. I don't see colour, creed or sexuality."

Buuuttt, get this...many locals didn't like it, nope, in fact, they were brutal on social media, attacking Destra from all sides...

So people were saying it's all about the money and in reality, they may be absolutely right, but what's wrong with that? Who are we to get angry at the way Destra chooses to make her money? Yes she is one of the bigger names in Trinidad and Tobago's music scene, but at the end of the day, it's her brand.

Please bare with me for a moment, but the reason I'm talking about this, even though it was last year is because artists are constantly being judged and ridiculed for the way in which they live their lives. It's their brand and how they choose to represent that is their business, you and myself have the option to pay attention to them or not. If the message they are sending is not pleasing to you, then by all means, move on to something else that may bring you peace. But if you are in support of it, then that too is your right.

In the Caribbean, people are of the opinion that if you associate yourself with anyone that may be gay, then automatically you are gay as well, guilty by association I guess. 

But let's face it...Our musicians really get work around Carnival and for the rest of the year they are forced to seek other means of survival. So Machel selling rum and Iwer selling boat ride, Bunji Garlin selling clothes and Iwer selling what?...Boat Ride!

So why are we mad again when one of our artists decide to perform at a gay pride concert in Canada? Our treatment of local music has limited our artists, and I'm not saying that they are not to blame as well, they can produce music for all year round, but we as the people find it hard to accept anything other than Soca from our artists and only around Carnival time. When Carnival is over we go back to regularly scheduled music which include everything from Rap, Hip Hop, Reggae, Pop and Alternative Rock...hmmm, shame.

Let's face it. Trinidad and Tobago and by extension, the Caribbean, may always have difficulties in accepting the gay community. Our culture has taught us against it, but music is universal and can and will affect any and everyone. Music is the purest thing in the world, capable of creating great feelings of hope, love, empowerment and pride. No one has the right to deny anyone of music and an artist has the right to share their music to anyone they wish. Music heals the world!

So what do you guys think about Destra performing at Blockorama 2015? Drop a comment below and check out The InQueery for a different spin on this and so much more!