Fury as Seattle country dance squad are ordered to remove their American flag T-shirts for ‘triggering’ woke organizers at LGBTQ event

A Seattle dance troupe says they were forced to take off their patriotic shirts ahead of a planned performance, and now event organizers are facing a backlash over the measure.

The Borderline Dance Team is a group of nearly two dozen women who regularly volunteer to perform at events in Washington.

Many members of the group took part in workshops organized by Emerald City Hoedown organizers, which took place over three days.

But on the final day, one of the group’s members, Lindsay Stamp, said the women were given an ultimatum: take off their American flag T-shirts or withdraw from the show.

When the dancers pressed the organizers about this request, one of them said “it had to do with what was going on in Palestine and the LGBTQ community in America.”

The group was asked to change clothes just 20 minutes after arriving at the Hoedown venue, one of the dancers told a local newspaper. K5.com.

An event organizer who worked for the local nonprofit Rain Country Dance Association told the dancer that there were “some individuals within the community who felt unsafe and inconvenienced, caused by our flag shirts, if you will.”

The shirts are red, white and blue and feature the stars and stripes of the flag of the United States of America; otherwise there are no characters, words or symbols on it.

Stamp added that the dancers were told that “a small population decided they were going to boycott or protest our performance.”

The choreographer said the group was baffled by the reason for the protest, but decided they would perform anyway even if the audience did not embrace them.

‘I said, this doesn’t bother me. I understand that. And I respect your opinion, and I respect your feelings. And that’s completely okay. But we are a dance team. We do not take a political position,” she said.

The T-shirts (pictured) are red, white and blue and feature the stars and stripes of the flag of the United States of America – no other characters, words or symbols on them

The choreographer said the group was baffled by the reason for the protest, but decided they would perform anyway even if the audience did not embrace them.

One of the group’s dancers, Carly Baker, said: ‘I really don’t know what’s going on, or why it would be so important to carry the flag honestly.

“I’m part of the LGBTQ community. Me and my wife have been married for six years. And so it was very difficult.”

Organizers offered the group alternative T-shirts but remained steadfast in their objection.

Members of the team said there had been no previous disputes between the team and organizers, and that no member had made a controversial comment that anyone might object to.

Sharie Peterson, another dancer, said the incident was incredibly disappointing because their group has always extended acceptance to other groups and is “a community that really values ​​inclusivity that wasn’t extended to us as well.”

In a Facebook post, the president of the Rain Country Dance Association, which has been the subject of online outrage following their attempts to strip the women of their shirts and/or their chance to perform, said she hopes to clear up any misunderstandings .

Sharie Peterson, another dancer, said the incident was incredibly disappointing because their group has always extended acceptance to other groups and is “a community that really values ​​inclusivity that wasn’t extended to us as well.”

One of the group’s dancers, Carly Baker, said, “I’m part of the LGBTQ community. Me and my wife have been married for six years. And so it was very difficult.”

Ziadee Cambier, the president, said the group had not been asked to leave the meeting, but made no further comment other than to say they are “in communication with those directly involved.”

Stamp confirmed that the group has “apologized.” And we are in communication to figure out how we want to move forward with this.”

The dance association’s president also said the group has received “credible” threats of violence since the incident hit the news.

Stamp said, “violence and intimidation are not something we will tolerate against any person or group for any reason.”