A venue management company recently pulled the plug on an LGBT party after its organizers alleged that they were uncomfortable with hosting such a “gay event.”
Los Angeles party organizer Slay LA today announced that the SLAY Harajuku event, scheduled to take place at the Capitol Theatre on May 27, had to be canceled after the venue’s management, IMC Asia, told them that neighboring tenants, including a mosque, had complained about a previous EDM event held over New Year’s Eve, which made stakeholder Perennial Holdings ban EDM events indefinitely.
“It is with a heavy heart that we make this announcement. Due to an unexpected and sudden termination of our venue hire agreement, SLAY Harajuku scheduled for 27 May, will be cancelled,” it wrote.
Organizers said they made full payment for the venue last month and had made it clear to management that the event is an inclusive LGBT party. But IMC Asia on April 11 called them to say that Perennial Holdings was uncomfortable with SLAY being a “gay event” and terminated the hire agreement days later.
Capitol Singapore and Perennial Holdings have not immediately responded to Coconuts’ queries.
None of those concerns were brought up to them during their months of correspondences and site visits, according to Slay.
Because of the abrupt termination, Slay said they are unable to find an alternative venue and had to cancel the entire event.
“We are unable to move SLAY Harajuku to a suitable alternative venue and to reapply for the required venue specific police licenses given the short lead time. Due to these considerations, we are not confident of delivering the same SLAY LA Experience you have come to expect from our first two party events. Therefore the difficult decision to cancel was made,” it wrote.
Slay said that, from now on, they will only work with venue operators that share the same “vision” and are LGBT-friendly.
They previously held an aquarium-themed party, SLAY Aqueerium, at Rumours Beach Club on March 25.
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