May 25, 2026
Personal Reflections with an Exclusive Preview
A few months ago, I invited a friend to join me for a performance. Thrilled, she said yes, and I was really excited about it too because I was going to introduce her to something I have dearly treasured and that has added some magic in my own life. So when I received this text from her, I was completely floored:
“Hey Rachel, I actually can’t go to this show. I saw that the cast has lots of members of the LGBTQ community, and I don’t support that.”
As an ally to the LGBTQ+ community and someone who works as an office administrator for a church as a day job, this is not the first time I have come across this kind of discrimination.
I always tell people that I am a liberal, democrat, and Christian, and I deeply feel that all of those things should naturally go together. I am an ally, feminist, pro choice, believe black lives matter, am fervently against trump (who’s name I refuse to capitalize), and will advocate for equality and equal access to opportunity in every space, including the church.
These were the thoughts that flowed through my stream of consciousness when I received my friend’s message:
She is a loving person with good intentions, how could she discriminate like that?
Good luck finding any high quality art that does not involve at least one member of the LGBTQ+ and or ally communities.
Her closed mind is limiting her opportunities to experience so many good things in life like theatre…that is really sad.
I don’t know if I can be her friend, which is it’s own form of discrimination, but I don’t know how much I can invest friendship in someone who has such a closed mind and heart.
Throughout the months that have passed since this text, I have been brain storming how I want to respond to this interaction and others like it. This is what I came up with:
For the month of June, I have decided to interview local artists who belong to the LGBTQ+ community, highlighting one artist per week in a conversation article. Through this series, I want to celebrate the resilience, beauty, strength, and artistry that can be found in the LGBTQ+ community.
Discrimination comes from many places, but I believe that one of it’s greatest roots is misunderstanding. Many people are too busy judging, stereotyping, and creating blanket statements that they forget that each person has their own story, is worthy of love, and deserves to pursuit their own happiness with the same rights as everyone else.
Perhaps through sharing these individual stories, minds will be opened and people (allies and all) can grow in their understanding, appreciation, and respect for everyone, including those who’s personal preferences do not match ours.
I’ve completed a majority of these artist interviews already, and I am in awe of these remarkable, wonderful people. They inspire me, and I know they will inspire you too!
I can’t wait to take you on this journey!
Stay tuned next week for the first article in this series!
This Week in the Arts
Coming up this week, I will be publishing three pieces in my JOLT Column including:
A review of South Puget Sound Community College’s “Anastasia”
An interview with Olympia Symphony Orchestra’s new Executive Director, Geoff Yost.
Timberline High School’s Theater Department makes a special announcement for the fall (stay tuned, it’s really cool!)
To read my articles as they come out, I invite you to subscribe to the JOLT News and/or follow me on Instagram and Facebook, then invite a friend to do the same! :)
If you read a story that inspires you, I invite you to share it with others and help spread the word about the incredible things happening in the Thurston County Arts Community.
Then, make a donation to The JOLT News so that we can continue to celebrate everything happening in our arts community.