Sally Reed
An all-female country line dance team reportedly decided to refrain from performing at the Emerald City Hoedown in Seattle on Saturday. The decision was made after it was discovered that the team’s American flag-themed outfits made some attendees feel “triggered and unsafe.”
Borderline Dance Team Issued Statement Explaining ‘Unanimous’ Decision
The Borderline Dance Team opened up about the situation in a statement posted to their official Facebook page on Sunday. The team acknowledged that they spent the previous days before the statement “answering dozens of calls and messages from friends and family.”
The team mentioned that they were met upon arrival with convention goers making it clear that their flag tops were “offensive.” The statement acknowledged that there was a “small group” that felt “triggered and unsafe.” As a result, they made the “unanimous” decision to leave the event.
Palestine, Transgender Community Referenced In Team’s Statement
According to the team, there were several claims that supported the reasoning of attendees feeling “triggered and unsafe.” The statement referenced the “situation in Palestine” as one of the claims that were provided to them.
They were also told that the transgender community in America may take offense to their outfits as well. The statement acknowledged that the team was initially excited about participating in the event.
Team Was Not Deterred By Possibility Of Potential Boos, Yells From Attendees
The Borderline Dance Team stated that they were initially told that wearing their flag top outfits at the event would cause them to be booed by the attendees. They were also told that they may have been yelled at by some attendees.
There was even the “likely” possibility that “many of them would walk out.” The team acknowledged that they were aware of these possibilities but were not deterred by any of them.
Dance Team Was Given Ultimatum Requiring Removal Of Flag Tops
The dance team acknowledged that they were given an ultimatum after making it clear the potential boos, yells, and walkouts would not hinder them from performing. The ultimatum required them to “remove the flag tops and perform in either street clothes” or event shirts that they still had at the venue from previous years.
Most of the dance team members did not have any street clothes with them. According to the statement, most of them arrived at the venue wearing their team uniforms. The other alternative was for the team to not perform at all.
‘We Don’t Speak For Our Team, We Speak On Behalf Of Them’
The team indicated in its statement that they “don’t speak for our team, we speak on behalf of them.” The Facebook post emphasized that “the choice was theirs.”
It continued by stating that the “unanimous NO” was not surprising since “there really was no choice in our minds.” They posted a picture of their uniforms on their Facebook post to show the exact outfits that were being targeted by the offered ultimatum.
Another Dance Team Did Not Perform In Solidarity With Borderline Dance Team
The West Coast Country Heat, another dance team that was also scheduled to perform at the Emerald City Hoedown event, reportedly did not perform in solidarity. According to the Borderline Dance team, that team “too proudly don the colors of our country in the same spirit of patriotism.”
The statement indicated that both teams “stood in solidarity and put actions to words.”
Independent American Patriots Chairman Praises Dance Team For Taking A Stand
Lonny Ray Williams, the National Chairman of the Independent American Patriots, showed his supported on Facebook for the decision made by the Borderline and West Country Heat dance teams. He stated that he was “proud to see great patriotic women…stand up for principles and values that our nation was founded upon.”
He mentioned that he and many of his ancestors “stood and served for our country, our flag, and for people” like the dance team members. Williams concluded his comment by stating that “American Patriots stand with wonderful patriots” like the dance team members.
Borderline Dance Team: We ‘Walked Out With Class And Dignity Despite’ Discrimination
The Borderline Dance Team stated within its Facebook post that they “walked out with class and dignity despite the discrimination” that they had experienced. The team expressed that they “recognize that being an American means true freedom.”
The statement also acknowledged that “watching these teams band together was the greatest performance” ever seen. The post further read that “these people are strong, resolute and unwavering in their patriotism.”
Borderline Dance Team Expressed Exactly Why They ‘Wear The Colors’
The Borderline Dance Team also expressed exactly why they wear the colors in the team’s statement posted online. According to the message, they are representing the “families and friends of people who have suffered the unimaginable so that we may all have our own opinions and sleep soundly in our beds at night.”
The team also acknowledges its awareness that “we may not always agree with the current state of things.” However, the concept of “true freedom” is what binds them.
Dance Team Acknowledged Support Received From Community, Several Organizers
The Borderline Dance team was also overwhelmed by the support that they received from “the majority of the community.” According to the team’s Facebook post, “even several of the organizers” showed their support.
The statement also highlighted the disappointment experienced by those that showed their support. For instance, there was disappointment “in the community they are supposed to feel safe in” in addition to disappointment that the “spirit of the event” was essentially “overshadowed by the political opinions of a small percentage.”
Dance Team Claims, ‘We Only Wanted To Entertain,’ Shares Bright Side Of Experience
The dance team concluded its statement by mentioning that they “only wanted to entertain.” However, they “didn’t get to do that.”
On a positive note, though, they were able to “make new friends.” In addition, they were given the opportunity to “build some bridges that maybe wouldn’t have been possible without this incident.”
Veteran Believes That People No Longer Understand The Word ‘Triggered’
Facebook user Kimberley Spitler showed her support by commenting on the Borderline Dance Team’s statement. She stated that she was “proud” of them for “handling this with grace.”
She also expressed her belief that “people have lost the understanding of the word ‘triggered.'” She explained that the misinterpretation is that the word “triggered” means “I don’t like it; therefore, I can cancel it.” She highlighted that the term should be reserved for the ones suffering from PTSD, autism, hearing loss, and others that have “experienced specific life threatening events.”
Retired Navy Chief Believes Dance Team ‘Should Be Blessed For The Brave Decision’
Retired Navy Chief Michael Shelton posted a comment on Facebook as well to show his support of the dance team’s decision to not perform. Shelton stated that he was “so proud” of the team.
He also noted that their decision “took courage and might to stand up to those bigots.” He concluded his comment by stating that they “all should be blessed for the brave decision” that they made.
Registered Democrat: ‘I’m So Embarrassed To Have Ever Called Myself A Liberal’
Olivia Keister, who claims to be registered Democrat, expressed her support on Facebook as well. She stated that she was “so embarrassed to have ever called [herself] a Liberal.”
She explained that “these communities that run on Progressive Liberal principles and policies are in danger.” She further expressed the need “to be there for them when they fail.” However, according to Keister, “we do not need to expect to reach these people in this current era.”
Navy Veteran Tells Borderline Dance Team: ‘Never Back Down On Your Patriotism’
Jim Capo, a U.S. Navy Veteran, also expressed his support on Facebook for the Borderline Dance Team. He referenced an experience when someone told him that his U.S. Navy Veteran hat was offensive.
Capo claims that he “just laughed at the lady saying it.” He concluded his post with the remark to “never back down on your patriotism.”
Other Critics Claim Those Threatened By U.S. Flag Should Leave The Country
A comment that was referenced within the Facebook post multiple times indirectly addressed the people that are threatened by the American flag. For instance, one Facebook user offered the “suggestion” that those threatened “leave this great country.”
Another user said that it is “heartbreaking” to be disappointed in flag tops and the U.S. flag. Another Facebook user told the dance team to “be prepared for the flood of compassion, love and support.”
Emerald City Hoedown Organized By ‘Nonprofit LGBQT’ Community
The Emerald City Hoedown event was reportedly organized by the Rain Country Dance Association (RCDA). This association is described as a “nonprofit LBGTQ country western dance community in Seattle.”
That description is posted to the organization’s official website. RCDA Board President Ziadee Cambier opened up about the incident in a brief statement posted on Facebook.
RCDA Board President: ‘No One Was Disqualified’ Or ‘Asked To Leave’
Cambier stated that they are “in continued communication with the captains of the dance teams that were slated to perform Saturday.” They also offered the clarification that “this was not a competition.”
Cambier added that “no one was disqualified and no one was asked to leave.” They added that the would be “disabling comments” on the post while “mending our relationships directly with the dance teams.”
Borderline Dance Team Co-Captain Claims RCDA Has Not Reached Out To Them
Borderline Dance Team Co-Captain Lindsay Stamp opened up about the RCDA Board President’s statement during an interview with KTTH’s Jason Rantz on Tuesday. As of that date, she confirmed that her group had not received any correspondence or communication from the RCDA.
Stamp also rejected the overall politicization of the U.S. flag. She stated that “my team doesn’t take a political stance. We came to dance.”
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