Coachella, every year, is “the place to be”, the American festival not to be missed. It’s also the place to show off for celebrities and influencers. And for the artists who have the opportunity to perform there, it’s a golden opportunity. This year again, the edition of the festival, which aims to be progressive, seems to have been a resounding success. But this idyllic setting is scratched by accusations of homophobia.
The presence of the Belgian singer Angèle, who came out several years ago, has also questioned some Internet users. Although it is difficult to refuse Coachella, the fans did not all appreciate the passage of the artist, who is generally very committed to feminist and LGBT + themes. “Dare to show up at an openly homophobic event, it’s a bit big, isn’t it? “, commented a fan. The singer also carried an LGBT flag during her performance, but some saw it as a mark of hypocrisy. Only a minority welcomed this gesture of resistance.
Millions of euros in the pockets of anti-LGBT
This accusation of homophobia against the festival is actually aimed at its owner, Philip Anschutz. He is a very conservative billionaire whose reputation is completely opposed to the very progressive image of the event. The American media say of him that he brings rain and shine to Los Angeles. It owns the “Crypto.com Arena” stadium and the prestigious teams based there, such as the Los Angeles Lakers in basketball, the Los Angeles Kings in hockey. His empire also spreads all over the world.
In 2016, the one who had remained in the shadows until then found himself projected onto the front of the stage. An infographic from Freedom for all Americans, a bipartisan campaign in support of LGBT+ people, later relayed by the famous newspaper The Washington Post, mentions his many gifts. Among the recipients of financial support from Anschutz are the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), the National Christian Charitable Foundation and the Family Research Council. All organizations known to campaign for the enactment of anti-LGBT laws across thirty-four states in the country. The ADF, for example, associated “being LGBT with incest and bestiality”.
In January 2017, review The Fader announces that the businessman gave nearly a million dollars to active conservatives during the 2016 campaign. This news came as little surprise since Philip Anschutz is none other than a close friend of Donald Trump.
Pro firearms, anti-abortion… Philip Anschutz has a knack for choosing his fights
Once these various donations were revealed, Philip Anschutz suffered the wrath of part of the public, the boycott of some celebrities and the grievances of his own collaborators. Paul Tollett, organizer and co-founder of Coachella, declared in 2017: “The image of the festival is tarnished, and I am offended. “Under pressure, the billionaire ended up speaking up to plead thoughtlessness, accompanying this with a donation of $ 1 million to the association of Elton John, which fights for the protection of sexual minorities.
Yet he was singled out again, only a few months later, for other large donations to evangelical structures encouraging LGBT discrimination. Like the Christian University of Colorado, whose charter provides that “no one shall teach, defend, support or excuse homosexuality”.
But donations to anti-LGBT associations are far from the only ones that push some to boycott the festival. The man is also accused of having financed associations positioning themselves against abortion, in favor of firearms, as well as climatosceptics. In recent years, the controversy has given rise to the hashtag #NoCoachella on social networks.