UPDATE: "Freedom To Love Now! A Concert For Marriage Equality" has been postponed due to Hurricane Sandy:
The 'Freedom To Love Now!' concert, due to take place at the Beacon Theatre on Oct. 30, has been postponed due to pending weather conditions. The show, featuring the talents of Rufus Wainwright, The National, fun., Beth Orton, and more, will be postponed until the spring of 2013.
Ticket holders may hold on to their tickets, as they will be valid for the rescheduled show. Alternately, refunds can be requested through Ticketmaster at this time.
Rufus Wainwright, The National and They Might Be Giants are just three of the many high-profile acts set to take the stage next week in support of same-sex marriage nationwide.
On Oct. 30, the historic Beacon Theatre will host "Freedom To Love Now! A Concert For Marriage Equality," proceeds from which will benefit advocacy group Freedom To Marry. Also on hand to perform at the certain-to-be-historic concert: Beth Orton, Reggie Watts and indie pop trio fun., among others.
According to organizers, the show's ultimate goal is to remind voters of the forthcoming election's significance for the country's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community, as well as to back President Obama's recent endorsement of same-sex marriage. Though Wainwright, who recently tied the knot with longtime partner Jorn Weisbrodt, was a natural choice for the show's lineup, co-founders Brice Rosenbloom, Simon Rentner and Thomas Bartlett (a.k.a. Doveman, who is also serving as the show's music director) say they made a distinct effort to draw as many non-LGBT performers to the event as possible.
"It has nothing to do with being straight or gay," Rentner told HuffPost Gay Voices. "The more I became invested in this issue, even as a straight person, the more I felt personally angered that our culture sort of apathetically accepts that we can have second-class citizens in our society. I want this show to serve as a wake-up call, especially to my straight friends."
A number of the performers echoed those sentiments. "The upcoming election will be vital for all of us who believe in ending discrimination," Jack Antonoff, guitarist for fun. and a HuffPost Gay Voices blogger, said in a statement. "We can't wait to be a part of this amazing event with some of our favorite artists and raise money for an incredible organization that is working hard for a better America.”
Though the show is being staged in New York, which legalized same-sex marriage in 2011, Rosenbloom and Rentner are quick to point out that proceeds will support Freedom to Marry's ongoing grassroots efforts in Washington, Minnesota, Maine, and Maryland -- four states where marriage equality legislation will appear on the Nov. 6 ballot.
Of course, they hope it doesn't stop there.
"Ideally, we all would’ve preferred to have this show exist in North Carolina," Rentner said. "Part of our mission in doing this show isn’t just raising money, but raising awareness and re-framing the debate."
"Freedom To Love Now! A Concert For Marriage Equality" plays New York's Beacon Theatre on Oct. 30. For more information including tickets, click here.
Take a look at some of the featured performers below:
Before You Go
