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AN OPEN LETTER TO MICHELLE SHOCKED:

WE WOULD LIKE YOU TO CLARIFY A RUMOR THAT IS CIRCULATING IN AUSTIN. IT SEEMS YOUR MANAGEMENT COMPANY ATTEMPTED TO REMOVE THE PREMIER LOCAL BAND, TWO NICE GIRLS, FROM THE MARCH 12 SHOW AT THE TERRACE. THIS IS A BENEFIT FOR PEOPLE WITH AIDS, THE HOMELESS, BATTERED WOMEN, AND A SCHOLARSHIP FUND. APPARENTLY, YOU WERE UNCOMFORTABLE WITH THE PROSPECT OF SHARING THE BILL WITH AN OPENLY LESBIAN BAND. THANKFULLY, SXSW OFFICIALS DENIED THIS REQUEST.

AS LONG-TIME FANS AND SUPPORTERS OF YOUR MUSIC, OUR FIRST REACTION IS DISBELIEF. YOU ARE CERTAINLY A SYMBOL OF STRENGTH AND INDIVIDUALITY FOR MANY OF THE SAME PEOPLE WHO ARE NOW WONDERING,

“IS MICHELLE SHOCKED HOMOPHOBIC?”

THIS MATTER HAS ALREADY CREATED DIVISION WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY. ONLY A REPLY FROM YOU CAN SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT (SO TO SPEAK).

TEN DAYS AGO, COPIES OF THIS LETTER WERE SENT TO MICHELLE, TO THE AUSTIN CHRONICLE, THE AUSTIN AMERICAN-STATESMAN, AND THE NEW VOICE, WITHOUT RESPONSE.

MICHELLE, YOUR FANS DESERVE AN ANSWER. QUEER NATION DEMANDS ONE.

QUEER NATION
AUSTIN TRIBE
Meets Every Sunday at 7 p.m.
505 San Jacinto
POSITIVELY QUEER & PROUD ?

TO: Queer Nation, Austin Tribe
512/442-4571

To whom it may concern,

We are writing you in response to your fax dated March 3, 1992. We would like to clarify your misinformation and set the record straight.

The addition of, Two Nice Girls, to the bill of March 12, 1992, was made by South by Southwest without the knowledge of Michelle Shocked or her management.

At this point, we were counseled by Michelle’s management and the concern came because of the length of their performance and the overall length of the benefit.

At no time was Two Nice Girls attempted to be pulled from this show and your fax is totally without justification.

All parties hope that this matter can be put behind us. We truly feel that the most important thing is the music.