The Imperial Orgy Fights Bigotry in Michigan

John Whiteman — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 22:26:53 +0100

The iconoclastic underground band Caeser Pink & The Imperial Orgy is once again fighting for freedom of thought and expression, and against discrimination and bigotry. The current controversy is centered in the town of Portage, Michigan where the local public access television station agreed to broadcast the group�s television series, but changed their minds before the broadcast date was set.

The reason given for the cancellation was that �Two girls were looking at each other as if they couldn�t wait to kiss,� and that �Portage is a Christian community and people wouldn�t like that sort of thing.�

Of the cancellation the band�s singer Caeser Pink states, �This is clearly a case of anti-gay bias. The people who control this media outlet are using their position to promote their own religious views. Such media outlets receive government funding and according to the public access charter no one can control that media for their own agenda or discriminate against other religious or political views.�

�Almost all the country�s commercial radio stations, newspapers, and TV stations are owned by one of six mega-corporations. Public access television is one of the few outlets where artists and activists can communicate directly with the public. That is a right that needs to be protected.�

To this end caeser and the Imperial Orgy members have been contacting gay rights organizations in the area, have petitioned the town�s mayor and county commissioners to mediate the dispute, and are using online networking sites to raise public awareness and drum up local support for their cause.

The Imperial Orgy TV series is a 12-episode half-hour arts variety show that features artist interviews, experimental films, music videos, comedy skits, and documentary profiles. The show was created on a show-string budget by the creative community of people that work with the larger Imperial Orgy arts and activism collective. No one got paid for their work and no one earns profit from the show. Previously the Imperial Orgy TV Show has been broadcast on dozens of TV stations across the U.S. as well as in France, Australia, Japan, and the Netherlands.

Caeser Pink & The Imperial Orgy has long history of social activism and confronting prejudice and discrimination. Even the group�s first concert performance was cancelled due to threats from right-wing religious organization. Among their past works are a street theater protest presented in front of the New York stock exchange titled Our Daily Bread. Last year the band�s CD �Gospel Hymns For Agnostics and Atheists� was banned from many college radio stations.

Caeser Pink & The Imperial Orgy News

The Imperial Orgy Fights Bigotry in Michigan