The “Industry”

I was watching several videos about Knobcon, a synthesiser event in Chicago) as I had friends there and I found it really quite enjoyable to see them talking about and showing their latest products.

What was disappointing, but not entirely surprising, was to learn that my ex company are still using my old name, in person and online. Sure enough after a quick google there are videos online showing this, followed with multiple “corrections” in the same video.

Now for those who don’t know I transitioned over 6 years ago, and it was something that had been in the works 2 years before that. My business partner at the time knew this, I was very honest about it. So it’s very disappointing to learn of people in the company, still using my old name.

Perhaps they’re trying to have a go at me and wind me up (if so, sorry you failed), perhaps they’re just being inconsiderate or rude (again, sorry you don’t matter enough to me for me to care), maybe they feel ashamed of me (not my problem). Whatever the reason, it’s really quite a childish behaviour to continue. I’ve had for worse comments and things thrown at me, it just seems like such a shame that they haven’t moved on in 6 years.

At the end of the day, I’m no longer involved with them and that’s fine for me because they really no longer matter to me, I’m proud of what was achieved back then, but that was then and time moves forward. However, it does point to a much wider problem for members of the LGBTQ+ community and acceptance within business, not just the music industry.

I’ve seen this in other companies also, and turned down jobs because of this. What seems bizarre to me is that given musicians are, on the whole, fine with members of the LGBTQ+ community (as are most of the creative arts community), it seems odd that these people would want to work in an area where people are creative, more open and embrace diversity.

To quote Depeche Mode “I can’t understand what makes a man hate another man”. Can we all not learn to just accept our differences and move on?