Women’s Rights Groups Protest Odd Future Performance

Women’s Rights and LGBT groups are criticizing the Pitchfork Music Festival for including the rap group Odd Future as part of its lineup, according to CMJ.com.

Between Friends, a nonprofit agency which describes itself as being “dedicated to breaking the cycle of domestic violence and abuse,” is hoping to print 5,000 hand-fans with messages regarding violence against women and steps that can be taken to prevent and deal with it, handing them around the concert (scheduled for July 15-17 in Chicago) and “hopefully, getting them discussing the issue and knowing where to turn for help,” according to Between Friends’ post on IndieGoGo.com.

In regards to Odd Future, the post describes them as having lyrics that are “extremely violent toward women (as well as other groups of people).”

The post on IndeGoGo states that while Between Friends doesn’t agree with Odd Future’s lyrics, they write “it is their art, and we'd like to offer a counterpoint and continue to help people that are being affected by the violence they describe.“

Odd Future (full name Odd Future Wolf Gang Kill Them All or OFWGKTA) has been under fire recently for having violent as well as homophobic lyrics, being called “irresponsible” by the Gay And Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD).

Perhaps unknown to all the parties involved, the group’s DJ and engineer, Syd Tha Kid, is an open lesbian. –Martin Spasov