“Are we being that brave? The answer is no,” Ben Hopkins of New York queer punk duo PWR BTTM tells The Future of What. This year, Hopkins and collaborator Liv Bruce added a restroom policy to their tour rider asking that gender neutral bathrooms be made available for concert-goers. “Demanding something as simple as a safe place for a gender nonconforming person to pee at one of our shows—sure, it’s activism—but it’s truly a basic gesture of decency,” Hopkins says. The policy is a first step for PWR BTTM, who plan on continuing their effort to make venues safer and more accessible.
In this episode, we’ll also talk to bands who have made philanthropy a priority. From water issues to child development, we hear about a range of causes from Pearl Jam’s Mike McCready, Merrill Garbus of Tune-Yards and Coy Bowles of Zac Brown Band. Find out what compels them to use their success for change and how any artist can do the same.
