Iggy Azalea Backlash Continues: LGBT Groups Dropping Out of Pittsburgh Pride Over Rapper's Performance

Iggy Azalea Backlash Continues: LGBT Groups Dropping Out of Pittsburgh Pride Over Rapper's Performance

Just days after the "Pretty Girls" rapper cancelled her Great Escape tour, the 24-year-old is now causing controversy with her upcoming performance at Pittsburgh Pride scheduled for June 13.

Multiple LGBT groups have started pulling out of the parade in protest of Azalea's inclusion, citing her past social media behavior that many interpret as homophobic and racist. "Our board voted last week to not march in the Pittsburgh Pride parade, due to the insensitive choice of Iggy Azalea as headliner," Vanessa Davis, who heads the Pittsburgh chapter of the youth-advocacy group Gay, Lesbian & Straight Education Network, told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

In addition to backlash against Azalea, many groups are criticizing Pittsburgh Pride sponsor The Delta Foundation for ignoring racial and anti-LGBT issues.

"This isn't just about Iggy," Michael David Battle, founding director of the advocacy group Garden of Peace Project, told the paper. "It's about global issues."

"A Pride that highlights Iggy isn't going to be talking about police enforcement against black transwomen," local activist Joy KMT added.

In response to the backlash, Delta's board president Gary Van Horn told the Post-Gazette that Delta is "committed to working with all organizations and members of the LGBT community and our allies to be sure that all feel welcome at Pittsburgh Pride."