Don't Call It Jazz: Pride 2026

By Jon Armstrong

Published June 27, 2026 at 7:34 AM MDT

Each year on Don’t Call it Jazz, I produce a Pride show in June, celebrating LGBTQ+ artists as a way of celebrating brilliant artistry while investigating organized and legalized cruelty towards our fellow citizens. 2026 marks my 7^th annual Pride show and somehow it feels like we’re further away from equality, understanding, and freedom than ever.

Idaho recently passed H.B. 752, a new state law threatening transgender people with up to five years in prison for using public restrooms consistent with their gender identity. It’s an ignorant, hateful and harmful, law that belligerently attempts to criminalize trans citizens from using their bathroom of choice, in public or private establishments. It’s as stupid as it is damaging, and it only serves to divide us, take away basic freedom, and inspires vigilantes to confront our fellow citizens in bathrooms across the state. It’s classic modern nationalized politics; stupid and evil. What benefit could anyone even imagine this law providing?

Thankfully, a federal judge granted a request for a preliminary injunction blocking enforcement of this dumb law on June 16^th.

The proponents of this law have claimed that it will protect women and children from the possibility of sexual assault and abuse in bathrooms. Implying that trans citizens are more likely to commit these crimes on strangers in bathrooms. Well, let’s dig in: According to RAINN, (the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network) which is the largest anti-sexual violence organization in the US, sexual assault on minors is a massive issue in this country. But it’s important to look at the data of who is being attacked, and who is perpetrating these attacks:

63,000 children a year were victims of sexual abuse.
1 in 9 girls and 1 in 20 boys
82% of all victims under 18 are female.
93% of victims under 18 know their abuser.
88% of CSA perpetrators were male.
9% of CSA perpetrators were female.
Only 3% of CSA perpetrators were unknown.

“Research reveals that most perpetrators are not scary strangers lurking in the shadows; they are people their victims knew—and often journeys trusted.”

UCLA Williams Institute has studied this issue and finds that: “Transgender people over four times more likely than cisgender people to be victims of violent crime”

There’s just no basis for a law like this, which only causes harm, division, and curates deeper ignorance across our species.

Art and music are built to connect. Artists are meant to create, to tell stories of our lives, our experiences, our journeys. With this show, I mean to move the spotlight towards the beauty of the creators on the planet with us right now. Making gorgeous music for all of us. Bravely living in their authentic selves, with freedom and love, as an inspiration for all of us to shed our masks, our lies, our ruts and inauthenticity. Our trans brothers, sisters, and non-binary kin are by default courageous. They live their lives with truth and bravery that most of us can’t comprehend. To me, our LGBTQ fellow citizens represent the freedom and individual greatness that this country has always purported to support and foster as much as any other group here.

Certainly far more than those with shallow and damaged hearts who choose to pass laws that villainize a vulnerable and marginalized community. HB 752 is a cruel and cynical play for power by dabbling in the dark arts of scapegoating and fear mongering. It’s hard to imagine anything less “American”, more unconstitutional, or less aspirational.

Please enjoy some great music, and let us celebrate art, humanity, fellowship, and joy.