The goal was to have fun – and Kehlani delivered.
The R&B singer displayed soaring vibrato vocals that could turn dark and soulful as they sang such hits as “Hate the Club” and recent release “Folded” while rocking a gold mini dress with a ruffled skirt.
Despite weeks of controversy in the lead up to the
San Diego Pride Festival
, Saturday’s headline show occurred conflict-free, with a large crowd jammed into a field at Balboa Park.
The
Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter
has broad appeal outside of the LGBTQ+ community, with ticket sales double the typical amount, in the lead-up to the event. Still, Kehlani, who is a lesbian, had an unapologetically queer set.
Backup dancers were dressed as studs and femmes, dancing with each other in roles that would typically be occupied by heterosexual pairings.
When talking about “Honey,” Kehlani discussed performing it in countries where being gay is illegal. Yet courageous couples still attended the show and kissed during the romantic song – despite the threat of serious consequences.
It remains a meaningful song to her. “I just felt like I was really in tune with my audience in a special and a different way,” they said.
A sense of connectedness permeated the crowd. The national backlash against LGBTQ+ rights has left many feeling afraid. Kehlani urged the audience to find safety with each other.
One Black woman even got on one knee to propose to her partner. Kehlani brought them up front to congratulate them.
In the one moment she got political, with apologies to her manager, Kehlani spoke about American politics. “From the bottom of my heart, f*** Donald Trump.”
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Their comments about Israel and the war in Gaza got them dropped from six other Pride performances. They said that San Diego standing behind them was especially meaningful as they are frequently in the area to surf, even with the smelly seals.
Palestine wasn’t mentioned on Saturday night but Kehlani thanked the Pride organization for keeping her scheduled.
“They had everything pulled from them, and they still said, ‘we’re going to make this s*** happen.’ I thank you. I thank everybody that spoke up for me,” they said. “Tonight is love.”
