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OFFICIAL PRESHOW PERFORMANCE PRIOR TO BLAIR IMANI, FEATURED EVENT AT THE PITTSBURGH HUMANITIES FESTIVAL

Brittney Chantele (she/her OR they/them) will be performing her recently released album, 'The Golden Opportunity.' This album outlines her personal story of her time in the military. It challenges the idea that joining the military is a “golden opportunity” - a phrase that was often repeated to her by recruiters in high school. She tackles various issues such as recruitment tactics, xenophobia, military sexual assault, and military suicide to name a few.

Brittney Chantele is not afraid to go deep and not afraid to do the work, singer-songwriter, visual artist, speaker, and activist Brittney Chantele uses a combination of art and action to inspire people to create positive change.

Brittney’s life as a queer, bi-racial, non-binary individual who grew up in a small town and served in the Army National Guard has given them a very personal understanding of injustice. From witnessing – and sometimes being subjected to – injustice such as racism, sexism, and sexual assault, homophobia, and xenophobia, these experiences created a turning point that gave them two options: say nothing, or do something.

Dynamic and bold as ever, Brittney chose to do more than just something. Regardless of which medium expressed the truth the best, the Pittsburgh artivist got honest and up-front about the difficult topics: relationship issues, self-love, and social justice. And with hundreds of spoken word and music performances, multiple visual art collections, ongoing collaboration with other Pittsburgh musicians, 2 EPs, and their second album recently released, it’s clear that Brittney is not afraid to lead people to have the hard conversations necessary to make a better world.

She does more than just spark conversation. Outside of their art, Brittney has also worked hard to give back to the Pittsburgh community and local social justice initiatives, including speaking at schools to tell students the truth about military enlistment, participating in the Pittsburgh organization 1Hood Media, which creates a safe space for youth and organizes communities for real change, and participating in Veterans for Peace.

Whether on stage, in a demonstration, or having a conversation with another Pittsburgh local, Brittney Chantele has dedicated her art, and her life, to creating a better world.

Photos by Dylan Rosgone