Carly Usdin, a hobbyist magician, recounts their disillusionment with the Magic Castle, a members-only magician’s club in Los Angeles. Initially drawn to the Castle’s old-timey atmosphere, Carly soon began to notice drawbacks that soured their experience. As a trans and non-binary individual, Carly felt out of place in the Castle’s gendered environment, where traditional gender norms were reinforced.
Despite feeling uncomfortable, Carly continued their membership activities, even booking a Houdini séance for their wife’s birthday. However, the experience turned sour when the magician leading the séance misgendered and made assumptions about Carly and their friends. This incident was a turning point for Carly, who started to question the Castle’s environment and treatment of marginalized groups.
Another magician, Kayla Drescher, shared similar experiences of misogyny and discrimination at the Castle. Kayla, a professional magician, faced sexist remarks and unequal treatment, leading her to advocate for change within the Castle’s booking practices. She created a spreadsheet to highlight the exclusion of women magicians in performance slots and presented her findings to the Castle’s Board of Directors.
As tensions grew within the Castle, Carly and other members confronted the club’s leaders about the issues of sexism and racism. In the wake of the George Floyd protests, Carly called out the Castle’s decision to support law enforcement over protesters, sparking a heated debate among members. The Castle’s closure due to the COVID-19 pandemic further fueled discussions about inclusivity and diversity within the club.
Amidst these challenges, Carly and Kayla joined efforts to create a Diversity and Inclusion Committee within the Castle, hoping to address systemic issues and promote a more progressive environment. While the Castle made some commitments to change, Carly’s optimism was short-lived when they received a grievance from two members for disparaging the Castle on social media.
As Carly’s story unfolds, the Magic Castle faces a reckoning with its past and present practices, prompting discussions on gender equality, diversity, and inclusion within the magician community. The future of the Castle hangs in the balance as members navigate a complex landscape of tradition, change, and social responsibility.
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