In many ways, the LGBT community has contributed immensely to the cultural experience of the United States. Our offerings in the fields of entertainment and popular music are well known, but our effect on choral music likely goes unnoticed unless you are a part of the movement. In fact, there is a long history going back more than 30 years filled with heartache and triumph, mirroring the LGBT community’s experiences during the same period of time.
It all started in the midst of tragedy; specifically the assassination of San Francisco mayor George Moscone and Harvey Milk on November 27, 1978. On that night the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus performed in public for the first time on the steps of city hall at Harvey Milk's memorial service. While the SFGMC was not the first LGBT chorus (that honor belongs to Anna Crusis Women's Choir, formed in 1975), it was the first to use the word 'gay' in its name, and that day's violence was the impetus for the chorus to follow Harvey's example by being out and proud gay men. Their nationwide tour in 1981 was a watershed moment for the LGBT choral movement, spawning choruses in Minneapolis, Detroit, Boston, Washington DC and many other cities around the nation.
The organization GALA Choruses was formed in 1982 in order to support these LGBT choruses forming around the world. In addition to providing monetary and artistic support, a huge choir festival is held every 4 years with thousands of singers and over a hundred choruses attending. It is a chance to sing for your peers as well as just have a lot of fun. The first festival was held in 1982, and the most recent festival was held in Miami in 2008.
The next 30 years saw many more LGBT choruses form around the country, inspired by established choruses going on tours of their own. The largest increase has been among mixed choruses that bring gay men and lesbians together, who traditionally have led separate lives in their own communities. And most recently, the largest increase has been among youth choruses, who are the future of the LGBT choral movement. At the most recent GALA choral festival in Miami, there was a concert block of only youth choruses who sang before a standing room only crowd. It was a very moving experience for everyone as until recently it was almost unheard of for someone so young to come out as LGBT, but now youth are forming choruses to bring their unique experiences to a wider audience.
Ask any LGBT chorus member why they sing, chances are good that lyrics of a song come to mind, more than likely one they've sung before. If you asked me, the lyrics would come from an old Quaker hymn:
My life flows on in endless song:
Above earth's lamentation,
I catch the sweet, tho' far-off hymn
That hails a new creation.
Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear the music ringing;
It finds an echo in my soul--
How can I keep from singing?
Undoubtedly, that sentiment is echoed by LGBT singers worldwide. For us, singing is a refuge from the storm as it was for those gay men singing on the steps of San Francisco city hall in 1978, and for all the battles and setbacks our community has gone through since that day we continue to sing...for how can we not? From the AIDS crisis to the marriage debate to DADT, our choruses have been and continue to tell the stories of LGBT men and women to the wider world and in doing so help change hearts and minds one listener at a time.
Thanks to legendmn for this week's contribution.