Did you know that 20% of California teachers don’t teach their students about people, history, or monumental events in the LBTQIA+ community? Or that an LGBTQIA+-inclusive arts curriculum makes students 82% more likely to feel accepted by their classmates compared to an uninclusive curriculum? Having worked with over 10,000 students, we've seen the power of teaching people about the LBTQIA+ community through music and how it can strengthen communities, incite social change, and improve academic and social performance. With just a little RHYTHM, anything's possible.

What is RHYTHM?

Reaching Youth Through Music (RHYTHM), the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus' social justice outreach program, was launched in elementary, middle, and high schools throughout the Bay Area in 2018. RHYTHM is a fully customized immersive and educational performance featuring workshops, choral singing, and, if available, a collaboration with the school's choir. 

As part of our RHYTHM programming, we provide students with surveys to ensure that the program is tailored and presented according to each grade level's specific needs, as well as addressing each school's unique culture. 

In addition, the program includes a heartfelt performance by 30-40 singers, showcasing the diversity of voices and faces represented by the student body and sharing their experiences of growing up as LGBTQ+ and accepting themselves. 

Why is RHYTHM Important? (Why is RHYTHM Needed?)

RHYTHM offers students a diverse representation of the LGBTQ+ community that they need to feel a sense of belonging, as well as lessons designed to increase their understanding of LGBTQ+ issues facing the community. It empowers them with ideas on how to act as leaders for change in their communities, and educates them on the vocabulary necessary to describe themselves (should they wish to use it) and other students respectfully; which teaches students how to be authentic and proud of who they are. As a result, students recognize their differences, validate each other's identities, feel a sense of solidarity, and learn how to express themselves creatively without the fear of judgment. 

At the core of RHYTHM is our curriculum, designed to help students understand the personal effects of their actions and words to prevent bullying, promote positive attitudes, and highlight the value of inclusion. To illustrate this point, the chorus members meet with students to share their experiences as LGBTQ+ youth, what it was like to come out, and what it feels like to embrace your most genuine self. Consequently, students gain valuable skills in self-expression, have more self-confidence, and reach their full potential.

What is an LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Curriculum?

With an LGBTQIA+ Inclusive Curriculum, students receive a comprehensive curriculum and classroom discussions that integrate history, culture, and monumental movements associated with LGBTQIA+ individuals. 
Including LGBTQIA+ figures in the academic curriculum will help students develop a more holistic understanding of history. In addition, it provides a positive representation of LGBTQIA+ people and normalizes LGBTQIA+ identities and experiences for non-LGBTQIA+ students.

Inspiring Social Change and Fostering Community

Including LGBTQIA+ people in your curricula won't eradicate all forms of bullying. However, the better our nation's understanding of LGBTQIA+ people is, the greater our ability to build empathy, improve connections, enhance collaboration, and increase respect for LGBTQIA+ individuals. Furthermore, accurate representations allow LGBTQIA+ students to see themselves reflected in their learning, which motivates and engages them, boosts self-esteem, increases self-worth, and improves academic performance, as well as helps them understand their role and contribution to society, making them feel valued and wanted by society. 

Additionally, students who are comfortable and feel at ease in an inclusive school are more likely to consistently attend classes than those that are not. A sense of belonging and continued attendance in classes minimize conflict and hostility in the classroom. By showing compassion and having the courage to speak out against injustices in the classroom, the playground, and the community, students move from critical understanding to action.

Enhancing Student Achievement

As part of the RHYTHM program, students learn various academic and social skills they can utilize in their present and future lives. The learning process fosters students' ability to think creatively, collaboratively, and critically while enhancing skills such as community building, friendship development, and social support from students they might not have thought would have anything in common. 

The 2022 results of the Trevor Project's National Survey on LGBTQ+ Youth indicate that 73% of LGBTQ+ youth reported anxiety symptoms, and 58% reported depression symptoms. Unfortunately, 60% of LGBTQ+ youth who wanted mental health care in the past year could not get it. Unrecognized or untreated mental health issues can adversely affect students' ability to make and maintain friendships and their academic performance, interfering with their academic goals and ability to graduate. Adolescents with mental health problems may also struggle during their transition from adolescence to young adulthood because of emotional and behavioral difficulties. 
The RHYTHM program emphasizes honesty and vulnerability to encourage acceptance, happiness, and confidence; reducing stress and depression among students. 

Upon the conclusion of RHYTHM, SFGMC emphasizes the importance of teamwork and embracing differences through performance. Seeing the passion of our singers and participating in this project empowers students to use their voices to make a positive difference in the world. Whether they participate in an event, protest, write lyrics, or teach, students walk away knowing they can profoundly contribute to their communities. 

Young people can benefit significantly from an LGBTQ+-inclusive curriculum because it allows them to explore their world and learn more about themselves through an open and accepting environment. 

The Chan National Queer Arts Center was created with your support, allowing us to expand the RHYTHM program and work with other LGBTQ+ choruses, organizations, and local queer leaders across the country. If you are like us and share our dedication to building community, sharing personal stories, providing education, and utilizing music to connect with students so they can live authentically, please consider donating today!