The Rise of the LGBTQ+ Choral Movement
Three years after our initial concert, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus toured the country for the first time in the summer of 1981, just as the 1980s HIV/AIDS crisis was simultaneously becoming more prevalent. This tour served as a spark for what we now know as the LGBTQ+ choral movement—and today we’ll take you through this key moment and others in this social and cultural phenomenon.
The History of the LGBTQ+ Choral Movement
Throughout history, music has served as a tool for social change and a means of dismantling barriers such as fear and invisibility. As we approach 2024—over 40 years since we began—we are still singing as one and the LGBTQ+ choral movement has grown exponentially since our initial concert.
The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus is joined by hundreds of other LGBTQ+ choruses formed since. Did the original singing members imagine it would ignite an uprising or inspire an evolution of LGBTQ+ choral groups? When gay men had little opportunity to meet in public, gay choruses became a source of comfort and support. The need for these spaces contributed to how quickly the movement grew.
How the LGBTQ+ Choral Movement Began
Because so few people stood up for gay people, gay choruses contributed significantly to developing gay pride, a sense of community, and unity with others. With the movement’s expansion, diversity and inclusion have become increasingly important.
The first gay chorus, although they did not call themselves that, was technically the Anna Crusis Women’s Chorus, now known as the Anna Crusis Feminist Chorus—a lesbian feminist ensemble. It was founded in 1975, “as a community choir with the mission of uplifting the voices of women. It became a safe space for lesbians and straight women alike: a feminist women’s choir.”
When the LGBTQ+ choral movement continued in the 1980s, its focus was largely on creating safe spaces to heal and grieve through music during the AIDS crisis. For existing choruses, the AIDS epidemic “deepened their purpose and reason for being,” explains Timothy Seelig, artistic director of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus (SFGMC).
Even beyond the AIDS crisis, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus has been a strong voice for social justice throughout its history. In fact, the choir’s first performance was a display of mourning the night Dan White assassinated Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone.
Standing proudly in solidarity and support for all that Milk had accomplished and, ultimately, given his life, the Chorus gathered on the steps of City Hall, surrounded by tens of thousands of members of the gay community and the San Francisco community in a display of musical activism.
During the Chorus’s 1981 National Tour, they faced significant challenges, including those resulting from the impact of the AIDS crisis. Some Americans were reluctant to interact with LGBTQ+ people because they assumed they would instantly contract HIV. Consequently, several individuals actively avoided the LGBTQ+ community altogether. In response, many LGBTQ+ individuals remained closeted and felt isolated and antisocial.
While their membership outed a lot of them, the men of the Chorus stood shoulder-to-shoulder, showing undeniable courage in a world of overwhelming prejudice and discrimination. Despite these challenges, being together eliminated much of their isolation as gay men. In the years since the Chorus was created, more than 2000 people have sung in it, including those identifying as transgender, women, and non-binary individuals.
1981 National Tour Gives Life to LGBTQ+ Choruses Across U.S.
Because the 1981 National Tour served as such a pivotal moment in the rise of the LGBTQ+ choral movement, it’s important to study the history of this tour and the events that followed.
The San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus (SFGMC) delighted audiences in nine cities during the 1981 National Tour:
Dallas
Minneapolis
Lincoln (Nebraska)
Detroit
New York
Boston
Washington, D.C.
Seattle
San Francisco
The Chorus was both musically and socially triumphant throughout the tour. This transformative journey provided the chorus members with an opportunity to sing across the country and created a bridge between LGBTQ+ individuals and their communities through a mutual appreciation of music.
A success like this changed so many lives, both inside and outside of the LGBTQ+ community, and is still changing lives today.
Get to Know GALA
No discussion of the rise of the LGBTQ+ choral movement is complete without including the history of GALA (Gay and Lesbian Association) Choruses.
Founded in the early 1980s with just 14 LGBTQ+ ensembles, GALA has more than 190 choruses registered globally and expects to welcome as many as 15 new choirs yearly.
It provides a number of resources and services to LGBTQ+ choruses, including:
Administrative support
Networking opportunities
Discussion groups
Annual leadership symposiums
A resource library
Invitations to their signature quadrennial festival
GALA Choruses Festival 2024
Every four years, around 6,000 singers attend the GALA Choruses Festival. They enjoy musical events, build community, attend workshops, and just plain have fun. GALA’s festival is the world’s most prominent LGBTQ+ performing arts festival and is world-renowned.
The next GALA Festival occurs in Minneapolis from Wednesday, July 10, to Sunday, July 14, 2024.
List of LGBTQ+ & Gay Choruses
Along with the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus and GALA, there are hundreds of other LGBTQ+ choruses that have formed over the years and perform around the world.
Below, you’ll find a list of some of the most well-known LGBTQ+ choruses worldwide that have played important roles in the LGBTQ+ choral movement. Whether traveling or looking for a local ensemble to join, these choruses offer an inclusive and supportive space for all members of the LGBTQ+ community.
Atlanta Gay Men’s Chorus
Jeffrey McIntyre founded Atlanta’s Gay Men’s Chorus in 1981. The choir initially had 45 singers but now has over 100 members.
The Stonewall Choral
As the nation’s first gay and lesbian chorus, The Stonewall Chorale played a big role in the LGBTQ+ choral movement. It was established in 1977 by Donald Rock and currently has about 60 members.
Gala Choruses
The Gay and Lesbian Association (GALA) Choruses was established in 1982. It serves as an international association of LGBTQ+ choruses. The GALA Choruses organization assists LGBTQ+ choirs in their formation, artistic direction, administration, networking, and training. There are currently over 190 choruses registered with the organization, representing approximately 10,000 singers.
Lesbian Gay Chorus of San Francisco
The Lesbian Gay Chorus of San Francisco, recently renamed the Queer Chorus of San Francisco, was founded in 1980 by Jon Reed Sims. There are approximately 35 members.
Portland Lesbian Choir
The Portland Lesbian Choir was organized in 1986 to “elevate LGBTQ+ voices, emphasize equity, and encourage collaboration, growth, and service.”
Austin Gay Men’s Chorus
The Austin Gay Men’s Chorus was founded over 30 years ago by sixteen volunteers.
Boston Gay Men’s Chorus
The Boston Gay Men’s Chorus was founded in 1982. Fast forward over 40 years, and it now has over 300 members. Throughout its 40-year history, the Chorus’s membership has grown from 60 to over 1,600 members.
Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus
The Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus was created in 1983. Now, it has over 150 singing members.
Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus
The Columbus Gay Men’s Chorus convened in 1990 with founders Doug Althauser, Kevin Gary, Bob Germain, Phil Martin, and Jack Wisniewski.
Connecticut Gay Men’s Chorus
The Connecticut Gay Men’s Chorus was assembled in 1986. Almost 40 years later, it remains the only of its kind in the state.
Des Moines Gay Men’s Chorus
Founded by Dr. Randal A. Buikema in 2001, the Des Moines Gay Men’s Chorus has a membership of 40-50 singers.
Heartland Men’s Chorus
The Heartland Men’s Chorus, created in 1986, currently features more than 120 singing members and welcomes non-singing members.
Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles
Harold Kjellberg founded the Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles in 1979 with 99 members. It has since grown to over 300 members.
New Hampshire Gay Men’s Chorus
The New Hampshire Gay Men’s Chorus began with 26 members in 1998. Richard Bojko, David R. Snelson, and David Swart were the founders.
New Orleans Gay Men’s Chorus
Jerry Zachary formed The New Orleans Gay Men’s Chorus in 1982.
New York City Gay Men’s Chorus
Ed Weaver founded the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus in 1979 with 80 original members. Today, the chorus has approximately 260 members.
Oakland Gay Men’s Chorus
Founded by Dick Kramer in 1999, the Oakland Gay Men’s Chorus currently has over 60 singers.
Denver Gay Men’s Chorus
Bob Moore founded the Denver Gay Men’s Chorus in 1982. At present, the Denver Gay Men’s Chorus has approximately 140 members.
Orlando Gay Men’s Chorus
The Orlando Gay Men’s Chorus, founded in 1990, started with 39 members. Today, there are over 100 members in the queer choir.
Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus
Gerald Davis founded the Philadelphia Gay Men’s Chorus in 1981, and membership fluctuated from 20 to 60 members throughout the 80s and 90s. Now, the chorus includes more than 150 members.
Phoenix Metropolitan Men’s Chorus
The Phoenix Metropolitan Men’s Chorus was organized in 1991 as the Grand Canyon Men’s Chorale. The choir currently consists of over 100 members.
Portland Gay Men’s Chorus
In 1980, Mark Richards, Mark Jones, and Gary Coleman founded the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus. The chorus began with 20 singers and today has 150 singing members and 25 non-singing members.
San Diego Men’s Chorus
Forty-five men convened in San Diego for their first weekly rehearsal in 1985, following a benefit concert by The Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles. Since 2010, the chorus has merged with The Gay Men’s Chorus of San Diego and is now called the San Diego Gay Men’s Chorus. Their membership is approximately 100 members.
San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus
Founded in 1978 by Jon Reed Sims, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus has grown from nearly 115 members present at the first concert to more than 300 members today.
Seattle Men’s Chorus
The group was founded in 1979 and currently has approximately 360 members. As a vibrant addition to the music scene and the LGBTQ+ choral movement in the PNW, they perform for an audience of around 30,000 patrons each year.
Silicon Valley Gay Men’s Chorus
The Chorus was founded in 1983 as the San Jose Liedermann Chorus and had ten members. In 1985, it changed its name to Silicon Valley Gay Men’s Chorus (SVGMC). The Chorus has grown from ten members to approximately 50 as of 2023.
Turtle Creek Chorale
The Dallas-based Turtle Creek Chorale was formed by artistic director and conductor Harry E. Scher in 1980. Initially, the Chorus consisted of 39 members, but it has grown to nearly 200.
Twin Cities Gay Men’s Choir
A stop by the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus in Twin Cities in 1981 inspired 12 singers to form the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Choir. Today, there are 180 members.
Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C.
After a performance by the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus in 1981, the Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, D.C., was established. Marsha Pearson distributed a poster advertising the meeting to organize a gay men’s chorus, attracting 18 men. The Washington DC Gay Men’s Choir has grown to over 300 singers.
Promoting Tolerance and Inclusion
Our lives continue to be political acts of resistance as LGBTQ+ people because we live in a world that struggles to embrace and support us for who we are. Even so, LGBTQ+ chorus members continue to stand together despite adversity, gaining greater self-confidence about their identity and community.
Today, LGBTQ+ choruses remain safe gathering spaces but their focus has expanded to multiple causes and to many different groups of people. For example, as the above list demonstrates, lesbian choruses are now becoming more commonplace.
There has also been a rise in LGBTQ+ member choruses encouraging all community members, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, to join. This includes the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, where we are proud to continue to be a big part of the LGBTQ choral movement.
The Future of the LGBTQ+ Choral Movement
The legacy of LGBTQ+ choruses worldwide proves that social justice, inclusivity, and acceptance are vital elements binding community members together. In addition to inspiring them to be their most authentic selves, LGBTQ+ choruses often offer the chance to connect with like-minded individuals, unite over their passions, and share that pride with their community.
LGBTQ+ choruses are places where you enter an atmosphere of unconditional love, fulfillment, validation, and friendship.
At the SFGMC, our mission is more than to serve as an LGBTQ+ chorus. We strive to ensure civil rights access for LGBTQ+ people, including their health, family, and careers. Keeping these goals in mind, we commission several songs to include crucial issues. We sing our hearts out at rallies, tours, and concerts to raise awareness of these challenges.
The SFGMC has recently moved to and opened The Pansy L. Chan and Terrence D. Chan National Queer Arts Center. We look forward to seeing you there!
Our goal, in part, is to provide a sustainable livelihood for LGBTQ+ choruses for many generations. If you want to support our mission or continue our battle for social justice, please consider donating today!
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