By John Hayden
From the Stonewall Riots to the AIDS Crisis through marriage equality and ‘Don’t Say Gay,’ the LGBTQIA+ community’s struggles and successes are well documented. Now the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida (GMCSF) is honoring our history through the soundtrack of the movement.
“People will recognize old gay anthems and new ones. It’ll be a time of laughter, joy, maybe even some tears,” GMCSF Artistic Director Gabe Salazar told OutClique.
The chorus is putting an exclamation point on Pride month with their June 29, 2024, show at The Parker, Pride: Then Now and Forever. Three generations of LGBTQIA+ are very visible and each unique. The older generation fought for basic rights at Stonewall and the seventies, only to fight for their lives in the 1980s.
The generation that came up in the nineties and early aughts were in the shadow of the AIDS epidemic and the era of Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell and the wave of marriage discrimination amendments. The young generation has freedom to marry and political persecution. Salazar says all three generations make up today’s chorus.
“We have a lot of younger people and more diversity in the group along with the staples of our group that have been there the last fourteen years.” Each generation will be represented musically as well.
“They’ve lived different lives and experienced different things. They each learned from each other. I wanted to make a concert that brings together those generations and see the commonalities that we have together while celebrating the differences.”
It’s Raining Men, I’m Coming Out, Believe, Dancing Queen, and more are on the set list. It will also have other hallmarks of queer culture including dancers and a drag queen.
There will also be original works commissioned by the chorus and making their debut at the Pride show. While most of their commissioned works are very serious, one song makes a serious point in a very fun way.
“In a campy, fun way, it talks about Don’t Say Gay and the terrible things that are happening. It pokes and takes jabs at those who are trying to make those changes,” Salazar said. “It’s a fun song but has such an important message. It’ll be well accepted and I’m hoping other choruses pick it up.”
In the end, Salazar considers the concert a success if one song connects with one person for one moment. “Everytime I create a concert, I hope one person will connect with at least one song. Something that makes a difference. You walk out and feel more uplifted, a little more joyful, and a little happier.”
The show is 8pm Saturday, June 29, 2024, at The Parker with tickets available online.
