PORTLAND GAY MEN’S CHORUS MAKES LGBTQ HISTORY, AGAIN. THIS TIME IT’S GLOBAL.
PGMC hosts Beijing Queer Chorus March 12-19 in their first public tour of the US and PGMC becomes the first LGBTQ Chorus to ever tour China this coming September.
When the Portland Gay Men’s Chorus was founded in 1980, just 17 months after the assassination of gay activist Harvey Milk, many members performed under alias names, were listed as “Name Withheld” in our programs, or stepped out of group photos so as to not out themselves to family, friends or employers. At that time in the United States, homosexuality, while legal, was not widely accepted. Many feared for their safety, losing jobs, family and friends or of being overtly discriminated against. The chorus provided a safe haven for a growing group of men who came together to form their own support network.
Those early founders of PGMC stood strong in their courage to express their sexuality in name and in music, as it would educate people about our proud existence even without attending a PGMC concert. Our membership quickly grew from 20 to 120 in just a few short years. Then the AIDS Epidemic hit our community causing our numbers to rapidly plummet to less than 30 active singers, devastating the chorus and all of its allies. This combined with the significant political backlash that went with, saw anti-gay ballot measures in almost every state of the Union. It was a time of struggle and our community began to collectively work together to build a better future for our gay brothers and sisters. Through it all PGMC found solace and power through music. PGMC survived and today remains a strong and vibrant reminder of that proud past as we continue to honor, uplift, and affirm all people through our mission-centered music. It is with the spirit of that mission that we are thrilled to bring Beijing Queer Chorus to Portland, OR.
Beijing Queer Chorus was founded in 2008, just ten years after “hooliganism” aka homosexuality was decriminalized and 7 years after it was declassified as a mental disorder in the country. The chorus (at that time known as the Shiny Jazzy Chorus) began with 30 members, many performing in masks to protect their identity, who bravely stepped out onto the stage thereby becoming the very first LGBT chorus to perform in China. It wasn’t until April of 2014 that the chorus decided to “come out” when they changed their name to the “Beijing Queer Chorus” and in July of 2016 when they performed for the first time outside of China as they stepped onto the stage for a private performance at the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA) in Denver, Colorado.
Portland Gay Men’s Chorus is proud to be working with Beijing Queer Chorus both in their historic, first public performance in the US and as Portland Gay Men’s Chorus becomes the first LGBTQ Chorus to tour the People’s Republic of China. It is through the parallels of our shared history that we take pride in building up their voices with our own, and ushering in a bold new world in LGBTQ history, while emboldening our company mission to expand, redefine, and perfect the choral art through eclectic performances that honor and uplift our community and affirm the worth of all people, now on a global scale.
Pacific Voices, Featuring Beijing Queer Chorus,
March 17| Kaul Auditorium| Reed College| 8pm
March 18, 2018| Kaul Auditorium| Reed College| 3pm
PGMC China Tour: Aug 30-Sep 9, 2018
