LGBTQ Breaking News Service

PRIDE: Boston Gay Men’s Chorus

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Updated: 7:30 PM EDT Jun 12, 2021

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>> THE VERY FIRST YEAR I WAS HERE, WE DID A HAROLD ARLENS SHOW. HEREOF THE MUSIC TO THE WIZARD OFZ O — HE WROTE THE MUSIC TO THE WIZARD OF OZ. I JUST SHOWED UP AND IT WAS THERE. THEY HAD BUILT AN ENTIRE RUBY SLIPPER ON TOPF O TRUCK, AND IT WAS SEQUINED. I THOUGHT AT’T’S GREAT. NEED. WILL I GET TO MARCH AROUND TS?HI THEY SAID NO. YOU LL RIDE IN THE SLIPPER. I HAD NEVER SEEN WHAT PRIDE IN BOSTON WAS LIKE. THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN EVERY DIRECTION GOING THROUGH THE HUT END, JUST ECSTATIC TO BE THERE, AND THAT WAS OVER 20 YEARS AGO AND THAT SAME FEELING OF PRIDE STILL SHOWS UP IN ME EVERY YEAR. ♪ PRIDE IS THE WAY YOU FEEL WHEN YOU GET OUT OF BED IN THE MORNING AND YOU ARE PROUD OF YOURSELF AND YOU ARE PROUD OF THE WORLD THAT YOU HAVE HELPED CREATE, SO TODAY, WE’D LIKE TO DO A DIFFERENT SCALE OR WAY OF LOOKING AT THINGS. WE WOULD LIKE TO LOOK AT HOW WE REALLY HAVE CHANGED E WORLD AND CONTINUE TO CHANGE THE WORLD BY HAVING PRE IN WHAT WE DO, PRIDE IN WHAT W SING, PRIDE IN THE STORIES WE TELL, THE STORIES OF OUR LIVES. THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE WITH US TODAY. IITAN HONOR TO SHARE PRIDE WITH YOU. NOW LET’S GETOHET MUSIC AND DO SOME SINGING. >> THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I FEEL YOUR LOVE AROUND ME BABY I’LL NEVER FORT MYGE BABY WHEN I FEEL THAT I DON’T BELONG DRAW MY STRENGTH FROM THE WORDS WHAW MY STRENGTH FROM THE WORDS EN YOU SAI HEY, IT’S ABOUT YOU, BABY LOOK DEEPER INSIDE YOU, BY DREAM ABOUT US TOGETHER AGAI WHEN I WANT US TOGETHER AIAG BABY I KNOW WE’LL BE TOGETHER AGAIN, ‘ ’CAE EVERYWHERE I GO, EVERY SMILE I SE I KNOW YOU ARE THERE SMILIN’ BACKT A DANCIN’ IN MOONLIGHT, I KNOW YOU ARE FREE ‘ ’CAUSE I CASEN E YOUR STAR, SHININ’ DOWN ONE GOOD TIMES WE’LL SHARE AIN THAT MAKES ME WANNA DAE SAY IT LOUD AND OUDPR ALL MY LOVE’S FOR YOU ALWAYS BEEN A TRUE ANGEL TO ME, NOW ABEOV I CAN’T WAIT FOR YOU TWRO YOUR WINGS AROUND ME, BABY (WRAP THEM AROUND ME, BA)BY WR THEAPM AROUND ME BABY (WRAP THEM AROUND ME, BA) SOMETIMES HE YRE WHISPERING NO WORRIES WILL YOU EVER SEEOW , BABY (EVER SEE YOU, BABY)EOW I DREAM ABOUT US TOGETHER AGAIN WHEN I WANT US TOGHEETR AGNAI , BABY I KNOW WE’LL BE TOGETHER AGA ‘ ’CAUSE EVERYWHERE I GO, EVERY SMILE SEE I KNOW YOU ARE THERE, SMILIN’ BACK AME DANCIN’ IN MOONLIGHT, I KNOW YOU ARE FREE ‘ ’CAUSE I CAN SEE YOUR STAR, SHININ’ DOWN MON GOOD TIMES WE’LL SHAREGA AIN THAT MAKES ME WANNA DANCE SAY IT LOUD ANPRD D ALL MY LOVE’S FOR YOU THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I LOOK ABOVE AND BEYOND THERE ARE TIMES WHEN I FEEL YOU R SMILE UPON ME,AB B WHAT’LL I GIVE JUST TO HOLDOU CLOSE AS ON EARTH IN HEAVEN WE WILL BE TETOGHER , BABY DYLAN (TOGEERTH TOGETHER AGAIN MY BABY (TOGETHER AGAIN, MY BA) EVERYWHERE I GO, EVERY SMILE I SE I KNOW YOU ARE THERE, SMILIN’ BACK AT ME DANCIN’ IN MOONLIGHT, I KNOW YOU ARE FREE ‘ ’CAUSE I CAN SEE YOUR STAR, SH ININ’ DOWN MON EVERYWHERE I GO, EVERY SMILE I SEE I KNOW YOU ARE THERE, SMIL’IN BACK AT ME DANCIN’ IN MOONLIGHT, I KNOW YOU ARFRE ‘ ’CAUSE I CAN SEE YOUR STAR, SHININ’ DOWN ON M ON ME SHARE AGAIN MAKES ME WANT TO DANCE SAY IT LOUD AND PROUD ALL MY LOVE FOR YOU ♪ ♪ [APPLAUSE]E FOR YOU ♪ ♪ METRO COUNCIL BELIEVES — MASS CULTURAL COUNCIL BELIEVES IN CULTURE. GROWING UP, I WAS LUCKY TO HAVE MUSEUMS AND DCEAN TROUPES, THEATERS, OPEN MIC NIGHTS, ART GALLERIE S.THESE PLACES PROVIDED A PLACE FOR ME AND MY FRIENDS TO LEARN ABT OUCH OTHER, YOUR IN FOR MORE AND BREATHE THE SAME A.IR IT HELPED ME FIND THE PATH I AM ON NOW. THE POWER OF CULTURE IS THE SAME AS PRIDE. PRIDE A TIME FOR US TO CELEBRATE WITH POMP AND CIRCUMSTANCE WHO WE ARE AND OUR CONTRIBUTIONS TO SOCIETY. I AM TOSHOUTUT O THE LGBTQ PLUS COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY M BLACK LGBTQLU P FRIENDS, ASIAN AMERICAN LGBTQLU P FRIENDS, AND FRIENDS. YOU MAKE THE WORLD GO AROUND. ♪ [APPLAUSE] ♪ >> ♪ REL DAXON’T DO I RELAX DON’T DOT WO-OW-OWW RELAX DON’T DO I WHEN YOU WANT TO COME LAREX DON’T DO IT WHEN YOU WANT TO ♪ ♪ >> FOR NEARLY 40 YEARS, THE BOONST GAME — YGA MEN’S CHORUS HAS PROVIDED AN EXCLUSIVE SPACE FOR PEOPLOFE EVERY A,GE IDENTITY AND GENDER EXPRESSION. THANK YOU FOR THE PASSION YOU GIVE TO YOUR PERFORMANCES. IT IS A POWERFUL REPRESENTATION FOR THE LGBTQ PLUS COMNIMU IN BOSTON AND BEYOND. I WISH YOU A VERY HAPPY PRIDE MONTH. I WISH YOU HAPPINESS AND HEALTH DURING THIS CHALLEINNG TIME AND I LOOK FORWARD TO BEING TOGETHER IN THE MONTHS AHEAD. ♪ >> ♪ I AM WHAT I A I AM MYWN O SPECIAL CREATION. GIVEE E M HOOK OR E OVATION IS IT WORLD THAT I WANT TO HAVE A LITTLE PRIDE MY WORLD AND IT’S NOT A PLACE I HAVE TO HIDE I >> LIFE IS NOT WORTH A DAMN UNTIL YOU CAN SAY “HEY, WORLD, I AM WHAT AM” I AM WHAT AM I DON’T WANT PRAISE I DON’T WANT PITY I BANG MY OWN UM SOME THINK IT’S NOIS I THINK IT’S PRTYET AND SO WHAT IF I LOVE EACH FEATHER AND EACH SPALENG WHY NOT TRY AND SEE THINGS FRO A DIFFERENT ANGLE YOUR LIFE IS A SHAM ’TILLOU CAN SHO OUT LOUD “I AM WHAT I AMN SHO OUT LOUD “I AM WHAT I I AM WHAI T AND WHAT I AM NES EDNO EXCUSES I DEAL MY OWN DECK SOMETIMES THE ACE SOMETIMES THE DEES IT’S MY LIFE AND THERE’S NO RETURN AND NO DESIPO ONE LIFE, SO IT’S TIME TO OPEN UP YOUR CLET I AM WHAT AM “HEY, WORLD, ’I AM WHAT I AM’ ♪♪ >> IT IS AN AMAZING EXPERIENCE FOR THE AREA BECAUSE WE DON’T HAVE A LOT OF VISIBILITY IN THIS AREA. THIS IS THE FIRST PRIDE PARE AD HAVE ENJOYED AND A HOPE — AND I HOPET I OPENS UP NEW AREAS. WE ARE JUST HERE, MAN. LILETT KIDS CAN LOOK UP TO THIS PARADE AND SEE THEY ARE OK. THERE IS A FUTURE FOR THEM AND IT IS NOT THE END. >> I’M GRATEFUL FOR ALL OF YOU WALKING WITH US, GIVING PEOPLE THE COURAGE TO CEOM OUT. IT IS GOING TO HAPPEN. YOU GUYS ARE MAKING HISTORY. IT IS AMAZINGND A I LOVE BEING PA ORTF IT. >> EACH YEAR, PRIDE MONTH IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR US TO CELEBRATE OUR MANY LGBTQ RESIDENTS AS WELL AS THE TREMENDOUS STRIDES THAT HAVE BEEN MADE BY THIS COMMUNITY ACROSS OUR COMMONWEALTH AND COUNTRY, FROM LEADING THE WAY ON MARRIAGE EQUALITY TO SAFEGUARDING ACCSES TO PUBLIC ACCOMMODATIONS FOR TRENDS RESIDENTS — PRIDE ALSO REMINDS US ON THE WORK LEFT TO BE DONE TO CREATE A MORE WILL COMMONWEALTH AND A BETTER COUNTRY. THAT IS WHY WE ARE FORTUNATE TO HAVE LEADING LGBTQ INSTITUTISON LIKE THE BOSTON GAY MEN’S CHORUS. I HAVE TO POINT OUT AT THIS POINT IN TIME THAT MY BROERTH SANG IN THAT CHORUS YEARS AND HIS SPOEUS DIDS A WELL. I THINK A BROTHER WHO CAN SING WHEN YOU CANNOT CAN TURN OUTO T BE A REALLY GOOD THING AROUND THE KINDS OF HOLIDAYS WE ALL USED TO CELEBRATE AND HOPEFULLY WILL ONCE AGAIN IN THE FUTURE. WE KNOW THIS LAST YEAR HAS BNEE A CHALLENGING ONE FOR US ALL, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO RELY ON LIVE PERFORMCEAN IN THE ARTS FURTHER LIVELIHOOD AND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY, BUT DESPITE THESE UNPRECEDENTED CHALLENGES, THE CHORUS HAS STEPPED UP TO MEET E MOMENT, PIVOTING TO STAND UP VIRTUAL EVENTS LIKE THISNE TO STAY SAFE WHILE SPREADING CHEER AT A TIME WHEN MANY NEEDED MORE ANTH ERVE — MANY NEED IT MORE THAN EVER. I CANNOT WAIT TO HAVE A CHANCE TO SEE YOU AGAIN IN PERSON SOMETIME HOPEFULLY IN THE NOT TOO DISTANT FUTURE. ♪ >> ♪ YOU ARE BROKEN UP AND TIRED OF LIVING LIFE ON A MERRY-GO-ROUND AND YOU CANN FDOT A FIGHTER BUT I SEE IT IN YOU SO WE GONNA WALKT IOUT AND MOVE MOUNTAINS WE GONNA WALK IT OUT AND MOVE MOUNTAINS AND I’LL RISE UP I’LL RISE LIKE THE DAY I’LL RISE UP I’LL RISE UNAFRAID I’LL RISE UP AND I’LL DO IT A THOUSAND TIME AGAIN AND I’LL RISUP HIGHIK LE THE WASVE I’LL RISE UP IN SPITE OF THACE I’LL RISE UP AND I’LL DO IT A THOUSAND TISME AGAIN YEAH FOR YOU R UFO FOR U FOYOR WHEN THE SILENCE ISN’T QUIET AND IT FEELS LIKE IT’S GEINTT HARD TO BRETH AND I KNOW YOU FEEL LIKE DYING BUT I PROMISE WE’LL TAKE ETH WORLD TO ITS FEE AND MOVE MOUNTAINS BRING IT TO ITS FEET MOVE MOUNTAINS AND I’LL RE IS HIGH LIKE THE WAVES IN SPITE OF THE ACHE I’LL RISE UP ANI’D’LL DO IT A THOUSAND TIMES AGAIN FOR UYO FOR YOU FOR YO FOYOR R YOFO ALL WE NEED, ALL WE NEED IS HOPE AND FOR THAT WE HAVE EACH OTR ALL WE NEED ALWEL NEED ALL WE NEED AND FOR THAT WE HAVE EACH OTR EACH OTHER ALL WE NEED AND ’’ RISEAND ’’ RISE UP AN I’LL RISE I’LL RISEISE AND I’L’ RISE A > — AND I’LL RISE WE WILL RI OH, OH WE WILL RISE AND WE WILL RISE AND WE WL RE ♪ ♪ [APPLAE]US >> IT WAAN INCREDIBLE REMINDER OF HOW FRAGILE OUR RIGHTSRE A AND, TO MANY OF THE YOUNGER PEOPLE ON ETH TOUR, THEY HAD NEVER SEEN ANYTHING LIKE THIS. THEY HAD NEVER PROTESTED. THEY NEVER HAD TO FIGHT FOR THEIR RIGHTS. EYTH WERE BLOWN AWAY. I WOULD LIKE TO THINK WE CREATED A SENSE OF ACTIVISM IN THEM SO THAT THEY REALIZE IT IS NOT ENOUGH TO FIGHT THE FHTIG TO MAKE THE CHANGES. YOU HAVE TO FIGHT THE FIGHT TO KEEP THE CHANGES. I WOULD SAY PRIDE IS A FIGHT. I THINK PRIDE IS A STRUGGLE THAT IS HONESTLY ONGOING BUT I THINK IT IS JUST A SPACE THAT WEN I OUR COMMUNITY HAVE CARVED OUT FOR OURSELVES THROUGH TEARS, SWEAT, BLOOD, YOU KNOW, LIKE IT IS OURS AND IT WILL FOREVER BE OURS AND NO ONE CAN TAKE AWAY THAT FROM US. EVEN IF IT IS NOT A PARADE, JUST TAKING OUT WITYOH FRIENDS, THAT IS PRIDE, AND I THINK WE SHOULD BE LEAB TO CELEBRATE THAT LOVE FOR OURSELVES AND FOR OUR COMMUNITY NO MATTER WHAT. ♪ >>♪ I AM NOT A STRANGE TO THE DARK HIDE AWAY, THEY SAY ‘ ’CAUSE WE DON’T WANT YOUBRR OKEN PARTS I’VE LEARNED TO BE ASHAMED OF ALL MYCA S RUN AWAY, THEY SAY NO ONE’LL LOVE YOU AS YOURE A BUT I WON’T LET THEM BREAK ME DOWN TO DUST I KNOW THAT THERE’S A PLACFOE FOR WE ARE GLORIOU WHEN THE SHARPEST WORDS WANNA CUT ME DOWN I’M GONNA SE AND FLOOD, GONNA DROWN ’EMUT O I AM BRAVE, I AM BRUISED I AM WHO I’M MEANT TO BE, THIS ISE M LOOK OUT ’CAUSE HERE IOM C AND I’M MARCHING ON TO THE BTEA I UMDR I’M NOT SCARED TO BEEEN S I MAKE NO APOLOGIES, THIS IS ME OH-OH-OH-OH OH-OH–OOHH OH-OH-OH-OH OH-OH-OHH OH-OH-OH, OH-OH-OH, OH-OH-OH, , OH ANOTHER ROUND OF BULLETS HITS MY SK WELL, FIRE AWAY, ’CAUSE TODAY, I WON’T LET THE SHAME SINK I WE ARE BURSTING THROUGH THE BARRICADES AND REACHING FOR THEUN S (WE ARE WARRIORS) YEAH, THAT’S WHAT WE’VE BECOM (YEAH, THAT’S WHAT WE’VE BECOME) I WON’T LET THEM BREAK ME DOWN TOUS DT I KNOW THAT THERE’S A PLACE FOR US FOR WE ARE GLORIOU WHEN THE SHARPEST WORDS WANN CUT ME DOWN I’M GONNA SEND A FLOOD, GONN DROWN ’EM OUT I AM BRAVE, I AM BRUISED I AM WHO I’M MEANT TO BE, TSHI MISE LOOK OUT ’CAUSE HERE I CE AND I’M MARCHING ON TO THE BEAT I UM I’M NOT SCARED TO BEEE S I MAKE NO APOLOGIES, THIS ISE M OH-OH-OH-OH OHH–OOH-OH OH-OH-OH-O OH-OH-OH, OH-OH-OH, OH-OH-OH, , OH THIS IME OH-OH-OH-OH THIS IS ME OH-OH-OHH WHEN THE SHARPEST WORDS WANNA CUT ME DOWN I’M GONNA SEND A FLOOD, GOA DROWN ’EM OUT THIS IS BRAVE, THIS IS BRUISED THISS IWHO I’M MEANT TOE, B THIS IS LOOK OUT ’CAUSE HERE I COME AND I’M MARCHING ON TO THE BEAT I DRUM (MARCHING ON, MARINCH I’M NOT SCARED TO BEEE S I MAKE NO APOLOGIES, THIS MIS OH-OH-OH, OH-OH-OH, OH-OH-OH, THIS IS ME ELENA DEANNA, KACEN WADE ORR, PABLO V. FLORES, RYLI, AND ITALI GRACE GRACIANO. ELENA DEANNA, KACEN WADE ORR, PABLO V. FLORES, RYLI, AND ITALI GRACE GRACIANO. ♪ ♪ >> THANK YOU. HAPPY PRIDE, EVERYONE. >> THAT’S THE BOSTON GAY MEN’S CHORUS’S PRIDE OWSH FOR THIS YEAR AND WE HAVE SUCH PRIDEN OURSELVES, OUR FAMILY AND OUR FRIENDS HERE, AND YOU ARE PART OF OUR FAMILY. THANK YOU FOR BEING WITH US. ST SAFE, STAY HEALTHY, STAY HAPPY, AND WE WILL SEE YOU NEXT YEAR IN THE CONCERT HALL.

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PRIDE: Boston Gay Men’s Chorus

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Updated: 7:30 PM EDT Jun 12, 2021

Celebrate Pride 2021 with the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus. The music will stir, inspire and bring joy as we celebrate LGBTQ+ dignity and diversity. Mayor Kim Janey and Gov. Charlie Baker join our 2021 virtual Pride concert. Show includes BGMC favorites and the premiere of our latest Virtual Video: “This Is Me.” This program has been furnished by the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus.

Celebrate Pride 2021 with the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus. The music will stir, inspire and bring joy as we celebrate LGBTQ+ dignity and diversity. Mayor Kim Janey and Gov. Charlie Baker join our 2021 virtual Pride concert. Show includes BGMC favorites and the premiere of our latest Virtual Video: “This Is Me.” This program has been furnished by the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus.

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Chicago, IL – The Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame is inviting people to serve on its selection committee—ahead of its consideration of the 2021 Hall of Fame nominees.

Any person who has already been inducted—as an individual, not as part of an organization—is allowed to serve on the committee.

Interested participants are asked to send an email to outreach@lgbthalloffame.org by July 1.

The selection committee will meet on July 17 to begin the review of candidates and make their choice.

List of inductees will be released around July 19.

The induction ceremony for the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame will be October 5 at the Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St.

It will be part of the LGBTQ History Month celebrations—observed in the U.S. and other nations in October.

The Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame was formerly called the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame—and was presented by the City of Chicago. For years, Mayor Richard M. Daley hosted the event at City Hall until Mayor Rahm Emanuel nixed the program.

Today, the Friends of the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame funds and runs the program as a nonprofit organization.

Cinema is one of the most important windows that exist to exhibit fundamental issues for society, although on many occasions they do it indirectly through fantasy, comedy or terror, there are also productions, whether fiction or documentary, that explore certain themes in a more profound and evident way making use of drama or romance. Today, the topic of the LGBT community is something that has captured the attention of many, but it is not strictly new.

Keep reading: Moonlight: Barry Jenkins defends his film from the idea that he won for political correctness

On the occasion of Pride Month, named in memory of the 1969 New York riots, Rotten Tomatoes has released an updated list of the 200 best LGBT + themed movies of all time worldwide. Featured on this list are tapes of all genres and styles. According to the platform, each production was chosen taking into account the critical rating, the number of reviews, that they had characters that are gay, lesbian, bisexual, queer, etc., and that the story revolved around the topic.

Although currently there seems to be much more openness to homosexuality on the big screen, the truth is that more than 90 years ago there was already a film that proposed a relationship of this type: Madchen In Uniform, a 1931 German drama that features a young girl who falls in love with her teacher. This film, being released around the time of Nazi Germany, was banned and censored for a long time, but it had the opportunity to reach other countries.

Continue with: Luca Guadagnino doubts directing the sequel to Call me by your Name

It is important to recognize that, in recent years, films that represent the community in some way have also started to be recognized in award seasons. Proof of this is La Favorita – 100%, a film for which Olivia Colman won the Oscar for Best Actress for her portrayal of Queen Anne, who was intimate with her protégés. On the other hand, there is Luz de Luna – 98% Barry Jenkins, the first gay-themed movie to win the top Academy Award, Best Picture.

In the first places of the list could not miss Call Me By Your Name – 97%, directed by Luca Guadagnino and starring Armie Hammer and Timothée Chalamet; Pain and Glory – 96%, one of the most recent works by Pedro Almodóvar in which the filmmaker uses part of his life story to shape a film that leaves feelings on the surface. A Fantastic Woman comes from Latin America – 94%, the Chilean film that made a lot of noise during awards season for its tender, subtle and respectful portrayal of a transgender woman who must face the gazes that judge her.

It may interest you: Neil Patrick Harris advocates that heterosexual actors play LGBTQ characters

Of course, The Homeless Club couldn’t be left out – 94%, where Matthew McConaughey presents an evident acting maturity accompanied by Jared Leto; the relevance of this film, beyond showing characters from the LGBT community, shows one of the harsher, albeit realistic, sides of what it means to live with AIDS and fight to stay alive no matter what this implies.

It is worth mentioning that this list does not include series or movies made for television, although original productions from streaming services were taken into account. Below, you can read how the Top 10 of the best LGBT movies of all time came out:

09. BPM (Beats Per Minute).

08. A Fantastic Woman.

07. The Club of the Evicted.

05. Mädchen In Uniform.

03. Pain and Glory.

02. Call Me By Your Name.

01. Moonlight.

Democratic senators are marking the five-year anniversary of the Pulse nightclub massacre by speaking out against anti-LGBT hatred, even though media outlets admitted years ago that the motive was unrelated to sexual orientation.

DELRAY BEACH — Eight years after the reign of a city manager who opposed partnership benefits for gay municipal workers and legal protection for gays, Delray Beach rolled out a rainbow carpet of welcome to residents and visitors.

More than 100 people gathered Saturday morning at the intersection of Northeast Second Avenue and Northeast First Street, newly painted with LGBTQ pride colors, to celebrate the community.

“The LGBTQ community in Delray Beach has gone from being nearly invisible, to being tolerated, to being acknowledged, to being granted equal rights, protections and benefits, to having our families recognized, and now to having the LGBTQ community publicly celebrated with this inspiring streetscape,” said Rand Hoch, president of the Palm Beach County Human Rights Council, at the ribbon-cutting ceremony in the city’s Pineapple Grove Arts District.

Previously:Delray, Boynton announce LGBTQ Pride streetscape projects

From 2020:PBC, Boca fight for rehearing on conversion therapy ruling

The $16,000 street art, paid for by Hoch’s group and the AIDS Healthcare Foundation, features the traditional rainbow colors for gay, lesbian and bisexual pride, plus a few more: Pink, white and blue for transgender people, and black and brown for people of color in the community.

“It feels like a coming-out party for all of us, doesn’t it?” Mayor Shelly Petrolia said. She led a moment of silence for the 49 innocent victims killed exactly five years ago Saturday —  June 12, 2016 — in the Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, the deadliest anti-LGBTQ terror attack in U.S. history.

Petrolia spoke about her experience growing up with her gay sister. “I watched her go through life struggling, in a time when it wasn’t acceptable, to come to the realization of her own identity,” she said. “I recognize how brave it is to stand up for what you think is right.”

Even in the early 21st century, it was unacceptable for Delray Beach municipal workers to be anything but straight to be treated equally by their employer.

‘Keep dancing Orlando’:Five years later, Pulse nightclub shooting survivors seek to embody strength of LGBTQ community

Opinion:Point of View: Businesses benefit when they support LGBTQ+

When city commissioners in June 2006 voted 3-2 to offer benefits reserved for spouses of heterosexual workers to unmarried partners of gay employees, a powerful obstruction stood in the way: the man in charge of running the city’s government day to day, City Manager David Harden.

Harden, who kept a Bible on his desk, told commissioners in a memo that extending family benefits to gay couples “devalues marriage.” The law at the time forbade same-sex marriages. 

A year later, Hoch said the city had yet to grant gay employees equal benefits such as time off to attend their immediate families’ funerals or visit them in the hospital.

City commissioners voted unanimously in 2012 to grant gay employees the same partnership benefits married straight couples have. Harden also opposed legally protecting gay people.

When commissioners in 1996 discussed renewing Palm Beach County’s lease on city-owned Anchor Park, the new contract proposal prohibited Delray Beach from discriminating against people based on their sexual orientation. 

Gay rights groups or the county could sue the city, Harden said, if it supported the Boy Scouts, which at the time barred girls and gays as troop leaders.

“You have this highly controversial and emotional issue buried in these agreements,” Harden said at the time. “They’re using a remedy that was used in civil rights cases where you had a long history of blatant racial discrimination. I don’t think it’s good public policy.”

Harden served as Delray Beach’s city manager from 1990 until 2012, when he retired from the job. He has since worked as an interim city manager or other managerial positions for towns across Florida such as Palm Springs, Marco Island and Port Orange. 

Harden did not return calls Saturday seeking comment on his tenure or that day’s colorful celebration — featuring drag queens, blaring dance music and families — four blocks from his Swinton Avenue house.

Delray Beach isn’t the only city in Palm Beach County painting pride on its streets.

Boynton Beach approved in May spending $12,000 coloring the intersection at East Ocean Avenue and Southeast First Street. West Palm Beach has painted crosswalks in its Northwood neighborhood, funding it with money approved in August.

It’s around 7.30pm on a warm November evening in Jiaji, the county capital of Qionghai, on the east coast of Hainan, an island province of the People’s Republic of China. I’m standing in a park watching middle-aged women dance in formation to music blaring from a loudspeaker when a voice from behind me shouts: “Ah Kang! Let’s go! I’ll take you to see the place where the gays go to play mahjong.”

I turn around to find Ah Tao* hurrying towards me, scrambling over a low hedge. With a population of about 198,000, Jiaji is a small city. I’m here to take a tour of its gay scene and 29-year-old Ah Tao is my guide.

The past 20 years have seen increasing research interest in issues of gender and sexuality in China. This work has explored how, under Maoist socialism (and especially during the fraught years of the Cultural Revolution) “acceptable” modes of gender and sexuality were largely confined to reproductive, cisgender, and heterosexual coupledom.

GMCW celebrates 40 years of raising their voice for equality. Photo courtesy of Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC.

The Gay Men’s Chorus of Washington, DC is celebrating 40 years of singing for justice and equality in our nation’s capital and abroad with a new streaming celebration, “GMCW Turns 40.” It is available for viewing with an online ticket purchase now through June 20, 2021. 

‘Ragtime’ composers Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty composed a new anthem entitled ‘Harmony’s Never Too Late’ specifically in honor of GMCW’s 40th anniversary — wow!

The digital retrospective is an amalgamation of clips from past performances, a timeline of major events in the life of the chorus, and reflections from individuals ranging from the chorus’s founding director, Marsha Pearson, to the production crew and the choir members. It also includes some full length versions of songs from past shows, and a few new, virtually recorded selections to round out the program. 

There were some notable highlights. “Ragtime” composers, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty, wrote a song entitled “Harmony’s Never Too Late” specifically in honor of GMCW’s 40th anniversary — wow! What an honor to have such a talented duo create a brand new and meaningful work for our very own GMCW. The song “Make Them Hear You” from “Ragtime” has been GMCW’s personal theme song for years, so what a beautiful tribute to be gifted with a new anthem specifically addressing the challenges and hopes of the LGBTQ+ community. 

We were also treated to an absolutely ethereal performance of “Sure On This Shining Night” performed by one of GMCW’s small ensembles, Rock Creek Singers. Portions of the performance were recorded outdoors with social distancing protocols at (if I’m not mistaken) the US Arboretum, and the backdrop was a lovely partner to the haunting melody and tender sincerity of the group. 

I also have to mention that ASL interpreter, Jamie Sycamore, has become the secret scene-stealer of the chorus and I am HERE FOR IT. On “Sure On This Shining Night,” you won’t be able to take your eyes off him. He gives a truly inspired and emotional flair that enhances the chorus’s musical performances on every song. Soloist Jordan Peyer also shone in a 2019 rendition of Andra Day’s “Rise Up,” belting out passionately powerful runs and ending on a vibrant falsetto while ably backed by the chorus. 

The GenOUT Youth Chorus (for LGBTQ+ teens and allies) gave an effortless performance of “Will You Teach Me?” Their head tone and perfectly matched vowels would be impressive in a much more mature choir. For a teen choir, it is a true testament to the dedication of these students and the skill of their director, C. Paul Heins, who instructs these growing musicians in proper musical technique and draws out their very best. Oboist Matthew Brady lent a soulful accompaniment to the piece which added to its charm. 

While I appreciated every moment of these highs, the educator in me was longing for a more cohesive program overall. The previously recorded interview Marsha Pearson was wonderful as she spoke of her calling to social justice but I was also so curious about the origins of the chorus. Why it was formed, who were the first members, and what were the special challenges the choir might have faced in the early days?

I feel it would have added even more to the event if it had been structured with a sequential, verbal narration that delved deeper into the whys and hows of the history of the chorus, with the clips, songs, and monologues interspersed in chronological order in a way that tied into the story of the choir from its beginnings to the present day. 

The choices for full-length songs from past performances were very strong but it wasn’t clear why these particular songs were chosen as representative of the choir’s 40-year history. I am sure there was a reason but the program didn’t communicate it. Whether they were the director’s personal favorites, a vote from the chorus, or especially meaningful personal moments to the choir as a whole, I wanted to know what those reasons were so I could enjoy and appreciate them even more, along with the chorus. 

I had a mixed reaction to “GMCW Turns 40” as the format felt disjointed at times. That said, I couldn’t help but feel my spirits lift at the closing number, “From Now On” from “The Greatest Showman.” What a message of hope for the receding pandemic, and what a promise from the chorus that “we will come back home again.” I know you will, GMCW, and we can’t wait! 

Running Time: 90 minutes with no intermission.

“GMCW Turns 40” is streaming now through June 20, 2021. For ticket information, click here. 

Heather echoed similar sentiments during the podcast, sharing, “Everything plays out in real-time.”

“We are in it with her,” she continued. “We are going through it as friends—as people, who for the first time in their lives, are public figures. And for the first time in their lives, not only have to answer to their family and friends, but a worldwide audience.”

Although Heather and Jen appeared to have a falling out by the end of RHOSL‘s first season and during the reunion, the beauty mogul revealed why it’s hard to walk away from the friendship.

“It’s not because she’s going to be the star, so I have to attach my wagon to that,” Heather described of Jen. “She is a star. When you’re in the room with her, she is magnetic, charismatic and you want the Jen Shah sunlight to shine on you.”

“The easiest thing for me to do would be to wash my hands of this woman,” she expressed. “She has certainly established a way out for me…She has given me plenty of reasons to dip. And, I am not dumb, but I don’t want to dip.”

Heather added, “The only person that I think is completely immune to that is Mary [Cosby]. Mary could give a s–t how charming she is.”