BGMC There For LGBTQ people of all ages who are struggling to feel connected amid the COVID-19 pandemic
BOSTON—Late last week, the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus (BGMC) released “Born This Way,” a virtual message of love for LGBTQ people of all ages who are struggling to feel connected amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
“This is our message in song to young people who are just starting out on their journey as well as older people who’ve been out for decades. Our message is that we love you just the way you are,” said BGMC Music Director Reuben M. Reynolds III. “We hope that you’ll watch, listen, and dance along in your living room, just like the guys did when they were recording this song!”
Using their smartphones and singing from their homes, BGMC members individually recorded their parts in “Born This Way.” “Born This Way” is the fourth video released by BGMC since the cancellation of BGMC’s spring concert after Massachusetts declared a public health emergency in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The song was first released in 2011 by Lada Gaga and was inspired by protest songs of the 1990s lifting up women and LGBTQ people. The song was to be the encore for the March show.
“The Boston Gay Men’s Chorus has been sharing stories through song about our community to audiences around the world for over 38 years now,” said BGMC Executive Director Craig Coogan. “We can’t perform for live audiences right now, but we can still sing and share our stories in other ways that inspire change, build community, and celebrate difference.”
In May, BGMC launched BGMC Online to showcase BGMC@Home virtual videos, which include “From Our Home to Yours: Everything Possible,” “Pride 2020 Selections by Music Director Reuben Reynolds III,” and “Black Lives Matter.” BGMC Online also features highlights from BGMC’s archive of more than 350 video performances that are viewed more than 1.5 million times annually. Playlists include BGMC’s most popular videos from YouTube, its most recent Pride concert titled “God Save the Queens,” its most recent spring concert, titled “Raise You Up,” and playlists from its tour of the Middle East in 2015 and tour of South Africa in 2018.
About the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus
The Boston Gay Men’s Chorus is one of New England’s largest and most successful community-based choruses. Founded in 1982, the 200-voice ensemble is celebrated for its outstanding musicianship, creative programming, and groundbreaking community outreach. Under the dynamic leadership of Music Director Reuben M. Reynolds III, the BGMC sings a wide spectrum of classical and popular music and creates social change by providing a positive, affirming image of the gay and lesbian community. The Chorus is heard live by more than 10,000 people each season and thousands more through recording, television, and internet broadcasts. CBS-WBZ named the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus one of the “top 5” choruses in the city of Boston. The Boston Business Journal in 2018 and 2019 named BGMC one of the top 10 best performing arts organizations in the city. BGMC is a Cultural Ambassador — being the first LGBT chorus to perform in Poland in 2005, the Middle East in 2015, and in South Africa in June 2018.
[From a News Release]
