Celebration and Advocacy in Concert

Pride season has historically been simultaneously both a time of protest and community building for the fight ahead, as well as a cause for celebration and recognition of the past.

These sentiments and more are embodied in the Twin Cities Gay Men’s Chorus (TCGMC) 2023 Pride concert, “And IIIIIIII…”, a tribute to and featuring the music of Whitney Houston. The LGBTQ icon and music legend’s story is one which the LGBTQ community is quite familiar with: persistence and struggle. Her accomplishments are even more profound being that she faced vast challenges and burdens as a Black woman in an industry that is ostensibly controlled by white men.

“Much like our LGBTQ+ community, nothing she did was understated,” Artistic Director Dr. Gerald Gurss said in a statement. “In addition to being an unmatched vocal force, she was also a generational bridge. She began her career singing background vocals for artists such as Chaka Khan and Jermaine Jackson. Contemporary Black female artists such as Beyoncé, Toni Braxton, Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige, and Jennifer Hudson have all spoken about Whitney being one of their great inspirations.”

It’s no secret that our community loves their vocal divas, and Whitney Houston is undoubtedly a favorite among them. “Her talent was undeniable, her achievements were groundbreaking, and she directly inspired a new generation of performers,” says TCGMC Executive Director Kevin Stocks.

He continues, “While not at the core of the decision to feature her songbook, recently it’s been publicly accepted that she had a meaningful and long-term relationship with a woman. So, while it wasn’t something she addressed publicly in her lifetime, Whitney Houston was part of our community, and this is an opportunity to celebrate her and her amazing work.”

The organization’s Pride concerts tend to be celebratory, including repertoire that would be considered more “pop” in nature. That said, Stocks shares, “TCGMC will always take the opportunity to incorporate the advocacy that is at the core of our organization’s mission. So, advocating in a general way for people to have pride in who they are and who they love, and encouraging an expanded sense of acceptance within the LGBTQ+ community, and in the greater community, will be topics we address in our concert.”

At a time with growing incidents of anti-LGBTQ hate happening around the country, Stocks says it’s become abundantly clear that, despite many obstacles that have been overcome for the community, there’s still an important role for an organization like TCGMC.

“Yes, we now have marriage equality, and there are some established protections for which we fought long and hard,” he says. “But we are living in a world today where adversaries are still attacking our community. This time slandering drag performers, parents of trans kids, and our trans community. It just seems to be more of the same, but in a different way. So we will continue to address those topics through our performances, and showing up where we can to show support and speak to these issues.”

The group has been preparing with weekly rehearsals, adding additional evening rehearsals in the lead up to the concert. The third of three mainstage concerts in the TCGMC season, the Pride concert typically occurs the weekend before Twin Cities Pride, and many people view it as a kick-off to Pride weekend.

“It’s our opportunity to really lean into celebration and present a concert that is high energy and fun, and to leave a lasting impression,” Stocks says.

Next season, TCGMC concertgoers can expect more “entertainment worth coming out for” with a continued investment in building community and addressing the topics that impact the LGBTQ community through song.

“We’ll have three mainstage concerts, some fun community collaborations, and we’re excited to announce more specific details about our 43rd season in our concert program,” Stocks says.

“You can also look forward to July 2024 when Minneapolis will be host to 10,000 singers from around the world who will come to town for GALA Festival, a gathering of LGBTQ+ choruses. The festival was canceled in 2020 because of COVID, and takes place only once every four years, so we’re really excited that it could be rescheduled in Minneapolis for next summer.”

TCGMC 2023 Pride Concert
“And IIIIIIII…”
June 16 & 17
Ted Mann Concert Hall, Minneapolis
www.tickets.umn.edu