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Syracuse Gay and Lesbian Choir Takes Pride in its Members Syracuse Gay and Lesbian Chorus Takes Pride in its Members

By Polina Shemanova

SARAL KHARE: With Pride Month underway, groups throughout the city are celebrating the LGBTQ+ community, with an emphasis on inclusivity.

MICHAEL O’CONNOR: Our Polina Shemanova attended the Syracuse pride flag-raising event to speak with one special group in particular. Polina?

POLINA SHEMANOVA: Thank you, Michael, I got your name right this time. The Syracuse Gay and Lesbian Choir performed two songs at the Syracuse Pride flag-raising event. Let’s hear what makes this choir different from others.

“…Choir singing…”

SHEMANOVA: Introducing you to the Syracuse Choir. But not a regular choir. An inclusive choir. The Syracuse Gay and Lesbian Choir.

KATHLEEN KEARNEY: It doesn’t matter your gender. We’ve had male altos, we currently have non-binary tenors. So it’s just where your voice sits.

SHEMANOVA: Kathleen Kearney, the treasurer of the choir, says everyone is welcome to join their music group. But how is the Syracuse Gay and Lesbian Choir different from others?

KEARNEY: Not only do we try to think about our mission which really focuses on bringing love and acknowledgement to people who may not feel heard, bringing community to people who feel like they don’t have one.

SHEMANOVA: While for some people Syracuse Gay and Lesbian choir helps coming out as a gay person, one of the straight choir members has been a loyal member for over 30 years.

DEBORAH HARDY: Every time we have a concert, somebody comes up to me and says, “I just want you to know, this is the first time I’ve come out to a gay function.” So we’ve been incredibly important to the community.

SHEMANOVA: Choir member Kris Sceiford who uses the pronoun “they” says this group of singers is helping them through their gender transformation.

KRIS SCEIFORD: It’s a very supportive space. Everyone has been so happy for me.

SHEMANOVA: As people think about the message that Syracuse Gay and Lesbian Choir carries through their songs, Aine Kearney-Davenport sums this one up perfectly for the audience.

AINE KEARNEY-DAVENPORT: Be yourself, it doesn’t matter what other people think.

“…Choir singing…Applause…”

SHEMANOVA: The Syracuse Gay and Lesbian Choir is holding two concerts this weekend, June 9th and 10th at 7pm. You can find more details on our website. For NCC News, I’m Polina Shemanova. Michael and Saral, back to you.

SYRACUSE, N.Y. (NCC News) — The Syracuse Gay and Lesbian Choir is not your ordinary singing community. This choir welcomes all, no matter what your gender, race, or age is.

Even though there is an audition process, it’s simply to place you in the right voice group. But what if I don’t know how to sing, you might ask? Treasurer Kathleen Kearney doesn’t see an issue with that.

“Anyone can join. If you are unsure of where you sit in the vocal range,” said Kearney. “Like, I’ve never sung before, but I wanna join. We have people who don’t read music, we have people who have professional training.”

Choir member Kris Sceiford who uses the pronoun “they” is currently going through a gender transformation. They say this group of singers is helping them through the process.

“I get to hang out with a bunch of awesome gay people and sing,” said Sceiford. “It’s a very supportive space. Everyone has been so happy for me.”

For some members, the Syracuse Gay and Lesbian Choir is a safe space to express their feelings and share them with the audience. Especially, when there is so much stigma directed towards the LGBTQ+ community even in the 21st century. Kearney reflected on how important it is for her to have the platform to speak — and sing — out.

“Nobody wants what’s happening today in the world, but we are getting it. And we don’t want it but we gotta go through it, we gotta keep fighting,” said Kearney. “So, you know, we try to do it for each song, what does it mean to us, and try to project it out to the audience.”

The choir is performing this upcoming weekend, June 9 and 10 at 7 p.m. at the May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society. You can find more information on the Syracuse Gay and Lesbian Choir website.

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