For 30 years, the Greater Boston Choral Consortium (GBCC) has existed to celebrate and empower the diverse voices of Greater Boston’s choral community. Our network of more than 80 choirs and 5,000 individual singers has been witness time and again to music’s extraordinary ability to bring together people of many backgrounds and viewpoints and to promote understanding and dialogue. So it is with great concern and disappointment that we have learned of hateful, discriminatory messaging directed at one of our member choirs, Coro Allegro, in the run-up to their recent Veterans Day concert. This powerful program reflected on freedom and equality, honored all who have served and who have suffered in America’s conflicts, including those whose desire to serve has been met with discrimination on the basis of their race, religion, sexuality, and gender identity or expression.
The Greater Boston Choral Consortium stands with Coro Allegro and the LGBTQ+ community today and every day. We will not tolerate hate speech, threats, or discrimination directed at any of our members. GBCC affirms the belief that together we can create a more loving and generous society through singing. We appreciate the opportunity to continue this essential work in partnership with the region’s choruses.
Alison LaRosa, Chair
and the Directors of the Greater Boston Choral Consortium
PS – To learn how you can be an effective ally to the LGBTQ+ community, GBCC and Coro Allegro recommend the sites How to Be an LGBTQ Ally and Tips for Allies of Transgender People.
PPS – If you missed Coro Allegro’s concert and wish to support LGBTQ+ service members, veterans, and those denied the right to serve:
- Support Modern Military’s advocacy and support for LGBTQ service members, veterans, and families
- Learn about the transgender military service banfrom HRC, the Human Rights Campaign
- Read stories of transgender veterans and service people of colorfrom GLAD, GLBTQ+ Legal Advisors and Defenders, and NCLR, the National Center for Lesbian Rights.
- Support the work of the Trevor Projectto advocate for regulations and policies that support LGBTQ+ military families and prevent suicide.