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Rainbow Chorus marks National Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus announces new Chair & Vice Chair Hate Crime Awareness Week PAUL CHARLTON & NICK FORD
PIC CRED: NICK FORD PHOTOGRAPHY
) Rainbow Chorus, Brighton & Hove’s LGBTQ+ choir, marked Hate Crime Awareness Week last month with a recording of Keane’s Somewhere Only We Know.
Nick Ford spoke about his new role: “Being elected as chair of BGMC is a real honour. Being Brighton born and bred, I feel it’s a real privilege to be able to be involved in our local community in such a positive way. Lockdown has been a challenge for our organisation with limitations on rehearsing and performing in real life. It’s not all about performing and socialising, although we all miss it. We pride ourselves on supporting our membership and the wider community. This is even more important given the current health crisis. We have welcomed new members joining during lockdown, which is really encouraging, and are looking into returning to ‘in-person’ rehearsals in a Covid-secure way. Our main focus will be preparing something alternative for Christmas to share with our supporters and friends.”
Hate Crime Awareness Week sees people around the world organise solidarity vigils and events to show support to those who have been affected by Hate Crime just because of who they are.
The chorus would like to thank outgoing chair Vaughan Leyshon and vice-chair, Peter Allinson for all their hard work over the past three years, having steered the chorus through some significant changes over their tenure, most notably the change of chorus director.
Since the end of September the Rainbow Chorus has been able to return to rehearsing, holding RC+ Workshop Choir sessions together again, with other members also taking part via Zoom to record the video of Somewhere Only We Know, with messages of solidarity and support for all those affected by hate crime.
The Chorus, a registered charity, raises money for local and national charities and good causes. The Chorus also proudly donated to Brighton Unitarian Church, its usual rehearsal space, to help toward its recent restoration. D For more info on BGMC, visit www.brightongmc.org
Can you help Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus find a new store?
) Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus BGMC) is having to leave its current store. Do you know anywhere that it can move to? Ideally somewhere with low rent (or even free). BGMC uses the store for its music back catalogue, famous glittery waistcoats, ties, costumes and props for its shows and Pride floats. It also needs space for the staging used for its performances, so easy access is essential. Ideally the space should be at least 30sq m (about the size of a double garage) and the perfect location would also have space it could use a few weekends a year to build and paint things for its shows and float. The choir is very grateful to have used space in one of the Co-op’s buildings for the past few years, but redevelopment plans means it needs to find a new home from January. If you have any suggestions, please contact Paul by email: vicechair@brightongmc.org. D For more info on BGMC, visit www.brightongmc.org
world where people should be equal and able to live their lives free from fear and persecution just because of who they are. The incredibly difficult experiences of Covid-19 and lockdown that we’re still going through have also shown us just how much we can achieve when we do stand together.
Rainbow Chorus members regularly attend the Brighton & Hove Vigil for World Aids Day (WAD) and this year, as this will take place online, wanted to find a special way of marking this important event.
BEV MORGAN
NICK FORD
) Brighton Gay Men’s Chorus (BGMC), one of the largest of Brighton & Hove’s 31 local choirs, choruses and choral societies, and the largest gay male voice choir outside London, is delighted to announce that Nick Ford has been elected as its new chair, with Paul Charlton elected as vice-chair.
Bev Morgan, chair of the Rainbow Chorus said: “It’s never been more important that we stand together in solidarity to challenge hate crime and support those affected by it - one key way to change this is to make it visible, to stand up and say that we, nor anyone, should have to experience this kind of hate and abuse. “There can be no place for this in a
“The Rainbow Chorus believes passionately in the power of song to be able to bring people together because there is strength in harmony. We stand in solidarity and send our support and love to all those affected by hate crime - together we are strong and we can make a difference. Sometimes the strength we need to stand up against hatred comes from inside - from somewhere only we know….” To see the video: https://youtu.be/ ZN4-hgnLojQ Watch out for more news about plans to mark WAD on Tuesday, December 1 that the Rainbow Chorus, Brighton Gay Mens’ Chorus and the Actually Gay Men’s Chorus are working on together and for the Rainbow Chorus’ virtual Winter Concert planned for December 12/13. D www.rainbowchorus.org.uk
