Rainbow Chorus marks National Hate Crime Awareness Week

Rainbow Chorus, Brighton & Hove’s LGBTQ+ choir, marked Hate Crime Awareness Week last month with a recording of Keane’s Somewhere Only We Know.

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.

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.

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.

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 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.

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.

www.rainbowchorus.org.uk