"We live in a world of rapidly changing demographics. Building a chorus that truly reflects the community in which your chorus lives is a revolutionary act that can ensure your chorus’ health and well-being for decades."
– Maria-Elena Grant, GALA Board Member

Many choruses include individuals who identify as transgender, cross-gender, or gender nonbinary. The Des Moines Gay Men’s Chorus welcomes all voices that are capable of singing in the tenor, baritone, or bass ranges. Our Artistic Director would love to work with any individual who is finding their “voice.” We hope to make our chorus an inclusive space for all.

For many transgender singers, the thought of singing in a choral group can be intimidating, and regretfully, inaccessible. Research suggests that transgender people, who might enjoy the benefits of singing, are among the least likely to pursue it. Making singing more accessible is important: not only because individuals feel unfairly excluded from an enjoyable pastime, but because singing could help to alleviate the widespread mental health, body image, and social isolation issues within the transgender community.

The Des Moines Gay Men’s Chorus is flexible and will also work with transgender individuals in regards to our concert dress attire. Whereas we normally require a black tuxedo for singers, we know that can leave some transgender singers feeling unable to dress in a way that matches their identity. We will work with trans individuals to find appropriate concert attire that matches, and celebrates, their gender identity and expression.