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'Music levels the playing field between gay and straight people'

The New York City Gay Men’s Chorus is one of 50 choirs in Dublin for the Various Voices festival this weekend.

New York City Gay Men's Chorus's Photos - New York City Gay Men's Chorus | Facebook Members of the New York City Gay Men's Chorus. Facebook Facebook

IT’S HARD TO hate someone that you’ve just sung a song with. It shows that we’re human beings like everyone else. Music levels the playing field.

These are the words of Charles Beale, the artistic director of the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus – one of 50 LGBT choirs in Dublin for the Various Voices festival this weekend.

The Chorus is one of the main attractions at the festival. They will perform their show Big Gay Sing in the Bord Gáis Energy Theatre tomorrow night.

Almost 100 singers, some of them Irish, will take part in the performance, which will raise funds for Marriage Equality ahead of next year’s referendum.

Beale said that members of the chorus felt particularly compelled to raise “vital” funds for the organisation.

We have marriage equality in New York State so it’s great to be able to give back a little.

He added that the show “connects people to the gay community” and has the potential for real “political impact”.

“We’ve become famous for doing big events around the world. It’s fantastic to be able to offer the Marriage Equality campaign in Ireland essentially a free gig from a bunch of New York singers.”

Beale said the show, which premiered in New York this spring and will be hosted by Panti Bliss, is “full of all the gayest songs in the world”.

“The clue’s in the title: it has to be extremely gay. Why sing one Madonna song when we can sing seven? Let’s not have one drag queen, let’s have 15!”

Gay men in the audience should leave thinking ‘I never need to need to see another Gay Sing in my life.’
It needs to be pink. It needs to be fluffy. It needs to be extravagant.  It also needs to be big: more over the top than you can imagine.

‘Incredibly proud’

Various Voices is being hosted by Glória, Dublin’s Lesbian and Gay Choir.

Festival Director Ian Doyle said that Glória is “incredibly proud” to have brought the event to Dublin – the first time it has been held in Ireland.

Various Voices Dublin 2014's Photos - Various Voices Dublin 2014 | Facebook Facebook Facebook

“It’s hugely important for the LGBT community to be able to host an event of this size,” Doyle stated.

Through music you can really engage with people in a different way.

A number of free choral performances will take place today and tomorrow as part of ‘Singing in the City‘. All of the concerts will be streamed live on AerTV. Venue and ticket information is available here.

Various Voices takes place every four years and was last held in London in 2009.

Read: 59% in new poll think you’re not homophobic if you oppose gay marriage

Column: Are you frustrated by the number of ‘gay’ stories in the media? Then read on…

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12 Comments
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    Mute Dawn Harvey
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    Mar 10th 2022, 8:29 AM

    Anyone, absolutely anyone who still tries to tell me this isn’t the kremlins fault, whatever the catalysts, reasons or defensive objectives, is a not just naive but dangerously so. They’ve admitted to bombing the hospital because of ‘nationalist battalions’ having set up there.. And yet I see pregnant women on stretchers and injured. Its a hospital, a mater hospital. The lower level of hell is reserved for people who attack the most vulnerable.

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    Mute Pete Gilmartin
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    Mar 10th 2022, 10:50 AM

    @Dawn Harvey: Could not had put it better myself.

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    Mute Keith O'Reilly
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    Mar 10th 2022, 11:13 AM

    @Dawn Harvey: That line about the nationalists controlling the hospital was sickening, right out of the Israel ‘Hamas is everywhere’ playbook :(

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    Mute GrumpyAulFella
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    Mar 10th 2022, 12:04 PM

    @Roy Dowling: you’re right Roy that was a terrible decision by the US chain of command and MSF should pursue their calls for an independent enquiry. It’s probably a slightly different scenario though as the Afghans called in that strike because they were under fire from Taliban forces in that building, 15 of them who were firing from within apparently. But absolutely a terrible act. Not sure what the dictator’s excuse will be for flattening a hospital full of babies and pregnant women will be though.

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    Mute E.J. Murray
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    Mar 10th 2022, 12:23 PM

    @Roy Dowling: — The Kunduz hospital incident was an American screw up, they attacked the wrong building. The Russians knew which building they were attacking, or Lavrov wouldn’t have said that that the hospital was a base for nationalists. The Russians were either acting on bad intelligence or Lavrov was lying through his teeth. Given his previous performances I’m inclined to believe the latter.

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    Mute John Black
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    Mar 10th 2022, 12:36 PM

    @Dawn Harvey: You can always depend on Roy to try to change the subject to the U.S.

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    Mute John Black
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    Mar 10th 2022, 1:38 PM

    @Dawn Harvey: Im not sure what you expect Roy.
    Two million women and children refugees fleeing Russian bombs right now, and your comment is : ‘What about Obama- hes going to hell’

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    Mute E.J. Murray
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    Mar 10th 2022, 2:31 PM

    @Roy Dowling — Do you think the Russians have excuses, because it’s the Russian attack on a hospital that the article refers to?

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    Mute Ian James Burgess
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    Mar 10th 2022, 9:36 AM

    UK adds Abramovich after he’s had time to move his assets

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    Mute Tommy Roche
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    Mar 10th 2022, 5:48 PM

    @Ian James Burgess: What assets did he move ? Genuine question. They got his properties and the club before he could sell them. Had he other interests ?

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    Mute Michael Rossney
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    Mar 10th 2022, 8:22 AM

    We can help

    Offer Accommodation https://registerofpledges.redcross.ie/#/pledging/room

    Volunteering sort Donations etc iamukrainian dot ie

    Facebook Groups to offer Support for people arriving https://www.facebook.com/groups/379406900679082/?ref=share

    Donate power banks, mobile phones and medical supplies

    Have 2 pin (round pins) into Irish plug adaptors for people arriving

    Offer a job – even something casual a solo parent can do like doing a bag of ironing.

    Offer child support so people can work remotely or go to work a job

    Support Ukrainian owned businesses like The Art of Coffee (I’m not affiliated. Please share others if you know of any)

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    Mute John Quinn
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    Mar 10th 2022, 12:00 PM

    Am I hearing that right that Russia said it did not attack Ukraine ???

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    Mute Mike Dunne
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    Mar 10th 2022, 4:30 PM

    I’m afraid WW3 has already started. Anyone who thinks otherwise is very naive.

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    Mute Mike Dunne
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    Mar 10th 2022, 5:56 PM

    @Roy Dowling: It started the moment Putin invaded the Ukraine, leading to a series of events that will ultimately culminate in nuclear annihilation. From what I have seen since the war started, there is absolutely nothing to suggest that the genie can be put back in the bottle.

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    Mute Genera L Consensus
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    Mar 10th 2022, 8:36 PM

    @Mike Dunne: high quality video circulating of Putins youths claiming they will take back Alaska and willing to die for it. ISIS style propaganda

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    Mute Roy Dowling
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    Mar 10th 2022, 8:48 PM

    @Genera L Consensus: You think Putin will try take on the US when he cant even take Ukraine? His air force still hasn’t got air superiority over Ukrainian skies despite massively outnumbering the Ukrainian air force. He’s mechanised division are is suffering from several mechanical breakdown that it’s basically crawling across Ukraine. His soldiers don’t seem interested in fighting. You really think Putin is looking at his militaries performance in Ukraine so far and is thinking he’ll take on the US next?. Seriously this invasion has shown us that the only power Russia holds over the world is the thousands of nukes has. Ww3 isn’t going to happen anytime soon.

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    Mute Derek
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    Mar 10th 2022, 2:36 PM

    @John Quinn: correct, https://v.redd.it/e4unlembgjm81 here he is bold face lying that Russia hasn’t invaded Ukraine.

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    Mute Peter Willekens
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    Mar 10th 2022, 6:20 PM

    Thank god they listen to our powerful teashogg

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    Mute Genera L Consensus
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    Mar 10th 2022, 8:17 PM

    Some more standing ovations and lighting up tourist attractions

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    Mute Rory
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    Mar 10th 2022, 10:30 PM

    And SF a few years ago: Truth matters

    Elaine Byrne: Sinn Féin has accepted the Kremlin view of the world
    The party’s dysfunctional relationship with the EU has been apparent for years. In 2019, its MEPs voted against a European Parliament resolution condemning Russia’s annexation of Crimea and its interference in European elections

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    Mute Pat Barry
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    Mar 11th 2022, 8:25 AM

    @Rory: How is it the most popular party knowing this?

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    Mute Peter Willekens
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    Mar 10th 2022, 4:37 PM

    The censorship thanx to some bollix is high on this one paduan…

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