I'm a gay East Tennesseean living my dream in the Knoxville community. I've always loved music, but growing up, I was afraid to sing or play piano too much because I was afraid it would help people figure out I was gay. I followed another passion and ended up in the Army until I was kicked out as a Don't Ask, Don't Tell victim. My discharge lit a fire inside of me to find my voice, find a strong community of supporters, and change the world. After joining forces across the country to end DADT, then challenging laws in Tennessee I thought were dangerous to LGBTQ+ people, I decided to create the Knoxville Gay Men's Chorus in 2012. I wanted a place to use my passions of music, equality, speaking up to tell the stories of other LGBTQ+ East Tennesseeans like mine. I thought how important it was for local youth to know there's a safe place for gay men to grow up and be happy as who they are. My husband Ricky and I continue to live our lives with a daily passion, a life enriched by the relationships and friendships we've found in our KGMC family. I would attribute most of my happiness to the joy, camaraderie, support and healing I get because KGMC exists.
The Knoxville Gay Men’s Chorus is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2012 to strengthen, affirm, and inspire all people in our eastern Tennessee community and provide a positive voice for the Knoxville LGBT Community. In six short years, we have become one of the largest and most active LGBT organizations in the state of Tennessee, with an audience and supporter reach of several thousand each season, all of whom have embraced the Knoxville Gay Men’s Chorus mission and vision. All chorus members use their voices, strengths, and individual gifts to create enriching musical experiences that promote inclusion, equality, and empathy. We strive to end hostility toward minority populations and to better our world through community partnerships.
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