When the Sydney Gay and Lesbian Choir (SGLC) formed in 1991, founding members had no idea it would still be going strong over 25 years later.
The choir has a policy of inclusion, and people from all walks of life are welcomed—Eliza Ginnivan is a SGLC member despite being in a committed heterosexual relationship.
“To have a policy of radical inclusion, whoever you are wherever you come from, whoever you love, it doesn’t matter. Everyone is here to sing and have a great time doing it,” Ginnivan tells SBS.
Music director Dr. Sarah Penicka-Smith agrees, saying that it’s been an important part of the choir’s journey to explicitly welcome everybody.
The choir first formed in 1991. Source: SBS
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“When you get everybody with those different stories in one space performing together, that’s where the magic comes from, “says Penicka-Smith.
The choir has performed at gay and lesbian community events, for asylum seekers and more recently, at the World Choir Games.
This video originally appeared in the 2016 Mardi Gras broadcast. For more great stories, tune into the 2017 Mardi Gras, airing Sunday at 8:30pm, March 5th on SBS. Check out a teaser below:
