BGMC South African Tour

The Boston Gay Men’s Chorus (BGMC) announced that it has accepted an invitation to march with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa & Gauteng Province Premier David Makhura during the country’s annual ceremonies marking Youth Day. Youth Day is a South African public holiday commemorating the June 16, 1976 Soweto uprising by students & others that sparked the political movement that eventually led to the end of Apartheid. Reuben Reynolds III, Music Director of the Boston Gay Men’s Chorus stated, “We are both honored & humbled by this extraordinary invitation to march in the annual Youth Day walk that marks such an important moment in South Africa’s history. The fact that we have been asked to participate to help highlight the needs of LGBTI people in South Africa is both a tremendous privilege & responsibility.” In a letter to BGMC from Education Chief of Staff Oupa Bodipie of the Education Department of Gauteng Province, Bodipie wrote that BGMC’s presence during the presidential Youth Day walk would “highlight & endorse the Advocacy of the LGBTI Sector.” He also invited BGMC to open the June 16th lecture on the centenary of Nelson Mandela, which will be attended by Gauteng Province Premier Makhura. Craig Coogan, BGMC Executive Director concluded, “Music is a universal language & our concerts are about sharing our stories & our humanity through song, enabling others to find common ground in our experiences. We welcome dialogue & difficult conversations, all of which inform our art & music. We are thrilled with this invitation & opportunity to support South Africans in their efforts to build community & celebrate difference.”
For More Info: bgmc.org
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