Creating Change Through Music

The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus (SFGMC) is the world's first openly gay chorus. 

Since its premiere performance on the steps of City Hall with 100 members singing to stand up against discrimination and bigotry, the chorus has inspired the worldwide LGBTQIA+ choral movement.

With over 300 singers strong today, SFGMC is bringing people and communities together through the power of music.

And we’re just getting started.


DRAG ME TO THE MOVIES

March 28, 2024 at 7:30pm

with special guest Lady Camden

Davies Symphony Hall

Tickets are now on sale to what is the must-see event this March, Drag Me to the Movies. On Thursday, March 28th, step into a world of glamour and laughter and lots of love with our latest extravaganza. Davies Symphony Hall will be filled with our unique blend of musical excellence and the transformative art of drag, bringing together iconic film scores and pop culture anthems in a celebration that goes beyond the screen.


CRESCENDO - MAY 4, 2024

The Westin St. Francis - San Francisco

Get ready to experience the pinnacle of elegance and philanthropy at this year's Crescendo benefit. Join us on May 4th, 2024, at the iconic Westin St. Francis Hotel in Union Square for a night that promises to be both dazzling and impactful. Save the date and prepare to be part of an event that truly makes a difference. (To look over our Crescendo archives, click the button)


170 Valencia Street - San Francisco, CA - 94103

THE CREATORS’ SHOWCASE

Applications Now Open

The Chan National Queer Arts Center invites bold, unapologetic LGBTQ+ performing artists to showcase their original creations at our groundbreaking Creators' Showcase. Submit your original piece by April 30th for consideration to perform at this landmark celebration of queer creativity on June 24th, 2024.


Movie Musicals Sing-along

Tuesday, March 19 - 7pm

Join the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus for an unforgettable evening of joyous melodies and shared harmonies at our Movie Musicals Sing-Along! Mark your calendars for March 19th at 7 PM, and get ready to belt out your favorite tunes from the silver screen. This special family-friendly night is a "pay what you can" event, ensuring everyone has the opportunity to join in the fun.


Gay Chorus Deep South - 5th Anniversary Screening

Thursday, April 11 - 7pm

In partnership with Frameline, we are honored to present the 5th anniversary screening of our award-winning documentary, Gay Chorus Deep South. The film captures the extraordinary Lavender Pen Tour, a 2017 SFGMC tour of the 5 states in the Deep South with the most oppressive LGBTQ+ legislation.

Included in this Pay What You Can event, is a post-screening Q & A with key people from the documentary.


MEMORY KEEPERS INITIATIVE #3 - Raising the Curtain on San Francisco's Queer Arts Legacy

Hosted by the GLBT Historical Society

Thursday, April 18 - 7pm

On April 18th, the GLBT Historical Society will host our third Memory Keepers Initiative - a vital evening uplifting the authentic, first-person narratives of LGBTQ+ queer artists from the Bay Area. This evening will feature elders, activists and trailblazers through a curated discussion and storytelling, ensuring our often distorted or erased queer histories are preserved in their own powerful voices for generations to come. Tickets are now available. This is a Pay What You Can event, ensuring everyone can attend.


Love Songs (and other myths)

PHOTO GALLERY

Thursday, February 15, 2024 - 7:30pm

Relive the magic from our sold out cabaret. Over 240 audience members were moved to laugher, tears, and cheers. Congrats to the entire staff, crew, volunteers, and performers who made this an unforgettable evening for all.



News & Announcements

 Season 46 Announcement coming soon!

There’s always something exciting happening that you just can’t miss.

SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS CLOSES OUT SEASON 45 WITH HELLO YELLOW BRICK ROAD

SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS CLOSES OUT SEASON 45 WITH HELLO YELLOW BRICK ROAD

June 9, 2023

SAN FRANCISCO MAYOR LONDON BREED NAMED INAUGURAL RECIPIENT OF THE NANCY PELOSI ALLY AWARD AT SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS’ 17TH ANNUAL CRESCENDO

SAN FRANCISCO MAYOR LONDON BREED NAMED INAUGURAL RECIPIENT OF THE NANCY PELOSI ALLY AWARD AT SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS’ 17TH ANNUAL CRESCENDO

April 12, 2023

SAN FRANCISCO GAY MEN’S CHORUS PRESENTS 17TH ANNUAL CRESCENDO

February 16, 2023

Our Mission

To lead by creating extraordinary music and experiences that build community, inspire activism, and foster compassion at home and around the world.

For 45 years, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus has served as an international standard bearer for a powerful mix of musical excellence and mission-driven activism. Founded in 1978, SFGMC was the first choral organization to courageously proclaim its orientation in its name and is credited with helping start the LGBTQIA+ choral movement that now spans the entire globe, galvanizing and changing the course of LGBTQIA+  history.

Members of the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus Dressed in Suits Performing on Stage

Support San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus

Our growth depends on you

Make a 100% tax-deductible donation today. Proceeds directly support SFGMC's performances and programs that promote an inclusive and just world for today and for future generations to come.


Sing With Us!

Auditions are open to any and all persons in the Bay Area who can sing in the tenor or bass range, irrespective of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or race. 

If you want to be involved with the Chorus in the San Francisco Bay Area as a non-singing member, we can get you in touch with our volunteer coordinator

Like other gay organizations in San Francisco, SFGMC is volunteer-driven, so we always welcome community service volunteers as valued participants.


Follow Us

Connect with us on our social channels to see what we're up to.



FAQS

  • The Castro District, also known as Eureka Valley, is a neighborhood in San Francisco, California. It is also known as The Castro. San Francisco's gay village is mostly concentrated in the business district, which runs from Market Street to 19th Street on Castro Street.

  • There are many ways you can meet members of the diverse community in the San Francisco Bay Area. Joining San Francisco gay organizations like the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus as a singer or volunteer is a great way to meet members of the LGBTQIA+ community.

  • The LGBTQIA+ community in San Francisco has one of the largest and most prominent populations of residents who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender.

  • No, auditions are open to anyone who can sing in the tenor or bass range, irrespective of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation or race.

  • Over 2,000 different men, cis and trans, and non-binary people have sung with the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus since the first 115 members sang on the steps of City Hall in 1978. Before his tragic untimely death from AIDS, Jon Reed Sims, who founded the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, went on to found a number of gay and lesbian choral and instrumental ensembles.

  • The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus embarked on a tour of the American Deep South in response to a wave of discriminatory anti-LGBTQIA+ laws and the divisive 2016 election.

    The tour, led by Artistic Director Dr. Timothy Seelig and joined by The Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir, led by Artistic Director Terrance Kelly, brought a message of music, love, and acceptance to communities and individuals dealing with intolerance. More than 300 singers toured Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, South Carolina, and North Carolina. They performed in churches, community centers, and concert halls in the hopes of uniting us during a difficult time.

    As of August 2023, you can locate a streaming version on Paramount +.