Posted on 04/26/2011 12:22:40 PM PDT by Beaten Valve
Near the end of last month's three-concert run at the Los Angeles Theatre Center, members of the Gay Men's Chorus of Los Angeles paused to share some quiet time and recognize those who contributed to the shows' success.
The tribute session took an unexpected turn when one of the group's newest singers raised his hand to speak. "I want to thank everyone for welcoming me," said tenor Chris Yraola, a 24-year-old music teacher from Eagle Rock. "It means a lot because, No. 1, I'm a little shy. And, No. 2, well, I'm a straight guy."
For a second, there was silence — "It was definitely a surprise," Yraola recalls — and then applause broke out. Some people hugged him. Some told him how proud they were. And someone yelled, "Jordan, your cachet just went down by half!" to Jordan Bell, a second-year bass who had been known as the ensemble's only openly straight singer.
"It was an important moment," says executive director Thom Lynch, one that he believes represents the evolution of his 32-year-old chorus specifically and of gay choruses in general. "There was a point in the early '80s when just having a group of gay men standing and singing was political and made a statement. These days, groups like ours are committed to making spectacular music — which attracts a wider range of singers and audiences. It's not that the political isn't there. But now, the way to make that statement is to be as good as we can be."
Bell, a 24-year-old marketing manager from upstate New York, studied voice and belonged to a men's ensemble in college. When he moved to Los Angeles in 2009, he was happy to discover the 220 plus-member chorus, which has released more than a dozen CDs and toured internationally.
(Excerpt) Read more at latimes.com ...
Sure you are.
The cast of Glee is shocked!
Matt Damon already did this story line.
They can change the name to the “confused men’s chorus” and cover it all..
I had to check and see if this was the Onion first.
What’s next, a Men’s Figure Skater coming out as straight?
They figured it out when they discovered he used no hair care products and owned only two pairs of shoes.
I want to be the first straight man to dance on Broadway.
It’s an ironic test that will show whether or not this “Gay” chorus really is egalitarian. There was a time when a fellow could be a “gay blade” and still only flirted with the girls. Or at Christmas he could don his gay apparel without looking like he walked out of an S&M shop.
Obviously they need a more thorough vetting process.
A 220 voice choir with only one bass? (flame suit on,
fleeing the country, joining witness protection program...)
Yeah...but can you sing? :-)
then he modestly took his place as the one and only bass
and he oompah, oompah, oompah pahed,
oompahed up and down the square?
Not that there's anything wrong with that.
Of course the lead singer of the Village People (the Cop) was in fact, straight.
They had a #1 hit with I’M A LITTLE TEAPOT.
I’m a little teapot,
Short and stout,
Here is my handle
Here is my spout
When I get all steamed up,
Hear me shout,
Bend me over and ream me out.
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