San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus Performs in Laramie

The world's first openly gay chorus will be playing a concert in Laramie on Thursday night, in a partnership with the Matthew Shepard Foundation.

The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus is on it's Love Can Build a Bridge mini-tour and Thursday will mark the groups first time performing in Wyoming.  According to a statement released by the group, the goal of the tour is "reaching out with love and connecting with people."  The tour was originally concieved in 201o and represents two years of planning.  The Chorus' Executive Director, Teddy Witherington says "We believe the language of music is universal and it brings people together like nothing else."

The concert is being put on in conjunction with the Matthew Shepard foundation.  Matthew Shepard's Mother and foundation founder, Judy Shepard, says "In my work as an activist and as an ally to the LGBT community, I try to remind people that their voice is the most powerful tool to erase hate in our society.  I can't think of an organization that more litterally embodies that phiolosophy than the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus."

Sharing in the proceeds of the Laramie leg of the Love Can Build a Bridge tour are non-profits, Wyoming Equality and University of Wyoming Spectrum.  Both groups support gay, lesbian, bi-sexual and transgender communities and families in Wyoming.

The concert is Thursday, July 12, at 8:00 PM at the University of Wyoming Fine Arts Concert Hall.  Tickets are priced at $30 for general public, $15 for seniors, and $10 for students.  You can buy tickets by calling the UW Fine Arts Box Office at 307-766-6666, or buy clicking here:

A follow up concert will be held in Denver on Friday.  More information on that concert can be found at the Matthew Shepard Foundation website (click link).