LOS ANGELES — As Sochi, Russia prepares for the 2014 games, and as the international community remains divided about recently-passed anti-gay laws in that country, members of Gay Men’s Chorus of Los Angeles (GMCLA) continue to stand in solidarity with their Russian friends as they searched their archives and pieced together a video dedication to the LGBT community.
In October of 1999, GMCLA traveled to Moscowto perform at Tchaikovsky Hall with famed Russian pop star Alla Pugachova. Nearly 2,000 LGBT persons and their allies filled the concert hall to stand together in harmony as one of the largest ever gatherings of LGBTs in the country. The Chorus sang various songs, including “We Shall Overcome,” which is featured in the recently rediscovered footage.
“We stand with our brothers and sisters in Russia who face unspeakable discrimination and violence as they fight for their lives and rights to live openly and freely,” expressed Chris Verdugo, executive director of GMCLA. “We’re honored to share this video footage with the world and to show that the Russian people are good, and that we can come together with song to celebrate our differences. And just as the LGBT Community has done time and again, we shall overcome.”
The video features a performance by GMCLA, a solo by Alla Pugachova, arrangements by David Maddux, artistic direction by Dr. Jon Bailey, video by James Roman and footage by Craig Coogan.
