Over the Rainbow Festival - Success & Link to 2008 Youth Activist Award

Mt Vernon High School Gay/Straight Alliance 'Over The Rainbow' Festival featured 1 1/2 days of workshops and finished with an evening of entertainment.  The workshops provided topics on gay history, addressing homophobia, religion and being gay, gender identity, healthy relationships/healthy sex, and queer people of color.  Mt Vernon had it going on!

I met with good friends Bec and Mickey after dropping off the teen for her chorus practice and went to the local Chuck Wagon for dinner.  As the trains whistled around the tops of our heads we attempted to solve life's problems over some hot food before returning for the entertainment.  Life's problems are always better when shared with good friends...this is the one thing I know for sure and I felt blessed in Mt Vernon for a couple reasons on Saturday.   

There are many ways that an event can be counted as successful.  Sometimes it is by the tickets sold, the amount of monies raised or by surveys gathered.  Or as was the case last Saturday evening by the feeling in the audience at Mt Vernon High School as each performer gave of themselves for Mt Vernon's Gay/Straight Alliance program's entertainment that celebrated it's 3rd annual 'Over the Rainbow' festival.  It is not often that a large city High School offers the range of diversity education that lil ole Mt Vernon had on their schedule. 

I am going to oohh and ahhh so be prepared.  First, the entertainment was MC'd by well known, amazing, (have you see those legs-omg and that hot bod) fabulous and so sincere Aleksa Manila.  It was obvious that Aleksa aka Arnold Martin cared about doing this gig and was invested in the lives of the teens that are mentored by this event.  I have been to plenty of events where the talent acted bored and was more interested in their own egos.  Aleksa was AMAZING and indeed such a honey!

Aleksa tailored his style to the audience, was age appropriate, was not too racy but still hip enough for the teens.  He was funny, cute, charming and left just enough to the imagination (ok, I fell a bit in love).  I also had the honor of eavesdropping on Aleksa interacting with a few of the teens and was so impressed with the respectful way he talked with them.   I now have another way to spell role model A L E K S A.  This may have been some to these kids' first experience with a Drag Queen and what a great first!



We had the pleasure of hearing Chris Riffle, a MVHS graduate who is now a New York singer/song writer who sang several songs with his back up band.  He has just released his first album in January and the GayZette wishes him great success.  Brock Madden who is with the Seattle Men's Chorus was most entertaining as he provided humor as he sang.  He wrapped the evening up and had the audience laughing with his dry sense of humor and fabulous facial expressions.  He is one that watching is half the fun.

The middle act was 'Diverse Harmony', the first Gay/Straight Alliance Chorus from Seattle and they definitely have my heartstrings.  Seven members of the chorus performed 5 songs for this event.  The chorus boasts 21 members with 6 males this year.  They preformed 'Over the Rainbow' which was perfect for the event but the crowd favorite seemed to be 'The First Day of School' from their upcoming new musical 'Best Friends Forever'.  It is a fun, upbeat and realistic song that takes the listener back to high school in a hot second!  Best Friends Forever will debut Memorial Day Weekend and is entirely written by one of the very talented members of Diverse Harmony, Kat Miller who I will be highlighting in a future GayZette!

A Shout-Out has to go out to school librarian Cathy Pfahl who fought tirelessly for 3 years to get the Gay/Straight Alliance to be a reality at Mt Vernon High.  In fact, there is an article in this weeks Seattle Gay News about the recipient of the 2008 Youth Activist Award given by the American Civil Liberties Union of Washington to Mt. Vernon High School graduate Ian Feis.  He and Cathy were instrumental in the beginnings of the Gay/Straight Alliance.  I LOVE it when a good deed is rewarded!

From the heart,

Ms T

3rd Annual Over the Rainbow Festival including Diverse Harmony performance, Gay Straight Alliance Choir

3rd Annual Two day 'Over the Rainbow' Festival Friday, February 26th 7:00pm and Saturday, February 27th at Mount Vernon High School, Mount Vernon, WA.  I want to invite you to join us to attend this event and support all the groups that are participating.  You will get a sneak peek at Diverse Harmony (see my review of this group).  Sponsors include: Skagit PFLAG www.pflagskagit.org; The Pride Foundation: Doug Exworthy and Kent Poush.  This is a FREE event but donations gladly accepted.

The Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, Skagit County Chapter, the Mount Vernon High School Gay/Straight Alliance and the Pride Foundation present the third annual festival.

Schedule: Friday:
7-9:30 p.m. film: 'Straightlace: How Gender's Got Us All Tied Up,' with post-film discussion led by producer Brittney Shepherd of San Francisco, Mount Vernon High School Cafeteria.

Saturday: 10-11 a.m.: Welcome in cafeteria, with auction of cakes, plus performance by Leisha Madden (MVHS grad) and Gay Straight Alliance Friends, spoken word performance by GSA members;
11 a.m.-noon: Lunch and information tables and cake sale.
Noon-1:30 p.m. Workshop session in MVHS auditorium: Gay history (Gary Atkins, Seattle University professor and author of 'Gay Seattle,' with Carol Guess, poet and Western Washington University professor of GLBT Studies). Library: Addressing Homophobia in Daily Life (Safe Schools Coalition).
1:30-2 p.m.: Cakewalk and auction in cafeteria,
2-3:30 p.m. workshop session; auditorium: Being Religious and Being Gay (panel of gay clergy, led by Seattle First Baptist pastor, Rev. Craig Darling); Library: Gender Identity (panel led by Elayne Wylie of Ingersoll Gender Center of Seattle).
3:30-4 p.m. Cakewalk and auction in cafeteria;
4-5:30 p.m. Workshop session auditorium: Healthy Relationships/ Healthy Sex (panel of experts from a variety of agencies, led by Skagit Valley College psychology instructor Linda Jordan.) Library: Queer People of Color (UW students Oscar Guerra and Maria Guillen, with Arnold Martin of Seattle
Counseling Service).
5:30-7 p.m.: dinner break.
7-9 p.m.: Entertainment wiith Chris Riffle, New York singer/ songwriter and MVHS graduate, Diverse Harmony, GLBT youth choir from Seattle.
Contact information: Cathy Pfahl, MVHS GSA Advisor, (360) 428-6100 x2161 or cpfahl@mv.k12.wa.us.

On Seattle Announcements Calendar

Diverse Harmony

Once again I am reminded of how much I receive from finding the gems in our community and sharing them with you.  Certainly my life is enriched as a result and I hope that yours is too!  Diverse Harmony struck a chord with me when I read about their mission statement 'to create a safe, affirming environment where everyone is accepted for who they are'.  The chorus is open to 13-22 year old gay, lesbian, straight, bisexual and trans-gendered youth and I thought if they could pull this off within this age group I would take off my leather skirt metaphorically to them.

Certainly teens with queer family members/friends or those dealing with orientation or gender issues could use as many supportive environments as possible.  I immediately talked to my own teen who loves to sing about whether she would be interested in checking out the FIRST Gay-Straight Alliance Youth chorus in the United States to see if it was a fit for her and her vocal desires.  I was thrilled when she said she was interested in checking them out.

We showed up at one of their normal Tuesday evening practices unannounced and without really knowing what to expect.  We were greeted warmly by the existing members in the group and by the Artistic Director Brent McGee.  Brent is the second director in the groups history since it began in 2002 after music teacher Rhonda Juliano formed the choir as a result of her own blending of families and coming out.

Brent relates so well to teens that one wonders if he is a teenager trapped in the body of a adult male himself.  He is a hoot and truly has a gift for creating an atmosphere of respect and fun while modeling the groups guiding values.  The members sign a contract that they will uphold themselves accountable to a standard of behavior as they represent Diverse Harmony.  I saw in action that first night that their behavior matches the vision.

Our vision...
is a world in which differences are celebrated!
The mission of Diverse Harmony, a gay/straight alliance youth chorus, is to create a safe, affirming environment where everyone is accepted for who they are.
We use our passion and the power of music to inspire the celebration of differences in our homes, community and world.
Our guiding values are:

    * Musical excellence
    * Fun and friendship
    * Respect and gratitude
    * Safety and support for being true self
    * Inclusiveness
    * Courage
    * Self-responsibility
    * Community service
We proudly invite all gay, lesbian, straight, bisexual and trans-gendered youth (ages 13-22) to participate in a choral community of their own.

 As with most successful endeavors, it takes a village of people and Jeremiah Oliver lends his musical talent as the Assistant Artistic Director/Accompianist and boy can he can play a mean piano!  He can guide the voice using the piano with seemingly no effort.  Brent and Jeremiah have vast musical experience which provides a strong foundation and are a natural fit for bringing out the fabulous in each chorus member.  To round out the village people, Michael Morgan provides the backbone by keeping the chorus on track with the countless forms that need to be filled out as well as numerous other behind the scene functions as he answers the countless same questions over and over.  Without him the focus of the chorus would be split so his attendance and calm, quiet demeanor provide such grace during practice.  He is definitely the 'go to' guy.

After introductions I left the practice but returned early enough to spy from the hallway as I wanted to hear the chorus in action (ok, spy!).  I admit I am a sentimental sap at times but I was not prepared to be so moved by this group of 10 or so teens singing (the group is near 20 as auditions have now taken place).  Sure, the songs were uplifting, inspiration, campy, fun and at times extremely moving as the theme was of inclusiveness and acceptance.  I know many of us have struggled with these issues due to our sexual orientation or gender identity and can easily relate to these themes.

The waterworks started when I noticed how supportive the group was of each other.  They created an environment where it was ok to try!  Maybe they did not know the song or part yet, or their voice was not Celine Dion that evening...YET, the group supported each person fully.  It was a gift to watch and be a part of.  A rare gift.

I found myself tapping my foot and wishing I could join the chorus (really).  The music was so FUN and it was so apparent they were having a great time while building camaraderie!  The biggest shocker of the evening was that one of the chorus members had written ALL the songs - words, music...everything.  I thought it was an established gay themed Broadway type show thingiemajigger...nope, came right out of one of the chorus members hearts.  No wonder my eye faucet was turned on.

I cannot wait to see them this weekend at the Mt Vernon 'Over the Rainbow' Festival.  It will be my daughters first performance with them and I would not miss it for anything.  I want you to save the dates of May 21st & 22nd as Diverse Harmony will perform their new musical, 'Best Friends Forever!' and I will post details here and on the Seattle Announcements Calendar.


Our guiding values are:

Fun Facts on Diverse Harmony:

• In 2006 they became the only youth choir to ever perform at the Gay Games.
• Diverse Harmony is member of the Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses (GALA Choruses)
• First youth chorus to participate in a GALA Choruses Festival
• The chorus appeared in the independent film 'Why We Sing' which has been screened at LGBT film festivals and on PBS stations across the United States. 
•  Five years operating in the black; one in the red. Donate now to help Diverse Harmony get Back In Black.
• 
  
  
  Diverse Harmony is a non-profit, tax-exempt organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (EIN 20-0310808). Contributions are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.

From the heart,

Ms T

Thanks to Wikipedia for some of the historical information.

Diverse Harmony - First Gay Straight Youth Alliance Chorus

 I came across this chorus and I think this is a fabulous idea!  I am a great believer in supporting connection between our youth because they will be determining the attitudes of the future.  I will keep you posted on this as I have a teen who is vocally talented and is interested in checking this out.  They practice year round and are for ages 13-22 years of age with all orientations welcome.  I know a few of you have teens in your life...what a great way to build community!  Ms T

“A Season of Giving.”

7pm concert

Seattle First Baptist Church

1111 Harvard Ave.

$50 suggested donation

www.diverseharmony.org

An evening of music and scrumptious desserts benefitting Diverse Harmony, the nation’s first Gay/straight youth alliance chorus and the GSBA’s youth scholarship program. With special guest performance by the Sensible Shoes, an ensemble of Seattle Women’s Chorus.