MUSIC
Gay Men’s Chorus Shrouded in Accusations of Racism
Several members recount racial issues and sexual harassment
BY TAT BELLAMY-WALKER
Big Apple Performing
Arts (BAPA), the company
that runs the New
York City Gay Men’s
Chorus (NYCGMC), has decided
to reinstate an ousted member
with probation after investigating
claims that he was booted for calling
out racism in the organization.
The internal uproar marked just
one of multiple allegations of racism
within the group dating back
several years.
Johnathan Gibbs, a longtime
chorus member, discovered he was
terminated in a group-wide email
in June after leaders alleged he
violated the organization’s social
media policy that warns against
“disparaging” the group online. In
a since-deleted Facebook post from
May, Gibbs wrote, “I guess white
supremacy is stronger than fraternal
bonds.” Gibbs was reacting to
a revelation that a former chorus
member — who was also Gibbs’
fraternity brother — allegedly
shared a screenshot of a question
Gibbs asked during a discussion
about diversity and inclusion.
Gibbs’ Facebook post prompted
reaction from several members, including
one who jumped to Gibbs’
defense.
“I can’t believe he betrayed you,”
the person wrote.
Gibbs, who is Asian and Black,
told Gay City News he believes he
was targeted for calling out racism
within the organization.
“I didn’t fi nd out about my termination
until the chorus found
out about my termination. Who
sends out a mass email to the entire
group — the entire organization
— to say that we terminated
one member?” Gibbs said. “They
had done it before, but it’s when it
was a known issue. Apparently, I
was a known issue, and what was
the issue? Speaking up for Black
and Brown individuals.”
Gibbs appealed his termination,
leading to an appeal discussion
on July 14 during which a board
member asked Gibbs, “Do you
think calling someone a white supremacist
Johnathan Gibbs (left) with fellow NYCGMC member Damon Epps. Gibbs was reinstated after he said
he was booted from the chorus for calling out racism within the group.
is a slur?”
“No,” he responded.
In clarifying on his comments,
Gibbs ripped the board for asking
that question.
“I wasn’t calling him a white
supremacist,” Gibbs told Gay City
News. “It’s talking about the institution
of white supremacy and the
actions that would lead someone
who knows what I’ve been going
through in the chorus, someone
that I have confi ded in… instead of
believing me and my whole experience,
he said ‘let’s pass this onto
the board.'”
On July 22, BAPA’s Board of
Directors voted to restore Gibbs’
membership in the chorus. While
Gibbs has regained his membership,
he voiced criticism about a
“probation” attached to his reinstatement.
Gibbs said the chorus
appears open to negotiating the
new terms of his position. During
the meeting, BAPA also asked
Gibbs to help with diversity and inclusion
efforts.
“I’m trying to imagine any other
PHOTO JOHNATHAN GIBBS
person who ever fought for anything
in history getting what they
want but the institution telling
them, ‘but you’re in trouble now,
like you have to watch what you
say,'” Gibbs said.
The events leading up to Gibbs’
termination-turned-reinstatement
started last year when the Gay
and Lesbian Association of Choruses
hosted a series of diversity
and inclusion panels in the wake
of the racial unrest that followed
the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
During one of the sessions,
Gibbs probed NYCGMC
leadership in a message on how
they would implement new changes.
However, Gibbs said a Gay and
Lesbian Association of Choruses
facilitator allegedly misconstrued
his words and told others that he
actually said, “How can you facilitate
change to hire a new executive
director?”
When NYCGMC found out about
that, a new controversy emerged. A
board offi cial subsequently brought
Gibbs and another member in for a
private meeting, he said.
“I went off on them for 34 minutes
for not doing their homework,”
Gibbs recalled. “For once again
upholding this witch hunt that
has been happening to me for all
the years I’ve been in the chorus,
always believing someone else, always
thinking I’m up to no good.”
He added, “But it was someone
that read my question incorrectly
that caused all of this to take off in
the fi rst place.”
The controversy surrounding
Gibbs’ position comes as other chorus
members are also shedding
light on issues of racism within
the organization. Chorus members
who spoke to Gay City News on the
condition of anonymity alleged that
white singers in the group do not
face the same level of scrutiny as
people of color, with white members
getting more lenient resolutions and
more time to defend themselves.
There were also allegations of
sexual harassment, including lewd
comments about the butt size of a
member of color and his partner’s
genitals. Gay City News could not
corroborate those claims.
Two years ago, a chorus member
who was drunk at a non-chorus
function allegedly repeatedly used
the N-word while other chorus
members were present, according to
members familiar with the incident.
“I don’t see what the problem
is with saying N***er,” the chorus
member allegedly said. “If I want
to name my dog N***er. I will name
my dog N***er.”
After that incident, a gay chorus
member of color — who is being referred
to in this story as “Member
One” because he spoke on the condition
of anonymity — said he did
not feel safe in the group.
“I would have panic attacks having
to sit next to him,” said Member
One, who uses “he” and “they”
pronouns.
Members went on to fi le a grievance
against the chorus member
who allegedly hurled racial slurs.
A year later, leadership terminated
him from the group “with the op-
➤ GAY MEN’S CHORUS, continued on p.5
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