In 2019, Gay Chorus Deep South brought SFGMC’s 2017 Lavender Pen Tour to the screen and won the Documentary Audience Award at the Tribeca Film Festival.
Directed by David Charles Rodrigues, the film follows the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus and the Oakland Interfaith Gospel Choir on their journey through the South. Led by Dr. Timothy Seelig, the singers meet communities confronting anti-LGBTQ+ intolerance and bring music into spaces where dialogue can begin.
A journey beyond the concert stage
The documentary also follows Seelig and other participants as they revisit places associated with painful experiences. Its story connects the public work of performance with the personal work of reconciliation.
Tribeca presented the film as a world premiere, with a chorus performance following the premiere screening. Festival audiences selected it for the documentary award, extending the tour’s message of belonging to a new audience.
The journey began with concerts and community encounters. On screen, those encounters became a record of what it can mean to show up, listen and sing together.
Explore the Lavender Pen Tour and watch the documentary trailer.
Featured image: Lavender Pen Tour, October 2017. SFGMC photo archive.
Sources
Tribeca: Gay Chorus Deep South, 2019 festival archive; Tribeca’s official awards history, 2019 winners.
