Rainbow of melodies

While in many parts of the world, the LGBTQ community has been recognised as a legal and legitimate part of the community, India still has a long way to go. Since singing has been a part and parcel of many a protest movement, the idea for an all-queer choir took seed. Thus was Rainbow Voices Mumbai founded in June 2014 by Vinodh Philip and Sibi Mathen and, as of now, consists of 24 members of the community, who sing at different LGBT events.

While the members find fulfilment in the creative outlet and a sense of community among like-minded people, perhaps one of the more monumentous collaborations, which took place earlier this year was with the Pink Singers of London, who constitute the oldest standing group of LGBT singers in all of Europe. Their collaboration in January was a smashing success with the London group singing Define Me by Ryan Amador and Rainbow Voices spreading hope with Yeh Honsla Kaise Jhuke of their concert in January. Now, the group is getting geared up to go and join the Pink Singers in London on July 8, for the London Pride Parade, and are busy raising funds for the event to take place.

“Meeting the Pink Singers was really an amazing experience, because we got to see people in the LGBT who are settled in their lives, living with partners or have kids. You hear about these things but it was really encouraging to see first hand,” says Jnanasiddhy Raghavendra, who joined the group last year. However, he observed that coming out to the family is a delicate point, no matter where you are from. “It seems like most of them struggled just as much to tell their families as we did. Of course, the social scenario there is much more open, but, it is definitely common ground we have with them,” he explains.

Manasi Manoj, who is the only female member of the choir, joined the group in October last year. For the 24-year-old tenor singer, the choir has provided a safe space for self-expression. “No one cares if I’m acting too girly or too much like a boy. So long as I’m not rude or disruptive, I can really be who I am, and that really helps,” she explains, adding that one of her favourite memories with the choir was their trip to Matheran, where the group bonded over music. “It gave us a chance to bond over more than just our sexuality,” she explains.

It is this sense of community and belonging, according to choir director and music teacher David Williamson that drew most members to become a part of the choir, in addition to their love for music. “I became a part of the choir almost right after it was formed, but started conducting them later on,” he recalls. Having come from San Fransisco to settle in India, he believes that he is here during a time of change. “Because of Article 377, things are so much more intense here. I know about choir members who don’t want their names or photos mentioned during publicity drives because they are still not out of the closet, and that really makes me sad. But I feel like we are on the verge of change,” he adds.

Perhaps this is why, a visit from the Pink Voices, who are perhaps one of the biggest LGBT choirs in all of Europe, came at a significant time. “For such an experienced and established choir to reach out to us here in India, it was like we got a lifeline to the outside world. It made us realise that we are not alone in our struggle,” says David.

The collaboration between the Pink Singers and Rainbow Voices Mumbai, however, is just beginning. “The Pinkies (as they are nicknamed) invited us to go to London to march at their Pride Parade for which we are currently raising funds. It would be really great to be able to show them the kind of solidarity that they showed us,” says Jnanasiddhy.

“Hopefully, we will be able to raise more during the Kashish Queer Film Festival in May, and will be flying out to meet our friends in London come July,” David concludes.