Buffalo Gay Men’s Chorus speaks out after concert canceled by Diocese of Buffalo

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WKBW) — The Buffalo Gay Men’s Chorus was preparing to perform in a choral concert June 9 at St. Joseph Cathedral in downtown Buffalo.

The Greater Buffalo Friends of Music organized the event and invited various singing groups to participate.

But last week, they received an email from the Diocese of Buffalo, stating that the diocese had chosen not to host the concert because “a choir identified to perform is a group whose values ​​are inconsistent with teaching Catholic “.

A spokesperson for the diocese confirmed to 7 News that the email referenced the Buffalo Gay Men’s Chorus, as first reported by The Buffalo News.

Dr. Robert Strauss, the choir’s artistic director, says he wasn’t surprised…but he was disappointed.

“It’s 2024. I can’t believe this is happening again,” Strauss said.

“We were asked about it almost a year ago. We agreed over six months ago and the ad started going out over a month ago,” Strauss said.

But within hours of sending that email, another church, Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Buffalo, offered its church for the concert.

The Rev. Dr. Jeff Wilson, senior pastor, said the Lutheran Church welcomes everyone, including the LGBTQ+ community.

“There’s something in the Lutheran Church called Reconciling in Christ,” Wilson said. “And being reconciled in Christ means that we as a Church have gone through a process where we have a welcoming statement that says we welcome and affirm all God’s people.”

Wilson said it’s not about being fashionable.

“People may see it or think that we’re trying to be politically correct or adhere to a particular political agenda. But love is not partisan. And so we think it’s an honor and a privilege to ‘welcome people,’ Wilson said.

Wilson shared the story of a parishioner who approached him after he mentioned non-binary people. The parishioner thanked him, pointing out that it is almost never talked about in churches.

“When they’re seen, when they’re heard, when they’re validated, when they’re told they’re not abnormal. You’re not told they’re outside of God’s love. You say, yeah , God loves you too. Just the way you are.

Strauss is comforted by how everything happened.

“A wonderful ending,” he said. “The support we have received from the Greater Buffalo Friends of Music and Holy Trinity has been incredible, so it keeps our faith in the Buffalo community and the City of Good Neighbors alive.”