CCDA Position on Transgender Student Equity The California Choral Directors Association commits to be inclusive for students who identify as transgender or gender-expansive. CCDA affirms that students of any gender may audition for any CCDA honor choir that matches their vocal range. Thus, transgender and gender-expansive students may be placed in any honor ensemble in which they feel comfortable. However, it would be expected that the student meets all of the expectations for that ensemble, including demonstrating the necessary vocal range for the voice part for which they are auditioning as part of their audition. CCDA encourages its members to work with their school and county administration to ensure a positive and inclusive environment for transgender and gender-expansive students. This may include placing transgender and gender-expansive students in voice-specific ensembles (SSAA or TTBB) for which they identify, modifying vocal parts slightly, modifying uniform expectations for all students, and increased awareness of how hormone therapies may affect the singing voice. CCDA Statement on California AB 1887 and the 2021 Texas National Conference
The California Choral Directors Association (CCDA) stands in solidarity with the LGBTQA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer/questioning, agender/aromantic/asexual/ally) community. We are the first state ACDA affiliate to create an LGBTQ Perspectives Repertoire & Resources position on our state board. The State of California bans official travel by state employees to eleven states with laws that discriminate against the LGBTQA (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer or questioning, agender/aromantic/asexual/ ally) community. Among these states is Texas, the site of the 2021 National ACDA Conference. The State of California stated: “In AB (Assembly Bill) 1887, the California Legislature determined that ‘California must take action to avoid supporting or financing discrimination against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender people.’ (Gov. Code, § 11139.8, subd. (a)(5).)” In practical terms, AB 1887 means that any public employee, including P-12 public school teachers, California State University employees, and University of California employees, may not spend any California taxpayer money to attend professional events in these eleven states. As an affiliate organization, CCDA supports National ACDA—but also respects the current laws of our state. Thus, the CCDA board does not support fundraisers for CCDA members to travel to Texas. The CCDA board acknowledges that its members will need to make an individual decision about whether or not they will attend the national conference and that some members will choose not to spend personal funds in a state that has laws that discriminate against the LGBTQA community. The board also recognizes that National ACDA events are important professional development opportunities for our membership. Thus, we encourage CCDA members who choose not to travel to Dallas to seek out alternative professional development events including, but not limited to: possible online attendance at ACDA National 2021; California All-State Music Education Conference (CASMEC); ACDA Division Conferences; and those sponsored by Southern California Vocal Association (SCVA), Chorus America, National Collegiate Choral Organization (NCCO), and the National Association for Music Education (NAfME). CCDA is the second largest state ACDA organization in the country and has been a major contributor to the lifeblood of the National ACDA Conference. At the past three national conferences, California has provided 13 performing ensembles, 20 interest session presenters, and 1,100 attendees. The CCDA board is encouraged that, according to an Open Message to the Membership in the December 2019 Choral Journal, ACDA has vowed to do “our absolute best to make sure that our future national conferences are chosen so that all members feel welcome and all members are able to use their states’ travel funds” (p. 7). This statement says more broadly, “The American Choral Directors Association and its member musicians, artists, scholars, and citizens stand in solidarity with the LGBTQIA community against hate, violence, exclusion, or discrimination in any form” (p. 7). CCDA is appreciative of these statements and hopes that they result in tangible future action, including thoughtful consideration about holding ACDA-sponsored events in states without discriminatory laws.
Leading the Way
Cantate • Vol. 32, No. 2 • Winter 2020 • 19
