A Bold Beginning After Anita Bryant

December 1985, New York City. Gary Keating was there to assist in deciding the acts for the following season for The Gusman Center/Olympia Theater. Accidentally he walked by Carnegie Hall where the following night the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus (NYCGMC) would perform and he bought tickets. It was one of the most moving musical moments of his life. Upon returning to Miami he contacted the conductor of NYCGMC and began the process of forming a gay men’s chorus in South Florida. Fortune happened – the Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus came to Fort Lauderdale on February 7, 1986, and agreed to let Gary sign up other men who might be interested in singing. Gary got 76 names that night; quite a few still sing today!

After Anita Bryant there were small pride festivals, very active MCC’s, and Congregation Etz Chaim, but nothing as public as the Gay Men’s Chorus of South Florida (GMCSF). It proved to be a little dangerous on occasion, but that is another story.

March 12, 1986 was the first rehearsal, and the first performance was a fundraising event at the Gusman in downtown Miami. The new board hoped for a couple hundred, but more than 800 guests showed up, with some, especially Jack Campbell and others, too, were incredibly generous. The first two concerts happened that December at both Gusman in Miami and the Parker Playhouse in Fort Lauderdale. Both halls were packed with above capacity audiences. James Roos, legendary music critic for the Miami Herald stated, “Move over! There is a new boy in town.”

Written by and image courtesy of Dr. Gary E. Keating