Name/Title
[We Be Queens Pinback Button]Entry/Object ID
2023.06.13Tags
Slogans, OrganizationsDescription
A circular, lilac purple pinback button reading in cursive-like, dark purple text "We Be Queens," alongside different-font text that reads "The San Fransisco Gay Men's Chorus, GALA Festival IV, Denver 1992."Item Type
Pinback buttonUse
Likely a souvenir from the 1992 GALA Festival IV in Denver, Colorado.Context
From the San Fransisco Gay Men's Chorus "Our Story" webpage: "Since the original 115 members first raised their voices in 1978, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus has persevered in the face of intolerance while helping inspire an LGBTQ+ choral movement around the world...In the fall of 1978, Jon Reed Sims founded the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus with a simple idea: bring more music to San Francisco’s Gay Freedom Day Parade. More than 100 singers came to the first rehearsal. Less than one month later, Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone were assassinated at City Hall. That evening, members of the Chorus joined thousands of grieving San Franciscans at a candlelight vigil and sang Mendelssohn’s Thou, Lord our Refuge—SFGMC’s first public performance...Despite our name, SFGMC is not limited to gay men. We welcome people who can sing in the tenor and bass ranges, irrespective of gender, gender identity, sexual orientation, or race. More than 2,000 singers have been part of the Chorus since 1978." (Linked in this record)
SF Gay Men's Chorus mission statement: "Music with purpose. To lead by creating extraordinary music and experiences that build community, inspire activism, and foster compassion at home and around the world." (Linked in this record)
From the GALA Choruses "The History of GALA Choruses" webpage: "GALA Choruses, Inc. was incorporated on July 26, 1983. Our beginnings can be traced back to 1975 with formation of Philadelphia’s Anna Crusis Women’s Choir, followed in rapid succession by the formation the Stonewall Chorale, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus, and choruses in New York City, Dallas, Los Angeles, Seattle, Chicago, Vancouver and other cities...1992 – GALA Choruses Festival IV brings 64 choruses to Denver. 3,400 delegates took the stage to participate in one or more of 150 Festival concerts. New works by composers John Michael-Albert, Bill Cutter, Gary Simmons, Alan Stringer, Karen A. Tarlow, Martin Wesley-Smith, and David York were selected as Festival Competition winners and performed by mass choruses at the Festival. Net revenues from Festival IV exceeded $135,000. These monies were used to establish a new position for GALA Choruses’ first Executive Director, grow the endowment fund, and launch several new membership services programs." (Linked in this record)
GALA Choruses mission statement: "GALA Choruses supports, guides, and inspires LGBTQIA+ choruses and their allies to leverage the liberating power of singing to create harmony and equity for all." (Linked in this record)Collection
Adrian J. Cardwell CollectionMade/Created
Date made
1992Time Period
20th CenturyPlace
City
DenverState/Province
ColoradoContinent
North AmericaLexicon
Getty AAT
Concept
LGBTQ+, memorabilia, choirs (groups of people), cultural events, event buttonsLegacy Lexicon
Object Name
LGBTQ+ clubs and organizations, LGBTQ+ events, Gay choruses, LGBTQ+ chorusesCategory
HomosaurusOther Names
Name Type
Organization NameOther Name
San Fransisco Gay Men's ChorusName Type
Event NameOther Name
GALA Festival IVName Type
Organization NameOther Name
GALA ChorusesValuations
Valuation Type
Donor EstimateValue
$10.00Date
Oct 14, 2026Create Date
October 15, 2026Update Date
October 15, 2026