As queer-led music spaces are disappearing gay choirs like South Wales Gay Men’s Chorus are absorbing the cultural weight left behind. So, in the words of Erasure, it’s time to Give a Little Respect to the people keeping grassroot queer music alive.
All over the country, LGBTQ+ music spaces are closing under the pressure of rising costs, shrinking funding and the declining night life economy. For many queer musicians and communities, the issue is no longer just visibility, it is infrastructure.
These closures have been widely documented in recent years. In a new report by Time Out and Gay Times into the future of queer nightlife in the UK, a stark picture is painted of a scene under pressure, 77% of respondents said the number of queer nightlife spaces in their area have declined.
Music has always functioned as more than just entertainment within LGBTQ+ culture. It has operated as a support system, a way to build identity, connection and safety within environments that were often hostile elsewhere. Statistics from Time Out and Gay Times also show 82% of respondents said those club closures had negatively impacted their sense of community and only 7% felt represented by the venues that remain.
One such place that serves its community is the South Wales Gay Men’s Chorus. Huw Cook is the choir’s chair, he says why it is so important. “There’s such a strong sense of identity tied into it and to create that space where a group of gay men of all ages can sing those songs that make them feel their most authentic selves is really magical.
“There is something special about the music that connects the queer community.”
The queer community and music have always shared a strong connection. From disco to DIY club nights, underground scenes to pop icons such as Lady Gaga speaking about trans rights and inclusion, music has repeatedly carried both cultural and political meaning to these communities. As Lady Gaga said at the most recent Grammy Awards: “Trans people deserve love. The queer community deserved to be lifted up. Music is love.”
But while the cultural importance of queer music is well established, the economics behind it are increasingly fragile.
As traditional queer nightlife infrastructure shrinks, in many cases, it is not a wave of professionally funded spaces, but choirs, ensembles and grassroot collectives absorbing the cultural weight left behind. Music organisations such as South Wales Gay Men’s Chorus are becoming increasingly important, not only as creative outlets but as spaces of belonging, representation and identity.
Huw has an impressive CV, from performing in the London Philharmonic Choir, being part of a three piece drag band with Ru Paul’s Drag Race stars Tia Kofi and Pixie Polite before returning to Wales and becoming chair of the choir. He has experienced many aspects of the industry, which can only help when it comes to running the choir.
Huw says, “There’s a considerable amount of work that goes into running the weekly operations of the choir. Thankfully we have a really strong committee that makes that easier.”
Their annual running costs sit at around £17,000, covering venue hire, licensing and ensuring the musical team are paid. Like much of the grassroots music sector, they rely heavily on fundraising, ticket sales and volunteer commitment.
“It is important we’re financially stable so that we can continue to create an inclusive space for our community.”
That financial pressure inevitably shapes creative decisions too. Huw says productions must balance artistic ambition with practicality, audience engagement and financial viability.
Their latest production, Letters to My Youth, was created around the choir’s 18th anniversary and explores themes of identity, growing up and reconnecting with younger selves.
“There’s a whole community engagement piece built around this. It’s important that we are able to create something that feels like more than just a concert.”
His role as Chair of the committee extends beyond logistics. He is responsible for maintaining the sense of community itself, creating spaces where people feel represented, connected and supported at a time when many traditional queer venues are disappearing.
Research from Youth Music found that 79% of LGBTQ+ young people felt musicians coming out as LGBTQ+ positively impacted their self-acceptance, reinforcing how significant representation through music continues to be.
For Huw, the value of organisations such as South Wales Gay Men’s Chorus lies not just in performance, but in what they create socially.
“I think it’s great to see so many LGBTQ+ groups and societies developing.
“What is particularly special in South Wales is that these groups are able to work with each other to create a wealth of opportunities for people to connect. It has huge benefits in terms of mental health, combatting isolation and helping find a chosen family.”
Despite challenges the choir are facing in terms of being a grassroots organisation, Huw is looking forward to its future, with plans to build a Welsh queer youth choir.
He thinks back to his early years in London, “I’d have loved to have been able to have that sense of belonging and chosen family growing up. It’s the whole reason I joined the choir when I came back to Wales.
“I don’t want future generations of young queer people to feel like they have to go to London to get that, I am creating that space for them, giving them that platform to express themselves and make lifelong friends; while putting on amazing shows.”
Without people like Huw, organisations like this will cease to exist. He says why it is so important to keep the space alive, “I love this choir and for me, being able to use my skills to ensure its future and pave the way for generations of new members to come is hugely rewarding. The choir has given me so much, so being able to create that for someone else is really special.”
Choirs such as South Wales Gay Men’s Chorus are proof that these spaces still matter deeply to their communities. But their survival depends on people like Huw, choosing to show up and to continue building spaces where others feel seen. CF
Featured image via South Wales Gay Men’s Chorus
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