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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 3, 1999)
adjusted, which can be pretty scene. After spending hard to find in one place,” he 25 years abroad as a adds with a chuckle. “It’s a biology teacher and a good, solid group of people.” librarian, Heiserman brings to PGM C a or David York, PGM C’s wealth of behind-the- legacy of loss became too scenes theatrical experi Continued from Page 25 much of a burden. ence. His duties include checking music in and York, who conducted PGMC from 1982 to 1990, says out, and updating It is nearly impossible to discuss his decision to leave was both PGMC’s mailing list. PGMC without touching on the subject difficult and complicated. “I like being of AIDS. Over the past 20 years, more “I started conducting with around,” he says. “I’m in than 700 people have sung with PGMC; PGMC when I was 23, so I was the backroom most of of those, 101 have died of AIDS-related leaving not only my primary the time, so they don’t causes. PGM C always marches in Portland’s pride parade. This photo music force but my social frater see me, but when they David York, former Merisel, who assumed directorship of is from the mid-1980s nity as well,” he says. need music they come PGM C director the chorus in 1993, recalls that at the York says he left principally to me.” first choral social event he attended, the main musical setting and use some of the talent I for professional reasons. He went on to form Even though Heiseman doesn’t sing with topics of conversation were T-cell counts and the Concord Choir, which later evolved into hadn’t used since I was in college,” says Troy the chorus, he feels welcomed by the members. who had died recently. But, due to the high the David York Ensemble and is currently in its Clayton, 37, who moved here from North Car “The group seems to hang together a lot turnover, he estimates that up to 85 percent of olina seven years ago and joined PGMC this 14th season. He also directs the Concord Com and socialize with one another,” he says. “They PGM C’s current members haven’t known any munity of Choirs, a consortium of nine singing January. “I’ve been singing since I was 3 or 4, seem to take in new people very readily, but one in the choir who has died of AIDS. groups, four of which are for children. but this is the first time I’ve sang with a gay they also remember the old ones.” Coleman believes that 40 percent of group.” It wasn’t until after he left, he recalls, that For board member Joshua Cox, 27, PGMC PGM C’s current roster is HIV-positive. has been a catalyst in coming out. His experience, he says, has been over the toll AIDS had taken on PGM C really hit “It’s a part of our richness, and our legacy,” whelmingly positive. “One of my goals when I came to Portland him. he says. “For years people didn’t want to come “The cumulative grieving had reached a cli was to be more out,” says Cox, who joined “So many people don’t really take the time around us because the empty chairs were a max by 1990,” he says. “It wasn’t until after I reminder of the grief. But that experience has left that I realized how challenging it had been made us more tenacious, more courageous and to remain and be a cheerleader for a group of men who had this huge cumulative grief, and gutsy, and more appreciative of the honor that anticipatory grief, and fear. It was a strain try it is to sing with each other. The preciousness ing to remain supportive and upbeat when peo of life becomes very in-your-face when some ple died.” one dies, but it also gives you a purpose to keep York says he made a fairly clean break. And, living.” nearly 10 years later, he is pleased with his life And for Coleman, who has been HIV time membership in PGM C and grateful to positive since 1982, living with a purpose— have been commissioned to write something and with passion— is a definite priority. for the 20th anniversary. “It’s been a super adventure,” he says. “Over Millennium Mosaic, described as a musical the course of time the chorus has developed a montage, or perhaps a rock opera, “is the voice much deeper sense of family. We have more of our gay youth, their fears and dreams, told in people, we’re more diverse, and it seems to be a their own words," York explains. richer and more fulfilling experience.” He is working with lyricist-poet Mimi Despite the losses endured by PGMC, if Wheatwind and setting the oral history to blessings are mixed, tragedies can be also. For music. Kat Wilson, an out and proud 14-year- people who have not only survived the AIDS old lesbian, is interviewing queer youth epidemic but have flourished under its dark between the ages of 15 and 21. cloud as well, the chorus has served, in a sense, “A lot of what people are saying focuses on as a lifeline. telling the truth,” says Wilson. “For example, “Personally, I didn’t think I’d live this long,” how their relationships aren’t meaningful with Coleman says, reflecting on the past 20 years. out the truth.” “Focusing on something of greater importance PGMC in 1996 after a fruitless search for a bar Wilson says she follows a fairly standard to know what gay people are really all about,” outside of yourself does have something to do bershop quartet. “Inviting people to a show inquiry, asking her subjects who they’re out to, he says. “The chorus gives people an opportu with longevity of life, and for me the chorus how out they are, how people reacted, how nity to see people who are gay and are out join makes it easier to broach the subject.” has certainly been that." Cox works on the chorus’s Internet page they knew they were queer and how their rela ing together as a group to provide a pleasurable tionships have changed as a result of coming and its mailing lists. His board activities, he experience.” ’or more recent members, PGMC may not out. Glenn Heiserman, who is in his third year as says, can sometimes keep him busy four or five * be a lifeline, but it fulfills a variety of needs. the chorus librarian, says he was attracted to nights a week. Time well spent, he says. “I was looking for an outlet to meet peo Continued on Page 2 9 “PGMC includes a lot of guys who are well PGMC by a need to get involved in the gay ple, for one thing, and to get involved in a SINGING FOR SUCCOR the lowest prices o u r m a m s a re v e ry p ro u d o f B u y, s e ll and t r a d e CD’s, v id e o s , D V D ’s , la s e r d is c s an d r e c o r d s H u n d r e d s of n e w t i t l e s a r r i v i n g d a i l y . 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