Meet the folks of Euphoria, the NYC Gay Men's Chorus's trans and nonbinary affinity group
Mikey Gulcicek is an emerging photographer studying in New York City at the Fashion Institute of Technology, and he was eager to share stories of his multifaceted experience with the Gay Men’s Chorus. This dreamy collection caught my eye! What a beautiful way to visualize the nonbinary and trans experience.
These portraits are soft in their initial presentation but intense in their close and intimate framing. And like many great artistic masters before us, the longer you look at the image, the more there is to see.
Photographers are often called "light chasers" and here Mikey bends the light, making each portrait's unique prism burst through with expressions of purely euphoric queer existence.
"The New York City Gay Men’s Chorus is an arts and advocacy organization founded in 1980 of nearly 300 singing members. The chorus is continuing to expand its definition as a queer advocacy organization, and the newly-founded Euphoria affinity group for trans and non-binary members showcases what a modern queer-inclusive singing organization can strive to be," Gulcicek said in a project summary.
Gulcicek added, "I chose to take portraits of these members of the chorus to highlight the importance of their inclusion within the organization and NYCGMC's commitment to being a Tenor-Tenor-Baritone-Base chorus, regardless of gender identity. In short, the definition of the chorus, monikered "Men's" chorus, is expanding to include queer folks who can sing in one of the four 'traditionally male' vocal parts. In the past two years, the Chorus has also committed to putting on a free Trans Day of Visibility concert."
It's lovely to know that in these times of intense suffering, fellow queers will find each other and seek ways to infuse joy into our daily lives and the world around us. We've always been here. We will always be here.
Below, check out a Q&A with the members as well as Gulcicek's experience-chasing photographs.
When did you start singing?
I started singing seriously in high school, training my voice at home with YouTube videos and old Barbra Streisand performances, performing where I could. I started writing and performing original music in college.
What drew you into the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus?
I had never had a great experience joining a coed chorus, whether in church or school, and told myself that singing was always something that I could do solo. I longed to sing with other people, to find others who liked the same music as myself, and who wanted to explore the culture that ran beneath all of that in the city. I knew that something structured and consistent would help me find what I needed. Coming out of the worst of the pandemic in NYC,I auditioned because I wanted to draw closer into the queer community, to explore my own passions that had gotten lost over the years, including performance, music theory, sight singing, and more while being a part of a group with an incredible legacy like the GMC!
Why join an affinity group?
No queer population is homogenous, and with a group as large as GMC, it's extremely meaningful to connect with others whose life experiences have mirrored my own. There's a sense of psychological safety that's provided with being around others who share the same multiple axes of identity, which informs intra-community conversations that allow each group to have unique, fun, and deeply meaningful connections, even beyond the scope of what the Chorus provides.
How does membership in Euphoria impact your life outside the chorus?
Euphoria is comprised of close confidants, drag siblings, support systems, adventure pals, coworkers and costars; our interconnectedness has impacted almost every area of my life outside our rehearsal halls. Euphoria has become a part of my chosen family, and they have a seat at every table I prepare from here on out!