More About Us
OUR BELIEFS
The members of LanSINGout believe in:
- Respecting and valuing all people and ensuring that all feel welcome and accepted.
- Performing quality music representing a diversity of styles, origins, and cultures.
- Entertaining audiences with the highest degree of excellence.
- Using our voices for peace, justice, and equality.
STATEMENT ON BLACK LIVES MATTER
Recent Events, including the murders of George Floyd, Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, Rayshard Brooks, and others, are tragic. They show the contempt and disregard some of our authorities and fellow citizens hold for black lives. LanSINGout recognizes these events are not anomalous, not a throwback from our distant past. Instead, they manifest a system of oppression and discrimination that has continued unabated since slavery.
We condemn the attitudes and behaviors that uphold this system: not only the vicious actions of those who weaponize their whiteness and criminalize blackness but also the passive inaction of those who fail to educate themselves and fight against this status quo.
We stand in solidarity with the black community, and we commit to action. As members of a historically oppressed community, we know no act of discrimination is ever isolated, in its cause or in its effect. We also recognize that the LGBTQ+ community has been far from perfect itself in valuing and defending black lives and interests. LanSINGout vows to do better. And we are engaging in dialogue about concrete actions we can take both to support Lansing’s black community and to further our mission of enriching those around us through music, fellowship, and community involvement.
HISTORY
Founded in December of 1988 as the Greater Lansing Gay Men's Chorus, the organization changed its name in 2011 to LanSINGout Gay Men’s Chorus. This change reflected the organization’s growth and vision for the future. In 2020, the organization shortened its name simply to LanSINGout, to further show…. As its new mission statement states, LanSINGout exists to enrich those around us through music, fellowship, and community involvement.
When the chorus first began, its purpose was to not only portray a positive image of the gay community, but to also provide a safe place for gay men to socialize. After more than 20 years, members of the chorus are thankful to say that much has changed in the Lansing community in regard to views towards gay men.
After undertaking a strategic planning process several years ago, the chorus widened its focus to enhance the lives of the Lansing community. This is being accomplished through two distinct paths: entertaining a more diverse audience at the concerts and special events and actively supporting other non-profits in Lansing through fundraising and volunteering.
The chorus uses its talents to entertain a wider group of Lansing citizens. Whether it is singing at Silver Bells in the City in the atrium of Lansing City Hall, giving a special performance at Turner-Dodge House for its holiday celebration, or moving the audience at the World AIDS Day ceremony at the Hannah Center, LanSING Out is a reaching a larger audience than ever before.
The chorus has also been active in the community as well. For the many years, the members have provided and served lunch for the participants in the Lansing AIDS Walk. It has also held a concert with proceeds going to the Lansing Area Aids Network. The chorus was honored by the Lansing Area Aids Network with its 2010 Champaign Award at its annual Red Ribbon Gala.
In the past years, the chorus has donated a portion of concert proceeds to charities such as Ele’s Place, Lansing Food Bank, and Lansing Community College Music Scholarship Fund.
LanSING Out is currently comprised of more than 40 singers; many of the singers been with the chorus for over 15 years. It's music selection ranges from Broadway musicals to African processionals. The chorus has seen a consistent increase in the musicianship of its members as it strives to provide not only entertaining performances, but ones that reflect high quality.