ABSTRACT
For centuries, the rights of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ+) people appeared to stand. In the twenty-first century, the ground has shifted to accommodate more rights and greater protection for these populations in most countries, particularly those in the Western world. According to Lambda Legal, the American organization that works for the rights of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transgender people, at least eight countries—Australia, Bangladesh, Germany, India, Malta, Nepal, New Zealand, and Pakistan—recognize more than two genders on passports or national ID cards. LGBTQ+ as an abbreviated label has served many purposes. The chapter examines the marginalization of these communities and their coming together in common cause to fight for justice. Differentiating the gender and the orientation issues creates a framework for looking at the multiple ways in which choral music is a locus for community and personal identity formation.
