In honor of Pride Month, United Way Corporate Partnerships Manager Justin Grawe shares one meaningful way he contributes to uplifting positive spaces for LGBTQ+ voices in our Kansas City community.
This year the Heartland Men’s Chorus Kansas City, HMCKC, is celebrating its 40th Anniversary season of creating community, celebrating pride and empowering authenticity through a collective voice. Established in 1986 with 30 singers wanting to have their voices heard, it’s grown to 160 singers on stage this year, along with countless volunteers and staff supporting the choir backstage and within the community.
When I joined HMCKC in August 2025, I knew I was making a decision that would change my experience as a queer person in Kansas City. Not only was I committing to weekly rehearsals and practicing on my own time, but I was building a support system through connecting with other likeminded individuals.
Fast forward to almost a year later, as I’m finishing up my first season with the choir, I’ve given myself room to reflect on what this time has done for me and how involvement through volunteering as a singer with HMCKC has ‘changed me for good’.
As a new member, I walked into the rehearsal room for the first time not knowing anyone in the choir; however, everyone is paired with a veteran member to introduce them to different choir members and support them in the process of getting adjusted. Lucky for me I joined the choir during the largest new member class in 40 years – there were 30 new members last August, making it easy to connect with others in the same boat.
When some of the first notes are sung as a group, you can feel the connection through having a collective voice. Joining a community choir truly leads to an increase in happiness and connectivity. When I leave rehearsal, I’m always feeling refreshed to finish out the week strong.
A word that has stuck out to me throughout this past year has been legacy. With it being the 40th season of the chorus, we’ve been able to sing music that was performed by the original choir at its first concert in 1986, along with reflecting on that era through our Back to the 80s concert this past March.
We invite everyone to come celebrate the community HMCKC has been building over the past 40 years by attending our Anthems of Pride concert with our guest artist Cheyenne Jackson on June 27th and 28th at Yardley Hall and experiencing the joy of our united voices.
