Oakland Gay Men's Chorus

The Oakland Gay Men s Chorus began with a single table at East Bay Pride (Oakland) in September 1999. There, founder Dick Kramer stood behind a small booth with a simple but bold idea: to build a gay men s chorus that truly belonged to the East Bay. By the end of the day, enough singers had signed up to bring that vision to life. Just a few months later, in December, the newly formed chorus made its first public appearance, sharing music, community, and joy with The Lavender Seniors in San Leandro. It was a humble beginning, but one filled with heart. In its early years, the chorus found support and structure under the Pacific Center for Human Growth, establishing a three-concert season that became its rhythm: Spring, East Bay Pride, and Holiday.