Welcoming Blog

Welcoming Blog

The Welcoming Congregation Committee is a group of parishioners who are fiercely committed to promoting justice, equality, and compassion in human relations. This blog documents our journey together to defend civil rights and promote unconditional acceptance of diverse lifestyles.

The Butterfly Music Transgender Chorus Sings at First Parish

On May 1, 2016, the annual Welcoming Congregation worship service featured the Butterfly Music Transgender Chorus, which performed four works: Becoming, Butterfly, Five-Year-Old Jacob, and The Water Is Wide. Three members of the chorus shared their experiences in the Homily and one other member contributed an inspirational prayer. The worship service was entitled “Finding Our Voice.” Adjusting to changes in one’s voice can be a challenge for someone who is transitioning.

The Butterfly Music Transgender Chorus is based in Boston and is one of the very first all-transgender choirs in the United States. Sandi Hammond is the director of the chorus. It was founded in order to provide trans people a safe space to enjoy singing and build community, and to celebrate trans voices and trans musical talent. The chorus empowers and supports the transgender community through music, as well as outreach and research, so that transgender people are able to build community and lead happier and more integrated lives.

More on the Butterfly Music Transgender Chorus can be found on their web site at www.butterflymusictranschorus.org. Also of interest is a recent interview on WBUR’s program “Here and Now” (http://hereandnow.wbur.org/2016/04/08/butterfly-chorus-public-debut).

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For the church’s annual DecemberFest Holiday Fair in 2013, the Welcoming Congregation committee decorated this rainbow tree, which was displayed out...