#4298. Des Moines Gay Men’s Chorus, Queer Spaces, Collectives Styles, and Activist Dress, 1984 to the Present

September 2026publication date
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Journal’s subject area:
Sociology
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More details about the manuscript: Arts & Humanities Citation Index or/and Social Sciences Citation Index
Abstract:
To answer these questions, we analyzed the original DMGMC (Des Moines Gay Mens Chorus) slogan T-shirt, the digital archive of historical LGBT T-shirts, performance videos and imagery, song lyrics, news articles, and oral histories. The chorus members negotiated queer sensibilities, choral traditions, activism, and community building through their T-shirts and performance costumes in complex ways. They negotiated queer representations by creating temporary queer spaces during the AIDS crisis and highlighting how community and visibility have been significant in gay history. However, the chorus often prioritized an appropriate kind of gay man via dress, which they reinforced through racial-power dynamics, complex-gender associations related to tuxedos, and cabaret performance outfits that included nun’s habits. The chorus’ various collective styles esthetically represent how gay men’s choruses navigate entanglements of tradition, gayness, and music while reclaiming oppressive symbology.
Keywords:
LGBT; oral history; race; T-shirt; temporary queer spaces

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