July 12, 2021 | Sex & Society

SF Gay Men's Chorus song results in death threats

The San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus was forced to close its office this week "out of an abundance of caution" following death threats.

The threats came after InfoWars, the website of far-right conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, complained about a new song by the gay group, accusing them of trying to recruit minors into the gay "lifestyle".

"The threat that stuck in my head," Chris Verdugo, executive director of the chorus, shared, "was, 'We're gonna put lead in your head.' That was quite frightening."

Verdugo explained it was the line "we're coming for your children", sung to evoke long-standing fears of gay men hoping to make children gay.

"The song is tongue-in-cheek, satirical, and I'd say nuanced except it's not even that," Verdugo said. "Since Anita Bryant, there's been people who think there is a gay agenda; that pedophiles will convert children to become homosexuals. That's not true, but we do have a gay agenda — teaching children to be tolerant and fair.

"Yeah, we're going to convert them to be tolerant, kind, justice-seeking people," Verdugo added.

The video for "A Message from the Gay Community" was initially set to private by the chorus, but the group decided to re-release it.

The chorus explained:

“We placed the video in private mode to quell the intolerance and hateful responses from mostly anonymous people. Upon reflection, we have made it live again for all to see the satirical and obviously tongue-in-cheek humor. We want everyone to judge for themselves. We will not allow ourselves, even in the face of death threats, to retreat or bow to attempts to twist our words, meaning, self-deprecation and humor."

The video can be viewed here.