‘LGBTQ+ inclusion guide’ by Making Music
- Author: Making Music
- Published in: October 2023
- Keywords: LGBTQIA+, underrepresented genders, safer spaces, groups for making music
Marginalized individuals may face barriers and discrimination in many situations in their daily lives – joining groups to make music is no exception. This is what Making Music wants to tackle. The UK membership organization for leisure music has around 3,850 groups that represent around 228,000 music creators across the UK. Their goal is to give everyone, regardless of background or experience, the opportunity to come together in their community to make or present music.
In their ‘LGBTQ+ inclusion guide’, they address one form of discrimination, namely discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender. They suggest that by making a few simple adjustments, it is possible to create an inclusive environment and remove barriers for LGBTQIA+ people to thrive in a group setting. The guide explains which barriers to including LGBTQIA+ people might exist in music-making and how to overcome them. It is aimed at everyone involved in a music group or a choir. The guide presents tips on how to ensure that LGBTQIA+ members can participate fully and that their LGBTQIA+ identity is not an obstacle to this.
The inclusion guide comes with a glossary providing information about terms like “gay” and “queer.” The guide further highlights specific issues that LGBTQIA+ people may face when joining music groups and suggests ways to respond to them. The suggestions were divided into three groups: activities before rehearsals begin, activities during rehearsals and performances, and things to do outside of rehearsals and performances.
Some of the suggestions apply equally to all music activities; others are specific to LGBTQIA+ people in choirs or singing groups, for example: specific challenges related to the pitch of their voice or a choir’s repertoire that might include anti-LGBTQIA+ lyrics. The inclusion guide also provides additional and helpful information and resources on the topic, which are linked directly in the document.