The Oakland East Bay Gay Men’s Chorus is a more than 50 voice gay men’s chorus that performs a wide variety of music, from Classical to Broadway, in three seasonal and numerous outreach performances every year.

The Oakland East Bay Gay Men’s Chorus is the most active and well-known Gay Arts organization in the Oakland and East Bay region of California. Centrally located in Oakland, the chorus serves many communities, with members coming from all around the Bay Area.

The Oakland-East Bay Gay Men’s Chorus gives voice through song to a community where everyone matters.

Community: We create and maintain a bond of friendship and family by affirming individuality, mutual respect, and trust.

Kindness: We uplift and support each other; we believe in and expect the best of one another, exercising patience, understanding, and empathy in our interactions.

Integrity: We are accountable to ourselves and to each other. We are honest and forthright with our motives and actions, striving for excellence.

Trustworthiness: We believe in the reliability of each other, and commit ourselves to supporting and providing a safety net for those in need

Courage: We embrace peace and overcome fear. We create a space in which we are able to do more together than we could do alone

Joy: We delight in sharing fun and laughter.

Giving Back: We foster social justice and oppose discrimination through inclusion and education. We are generous in our support of local non-profit organizations.

Oakland East Bay Gay Men’s Chorus began in September of 1999 when Dick Kramer set up a booth at East Bay Pride (Oakland) and recruited members to create a gay men’s chorus for the East Bay. The chorus made its first public appearance the following December at a meeting of The Lavender Seniors in San Leandro.

Oakland East Bay Gay Men’s Chorus solidified under the umbrella organization Pacific Center for Human Growth, and created a 3 concert season (Spring, East Bay Pride, Holiday). In January 2006, Oakland-East Bay Gay Men’s Chorus became independent and acquired its very own 501(c)(3) status.