Eighth grader Brenna Ren was recently named one of the winners in the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus’ Give ‘Em Hope Awards. This annual contest honors the work of activist Harvey Milk, who identified offering hope as one of his major life themes. Ren’s self-portrait depicted how she found hope in caring for plants during the isolation caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Personally, I found that taking care of various plants around the house gave me a purpose, especially when school work became tedious,” Ren said in a statement accompanying her piece. “After spending time around these plants, I noticed their continued determination to grow, which inspired my piece.”
On Friday, RHYTHM – a youth outreach organization formed by the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus – visited Harker’s middle and upper school campuses, where it performed at a pair of assemblies, joined by middle school librarian Bernie Morrissey. The 50-man chorus sang a variety of songs from its repertoire, including George Michael’s “Freedom” and “If You Were Gay” from the musical Avenue Q. In between songs, members of the chorus shared their personal stories about growing up feeling different because of their orientation, providing valuable lessons about love, acceptance and building a more inclusive community.
RHYTHM coordinator Mitch Galli visited Harker the previous week to work with middle and upper school vocal groups as well as each campus’s Gender and Sexuality Alliance (GSA). Each assembly included a special performance of The Judds’ “Love Can Build a Bridge,” featuring Harker singers and students reading aloud hopes, written anonymously, for greater inclusivity in schools and communities.