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OVERVIEW
Taking over as Artistic Director in 2023, Eric Williamson (he/him) transformed the organization from a low of eight singers during the COVID-19 pandemic to over forty primarily Black singers from 20 to 72 years old with strong representation from Black queer elders and youth, and deep connections to Deaf communities with our productions featuring ASL interpretation services.
Recent highlights include performing at the 2024 National Gala Choruses Festival in Minneapolis, a feature on Pix11 News New York, and a performance at World Pride 2025 in Washington, DC. Gospel music is inherently accessible, participatory, and kinesthetic. People who attend concerts not only witness black queer singers joyfully singing, itself an act of resistance, but participate in the music-making by clapping, swaying, and raising their voices, creating an ever-expanding community of liberation.
Taking over as Artistic Director in 2023, Eric Williamson (he/him) transformed the organization from a low of eight singers during the COVID-19 pandemic to over forty primarily Black singers from 20 to 72 years old with strong representation from Black queer elders and youth, and deep connections to Deaf communities with our productions featuring ASL interpretation services.
Recent highlights include performing at the 2024 National Gala Choruses Festival in Minneapolis, a feature on Pix11 News New York, and a performance at World Pride 2025 in Washington, DC. Gospel music is inherently accessible, participatory, and kinesthetic. People who attend concerts not only witness black queer singers joyfully singing, itself an act of resistance, but participate in the music-making by clapping, swaying, and raising their voices, creating an ever-expanding community of liberation.
ABOUT US
Lavender Light: The Black and People of All Colors Lesbian and Gay Gospel Choir is an independent, Black-led, mixed-voice, intergenerational chorus based in New York City, with membership spanning diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds. Founded in 1985 by two Black, gay men reclaiming their musical and spiritual roots after homophobia drove one of them from his church—and now celebrating its 40th year—Lavender Light was the world’s first Lesbian and Gay Gospel Choir.
In that time, Lavender Light has performed in iconic venues ranging from Madison Square
Garden and Yankee Stadium to City Winery and the United Nations. The choir is also known for powerful collaborations, including work with the Grammy-winning Klezmatics, and for beloved appearances in affirming queer spaces such as Fire Island Pines, where gospel music becomes a celebration of joy, freedom, and visibility.
Beyond artistic excellence, Lavender Light is dedicated to creating a supportive and creative home where LGBTQIA+ people can sing the Black gospel tradition—music born of survival, faith, and joy—as their fully expressed, authentic selves. With a special ministry to the Black queer community, the choir emphasizes community engagement, spiritual renewal, and the affirmation and mentorship of LGBTQIA+ youth, using music to foster confidence, belonging, and intergenerational connection.
Lavender Light’s work has been featured on PIX11 News and DCNews Now, and in 2025 the choir shared its legacy on an international stage at World Pride in Washington, DC. As it continues its mission of music, healing, and liberation, Lavender Light remains a vital voice in both sacred music and queer cultural life. Learn more at lavenderlight.com and follow @lavlightgospelchoir.
Lavender Light: The Black and People of All Colors Lesbian and Gay Gospel Choir is an independent, Black-led, mixed-voice, intergenerational chorus based in New York City, with membership spanning diverse ethnic and religious backgrounds. Founded in 1985 by two Black, gay men reclaiming their musical and spiritual roots after homophobia drove one of them from his church—and now celebrating its 40th year—Lavender Light was the world’s first Lesbian and Gay Gospel Choir.
In that time, Lavender Light has performed in iconic venues ranging from Madison Square
Garden and Yankee Stadium to City Winery and the United Nations. The choir is also known for powerful collaborations, including work with the Grammy-winning Klezmatics, and for beloved appearances in affirming queer spaces such as Fire Island Pines, where gospel music becomes a celebration of joy, freedom, and visibility.
Beyond artistic excellence, Lavender Light is dedicated to creating a supportive and creative home where LGBTQIA+ people can sing the Black gospel tradition—music born of survival, faith, and joy—as their fully expressed, authentic selves. With a special ministry to the Black queer community, the choir emphasizes community engagement, spiritual renewal, and the affirmation and mentorship of LGBTQIA+ youth, using music to foster confidence, belonging, and intergenerational connection.
Lavender Light’s work has been featured on PIX11 News and DCNews Now, and in 2025 the choir shared its legacy on an international stage at World Pride in Washington, DC. As it continues its mission of music, healing, and liberation, Lavender Light remains a vital voice in both sacred music and queer cultural life. Learn more at lavenderlight.com and follow @lavlightgospelchoir.
TOURING & PERFORMING
As Lavender Light steps into its next chapter, we are poised to expand our artistic reach, deepen our impact, and honor our legacy. We will premiere our first-ever commissioned work by acclaimed composer Raymond Wise, a milestone that will celebrate our commitment to advancing Black Gospel music through new creation. We aim to perform in major venues worthy of our 40-year history, bringing our message of joy, resilience, and liberation to an even broader audience. Touring the East Coast and beyond, we will share our artistry with new communities while building the institutional capacity needed to sustain our mission for decades to come. This moment marks the beginning of an ambitious journey, one that will carry Lavender Light into a future of greater visibility, artistry, and transformative connection.
As Lavender Light steps into its next chapter, we are poised to expand our artistic reach, deepen our impact, and honor our legacy. We will premiere our first-ever commissioned work by acclaimed composer Raymond Wise, a milestone that will celebrate our commitment to advancing Black Gospel music through new creation. We aim to perform in major venues worthy of our 40-year history, bringing our message of joy, resilience, and liberation to an even broader audience. Touring the East Coast and beyond, we will share our artistry with new communities while building the institutional capacity needed to sustain our mission for decades to come. This moment marks the beginning of an ambitious journey, one that will carry Lavender Light into a future of greater visibility, artistry, and transformative connection.
