By Jacob Stensberg—
(Editor’s Note: Founded in 1978 during a pivotal era of LGBTQ+ civil rights activism, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus (SFGMC) stands as a historic beacon of hope, resilience, and cultural leadership in the U.S. and internationally. As the world’s first open, public choir composed predominantly of gay men, SFGMC paved the way for the global LGBTQ+ choral movement, using the transformative power of music to foster community, combat stigma, and demand equality.
Over its decades-long history—from its poignant, spontaneous performance at the candlelight vigil following the assassination of Supervisor Harvey Milk and Mayor George Moscone to its devastating loss of hundreds of members during the height of the HIV/AIDS crisis—the chorus transformed grief into activism and artistic excellence. Through nationwide tours, groundbreaking commissions, and extensive youth education and outreach programs, SFGMC continues to build bridges across diverse communities, preserving queer history while championing social justice and human rights on the national stage.
The San Francisco Bay Times also was founded in 1978 and has had strong and meaningful connections with SFGMC over the decades. We continue to value the longstanding column of Dr. Tim Seelig, Conductor Laureate of the Chorus, and welcome this new column by Jacob Stensberg, the Artistic Director of SFGMC. Look for both columns monthly in the Bay Times.)
I’m from Wisconsin. I say “sorry” like it rhymes with “story,” have a high tolerance for dairy and a low tolerance for the relentless hills of San Francisco. Who knew you could build stairs into a sidewalk?!
I’m training for the New Orleans marathon, coming up on November 14! I like running along the water, from Fort Mason through Crissy Field toward the Golden Gate Bridge, but it means climbing the hill at Fort Point: seven-tenths of a mile, and very uphill.
My boyfriend Thomas joined me on my first Golden Gate Bridge traverse! His slow jog is my sprint, so he slowed himself way down to stay with me and cheer me on. Phone out, he celebrated and documented my first bridge run. I was concentrating on surviving. He was making sure the milestone got its proper coverage. (Thank you, love!)
The bridge adds almost 3 miles there and back, with more uphill than you’d expect from something so pleasantly horizontal in photographs. But the viewpoint when you cross is worth it!
Sometimes I had to slow down, and Thomas adjusted his pace to stay beside me. That’s what Rising, the theme of SFGMC’s 49th season, means to me: finding our way together.
This fall, almost 100 singers auditioned for the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus (SFGMC.) When asked, “Why do you want to join SFGMC?” one word came up more than any other: community. Yes, people wanted to sing, but when they talked about why they wanted to join, they kept returning to the prospect of finding their people.
The music gives us a reason to return to the same room, week after week. We work through difficult passages, learn new choreography, and laugh with each other, often at my spontaneous and charming humor (cue chorus groans!). But over time, Monday night becomes as much about who we’ll see as what we’ll sing.
Running, I’ve learned, works this way, too. When I met Thomas 18 months ago, he told me he was training for a marathon. He was so handsome that I said, “I’m thinking about doing the same!” (I was not.) I was thinking about spending more time with him. It worked! Now I’m actually training for a marathon—and I have someone to climb the hills with.
This is the magic of a shared pursuit: it gives us repeated chances to become important to one another. Connections are made through the time we spend together, doing something we care about. At SFGMC, that feeling of connection is a reason people choose to join and stay, some for as long as all 48 years of our story.
At SFGMC, we build community, inspire activism, and encourage compassion through our music. That community includes you: your laughter, your applause, and even your quiet when a ballad takes your breath away. It all is a part of the special evening that we co-create together. The singers feel that sense of community and connection that you bring, even on the tenth row of the risers.
Consider yourself invited! Join us for a Sing-Along at the Chan National Queer Arts Center, or at one of our Holiday Spectacular performances coming up this December at the Golden Gate Theatre, or the Castro Theatre on Christmas Eve! Come on your own or with friends, for your first time or for your 48th time. We can’t wait to see you.
My hope for this season is that we get better at the climb together: when to push, when to rest, and how to carry joy with us—and that we learn to sustain each other without losing ourselves along the way. The goal is to arrive still knowing each other, still loving each other, and still able to stand together, because when you get to the top and look around to see who’s standing beside you, the view is great.
Welcome to Season 49: Rising!
Jacob Stensberg is the Artistic Director of the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus and the Chan National Queer Arts Center. Tickets to all performances are available online ( www.sfgmc.org ). More information about Jacob Stensberg is at www.jacobstensberg.com
SFBMC Behind the Scenes
Published on October 22, 2026
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