In this moving episode of Arts & Democracy: A Global Conversation, host Olga Levina speaks with activist and former Executive Director of the New York City Gay Men’s Chorus, Mark McDonald, about the power of music, activism, and community in times of crisis and change.

From his early days in small-town Missouri to leading one of the nation’s most visible LGBTQ+ ensembles, Mark shares how the choral movement became both an artistic and political force — from the activism of ACT UP during the AIDS crisis to the collective healing after 9/11.

Together, Olga and Mark revisit the historic controversy in the late 1990s, when the Chorus was told it could only perform at the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) conference if it dropped the word “Gay” from its name — and how, decades later, ACDA has invited the Chorus back in a gesture of reconciliation.

Their conversation expands to the present day, exploring censorship, democracy, and the courage it takes to use art as a tool for truth. “Silence,” Mark says, “is the greatest crime against democracy.”

A reflection on resilience, visibility, and the enduring belief that art can transform lives and strengthen our shared humanity.