Last year, we “came out” publicly as a queer- and trans-led company, and in the last year have been increasingly intentional about highlighting this part of our company identity in our programming, hiring, and online presence. As we said last year, Thompson Street Opera Company is not just a safe and affirming space for LGBTQIA+ artists– it's also one that intentionally lifts up queer and trans artists, voices, and stories. 

Twelve months ago, we remained hopeful that things would get better for the LGBTQIA+ community in this country, but as you probably know, this is not the case. Unrelenting attacks on gender-affirming care, impacting both children and adults, have swept the nation, and countless other bureaucratic invasions into the privacy of trans and queer people are also being debated at both the state and federal level. The ACLU is tracking 515 bills in state legislatures across the nation which specifically attack LGBTQIA+ rights, even including several in Illinois. While many have been defeated or vetoed, 34 bills in 12 states have passed into law, and more are still being debated or revised. This patchwork of regulations can make it unsafe for many visibly queer or trans singers to travel out of state for work. 

Luckily, the city of Chicago is a pretty welcoming place for LGBTQIA+ people. It's likely the only major city in America in which every opera company currently operating has featured at least one out trans performer onstage. This is a privilege that we don’t want to take for granted, and with your help, we want to make sure Chicago stays a safe place for queer and trans opera artists– not just to perform, but to put down roots, be themselves, and have real, meaningful discussions about changing the industry. 

We believe we are uniquely suited to provide that space. We are small, which means we can adapt nimbly to changing circumstances and environments. We are young, and so are our patrons,which makes our model uniquely sustainable over time as compared with larger institutions. And because of this, we aren’t worried about our programming or practices placating the whims of wealthy, more conservative patrons. Instead, we can bring new, exciting, boundary-pushing works to our audiences, and attract people to our shows with an experience you won’t get in other places. Instead of banking on bringing in famous singers to sell tickets, with your help, we can continue to highlight amazing local and emerging talent, increasing Chicago’s attractiveness as a place for queer operatic artists to live, as opposed to just visit.

clockwise from top left: the final tableau in Il nostro posto nel mondo; the joyfully queer Greek Chorus in We've Got Our Eye on You; the peaceful conclusion of Michigan Trees; an intense moment in the sensual When Adonis Calls

We are committed to making our rehearsal and performance spaces welcoming and safe, and building a community of queer artists in Chicago. In addition to our annual season of performances, this year we intend to begin hosting talk-back and round-table discussion sessions with our community, open to the public, focused on issues important to those we serve in addition to illuminating issues the company is engaging with directly. And of course, a critical element to honoring the contributions of the artists in our community means making sure they are appropriately compensated for their work.  

That's where we really need your help. Every single dollar you donate will go directly into the pockets of our artists, making your donation a real and direct contribution to queer artists.

AS A BONUS: if you donate in any amount, you will receive a TSOC-branded button, while supplies last! There is only ONE MORE "Be Gay Make Art" button left (it's our most popular one by far) so if you'd like to claim it, give now and message us! 

We know things are hard for a lot of people right now. If you can't currently support us financially, please consider sharing this campaign with someone who might be interested in supporting queer art and artists, community-building in the arts community, or contemporary storytelling through music.

Thank you all for being a part of our community. We are so grateful for your ongoing support, and we hope to see you at an upcoming production!