For four decades, the harmonious voices of Renaissance City Choir have echoed through Pittsburgh’s community spaces, affirming LGBTQIA+ identity, celebrating queer resilience, and building bridges with allies through music. Now, on its 40th anniversary, the choir is embracing a bold, clarifying transformation: a new name.
Introducing the Pittsburgh Pride Choir.
As of today, Western Pennsylvania’s only LGBTQIA+ and allies choral group will move forward with a name that makes its purpose unmistakably clear. The rebrand, announced by Board President Douglas McIntyre, is both a nod to the choir’s legacy and a proclamation of its present-day values.
“We chose this name to more clearly align with our Pittsburgh community and to proudly proclaim our identity as an out and proud LGBTQIA+ organization,” McIntyre said. “In 2025, it feels more important than ever to share who we are with the world in a clear, queer-forward, and accessible way.”
The group was originally founded in 1985 as the Pittsburgh Gay Chorus, but due to the political and social climate of the time, particularly around safety and public acceptance, the name was changed that same year to Renaissance City Choir, a reference to Pittsburgh’s “Renaissance II” revitalization era.
While the original name provided a layer of protection and local pride, that reference has faded from the public consciousness. For newer audiences, the name sometimes raised more questions than clarity.
Conversations with current and prospective members sparked the exploration of a new name, McIntyre explained.
A dedicated board committee, including current and former board members, as well as audience members, took on the process of renaming. Their work was grounded in community voices and guided by a desire to reflect the group’s identity, mission, and role in Pittsburgh’s queer culture.
What hasn’t changed is the choir’s mission: to affirm and celebrate LGBTQIA+ identity through the power of music. With a repertoire ranging from contemporary pieces and traditional choral works to world music and original commissions, the Pittsburgh Pride Choir continues to challenge audiences artistically while resonating emotionally and socially.
Every performance is a political and spiritual act, a chorus of affirmation, of belonging, of pride.
“Our new name reflects both our pride and our purpose,” McIntyre emphasized.
The Pittsburgh Pride Choir is a proud member of GALA Choruses, an international network of LGBTQIA+ choirs, and remains committed to creating accessible, affirming spaces for queer voices and allies alike.
As the choir enters its fifth decade, this evolution is less a departure from the past than it is a continuation of the journey, with more volume, more Pride, and more visibility.
