ATLANTA — Finding your voice is a statement many hear through their journey within the LGBTQ+ community, and for the people part of Atlanta Gay Men's Chorus, their voice is essential.
The group was launched in 1981 by Jefferey McIntyre, drawing inspiration from a similar group in San Francisco. When the group formed in Atlanta, it became the first LGBT chorus in the South and one of five in the whole world.
For members like Michael McKinney, the chance to bring joy to an accepting crowd is what has kept him coming back since he joined in 2005.
"Every Thursday night, we get to come out together and make these beautiful sounds," McKinney said.
McKinney, a former English teacher of 13 years, is now using his voice outside of the classroom.
"I loved being a teacher," He said, adding, "And then you get bogged down with the minutia. You have to be a social worker, and you have to be a psychologist, and you have to be a mandated reporter. I couldn't keep up."
So he took it as a sign "to jump." And now he's found another family among a pew of a familiar few. A family formed by the love of music and song.
"It's a blessing to be able to share that with all these guys," McKinney said.
And when he's not singing, McKinney is working as a personal trainer with a certification in senior fitness.
"I'm still in education," he said. "I'm just educating a different group of people."
And when asked if his life could be one song, McKinney said "Stronger" by Kelly Clarkson.
"I'm on my fourth career, right? I've rebirthed myself so many times, and nothing has killed me," he explained.
Adapting to life's ever-changing season while helping others, McKinney said every part of his life has been defined by music. And through his work with AGMC, he hopes he can help someone else be stronger by showing his strength.
"It's such a beautiful thing that we that we get to be representative of the diversity that is the bigger community," he said.