CANTON, Ohio — Singing is a passion of Becky Murphy’s. It’s something they said they’ve enjoyed since they were a little kid.
“I would sing along to my dad’s reel-to-reel tape set. I’m Gen X, so we had old stuff, so I would sing with that. Then I joined choir in eighth grade at Shore [Middle] School in Mentor,” said Murphy. “I was at Mentor High School and was in choir all through my time at Mentor, and we were really good.”
Now in their adult life, Murphy said they wanted to continue doing the thing that they loved.
“I really just wanted to join a choir again. I saw that someone shared something on Facebook about the Cleveland Transgender Choir,” Murphy said.
Founded back in 2016, at Baldwin Wallace University by director Tracy Grady, the Cleveland Transgender Choir is a choral group for people who identify as transgender or nonbinary. The group doesn’t require auditions and Murphy said it’s their first semester involved.
“I know that they have done performances in the past, at some of the different Pride events over the summer, and so that was really appealing to me to be able to sing with fellow trans people,” Murphy said.
Looking back at photos of their past life, Murphy said they identify as nonbinary. They added that they didn’t officially come out until a few years ago, when they were in their early 40s.
“I always thought there was something wrong with me because I was so different from my peers,” Murphy said. “It’s just been in the last few years that I have been able to piece it all together and understand that I’m nonbinary. There was a reason why I was different, it’s just because I’m under the trans umbrella. My gender isn’t woman or man.”
Murphy is also a parent to children who are transgender and gender-fluid. While picking out an outfit for a choir performance that honors transgender individuals, Murphy credited their kids and the choir for allowing them to celebrate their identity when others wouldn’t.
“Well, because we need a space where we can be ourselves, express ourselves, and feel accepted and loved,” Murphy said.
The choir’s Transgender Day of Remembrance performance took place at Plymouth Church in Shaker Heights, Ohio. It’s a congregation, according to its website, which prides itself on being open and affirming.
At the church, Murphy said, “Today is a really special performance because there are a lot of trans people that are murdered and commit suicide. This is a way for those of us who are survivors to recognize how important it is to remember everyone who’s gone.”
They hoped those watching were able to take something positive away from the performance.
“That we’re here, we exist, and we deserve love and humanity, just like everybody else,” Murphy said.
