STANCE Cultivates Community for Trans Day of Remembrance

Seattle’s Trans and Nonbinary Choral Ensemble (STANCE) was back again for Trans Day of Remembrance (November 20, 2024), offering a touching choir experience and space to remember those in the trans and nonbinary community who have been lost. In “The Power of Me,” STANCE honored the trans community with gorgeous choral arrangements, touching stories, and powerful words of resistance, healing, and power. 

Their November 16 show left their audience with an abundance of gratitude for the community created in the space, as well as appreciation for trans joy, art, and resistance in a world which so readily seeks to take the trans community down. Performed in the heart of the University District at University Congregational UCC, “The Power of Me” is certain to leave you moved and empowered to keep fighting for trans joy every day. 

• STANCE Background

  Previous piece on STANCE here

STANCE is a one-of-a-kind choir, giving space to singers who have felt misrepresented and left out of traditional choir and its adherence to stereotypical gender roles. Instead of grouping their talented singers by their gender expression (i.e. that all feminine singers are altos and sopranos, and all masculine singers are basses or tenors), STANCE seeks to group their members based on their vocal range and ability alone. In this way, STANCE creates a new way to gather as a community of singers—one which breaks down gender roles and allows space for voices which might change because of voice therapy or hormone-replacement therapy. 

STANCE has a long history of coming together to put on a performance for Trans Day of Remembrance (TDOR), and  previous years’ performances are on their YouTube channel, along with their past performances for Pride month and other events. 

TDOR is a tradition which started due to anti-trans violence in the 1990s. Gwendolyn Ann Smith began the vigil and naming ceremony in honor of her friend, Rita Hester, a transgender woman killed in 1998. Since then, TDOR has become a time to mourn the great loss that the transgender and non-binary community face each year, to acknowledge those who have died as a result of anti-trans violence or legislation, and to come together for collective grieving and healing. The day also provides a chance to reflect on one’s connection with their trans siblings and community and to rekindle the collective flame that may lead the trans and nonbinary rights movement to greater change.

STANCE performing / The Evergreen Echo

Even the simple act of entering the space felt like a coming together of community. Kind volunteers and ushers greeted us and offered us pins and buttons, along with electric candles to light during the naming ceremony. They also provided resources, connecting us to other trans organizations and places where one could seek help, community, and affirmation. We were shown into the main room where most of the audience had already gathered and joined in to watch the event. 

STANCE’s contribution to TDOR’s vigil came in a series of breath-taking performances by the choir, interwoven with personal stories from the singers, the wonderful poetry of Lotus the Vibe, inspiring words from their emcee, Fox Hampton, and the great energy from their artistic director, Dr. Christopher Hanson. The show ran for about an hour and a half, with a welcome from STANCE’s executive director, Haven Wilvich, to start the event off.

Then we moved into the music, cresting at the reading of the names, highlighting each member of the trans community who had been lost. The audience lit their candles for a moment of silence before continuing to bask in the beauty of the choir and its voices, finally ending in an inspiring collaboration between the choir and audience.

The room was flowing with collective energy throughout the performance, bringing goosebumps to the arms and tears to the eyes. The building seemed to shake with voices of the singers and their musical accompanist, the ever-talented Mikey Prince, melting the room with emotion.

STANCE choir at Trans Day of Remembrance performance / The Evergreen Echo

To be there amongst my trans siblings felt like a gift, one beyond what I could express here. The power of the trans community was abundant within STANCE’s performance; the collective grief, joy, and beauty took hold of the space, ultimately culminating in their final piece of the evening, “Another World is Possible” by the FLOBOTS. This piece was performed by not just STANCE, but the entire room as one booming voice of the trans community and its allies, bringing the performance to a close. 

In the afterglow, the room was alive with congratulations, smiles, and a profound sense that anything was possible. As a trans artist myself, I could feel the inspiration provided by the show as an almost physical sensation. My gratitude felt palpable, and I am grateful to each performer and staff that made “The Power of Me” possible. 

For more, find “The Power of Me” on STANCE’s YouTube page. Whether a part of the trans and nonbinary community or an ally, this is a show not to be missed!