The New York Gay Choir gave a triumphant performance at the conference where it had been censored 40 years ago

The U.S. has righted a "historic injustice" that dates back 40 years. The NYC Gay Men’s Chorus spoke as the headliner at the American Choral Directors Association (ACDA) conference—the very same organization that, in 1984, denied the group the right to officially use its own name. About this Reports ABC News.

In 1984, the choir successfully passed a “blind audition” to participate in the prestigious ACDA conference. However, when the association’s leadership learned that the word “gay” was in the group’s name, the musicians were barred from performing under their own name. The members recall this as a “slap in the face”: they were told outright that no one should know who they were. In the end, the choir performed anyway, but its name was omitted from publications in the National Choral Journal, and relations between the organizations remained strained for decades.

The reconciliation was initiated by an ACDA representative named Amanda. She stated that her goal was “healing” and to bring the choir back into the association, where their talent could be admired. According to her, this recognition was needed first and foremost by the association itself.

This year, the New York Gay Choir was invited to headline the event. They were joined by the award winner "Grammy" by Scott Hoying, who wrote the original song “Never Go” especially for this occasion.

For the choir members themselves, the opportunity to sing openly and joyfully became a form of protest. “To speak out without shame is to resist a world that once told us to hide.”, — the group noted. Forty years later, the choir returned to the same stage to remind the audience of humanity and harmony.