(Thanks to Gay Star News)
Opera star Joyce DiDonato will be dedicating her performance of ‘Somewhere Over The Rainbow’ at tonight’s (7 September) ‘Last Night of the BBC Proms’ to the victims of LGBT persecution across the world. The soprano will be the soloist at tonight’s event, which is often regarded as one of the largest classical music events in the world.
Speaking on BBC Radio 4, DiDonato said: ‘there’s a lot of those voices that are being silenced today, by families, by governments, by countries and I take that really personally. ‘If I literally and figuratively have a voice that I can use in their honour I’m really happy to do that.’
DiDonato has previously shown her support to LGBT people. Speaking further on her personal blog, DiDonato wrote: ‘The Russian Government (among others) is systematically silencing their own citizens and those of us that support them around the world. ‘But, you know what? It’s not only Russia. There are well-intentioned parents, siblings, friends, strangers, communities, schools, as well as governments, that insist on trying to make homosexuals feel like lesser human beings, hoping for their silence, which is seemingly so much easier for their oppressors to bear. ‘This simply cannot stand. We are TRULY better than this.’
Tonight’s ‘Last Night of the Proms’ will also feature lesbian conductor Marin Alsop, who will become the first female conductor of the proms in its 118 year history. Speaking about her appointment, Alsop said : ‘It’s really shocking that it’s 2013 and there are still ‘firsts’ for women.’
http://www.gaystarnews.com/article/soprano-joyce-didonato-dedicate-song-bbc-proms-gay-victims-worldwide070913