This is Texas: AGMC's Journey to GALA
Nearly 100 voices strong, the Austin Gay Men's Chorus takes the international GALA stage to defend Texas trans youth.
This is Texas: AGMC's Journey to GALA follows members of the Austin Gay Men's Chorus as they prepare for and travel to the GALA Choruses Festival in Minneapolis.
At its core, the film centers on the experiences of the chorus's trans members, whose stories unfold in a state where their identities are increasingly politicized. Through intimate interviews, rehearsals, and performances, the film captures the emotional weight of visibility and the power of community.
As voices rise together on an international stage, music becomes more than art. It becomes protection. It becomes a protest. It becomes a declaration: we are still here.
At its heart is Finn, a quiet trans singer who finds his courage and shows how music can rise as protest and power.
- Director's statement: This film began as a way to document a journey, but it quickly became something more urgent. As anti-trans legislation continues to shape life in Texas, we were drawn to the stories of trans members within the Austin Gay Men's Chorus — humans navigating identity, safety, and visibility in real time. What we found was not just struggle, but strength. Through music, they create space for themselves and for others. They remind us that visibility is powerful, and that community can be a form of protection.
- National Telly Award — Silver (Social Impact). Official Selections: ImageOut — The Rochester LGBTQ+ Film Festival (World Premiere); Waco Indie Film Festival (Texas Premiere); OutSouth Queer Film Festival (North Carolina Premiere); Out On Film: Atlanta's LGBTQ Film Festival (Georgia Premiere).
- Production: Arco Iris Creative House & Visible Horizon Films. Featuring Finn McMillan, Karl Loque, Adrian J. Lancaster, Harlon Johnson, Armando Barrientos and the Austin Gay Men's Chorus.
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Official trailer
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