“Messiah Queered” Brings Inclusive Christmas Message to Manitoba’s 2SLGBTQ+ Community
A groundbreaking performance of Handel’s “Messiah” is set to offer a message of welcome and affirmation to the 2SLGBTQ+ community in Steinbach, Manitoba, this weekend, addressing a long-held desire for inclusive Christian events in the region.
The performance, dubbed “Messiah Queered,” reimagines the classic choral work by allowing singers to embrace vocal parts that align with their individual voices and spirits, regardless of traditional gender expectations. This innovative approach, coupled with increased security measures following earlier threats to the community, underscores a powerful statement of inclusivity and resilience.
A Response to Community Need
The event originated from a clear demand within the 2SLGBTQ+ community and its allies. Trevor Kirczenow, a violinist and co-founder of the advocacy group Steinbach Neighbours for Community, explained that the question of how churches could better support the community was a recurring theme. “This is something that comes up over and over again. People ask us, ‘Well, what can my church do, how can we help?’ So we thought this was the perfect event for our community,” Kirczenow said.
The “queering” of the performance involves a deliberate shifting of voice types, allowing tenors to sing soprano lines and vice versa. Attendees are also encouraged to participate by singing along, embracing the freedom to choose any vocal part that resonates with them. “Any voice can sing any part, as long as it feels good for them,” stated soloist Geneva Halverson.
A Message of Universal Suffering and Joy
Conductor Ken MacDonald highlighted the historical context of the work, noting that the original librettist, Charles Jennens, already altered pronouns in the text when adapting biblical sources for Handel’s oratorio. “He changed a number of the pronouns,” MacDonald explained. “Where it was ‘I’ – David talking about his experiences and suffering – he transposed it so it was a messenger giving these kind of things – ‘he was despised, he was rejected.’”
MacDonald connected this historical adaptation to contemporary struggles, stating, “I thought, if we’re talking about this universal suffering, let’s talk about the suffering going on in our community right now. Let’s talk about [how] we have a Trans Day of Remembrance that people are openly mocking. Let’s talk about the people in my generation – so many people were lost to AIDS. It was a time of tremendous despair and humiliation.”
Despite acknowledging this profound connection to suffering, MacDonald emphasized that the concert will ultimately focus on the celebratory spirit of Christmas. “The rest of it is joy. It’s that everyone’s included, everyone’s accepted. And so for us to bring this to a community where people have been told, ‘You don’t have a place in our church,’ we’re saying that’s not what the message of Messiah is. “So, you’re welcome here.”
Addressing Safety Concerns and Building Bridges
The performance will take place Sunday evening at Grace Mennonite Church in Steinbach, with support from Steinbach’s United Church, following a Friday performance at St. Mark’s Lutheran Church in Winnipeg. The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada’s Manitoba-Northwestern Ontario Synod has also lent its support.
Security will be present at the Sunday performance, a necessary precaution following the cancellation of Steinbach Pride earlier this year due to threats. However, MacDonald expressed confidence in the power of the music to transcend potential conflict. “We’re doing something that’s very aligned with the message for peace. And I don’t anticipate any issues with people. We’re playing Messiah in churches,” he said.
Kirczenow underscored the importance of welcoming congregations, particularly for those who have experienced trauma within religious settings. “There are individuals who have experienced a lot of trauma in the church, so to have an event where these churches are affirming and welcoming and so supportive, it’s a really beautiful thing,” he said.
For Halverson, the event embodies a fundamental truth. “For me, [it’s] that Christianity is for everyone — that it’s not just for people that follow a certain set of rules, but it’s for anyone that believes in God and Jesus,” they said. “That, to me, is what’s so special about it.”
The performance is expected to last approximately two hours and 30 minutes, and tickets are available through Manitoba Mobile Music, a venture co-founded by MacDonald, Kirczenow, and Rachel Kristenson.
Watch: Messiah Queered connects 2SLGBTQ+ faithful with music – This video highlights the anticipation surrounding the event and the desire for inclusive spaces within the Christian community.
