The Perth Pride Choir is preparing to host the Out & Loud festival for the first time in November next year. Out & Loud is an international choir festival that brings LGBTQIA+ choirs from across the world together for a week of celebrations.

Perth Pride Choir Out & Loud coordinator Majka McLean-Engstrom said the festival will create “a sense of community, a sense of pride, and a place for celebration” for those involved.

Over 300 singers will come to Perth from November 16 to 20 to participate in the festival. Out & Loud will be based at the University of Western Australia. The festival will hold singing workshops and pop-up performances in Perth city, ending with a final gala concert at Winthrop Hall.

McLean-Engstrom said there was a lot of excitement from the choir surrounding the Out & Loud festival.

The choir formed over 30 years ago, in 1993, and currently has around 75 members aged from teens to people in their 80s, meeting once a week for rehearsals.

Convenor for the Perth Pride Choir, Jode Thomas, said the choir created a sense of community for its members through music, particularly for those who have lost their family of origin for whatever reason.

Ms Thomas said the choir felt like a “chosen family” for many participants.

Curtin Centre for Human Rights Education researcher Misty Farquhar said it’s important to have LGBTQIA+ community groups that engage with hobbies and interests.  

“It is a nice affirming way of people being able to be free in their identity, but also engage in things that they enjoy,” they said.

Data from 2022 shows that 4.5 per cent of Australians aged 16 years and over identify as LGBTQIA+, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

According to Beyond Blue, LGBTQIA+ individuals are four times more likely to report psychological distress than the rest of the population.

McLean-Engstrom said connecting through community groups with others who identify as LGBTQIA+ had a range of mental health benefits including bringing a sense of hope and a sense of unity.

Dr Farquhar said queer community groups can provide a space where people can freely express who they are.

“When you are trying to figure out who you are and trying to make sense of your own identity, it is really important to be able to speak to people who understand and have similar experiences. When you know that other people have similar experiences, you don’t have to explain it. Everyone’s on the same page.”

Ms Thomas said the choir was a place where participants could feel “accepted and not questioned” about their identity.

The Perth Pride Choir is open to the public and potential new members from all backgrounds and abilities.

“It’s not about whether you are the best singer in the world, it is more about being part of the choir and being part of the community,” Ms Thomas said.