For as long as progressive folksinger-songwriter Pat Humphries has been gay, she has been out about it. For the past 20-plus years, she has performed at mass rallies and tiny house concerts—and everything in between —as an out lesbian. Pat acknowledges that many LGBT people cannot come out for fear of losing their lives or their livelihoods, but she herself 'couldn't imagine not being out. African Americans, Native Americans, they can't choose to take a day off.' Hiding has never felt like an option for her.
Pat's commitment to visibility adds a certain poignancy to one of her newest songs, 'If I Give Your Name.' Co-written with her singing partner—and partner in life—Sandy Opatow, this song explores the silent sadness of the families of undocumented workers killed in the Sept. 11 attack on the World Trade Center. The chorus echoes different family members' anguish as they wonder, 'If I give your name, will they come after me?' This song won the prestigious grand prize in the folk category of the 2002 John Lennon Songwriting Competition and was one of 12 grand prizewinners out of 24,000 entries.
Some of Pat's other songs have won their share of attention as well. Her anthems, 'Keep on Moving Forward (Never Turning Back),' 'Common Thread,' and 'Swimming to the Other Side,' are sung at peace and justice events around the world and have been translated into seven languages. She sang 'Keep on Moving Forward' at the United Nations memorial honoring former Congresswoman Bella Abzug, and this same song opened the Fourth UN World Conference on Women in Beijing in 1995.
'This Love,' another recent song co-written by Pat and Sandy, addresses same-sex marriage and expresses some of the concerns they had about their own wedding. The two met 12 years ago and established a strong friendship before becoming partners. As they planned their event, they felt 'sure of each other,' Pat says, 'but not so sure of others in our families and whether they could stand up for us.' The couple wanted to be clear about what they needed from the people in their lives. The lyrics tell them: 'Now it's up to you to be there for this love.'
The two women have performed at concerts, teach-ins, and rallies, including leading 10,000 people in New York City singing their song, 'Peace, Salaam, Shalom,' less than a month after the Sept. 11 tragedy and again at an all-night peace vigil there on the first anniversary. Their songs have been featured on Pacifica Radio and National Public Radio, and Pat's CD, Hands, has been widely praised. Rhythms Magazine called it a 'powerful and energetic album' and 'one of the best of 2001.' And Pete Seeger said during the NPR report, 'The powers that be can control the media (but) it's hard to stop a good song ... Pat's songs will be sung well into the 22nd century.'
Anywhere the duo plays, participation is strongly encouraged. 'That's what life's all about,' Sandy says. 'That's what activism's all about. That's what music is all about.' Pat adds, 'For us, music is a metaphor for people being engaged in life. Culture should not be relegated to a spectator event.'
Pat and Sandy bring their distinctive sound and politically progressive energy to the Chicago area Friday, May 7. The concert also heralds the release of their brand new CD, one: x 1,000,000 = change, as well as the duo's new name, 'Emma's Revolution,' based on a quotation generally attributed to activist Emma Goldman: 'If I can't dance, I don't want to be in your revolution.' The new name, Pat says, reflects their commitment to writing and performing 'engaging, sometimes danceable songs' about significant, complex issues and their belief that 'we can celebrate our way to a better world.'
Friday, May 7, 7:30 p.m., Unitarian Church of Evanston, 1330 Ridge (at Greenwood). Advance tickets, available at Women & Children First bookstore, are $12; at the door, tickets are $15. Opening the show is the local folk group, Voices. Call (773) 973-2416 for information. Visit www.pathumphries.com .
