Equality Song

Broadway song and dance man Gavin Creel releases Noise, a message for his brothers and sisters in the LGBT community.

By David-Elijah Nahmod

Gavin Creel

Broadway Baby

Song and dance man Gavin Creel makes noise for equality

"If You Keep Hiding
How Will They Know What You Can Do?"
— Gavin Creel, "Noise"

Rising Broadway star Gavin Creel is angry. He's tired of second-class status. But it's not the Republican or Tea Parties that have incurred his wrath.

"Noise," the recently released single Creel co-wrote with Robbie Roth, is a message for his brothers and sisters in the LGBT community.

"I was angry with my gay community," he said. "I feel pretty strongly that if we knew what power we hold, we are a force to be reckoned with. And yet for some reason, we are still second-class.

"I am angry with the intense complacency that overwhelms us," he continued. "I wanted to write a song that fired us all up right now, that called out to everyone: gay, straight, bi, trans, lesbian, everyone to speak out for gay rights, for equal rights, for human rights, with no shame, with total pride. That's how ‘Noise' was born."

A video that accompanies the song opens with anti-gay activists Maggie Gallagher and Ann Coulter speaking out against equality: "I want Don't Ask, Don't Tell in all of society," Coulter is shown telling Joy Behar.

The video shows Creel singing, interwoven with documentary footage of images including Harvey Milk, bullying victim Tyler Clementi and the Stonewall Riots.

"I see this song not as mine but as all of ours," Creel said. "I want to find a way to get it into the hands of every young kid who doesn't feel like the fight is worth it, who feels isolated and alone.

"I want the song to be on the iPods and computers of people who oppose gay rights, or who don't know what to think," he said. "We are not going to stay quiet until the law protects each and every one of us equally."

Activism isn't new to the star of the recent Broadway and West End revivals of the classic musical Hair. He's a co-founder of Broadway Impact, an organization of New York theater people who are bringing the fight for equality to center stage.

Broadway Impact will co-produce the Proposition 8 play written by Dustin Lance Black, the Oscar winning screenwriter of Milk.

Creel's experience performing for Rosie O'Donnell's RFamily Vacations, which offers vacations for LGBT families, is what launched his activist work.

"I am proud to have been there on the first RFamily Cruise," he said. "It was an event that changed my life completely. I was able to be with almost 2,000 gay and lesbian families and watch them just live and vacation in peace, as normal families can. It helped me to truly accept myself as a gay man and know that I am valid and perfect, just as I am."

To listen to "Noise," and to see the song's video, visit www.GavinCreel.com.

For more information about Broadway Impact, visit www.BroadwayImpact.com. -E

Gavin Creel

More about Gavin Creel

Born April 18, 1976, in Findlay, Ohio.

Nominated for Tony Awards for Best Actor for his roles in Hair and Thoroughly Modern Millie. Also appeared in Broadway production of La Cage aux Folles.

Recorded his debut album, Goodtimenation, in 2006, which was followed three years later by the acoustic EP, Quiet. A new album, Get Out, is to be released in the spring.

Lives in Harlem with his dog, Wally.