in the community:
MenAlive is more than Arts and Entertainment

We promote understanding and acceptance for the LGBTQ community, countering the fear and discrimination that threatens all of society, especially youth.  One of the ways we do this is through community outreach.

Orange County is the ever-growing place, in population and diversity, that MenAlive calls home. If we aren't wrapping gifts during the holiday season, we are volunteering at the food bank. From performing to celebrate the opening of the Argyros Plaza at Segerstrom Center for the Arts to marching in the OC Pride parade, MenAlive chorus members have volunteered thousands of hours to give back to our community.

If you also have a passion for community support and outreach, join MenAlive and help us make a difference in Orange County and our community at large.

Rich Cook Community Bridge Award

MenAlive's Community Bridge Awards, created in 2010 by then Board President Carl Stevens, are presented annually to honor those who have made a positive impact in and for the LGBTQ community. Later renamed the Rich Cook Community Bridge Award in 2014 to commemorate MenAlive Founder Rich Cook's final season as Artistic Director, the award continues to recognize distinguished members of the community who personify MenAlive’s mission of “informing, bringing healing, joy, friendship, and building bridges to the public at large.” These leaders have certainly influenced and furthered our message of friendship and outreach, and have helped bridge the gaps between and within the LGBTQ community and the greater world around us.

2023 Honorees

We are honored to present U.S. Representative Katie Porter and Bob Gunn with the Rich Cook Community Bridge Awards.

U.S. REPRESENTATIVE KATIE PORTER

Congresswoman Katie Porter represents California’s 47th Congressional District in Orange County. As a member of the House Oversight Committee, Congresswoman Porter has asked tough questions of bank CEOs and administration officials to hold them accountable to the American people. She’s a proud member of the House Natural Resources Committee, where she works tirelessly to protect our beaches and public lands, call out Big Oil taking advantage of taxpayers, and keep families safe from wildfires and other natural disasters. A member of the bicameral Joint Economic Committee, she is a leading voice on keeping our economy strong, stable, and globally competitive by cracking down on corporate greed, boosting competition, and investing in smart, family-friendly policies.

Congresswoman Porter is a proud member of the Congressional LGBTQI+ Equality Caucus and she will continue standing up for the LGBTQI+ community in California. Congresswoman Porter believes that every American deserves to be treated with respect and will continue to champion the fight for equality.

BOB GUNN

Bob Gunn is a charter member of MenAlive, singing tenor and playing piano in the very first concert all the way back in 2001. He quickly became the Assistant Director and in 2014 succeeded Rich Cook as Artistic Director. In that role and

throughout his history with the group, Bob has worked to further MenAlive’s mission and cement its place in the community, performing in or leading the Chorus in 57 full concerts, innumerable outreach performances including four trips to the GALA Choruses Festival as well as the 2018 Various Voices Festival in Munich, Germany.

Recently, Bob’s efforts helped to ensure MenAlive’s survival when the COVID-19 pandemic threatened arts organizations around the world.

Aside from what he has described as a grueling 3-month stint in the Men’s Store at Nordstrom, Bob has been a working musician his entire life. He holds a bachelor’s degree in piano performance, music theory and education from Azusa Pacific University and has performed in more than 3,000 concerts, working with the likes of Lou Rawls, Tony Orlando, Michael Lloyd, and Disney Feature Animation.

Although retired from MenAlive, he continues to work as the Artistic Director of the LagunaTunes Community Chorus and as the Music Director at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church in Laguna Beach. Bob and his husband of over 20 years, Kent, make their home in Aliso Viejo.

Past Honorees

Orange County Choral Consortium

MenAlive chorus is a proud member of the OCCC (Orange County Choral Consortium) which is the Orange County Network of choral performance groups and organizations. Because you love and support the choral arts, we invite you to experience the variety of outstanding choral music offered by our members. Take a moment to learn more about other outstanding choruses in Orange County: