Gary Keating—the founder of the Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus—is back, and he’s better than ever. Take a peek at what’s on Gary’s mind, before seeing him this weekend in the chorus’ annual holiday show.
Where did you grow up? I grew up in Swanzey, New Hampshire. It’s a wonderful, small town near Keene, in the southwest corner of state. What do you miss about it there? I do miss the seasons. Especially the Fall. How long have you lived in South Florida? Since 1979. Why did you move here? To do my master’s degree in music at the University of Miami. What part of South Florida do you live in? I live in Oakland Park now. But I lived in Wilton Manors for 17 years. What do you like most about living here? South Florida has been wonderful to me, both professionally and personally. It allowed me to come out and meet my husband of 36 years. It let me work to help thousands of people living with AIDS and to educate thousands of kids who didn’t get the disease.
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If God were to take you tomorrow, how would you like to be remembered? As someone who cared and loved and didn’t sit on the sidelines. What do you want to live long enough to see? All people in the U.S. treated equally, and veterans treated like the heroes that they are. Oh, and my nieces and nephew married, if that’s what they choose. Will you ever retire? Not likely! I hope the Lord still has things for me to do. What’s your guilty pleasure? A great Manhattan. What’s your favorite band? It’s still The Beatles. What’s your fondest childhood memory? Camping with my family. What were you like in high school? Involved, but shy. What’s your favorite quote? “Love the person you look at in a mirror first. Then you can love the world.” What celebrity did you act like a “fan” around? Nell Carter. She was amazing. What’s the last thing that you looked at online? Facebook, to follow my family and friends, and to “like” their adventures and successes.
What’s the best place that you’ve visited? New York City. What’s something that you learned in life only when you got older? That alienating anyone for whatever reason is a terrible thing! People need to feel accepted and respected. What did you learn from your parents? To be a hard worker, and to have total love and acceptance. Who’s your favorite performer? The great Leontyne Price. What’s your best characteristic? I hope that I’m caring and kind. How do you enjoy spending your time? With family, being around music, and anytime that I can be around horses. What celebrity do you have a crush on? I’ve had a lifetime crush on Pat Boone. Who do you admire? Barack Obama and Cory Booker. If you could bring one person back from the dead, who would it be? Selfishly, my auntie Irene Woods. She knew who I was long before I did! Where would you go in a time machine? To the night that I met my husband. It was magical.
What would your last meal be? A lobster with good clam chowdah. What do you worry about? That violence is a solution for anything. What are you afraid of? I experienced more loss working for an AIDS agency than anyone should in a lifetime. I’m afraid that too many Americans are experiencing that kind of loss today, especially those that are under 20-years-old. If you were a musical instrument, what would you be? An organ. Are you more like a sheep or a wolf? People see me as a sheep, but there’s a wolf in there. Who depends on you, and for what? My former students still do for support, and my friends do for love and support. Who are you closest with? My husband and my brother. What would your autobiography be called? I Tried to Live Life, Not Watch It Go By. What’s on your bucket list? More travel abroad. What’s your greatest regret in life? That I hurt people when I came out. Where can we see you? About town as a new realtor, and always with the Fort Lauderdale Gay Men’s Chorus!
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