“This song is a powerful call to remembrance. It reminds us that we descend from movement leaders and cultural bearers who endured far greater treachery than what we face today. Our chorus was founded by two Black gay men who were denied the right to sing Black gospel music because of their queerness. From that exclusion, they built a sanctuary.

We now carry the same courage, resilience, brilliance, and communal power. Their genius lives in us. Their defiance lives in us. And through that inheritance, we stand equipped to confront oppression in all its forms.

Performing this anthem alongside the powerhouse Joshua Nelson felt divinely aligned. His forthright vocals were an unapologetic belt of gratitude to our ancestors. When we declare, “Lift up your voice, we were made for these times,” it is not wishful thinking. It is ancestral truth, sung with jubilation and conviction.”