My Name Is Pauli Murray Documentary Screening

Binkley LGBTQ & Justice in Action committees and Common Woman Chorus (CWC) are co-hosting this FREE screening of the documentary, My Name is Pauli Murray.

My Name is Pauli Murray is a 2021 American documentary film telling the life story of Pauli Murray: lawyer, activist, poet, and Episcopal priest. As a lawyer, their writings and legal theories deeply influenced Thurgood Marshall’s civil rights arguments and Ruth Bader Ginsberg’s fight for gender equality. The documentary is a history of and reflection on their impact as a non-binary Black luminary whose work in legal, activist, and spiritual spheres helped to transform our world. About The Common Woman Chorus

The Common Woman Chorus (CWC), established in 1983, is a non-auditioned treble community chorus in Durham that cultivates connection and change through the healing power of music. We serve as a vital space for woman-identifying, gender-nonconforming, and transgender individuals, prioritizing an LGBTQIA+ centered environment where marginalized voices are amplified. CWC has presented concerts that highlight the diversity of our experiences, the strength of our community, and the local and global events and heroes that inform and inspire us.

Beyond the music, CWC serves as a vital cultural hub where artistic performance meets social advocacy. About CWC’s Performance of “Sincerely Yours, Pauli Murray” This fall (Dec 05, 2026, matinee and evening), CWC will be performing "Sincerely Yours, Pauli Murray," a 10-movement dramatic choral work by Black composer Steve Milloy and librettist Kim Hines. CWC is one of 16 GALA commission choirs across the US supporting this piece (Pauli Murray Commission GALA Choruses).

This commission tells the story of Durham’s own Rev. Dr. Pauli Murray, a pioneering civil rights lawyer, activist, and priest who embodied the intersection of racial and gender justice. The piece weaves choral music, narration, and solo performances accompanied by live instrumentation. CWC hopes this concert will be a catalyst for cross-cultural bridge-building in Durham. By centering the story of Pauli Murray, CWC fulfills its mission to cultivate change through music, providing a platform where the BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, and white communities can collectively reflect on Durham’s civil rights history.