This album brings us soothing melodies and inclusive, loving lyrics by 15 award-winning LGBTQIA+ writers, performed by more than 30 LGBTQIA+ artists, including many Broadway stars. Many of the songs are explicitly inclusive of families with two moms or two dads, or speak to the many types of families. Others touch on the often long journeys many LGBTQIA+ people have taken to parenthood. Some speak simply to the bond between any parent and child. All of the songs, however, are at heart about the love and care of family.
The album was conceived by Ryan Bauer-Walsh (Billy Elliot) in memory of his mother, Nancy, “as a way to continue her legacy of maternal strength, kindness and love.” Many of the songs, such as “Family Means” (Kyle Dean Massey, Taylor Frey, Jenn Colella, and Chilina Kennedy) and “Mommy and Mama” (Jo Lampert) are explicitly inclusive of families with two moms or two dads, or, like “Your Own Sweet Family” (Susie Mosher), speak to the many types of families. “The Beautiful Son” (Jaime Cepero, Jonathan Burke) tells of a “beautiful Black son” being raised by two dads. Some, like “Hide and Seek” (Matt Doyle), “When We Dreamed of You” (Ryan Bauer-Walsh), and “The Dream” (L Morgan Lee) touch on the often long journeys many LGBTQIA+ people have taken to parenthood. “Two Mama Flamingos” (Christine Dwyer) reminds us of the natural world’s variety of families, including two-mom flamingo couples, two-dad giraffe pairs, and a seahorse dad gestating its eggs. Others, like “You’ll Have a New Day Tomorrow” (Ryan Bauer-Walsh) speak simply to the bond between any parent and child. All of the songs, however, are at heart about the love and care of family, however we may choose to define it.
All proceeds from purchases of the album support the Ali Forney Center, whose mission is to protect LGBTQ+ youths from the harms of homelessness and empower them with the tools needed to live independently.
The album is being pitched as “the world’s first LGBTQ lullaby album,” which is technically true, but might lead one to think it’s the first album of LGBTQ-focused or LGBTQ-inclusive kids’ music. It’s not—here are a number of other albums you may want to check out. The Rainbow Lullaby, however, gives us a full album focused on soft lullabies, perfect for bedtime or anytime when the kids (or you) need a little calming. With the songwriting and performing talent brought to bear here, this is likely to become a go-to album for many, many families.
