Pride Bands Alliance

Lesbian and Gay Band Association (LGBA) is an international musical organization of concert bands and marching bands. LGBA was formed in 1982 as "Lesbian and Gay Bands of America" when seven independent lesbian and gay bands met formally in Chicago.

LGBA currently includes 35 bands in the United States, Canada and Australia. In 2003 LGBA voted to conduct business as the Lesbian and Gay Band Association, to reflect the international diversity of the membership. The Lesbian and Gay Band Association remains dedicated to its original goals:

Providing a network of lesbian and gay bands at all stages of development.
Promoting music as a medium of communication among people.
Improving the quality of artistic and organizational aspects of member bands.
Stimulating public interest in the unique art form of community band music in our culture.

Membership

Membership in bands is open to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and straight people of all genders and any level of musicianship. In addition to the member bands there are Partner groups, including Cheer San Francisco, and LGBT orchestras, such as Queer Urban Orchestra in New York. There are also partner bands in Canada, Australia, and the European Union. Individuals may join LGBA as Affiliate Members.

Great performances are the most visible manifestation of the Lesbian and Gay band movement. Member bands across the country appear in hundreds of concerts, parades, and community events every year. Member bands in geographic proximity often perform together, and a typical marching schedule will include Pride Parades in several different cities.

LGBA strives to unite men and women who share a love of band music, and the bands help create and enhance the "community" its members call home. Through musical performance, LGBA bands make a powerful political statement in a non-political way. Whether marching or playing a concert, we proudly proclaim We Are Who We Are.

LGBA bands are sources of pride within their cities, as well as positive symbols of the same communities. Making music creates a family where affection means more than affectional preference. By "banding together," LGBA shows that people of different sexes, ages, creeds, races, and challenges can build a strong community.

For a full and current list of LGBA members and partners, please see the organization's website LGBA.org [1]

Conferences And Special Events

The Lesbian and Gay Band Association meets annually in different cities to plan events, encourage the formation of new bands, and share the gift of music. Seminars on topics such as musicianship, programming, membership diversity, and organizational skills are held in addition to general business and committee meetings. The conferences are regularly hosted by one or more LGBA bands, and serve as the organization's formal annual meeting. The conferences usually include a performance element, either a concert or a parade and sometimes both. Conferences have been held throughout the United States as well as in Canada and Australia. A list of recent and future conferences is listed below.

At the 2004 LGBA Conference in Fort Lauderdale the massed band played Russian Christmas Music under the direction of composer Alfred Reed, and In Glory Triumphant conducted by composer Robert Longfield. During the 2005 LGBA Conference composer Frank Ticheli conducted the LGBA Band of 120 musicians in Abracadabra and An American Elegy.

California Gold	Palm Springs, CA	November 2-6, 2016
Music, Visibility and Pride	Indianapolis, IN	August 6–9, 2015
Fiesta Caliente	Fort Lauderdale, FL	November 6–9, 2014
Gay Games IX - Salute to Rock and Roll / Personal Best	Cleveland, OH	August 9–17, 2014
Color Our World	Atlanta, GA	October 10–13, 2013
Presidential Inaugural Parade	Washington, DC	January 20, 2013
Go West with a Twist	Dallas, TX	September 13–16, 2012
Lights! Camera! Action!	Seattle, WA	October 13–15, 2011
Gay Games VIII	Cologne, Germany	August 10-18, 2010
Stop the World - I Wanna Get On!	Indianapolis, IN	March 24–28, 2010
Incantations	New Orleans, LA	September 3–6, 2009
Presidential Inaugural Parade	Washington, DC	January 20, 2009
Deliciously Wicked!	New York City, NY	October 30 - November 2, 2008
Silver in St. Louis	St. Louis, MO	October 4–7, 2007
Gay Games VII - When the World Listens	Chicago, IL	July 12–15, 2006
Sunshine Summit	Palm Springs, CA	November 3–6, 2005
SF – 4th Dimension	Fort Lauderdale, FL	November 4–6, 2004
State Fair	Minneapolis, MN	August 28 – September 2, 2003
Gay Games VI	Sydney, Australia	October, 2002
Under New Skies	Melbourne, Australia	October, 2002
Meet Me in St. Louis	St. Louis, MO	September 14–16, 2001
Millennium March on Washington	Washington, DC	April 29–30, 2000
Blast Off – Gays in Space	Fort Lauderdale, FL	1999
Friendship – Gay Games V	Amsterdam, Netherlands	August, 1998
LGBA Conference	Oklahoma City, OK	1998
Hollywood Goes Down Under	Los Angeles, CA	October, 1997
LGBA Conference	San Francisco, CA	April, 1997
Presidential Inaugural Parade/Concert	Washington, DC	January 20, 1997
LGBA Conference	Rochester, NY	September, 1996
LGBA Conference	San Antonio, TX	April, 1996
LGBA Conference	Indianapolis, IN	Fall, 1995
LGBA Conference	Denver, CO	Spring, 1995
This is It!	Ft Lauderdale, FL	October, 1994
Here and Now - Gay Games IV	New York, NY	June, 1994
LGBA Conference	Denver, CO	February, 1994
LGBA Conference	Dallas, TX	October, 1993
Presidential Inaugural Parade/Concert	Washington, DC	January 20, 1993
LGBA Conference	San Francisco, CA	September, 1992
LGBA Conference	Philadelphia, PA	March, 1992
LGBA Conference	Houston, TX	October 1991
band.ol.o.gy	Baltimore, MD	April, 1991
March on Washington	Washington, DC	October, 1990
Beyond the Rainbow - Gay Games III	Vancouver, BC	August, 1990
LGBA Conference	Denver, CO	March, 1990
Showboat ‘89	Ft. Lauderdale, FL	April 7–9, 1989
Banding Together	Boston, MA	October 15, 1988
Takin’ It Downtown	San Diego, CA	February 26–28, 1988
Let Freedom Ring”	Washington, DC	October 10, 1987
Southwest Celebration	Phoenix, AZ	March 20–22, 1987
LGBA Conference	Dallas, TX	September 19, 1986
With the Greatest of Ease - Gay Games II	San Francisco, CA	August 9–17, 1986
Chinese New Year’s Parade	San Francisco, CA	March 8–9, 1986
Notes Across the Nation	Denver, CO	October 18–21, 1985
One Night Only	New York, NY	March 22–24, 1985
LGBA Conference	Minneapolis, MN	October 12–14, 1984
A Gay Night at the Hollywood Bowl	Los Angeles, CA	June 30, 1984
LGBA Conference	Chicago, IL	1982

Notable performances

The LGBA was the first openly-LGBT organization invited to participate in the Parade and Review of the United States presidential inauguration, first doing so in 2009 . The 2013 inaugural featured a 215-strong LGBA contingent hailing from different U.S. localities. Members of LGBA also performed during both inaugurals of President Bill Clinton in 1993 and 1997.

The LGBA performed in Washington, DC for the March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation (1987) and again for the Millennium March on Washington in April 2000 with concerts at the Warner Theatre (1993) and on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial (2000).

The 4th LGBA Conference was held in Los Angeles, CA and featured a Concert at the Hollywood Bowl with special guest Rita Moreno. The concert, A Gay Night at the Bowl was performed on June 30, 1984.

External links

References

Membership

Conferences And Special Events

Notable performances

See also

External links

References