Lesbian and Gay Band Association

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The Lesbian and Gay Band Association (LGBA) is an international musical organization of concert bands and marching bands. LGBA was formed as the "Lesbian and Gay Bands of America" when members of seven independent lesbian and gay bands met formally in Chicago from October 1–3, 1982. Those bands were the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band (founded June, 1978), the Montrose March Band (Houston, founded June, 1978), the Los Angeles Great American Yankee (GAY) Freedom Band (founded October, 1978), the New York Gay Community Marching Band (founded September, 1979), the Chicago Gay/Lesbian Community Band (founded 1979), DC's Different Drummers (Washington, DC, founded January 7, 1980), and the Oak Lawn Symphonic Band (Dallas, founded May 6, 1980), and the Minnesota Freedom Band (Minneapolis founded September 12, 1982). Mary Bahr was elected the first President of the LGBA.

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.

In January 2021, the Assembly of Delegates voted to change the organization's name to Pride Bands Alliance.

The purpose of the Lesbian and Gay Band Association is to promote LGBT Music, Visibility, and Pride for all by:

  • Providing an international network of LGBT and affirming bands in all stages of development;
  • Promoting music as a medium of communication among people;
  • Improving the quality of artistic and organizational aspects of member bands; and
  • Stimulating public interest in the unique art form of community bands in our culture for all.

Membership[]

Membership in LGBA bands is open to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, questioning and straight people of all genders and ages 18 and up. In addition to the member bands there are LGBA partner groups, including Cheer San Francisco, and LGBT orchestras such as the 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 LGBT Pride Parades in several different cities.

LGBA strives to unite people who share a love of band music, and the bands help create and enhance the "community" its members call home. 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.

Board of Directors[]

OFFICERS President- Cliff Norris Vice-President- Robb Blackwell Treasurer- Moira Wilmes Secretary- David E. McBee

DIRECTORS Aaron Rambo Jessie Riggins Aaron Reines John Davis Brandon A. Lujan Kevin Taylor David Doan, PhD Lawrence (Larry) Williams David Triplett-Rosa Nanette King Derrick Johnson

Conferences and special events[]

The Lesbian and Gay Band Association meets annually hosted by one or more LGBA bands. Members of bands from around the world gather to conduct organizational business, elect officers, 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. Often special ensembles such as saxophone choirs, clarinet choirs and jazz bands are organized by the membership and perform at the conferences. There have been special guest conductors and composers at past LGBA Annual Conferences.

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.

For the 2012 Conference in Dallas, the LGBA commissioned a new work by composer Michael Markowski. He composed City Trees to Commemorate 30 Years of Music, Visibility, and Pride.

The 2018 Conference, "There's No Place Like Home" was held in Kansas City, Missouri.

The Orlando Conference in 2019 was hosted by the three LGBA member bands in Florida, the South Florida Pride Wind Ensemble of Fort Lauderdale, the Tampa Bay Pride Band, and the Central Florida Sounds of Freedom Band and Color Guard in Orlando. The concert included the world premiere of two commission pieces by LGBT composers. Julie Giroux composed and conducted My Soul to Keep, dedicated to all touched by gun violence. Randall Standridge composed Stonewall: 1969, to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.

Sweet Home Chicago Chicago, IL May 26–29, 2022
Bigger and Brighter Houston, TX July 22–25, 2021
Tutti virtual conference July 25–26, 2020
Building Bridges (cancelled due to COVID-19) Portland, OR
Looking Back, Marching Forward Orlando, FL October 10–13, 2019
World Pride New York City, NY June 2019
Gay Games X Paris, France August 9–17, 2018
There's No Place Like Home Kansas City, MO May 23–27, 2018[1]
The Stars at Night (cancelled due to Hurricane Harvey) Houston, TX August 30- September 4, 2017[2]
California Gold Palm Springs, CA November 2–6, 2016[3]
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[]

LGBA was the first openly LGBT organization invited to participate in a 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.

The 40th Anniversary of the Lesbian and Gay Band Association will be held in Chicago in Spring, 2022.

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ http://www.lgba2018.com/
  2. ^ http://lgba2017.org/
  3. ^ "Archived copy". www.lgba2016.org. Archived from the original on 16 November 2016. Retrieved 12 January 2022.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)

External links[]

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