Lesbian and Gay Band Association
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.
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.
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 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.
| 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.