In the beginning...
Following the formation of the first three lesbian and gay bands in 1978 (in San Francisco, Los Angeles and Houston) the movement continued to grow. In September of 1982 the leaders of eight independent bands from across the United States met in Chicago and agreed to form the Lesbian and Gay Bands of America (LGBA). The original LGBA member bands were from Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, New York City, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. The LGBA organizational structure consists of a 16-member Board of Directors plus an Assembly of Delegates comprised of two representatives from each member band in good standing. Until 1998 conferences were held twice per year. Now we conduct business during an annual conference.
1983
Conferences held in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, CA
1984
Conferences held in Houston, TX, and Minneapolis, MN The first LGBA massed band event, “A Gay Night At The Hollywood Bowl,” included more than 100 musicians on stage, guest conductors, and the fabulous Rita Moreno.
1985
Conferences held in New York, NY and Denver, CO
1986
Conferences held in San Francisco, CA, and Dallas, TX During the second Gay Games Sports & Cultural Festival in in San Francisco, over 200 musicians gathered on the stage at Davies Symphony Hall for a circus-themed concert called “With The Greatest Of Ease.” The massed band also performed at the Opening and Closing Ceremony, the gold-medal basketball game, and at a mid-week parade.
1987
Conferences held in Phoenix, AZ, and Washington, DC The massed LGBA Band marched in the March on Washington for LGBT rights. The band also performed at sold-out DAR Constitution Hall in a concert called "Let Freedom Ring."
1988
Conferences held in San Diego, CA, and Boston, MA
1989
Conferences held in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, and Minneapolis, MN
1990
Conferences in Denver, CO, and Vancouver, BC LGBA again played for Gay Games, with performances at the Opening Ceremony, the Closing Ceremony, a Pride Parade, a jazz/dance band concert, and the enormously successful “Beyond The Rainbow” concert at downtown Vancouver’s ornate Orpheum Theater.
1991
Conferences in Baltimore, MD, and Houston, TX
1992
Conferences in Philadelphia, PA, and San Francisco, CA LGBA celebrated its 10th anniversary with a major concert called “Dreams: Toward the Next Rainbow,” with celebrity emcees Dick Sargent and Margaret Cho.
1993
Conferences in Washington, D.C., and Dallas, TX LGBA performed at the Inauguration celebration for Bill Clinton's first term in office, becoming the first openly gay group to perform at a Presidential Inauguration, and receiving a double “thumbs-up” gesture from the President as we played "America the Beautiful." The massed band again performed in 1993 for the March on Washington. Our concert, “Americans We,” was held at the restored Warner Theatre and included celebrity appearances by Robin Tyler and Judith Light.
1994
Conferences in New York, NY, and Ft. Lauderdale, FL At Gay Games in New York City, the LGBA band performed for both the opening and closing ceremonies, various pep band performances, and a major concert, called “Here and Now” at Madison Square Garden’s elegant Paramount Theater.
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1995
Conferences in Denver, CO, and Indianapolis, IN
1996
Conferences in San Antonio, TX, and Rochester, NY Jointly hosted by the Houston Pride Band and the Oak Lawn Band of Dallas, the featured performances were a pair of outdoor concerts at the historic Alamo.
1997
Conferences held in San Francisco, CA, and Los Angeles, CA With President Bill Clinton's second election, the LGBA band again performed for the presidential inauguration.
1998
Conferences in Amsterdam and Oklahoma City, OK During Gay Games V in Amsterdam, LGBA performed number times at pep band events, during closing ceremonies, and at two free outdoor concerts.
1999
Conference in Ft. Lauderdale, FL
2000
Conference in Washington, D.C. For the Millennium March on Washington the LGBA band played at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial for a massed same-sex wedding ceremony. The massed band had a major role in leading the actual March down the Mall towards a massive stage that was built for the speakers and entertainers. Two groups of bandmembers provided live music for the various speakers and entertainers.
2001
Despite the terrorist attacks of September 11, just 3 days before the LGBA conference was supposed to begin, the concert still took place before a highly appreciative audience at the Art Museum Auditorium. The reduced attendance, however, put conference business on hold.
2002
Conference in Melbourne, Australia Prior to Gay Games VI in Sydney, the LGBA band spent a week in Melbourne, rehearsing, performing, and sightseeing. The band reprised the "I Love the Nightlife" concert at Sydney Town Hall , aldong with performances at opening and closing ceremonies, as well as a performance for Federation of Gay Games leaders in part of the Sydney Opera House.
2003
Conference in Minneapolis, MN The LGBA massed band marched in the Superior, WI Pride Parade and at the Minnestoa State Fair.
2004
Conference in Ft. Lauderdale, FL Our concert at the Broward Performing Arts Center featured guest conductors Robert Longfield and Alfred Reed. The LGBA band was honored to play the some of the works of these composers under their batons.
2005
The Great American Yankee Freedom Band of Los Angeles and the Desert Winds Freedom Band of Palm Springs hosted a massed band concert featuring composer Frank Ticheli on the podium. The band also performed in the Palm Springs Pride Parade. Conference in Palm Springs
2006
At Gay Games VII LGBA performed a field show during Opening Ceremonies, several pep band perfromances, and at Closing Ceremonies. In addition the concert, “When The World Listens,” was held at the Pritzker Pavilion in Millennium Park. Conference in Chicago, IL
2007
Conference in St. Louis, MO With nearly 250 musicians, the largest LGBA massed band to date performed at the Scottish Rite Cathedral in St. Louis in celebration of our 25th anniversary
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