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Why does the Gay Community need a band? | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Parades have become an integral part of Pride celebrations across the country. A parade needs music. Paula Ison (QCRB co-founder) says, “A band adds authentication to a parade.” Steven Levine, formerly of Boston’s Freedom Trail band writes, that for Boston's gay pride parade, “the marching band would add a celebratory assertion of visibility and self-worth. Beyond that, music is its own pleasure requiring no sociological evaluation.” (1) Gay marching bands have existed since the 1970s when the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band was founded. The now international organization, Lesbian and Gay Bands of America was founded in 1982 by seven bands. It is time for Cincinnati to join this group. As a GLBT community organization we can support our own community and enhance and entertain at events of other organizations, much in the way that the men’s and women’s choirs have long been a staple part of our gay culture. “More than a traditional community band, our band helps to create the community from which it draws.” (1) Why should the band be gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender? The website of Boston’s Freedom Trail Band explains this eloquently: Gay bands “help break down barriers between the lesbian, gay and bisexual community and the larger community. Because adults bands are so much a part of mainstream American culture, and because we are visible as a lesbian, gay and bisexual organization, we reinforce the point that lesbians, gay men and bisexuals of both sexes should participate fully in American life and culture.” (2) Besides Pride events, the band also has the opportunity to perform at events such as a Fourth of July or St. Patrick’s Day Parade. “Our being there makes a political statement,” says Kevin Taylor of the Oak Lawn Band of Dallas, TX (3) Boston's Freedom Trail Band sometimes plays “outdoor concerts in the Boston Common with our banner proclaiming we are a Lesbian and Gay Band. Drawn by our pleasant music and wholesome appearance, passersby come closer to listen; then they take note of who we are. Our performances are no less performances for being demonstrations as well.” (1) Many members of the queer bands across the country have shared the feeling that the band, whether in school, or in the gay community, provided a sense of family and bonding. In school, band members may have been considered “geeks” or “sensitive creative types.” In addition, for closeted teens, the band may be a “place they could find refuge.” All the better to find a group, where as adults, gay musicians can continue to enjoy performing music, and at the same time enjoy the camaraderie of other gay people. “It’s great to be amongst GLBT people and be totally yourself ,” states Peter Thomas, founder of the Green Mountain Freedom Band of Burlington, Vermont. (3) “The Queen City Rainbow Band pulls our community together in a healthier way than other avenues do!” Tammy Powell, QCRB founding member (1) Program notes written by Steven Levine for the concert “Let Freedom Ring,” produced by Lesbian and Gay Bands of America at D.A.R. Constitution Hall in Washington, D.C. on October 10, 1987. (2) Website of Boston’s Freedom Trail Band, http://hometown.aol.com/ftbboston (3) Web page titled “Band Width.” Published on the PlanetOut website,Nov. 23, 2001. |
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