From: steven@cray.com (Steven Levine)
Subject: Gay/Lesbian band at Inaugural:  Musings and Details
Organization: Cray Research, Inc.
Date: 16 Dec 92 17:07:33 CST

I think some of us have started taking some things for granted
on the national political scene.  "Of course" it is possible
to elect openly gay congressmen.  "Of course" the overturning
of the military ban against homosexuality was a campaign
issue.  "Of course" the New York Times would have four or five
separate articles in one day on lesbian and/or gay concerns,
and would include a cover story in its Sunday magazine
section (boring as it was) on national gay political influence.

It is great that we take these things for granted.  They
should never have been issues in the first place.  But
there is one "of course" that has stopped me in my tracks
of jadedness:

  Of course the Presidential Inaugural Committee would invite
  an openly lesbian and gay marching band to participate in
  the Parade festivities. 

I know that on our list of priorities this is not exactly
at the top, but I believe it holds representative significance.
It is, on the face of it, such an innocent thing.  And yet
it would have been inconceivable under a different administration.
It would have been inconceivable to me under any circumstances
at all when I was first coming out.

I think about the invitation (which I happen to have a copy of
right in front of me), and I get teary:

   (Inaugural seal of Capitol at top of letter)...Congratulations!
   Your band has been selected to participate in the preparade
   activities of the 52nd Inaugural Parade, "An American
   Reunion -- New Beginnings, Renewed Hope."...

It is a sappy phrase -- New Beginnings, Renewed Hope -- and
yet for 10, 15 seconds at a time I convince myself that I believe
it.

I am not yet clear on all the details of how this came to be,
but I know the outline.  A couple of months ago, a member of the
Great American Yankee Freedom Band of Los Angeles suggested to Lisa
Strongin, President of the Lesbian and Gay Bands of America,
that LGBA should look into fielding a band for Clinton's Inaugural Parade.
There are 21 member bands throughout the country and we have often
had representatives from the bands combine to form a single band.

Lisa contacted the members of the Executive Committee, and most
of us had a similar response of "Well, why not?"  We are a national
band -- there are very few such animals.  It is a long shot, and
there are hundreds of applicants, but there is no reason why we would
be less appropriate for this parade than any other group.

While we were working on our application, a post appeared
in soc.motss (forwarded by Greg Parkinson) from the SO of
one of the parade organizers indicating that no lesbian and
gay groups had applied.  Our application may have crossed in
the mail with this post, but Julian Lander picked up the
contact information from this and got Lisa in direct touch
with the Parade organizers.

Then the political string-pulling began (though to what effect,
I really don't know).  Lisa had to do a lot of selling
over the phone.  Band members with political contacts throughout
the country tried to solicit letters in our support.  One
member of the LGBA Executive Committee lives in Houston, and
she went to aske Ann(e?) Richards to write a letter in our
behalf.  Ms. Richards said, "Letter, hell, I'll call," and picked
up the phone right there.

We found out Monday that we were selected to be part of the
preparade festivities.  We will provide entertainment before
the parade to the folks sitting in the bleachers waiting for
the actual procession.

Those of us who were following the progress of our application
were, naturally, disappointed that we were not to be in the
parade (although we were superstitious about it all along, and
never counted on it happening).  But as we get over this initial
disappointment, we are growing more and more excited about
the significance of the performance we *were* asked to give.  I
am starting to tell my co-workers and friends and family, and everybody
reacts with heartening enthusiasm.  I would be a fool not
to take advantage of this opportunity (despite borrowing money
and taking the unplanned vacation days that this requires).

And then there's the publicity.  We are one of 15 groups selected
for the pre-parade stuff, and yet our group -- words "lesbian
and gay" prominent  -- is at least mentioned in nearly
every article about the Inaugural.  Some reporters took out
their press packets and found Lisa Strongin, who is doing her
talented best to give them good sound bytes.  I suspect we won't
know the full publicity impact of these for weeks, and 
there may be even more publicity at the Inaugural itself.

This is all good news, I hope.  Not just for the bands,
but for the lesbian and gay community.

Now come some difficult logistical steps to make sure this
comes off.  Wish us luck, and cheer for us if you see
us on the news.

-Steven Levine
 steven@cray.com