San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band

The San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band (SFLGFB) is a community-based concert, marching, and pep band in San Francisco. It is the official band of San Francisco. Founded in 1978, it was the first openly-gay musical organization in the world. The band promotes visibility and musical education for the Bay Area's lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer (plus) (GLBTQ+) communities. Although a majority of its members are GLBTQ+, many are heterosexual allies and join to support the GLBTQ+ community and to participate in the community concert band, marching band, and/or pep band. The SFLGFB presents musical programs that help to build understanding between GLBTQ+ and other communities.
Mission.
"The San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band provides for the education and musical development of its members, promotes visibility of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities, and with its allies, fosters understanding among diverse communities through public performance."
History.
The band was founded by Jon Reed Sims in 1978 as the San Francisco Gay Freedom Day Marching Band and Twirling Corp. Sims, born in Smith Center, Kansas, was a musician and performer who formed the band in response to Anita Bryant's anti-gay campaign in the late 1970s. Upon its founding in 1978, it became the first openly gay musical group in the world. In successive years, Sims created the San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus, the Lesbian/Gay Chorus of San Francisco, Lambda Pro Musica orchestra (now defunct), and encouraged the formation of the Big Apple Corps GLBT band in New York by Nancy Corporon and The Great American Yankee Freedom Band of Los Angeles by Wayne Love.
The Official Band of San Francisco.
For its dedication to community service, the Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band was first declared "The Official Band of San Francisco" on its 20th anniversary on behalf of the city's Board of Supervisors by Supervisor Tom Ammiano at Yerba Buena Gardens. The Board of Supervisors repeated the honor in May 2003 at the Band's 25th anniversary concert, "The Beat Goes On", at Everett Middle School Auditorium, the site of the Band's first formal concert in December 1978.
On December 4, 2018, the San Francisco Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to pass legislation officially designating the Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band "the official band of the city and county of San Francisco." In a ceremony at San Francisco City Hall on December 18, 2018, San Francisco mayor London Breed signed the measure into law.
Membership.
As a community band, the San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band has diverse members from all over the greater Bay Area. Members come from many walks of life, religious beliefs, genders, cultures, physical abilities and sexual orientations.
New musicians may join without an audition. They are required only to read sheet music and have at least high school-level training on a band instrument. (See list, below.) The band typically performs Level 4 ("medium advanced") concert music.
Leadership.
Artistic Directors (Concert Band):
Artistic Directors (Marching and Pep Bands):
Performances.
The SF Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band schedules four concerts annually, usually in early March, June, September and December. In addition, it marches in many parades and performs at many community events throughout the year. Since its inception, the band has performed at many events, both GLBTI and non-GLBTI. Included in this roster are the San Francisco Chinese New Year Parade, Senior's Connection on New Year's Day, GLBTI pride parades all over California and the United States, San Francisco St. Patrick's Day Parade, Redwood City 4th of July Parade, Clarendon Elementary School's Gay Awareness Day, SF AIDS Walk, and many more.
Dance-Along Nutcracker.
The band's most renowned annual performance is the Dance-Along Nutcracker, usually held the first or second weekend in December at Yerba Buena Center for the Arts. Organized around a different theme each year, the audience is encouraged to dance during movements of Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker" Suite. In between, professional entertainers such as Carolyn Carvajal, Trauma Flintstone and Cheer San Francisco perform for the audience. Many audience members wear festive costumes they bring themselves or tutus they rent at the event. The Dance-Along Nutcracker is family-friendly and has been called "the plum of the holiday season." For many area residents, it has become an annual tradition. The production has been featured in the San Francisco Chronicle, Wall Street Journal and on NBC and HGTV.
Legal status.
A California 501(c)3 non-profit corporation, The San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band is dedicated to providing music and entertainment for any non-profit organization that requests its services and does not conflict with its mission.