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.
In January 2021, the Assembly of Delegates voted to change the organizations name to Pride Bands Alliance. A new logo design was approved by the Board of Directors at their Annual Retreat, April 2021. 
The purpose of the Lesbian and Gay Band Association is to promote LGBT Music, Visibility, and Pride for all by:
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.
Board of Directors.
OFFICERS 
President- Cliff Norris
Vice-President- Robb Blackwell
Treasurer- Moira Wilmes
Secretary- David E. McBee
DIRECTORS 
Aaron Rambo 
Jessie Riggins
Aaron Reines 
John Davis
Brandon A. Lujan 
Kevin Taylor
David Doan, PhD 
Lawrence (Larry) Williams
David Triplett-Rosa 
Nanette King
Derrick Johnson 
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 2018 Conference, "There's No Place Like Home" was held in Kansas City, Missouri.
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.
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.