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Loading ...Obama Inauguration parade to feature gay marching band
12.10.2008 2:02pm EST
(Washington) A national association of gay bands will take part in President Barrack Obama’s Inauguration Parade on Jan. 20 in Washington.
The Lesbian and Gay Band Association said it received the invitation from the Presidential Inaugural Committee.“We are extremely pleased to announce that the Lesbian and Gay Band Association will be included as a marching contingent in the Inaugural Parade,” the association said on its Web site. “This is the first time that an LGBT group will be represented in a Presidential Inaugural Parade, truly our chance to make history.”
The association said it will select players from its member groups across the country. There are LGBT bands in 18 states plus the District of Columbia.
Nearly 1,400 bands applied to appear in the parade and fewer than 50 were selected.
Two bands from President-elect Barack Obama’s high school will march in the parade – the Punahou School Marching Band and the JROTC Marching Unit from Honolulu, Hawaii.
Five groups from Vice President-elect Joe Biden’s home state of Delaware also are scheduled to march in the parade, including the Delaware Volunteer Firemen’s Association and the Fightin’ Blue Hen Marching Band from the University of Delaware in Newark.
Record crowds are expected in Washington to see history as Obama is sworn in as the nation’s 44th president and the first African-American.
National Park Service officials have said they’re expecting at least 1 million people for the inaugural, and the city has put the number as high as 5 million.
But only 240,000 will have tickets allowing them onto the Capitol grounds to see the swearing-in ceremony. The rest will spill out along The Mall.
If you’re planning on being in the crowd be warned: Backpacks, signs, umbrellas and thermoses are forbidden.
The list of prohibited items on the Capitol grounds also includes the obvious – firearms, explosives and knives – along with some head-scratchers, like coolers, strollers and laser pointers.
well… um, Laser pointers do a GREAT job of emulating laser sights on sidearms and semi-automatic weapons.
Probably wouldn’t want that to lead to the death of a ‘dummy’ who brought one. OR to distract the secret Service from looking for actual laser sights from possible REAL weapons.
Coolers…strollers… Great way to roll and/or conceal something naughty or dangerous. Want to imagine having to hand search each and EVERY cooler or stroller that could show up? Maybe a MILLION of ‘em? Ummm…not so much.
I’d rather keep law enforcement busy and focused on looking for bad people instead.
Head scratchers? Really?
I scratch that YOU scratch! LOL!
“along with some head-scratchers, like coolers, strollers and laser pointers.”
Hmm, what could you pack in a cooler or stroller that would be dangerous? Gee I don’t know. Maybe weapons? Hmm, what would a laser pointer simulate? Maybe a gun sight? Get a clue before you write an artical.
Obviously the story was written by someone that does not know that we live in a post 9/11 world. Anyone that has attended a large gathering/festival/event in a large city is aware that those are not “head scratchers.”
I am a month away from hitting 72… and back in the 70’s I remember the first gay marching band in the country… and they played at various events and early 70’s Gay Day Parades, At the same time… The first gay chorus, and together made San Francisco sound great! I was one lucky fellow… I did not contribute my musical talent or voice as part of that era… but I did as a footnote in gay history… as a photographer. NEXT MONTH,begininning Jan 25, I’ll be exhibiting images from “WHEN THEN WAS… NOW!” at the Gerber Hart Library. It will feature never before published images of Harvey Milk, early parades, sporting events
and everyday life in the 1970’s… these images are not recreations… There were also so many first’s back then…
but a gay marching band in the Inaugural Parade… and celebrating Our first Black-American Presidents was not on the horizon yet. Thanks to those originals… who brought
music to our times and those today… doing the same for the future Inaugurals, and Pride Parades in America’s expanding Gayborhoods.