Gay band will march to the beat of Obama's drum

[swag]

Source: Seattle PI

If perception is reality, the sight of 177 gay and lesbian musicians in silver baseball jackets and blue berets, playing "Ode to Joy" as they march up Pennsylvania Avenue during Barack Obama's presidential inauguration next week will be no mere gesture.

Four horn players from Seattle's Rainbow City Band will walk among them, each willing to lose a week of work and put up about $1,000 to participate in the event, the first time in history that a lesbian and gay group will officially march in a Presidential Inaugural Parade.

"It's symbolic, but symbolism is important," said Will Dean, 42, who works in administration at University of Washington Medicine and will lead the 26-piece trumpet section. "You need things that are milestones to represent where you've been and where you're going, and for the gay community this is an important milestone."

Members of the national Lesbian and Gay Bands Association have participated before -- specifically during the Clinton inaugurations -- but only from the sidelines, where they received a "thumbs-up" from the former president, but never as sanctioned members of the procession.

"Obama just signals a generational shift," said Scott Rinnan, 25, a math student at the UW who sports a nose ring and plays baritone. "This is the first time I've felt inspired by a politician and proud of a president."


Read more: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/396066_band15.html

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My pal Will is pictured. Great guy. Yes, I am basking in glory reflected.

[Iwillnevergiveup]

1. Yes

The band will play on!

K&R

[LeftHander]

2. I remember this one time.....

at band camp.

[tomreedtoon]

3. Marching bands ruin every song they play.

They turn everything they play into noise. Listen to them play a sentimental song: "By the time...I get to...BOOM! BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!...be waking..."

[swag]

4. Nabob.