Submitted by Joseph DiLiello, Justin Raines, Joseph Vranas, Andy Núñez

On behalf of GFBLA and LGBTQ+ musicians in Southern California, it is with great pride and pleasure that we nominate Fran Long for the Pride Bands Alliance’s 2023 Pillars of Pride award. Fran embodied all of the core qualities of the Pillars of Pride across her 39 years of service to GFBLA, PBA, other sister bands, and other LGBTQ+ music organizations. Fran supported these organizations by helping new bands get started and keeping bands alive when they were close to dissolving. 

Without Fran’s dedication and support, GFBLA would not be around to celebrate its 45th anniversary this year. Fran joined GFBLA in 1984. In the mid 90s during the AIDS crisis, the band lost so many members that GFBLA leadership was discussing dissolving the band’s assets. It was at this time that Fran stepped in to provide GFBLA the financial support needed to keep the band alive. Highlighting her dedication to marching, during this time of struggle for GFBLA, Fran bought
all the uniforms and parts so the band could march proudly in upcoming parades. She would also be the first to fix people’s uniforms so that GFBLA always looked its best. Fran, along with her wife Alison, acted as GFBLA’s librarians for many years and personally housed the band’s music library. Fran bought much of the music, loaned and donated instruments, organized truck rentals and concert setups, and even fed the band before concerts and parades. In addition to her financial support and readiness to help, Fran served as board president from 2001 to 2008, and she resumed leadership from 2010 to 2013.

Beyond the borders of Los Angeles, Fran supported Gary Moline and the Desert Winds in Palm Springs during its beginning stages in the early 2000s. Fran drove from LA to Palm Springs every other week to participate in rehearsals and play any instrument that needed to be covered, from woodwinds to percussion. She organized musicians in LA to join Desert Winds for concerts and parades, even as both organizations struggled to survive. She provided instruments when needed and continued her support until Desert Winds finally found their stability. 

In support of both GFBLA and the Desert Winds, Fran and Alison were the official conference producers for PBA’s 2005 Sunshine Summit. Fran’s generosity extended to all attendees of the event as she fed the conference guests during one of the breaks. This joint collaboration spearheaded by Fran solidified a long-time partnership between the two bands that continues today after more than 20 years across parade seasons and performances at Disneyland. 

Outside of Southern California, Fran attended numerous PBA events, health permitting. She served as a continuous advocate of the PBA, returning to GFBLA after a conference to share her experiences and encouraging other members to attend the next. Her support and advocacy of PBA extended so far as to offer financial support to members who could not afford attending the conference, often covering airfare and lodging. In her continued service and advocacy of GFBLA, Fran served as GFBLA’s delegate at nearly all PBA Delegates meetings and served as GFBLA’s voice to the larger PBA community for a long time. Fran also supported the Federation of Gay Games, attending nearly all FGG events in North America.

As one of the first registered members for PBA and FGG events and producing a conference for PBA, Fran’s participation and dedication to LGBTQ+ musicianship at the national level is unquestionable. However, it is Fran’s contributions to GFBLA and our sister bands that preserve her legacy.

We mentioned that Fran would attend PBA conferences while her health allowed because she suffered for many years with Rheumatoid arthritis and other serious health issues. Fran was in constant pain and, though she may have seemed gruff to some, she was such a beautiful soul who battled through her pain to do many wonderful things in support of the LGBTQ+ music community.

On April 15, 2023, Fran succumbed to her health issues. The passing of our matriarch sent ripples throughout GFBLA and our sister bands, reuniting long-lost members at her celebration of life where musicians of all ages came to express their gratitude to Fran for fostering and building a welcoming and accepting community for everyone.

Fran embodied all of the core qualities to be a Pillar of Pride and a role model. She supported and grew multiple PBA bands, supported her fellow musicians, played any instrument to meet the needs of the band, and she was dedicated to music both locally and nationally. Though Fran never sought recognition across her four decades of unwavering and substantial support, her contribution, generosity, and sacrifice are forever etched into the history of GFBLA. Although this nomination comes posthumously, as she deserved this accolade and acknowledgement in life, we feel this is a fitting way to preserve her legacy in the national organization forever.