Pride Bands Alliance Withdraws from 2025 Presidential Inaugural Parade
[Washington, DC] – December 2, 2024 – The Pride Bands Alliance, a coalition of more than 37 LGBTQ+ musical ensembles and partner organizations representing over 2,500 musicians across the United States and internationally, recently announced its decision to not submit its application to participate in the 2025 Presidential Inaugural Parade.
For the 2025 event, we pre-registered over 428 musicians, with an additional 162 individuals on the waitlist, demonstrating significant enthusiasm from our member bands. These participants had already begun preparing, with leadership and logistics in place. However, after thoughtful consideration, our member bands determined it was not in alignment with our mission and community priorities to move forward at this time.
This decision, reached by an overwhelming majority vote of member band delegates on November 9, 2024, marks a departure from the organization’s longstanding tradition of participating in inaugural performances, having previously participated in 1993, 1997, 2009, and 2013.
Safety and Security Concerns Drive Decision
The Pride Bands Alliance cited concerns for the safety and security of its members as the primary reason for withdrawing their application. Recent political rhetoric and actions, specifically the president-elect’s recent “they/them” versus “you” campaign ad with its divisive language targeting transgender and nonbinary individuals, have created an environment where many members of the LGBTQ+ community feel unsafe and vulnerable. This is particularly concerning given the president-elect’s history of executive orders and administrative actions that have negatively impacted the LGBTQ+ community.
“The safety and well-being of our members is our top priority,” said David Doan, President of the Pride Bands Alliance. “We cannot in good conscience expose our members to potential harm or discrimination. The current political climate has created an atmosphere of hostility towards the LGBTQ+ community, and we will not put our members at risk.”
Commitment to Music and Visibility Remains Strong
Despite withdrawing from the parade, the Pride Bands Alliance remains committed to its mission of fostering musical excellence and promoting visibility and acceptance for LGBTQ+ musicians. The organization plans to continue seeking opportunities to share its music and message of pride with audiences across the nation.
“Our decision to withdraw from the parade is not a retreat,” said Doan. “It is a reaffirmation of our commitment to our values and our community. We will continue to use our music to promote inclusivity, equality, and acceptance for all.”
The Pride Bands Alliance remains optimistic that future political climates will allow for their participation in future presidential inaugural parades.
About Pride Bands Alliance:
The Pride Bands Alliance is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to supporting and promoting LGBTQ+ musical ensembles. Through performance opportunities, educational initiatives, and community outreach, the Alliance strives to create a world where all musicians, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity, can express themselves freely through music.
Contact:
David Doan, President
