Dear LGBA family,
Earlier in the summer, members of the LGBA Board started making plans to take part in a possible Presidential Inaugural Parade next year. The Board has also carefully monitored COVID-19 case trends, travel restrictions, and vaccine development/distribution plans. The Board takes our responsibility for ensuring the health and safety of participants in LGBA events seriously. Our bands have many members who are in high-risk groups for COVID-19. Additionally, travel restrictions might preclude a significant number of our members from taking part. Since we cannot ensure the health and safety of participants in a large gathering such as this, the Board has decided not to participate in an in-person inaugural parade in January 2021.
Like you, we are watching for the results of the upcoming elections. We are also following updates from the Presidential Inaugural Committee (PIC), a bipartisan group that plans all the public events surrounding the inauguration every four years. While the PIC has been organized and meeting since late summer, they have not yet announced any details on plans for the upcoming inauguration. They probably will not announce any plans until after Election Day — and possibly not until after the results are known when they have had a chance to discuss plans with the winning candidate’s transition team.
The Board will continue to follow announcements from the PIC about opportunities for virtual participation in inaugural activities or any postponements of traditional events. While we are disappointed about how the pandemic has affected our activities, we continue to look forward to all the different virtual activities our bands are presenting and especially to the day when we can gather our LGBA family again in person.
Board of Directors
Lesbian and Gay Band Association
