Pride Bands Alliance is a membership organization of LGBTQ+ community concert and marching bands from cities around the world. Formerly Lesbian and Gay Band Association, we were founded in 1982 as Lesbian and Gay Bands of America when seven independent bands met formally in Chicago. Over the past 40 years, Pride Bands Alliance has grown to include 36 member organizations in the United States, Canada, Australia and England.

Pride Bands remains dedicated to its original goals of promoting LGBTQ+ Music, Visibility and Pride by providing a network of LGBTQ+ community bands at all stages of development, promoting music as a medium of communication among people, improving the quality of artistic and organizational aspects of member bands and stimulating public interest in the unique art form of community band music in our culture.

Pride Bands Alliance meets annually in different cities to plan events, encourage the formation of new bands and share the gift of music with LGBTQ+ and allied audiences. Seminars on topics such as musicianship, programming and organizational skills are held in addition to general business and committee meetings.

Great performances are the most visible manifestation of the LGBTQ+ community band movement. Member bands across the country appear in hundreds of concerts, parades and community events every year. Member bands in geographic proximity often perform together, and a typical marching schedule will include Pride parades in several different cities.

Band music was the first true love that brought us together. By uniting musicians who share this love, bands help create and enhance the “community” their members call home. Through musical performance, Pride Bands make a powerful political statement in a non-political way.

Whether marching or playing a concert, we proudly proclaim “We Are Who We Are.” Our bands are sources of pride within their cities, as well as positive symbols of the same communities.

Making music creates a family where affection means more than affectional preference. By “banding together,” Pride Bands Alliance shows that people of diverse sexual orientations, gender identities/preferences, ages, creeds, races and challenges can build a strong community.