The Houston Pride Band’s 2007-2008 season is called “Celebrate” in honor of our 30th anniversary. We decided that, in addition to celebrating this milestone, we would rededicate ourselves to the community. Thanks to sponsors like Concierge Travel, Resurrection MCC, the City of
Our next event will be our “Celebrate Families” children’s concert. It will be a free concert in the park in conjunction with the Houston Gay and Lesbian Parent’s organization.
On that day we participated in the filming of MILK, a major feature film recounting the story of Harvey Milk. We helped to reenact the 1978 Pride Parade where Harvey appeared as a Supervisor for San Francisco and his speech at the festival afterward.
One of my jobs was to work with another band member to lay out a strip of tape every 7.5 feet, so that people could practice step length. Then I helped people put their belts on. I spent four years in the Air Force, so I was surprised how many did not know how to assemble and wear a web belt. I got to belt some pretty cute guys… my belting skills were praised… Then we tuned, warmed up, played “San Francisco” half a dozen times.
When filming finally began they started with the (after parade) speech scene. Sean Penn is playing Harvey; he really looked and acted the part convincingly! Penn climbed up on the stage while we all went wild cheering. He made Harvey’s very short speech, maybe a minute or two long, and went off stage, then into the crowd – and walked right past me.
Reflections - What the Day Felt Like and What It Meant to Me.
It really did feel inspiring.
Gay FREEDOM Day 1978 (not Pride, we were looking for Freedom then…)
That day was seminal a lot of ways.
I could remember the things Harvey talked about in that speech, especially John Briggs and the Briggs initiative (many “no on 6” buttons), and Anita Bryant.
Most of this we had to explain to the young people in the band.
You know, that felt pretty weird. On one hand I was sad they didn’t know all this, but then how could they? On the other hand I was so glad they didn’t have to live with the Briggs Initiative, which would have made it impossible for openly gay people to teach in public schools.
I was a 28 year old college student, president of the gay students organization at the
Part of Harvey’s message was “you’ve got to come out!” He knew that acceptance of gay people ultimately depended on our being known, on our being a part of everyone’s daily life. When that happens, people find it almost impossible to discriminate and villanize and distort us.
As I was leaving the protected, closed street area on Sunday, I was stopped by a very tall, very large, very official, age 50+ policeman. He apologized for interrupting me and again if he was out of line for asking, but “Would there be any way I could get a size small t-shirt like that?”
Thirty years ago, if I had been stopped by this guy wearing that shirt, I could expect at the very least, serious grief. Today, well.... It seems his 13 year old son came out, and is trying very, very hard to get into Julliard. The policeman was looking forward to telling his son about the band and the filming and having a shirt would be just wonderful.
Thanks Jon, Thanks Harvey, and thank you band!
The role one gay band played in that transformation was small, the role each of us played was small, but Harvey knew what he was talking about. The simple fact is, when people know us they find it hard to hate us. And some found out they loved us.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/object/article?o=0&f=/c/a/2008/03/10/BA12VGVQB.DTL
The Movie Extras website:
By Phil Oliver
The Bay Area Rainbow Symphony is an orchestra that provides a safe and supportive environment for musicians of all sexual orientations, gender identities, and gender expressions. The orchestra makes cultural, social, and educational contributions to the San Francisco Bay Area by performing ambitious repertoire to a high standard. The orchestra is one of only four LGBT orchestras in the country, joining the ranks of fellow orchestras in
for this concert is guest conductor Jay Pierson. Pierson (MM, DMA Eastman School of Music) has enjoyed a career as a teacher, singer, conductor, composer, pianist, and harpist for nearly three decades. Pierson is an active and published composer, having over one hundred pieces to his credit. Presently, he is Director of Music at Old First Presbyterian Church in 
Photo Credit: Megan Gorhan
By Ian Harwood, San Francisco Lesbian/Gay Freedom Band
President Clinton gives a speech at the fundraiser
The South Florida Pride Jazz Ensemble performs
After the performance, the members got to go through the reception line, each greeting the President personally and having their pictures taken with the President. Following this, the President addressed the crowd for about 20 minutes before proceeding on to another fundraiser.
This was a once in a life time event. Not only did the Jazz Ensemble get to share its music with President Clinton at an openly gay and lesbian event, but each member got to meet the President personally. They got to share a few moments with a man who is not only a great world leader and friend of our community, but a fellow musician as well.
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By Brian French
