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Lakeside Pride Members Participate in Inaugural Parade

by Rhonda Tullis, Sarah Avampato & Vernon Magsino - January 22-28, 2009

“I felt honored to represent Chicago and to be out and proud!” That’s how Lakeside Pride musician Vernon Magsino described his pride and emotion when some of Chicago’s “very own” marched in President Barack Obama’s Inaugural Parade. Sarah Avampato (alto sax), Katrina Cook (baritone sax), Sue Jones (trumpet), Vernon Magsino (clarinet), Rhonda Tullis (alto sax), Michelle Wetzel (trombone), and Dot Wood (trombone) were among the 177 musicians, drum majors, twirlers and color guard of the Lesbian and Gay Band Association (LGBA) marching up Pennsylvania Avenue Tuesday, January 20. Denise Montiel joined the dedicated team of official Band Aides photographing us and facilitating registration and rehearsal logistics, an enormous undertaking considering the large number of performers and short timeline.

Rhonda Tullis’ Journal Excerpts

The first rehearsal Sunday proved very challenging. Though the sound was consistently great, the ranks and files looked like spaghetti. Thankfully, after some regrouping, pep talks, review of marching basics and a little diva management, it started to come together in the Monday dress rehearsal. By the end of the long day, it was clear we were going to sound and look sharp!

One added factor in all our preparations was security, a huge component of the event. There were many non-negotiable directives: No political stickers or writing on our cases, no adornments on our instruments, flip folders, or uniforms. During the performance, we were not to reach into our pockets for any reason. That action would be interpreted by security as an aggressive movement, and the offender of this rule “would be dropped.” Break a reed or drop anything (Katrina’s music, flip folder and lyre were left behind after the first song) and you continue in step, faking it as needed. We all filled out “Straggler Cards” (identification cards associating us with the correct group) in the case that we couldn’t complete the parade (asthma, injury, fatigue, etc.). Stragglers were to get to the side and be helped by military personnel who lined the parade on both sides, literally every four feet.

All of the complaints of the day (I’m hungry, thirsty, tired, cold and can’t feel my fingers!) immediately and completely went out of the window when we began to play Ode To Joy. A parade announcer (there were several) boomed loudly in a low-pitched voice: “This is the Lesbian and Gay Band Association, made up of gay and lesbian bands all across the country …” All beaming, we continue marching while the bitter wind whips us and our music about. We give the performance of our lives, playing [Sousa’s] Washington Post! President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama are on their feet, waving, smiling and looking right at us! The First Lady was even grooving to our sound!

We continued our marching performance, knowing that we came through! From Denise who watched from the side: “I could see in the eyes of each and every participant their commitment and determination to give the very best performance possible. I was unprepared for the pride I felt when I saw the flags raised by the color guard - the rainbow flag, the U.S. stars and stripes and the LGBA flag all flying together was a beautiful sight!”

During the days of preparation and on parade day, the impact of this event on others was clear. The very space that we rehearsed in free of charge, St. Elizabeth’s Hospital, the nation’s oldest psychiatric facility, had been the hospital of choice to send gay and lesbians for electro-shock therapy “cures.” On Monday, we performed for many patients there, including those in the maximum security area who would otherwise never get to witness inaugural events, ever. The Executive Director thanked us for bringing a part of the Inauguration to them. Another example given Tuesday morning at breakfast: Artistic Director, Rice Majors, recounted that at meeting the night before, several military personnel, eyes watering, approached to shake his hand and express appreciation of LGBA’s participation in the parade. The rest that they could not say was already understood.

On the parade route, audience members and police officers cheered for us. Soldiers saluted our colors. High school and college bands clapped and waved. There was a sense that people there were excited for us to be included. We, ourselves, were impacted too. What we said and did during these days wasn’t just about any individual person or band. We gathered as one for a greater purpose: To represent those who had paved the way and were there in spirit, GLBT people everywhere and all Americans. We all felt the honor, pride, unity and accomplishment of being part of a thing greater than ourselves.

Sarah Avampato’s Journal Excerpts

While everyone else from Chicago has decided to drive in to DC, I decided that a 12-plus hour car ride was not for me, so I flew in. While it was very obvious that most of the people traveling in to DC right now were there for the inauguration, it really started to hit home for me while I was on the very crowded bus from the airport to the metro. I wound up sitting next to a young woman from Kenya and an older gentleman from California. Everyone was talking about what their plans were for the inauguration, and when I mentioned that I was marching with the LGBA, the gentleman was visibly moved and excited by the fact that the LGBT community was going to be represented in the parade. Here’s a stranger, who I’ve never met, whose name I didn’t even know, telling me how proud he was to know that an openly-gay band had been selected to march in the parade.

Inauguration Day was pretty much the longest day of my life, but I wouldn’t have traded it for anything. While millions of people converged upon the Mall and the parade route to take part in the day’s festivities, we were … stuck on buses, awaiting further instruction from our military liaison. Of course, we were all perfectly capable of keeping ourselves occupied on the bus. We may have waited for hours (and hours, and hours) but it certainly didn’t seem like it was that long.

We didn’t actually get to see the inauguration, but we were able to listen to NPR’s broadcast of the ceremony. At 12:01, in the midst of the performance of John Williams’ song, the announcer broke in to say that even though Barack Obama had not yet taken the oath of office, he was now officially president by terms of the Constitution. That alone was enough to start a loud round of applause on our bus. You’d never think that just that short sentence would be enough to bring tears to your eyes, but it was. It was impossible not to be overjoyed at the promise of what the next four years will bring.

The parade itself was an amazing experience. Sure, we were freezing - did I say that I thought Chicago’s weather had prepared me for the cold? I was totally wrong, and most of the spectators had gone home by the time we finally got around to marching. But the second we stepped out onto the parade route and the percussion section went into the cadence, every complaint and annoyance seemed absolutely petty and inconsequential.

As the band turned the corner to march in front of the Presidential reviewing stand, there was of course a moment of paranoia, thinking about all the ways that things could go wrong. It was dark outside, it was difficult to hear the drum majors at the front of the band, huge overhead lights [made] it impossible to see. You had to march on blind faith alone, hoping you knew the music, hoping you were still standing in line with the people around you.

And we pulled it off. Two days of rehearsal, countless hours of individual practice for individual band members before arriving in Washington, it all culminated in that march past the President and Vice President. Being able to look up out of the corner of your eye to see all of them waving and smiling at us was exhilarating. It truly is a once-in-a-lifetime sort of experience, the sort of thing that will stay with you forever.

As we all prepare to trek back home … my email box is flooded with messages on the LGBA mailing list from people who saw us and were moved by the sheer fact that an openly gay band was invited to and proudly marched in front of this country’s new leadership. So many people have waited so long for the tides to change in this country, for the LGBT community to finally start getting the rights and recognition that they deserve. The inclusive tone the President has set is hopefully a step in the right direction, a real step towards change.

Vernon Magsino’s Journal Excerpts

Wow! To be part of the Inaugural Parade was such a privilege and honor. As the only male chosen from Chicago, I felt honored to represent Chicago and to be out and proud, and not afraid of whom I am. The road trip alone gave me the opportunity to bond with my fellow band members from Chicago. I have been a part of the Lakeside Pride Freedom Band since 2004, but never really got to know any of its members. Having driven in the car for 12-plus hours, I was able to reflect who I was as an American, more so as a GAY American and how fortunate I am to be living in a country where changes are happening and I can be proud of who I am.

So we arrived at the rehearsal site: St. Elizabeth’s Hospital. It was so amazing to see these 177-plus members all together under one roof for the same purpose. We only had two days to rehearse and get everything right. Throughout the day many reporters came by to witness such a historic event: the first openly-gay band in the Inaugural parade. Whenever we played Brand New Day, which is a song from the musical “The Wiz,” I kept thinking about how change is here: Change within me, change within society with the inclusion of our band, and change in the presidency.

This second day of marching, we were able to pull everything together at last, not to perfection, but a vast improvement. After rehearsal, the magnificent seven from Chicago went to dinner in Old Alexandria, VA. Here we all bonded over good food, scrumptious desserts. It was such a wonderful feeling to be able share this weekend with six of the friendliest women I will ever know.

Ok, after dinner I finally had some free time for myself, and I wanted to explore the city a bit. As I was walking through the Mall, I see a camera set crowded by lots of people. I ran towards this mosh pit to find out what was going on. It was Anderson Cooper live on CNN! So I make my way to the front behind Anderson waving my hands and screaming (Anderson is so dreamy). My friends started calling and texting me that they saw me on TV. After the broadcast, Anderson came up to me, said hi, hugged me and shook my hand … and then I almost fainted. Meeting him made my night.

The day [had] finally come to play in front of the President of the United States. After waiting many hours, we finally drive to the Ellipse where we had to wait some more. At least we were in warming tents. When we finally had to wait outside, it was cold and windy. My fingers were beginning to freeze up. Some of the pads on my clarinet were beginning to stick and not open, rendering some of my notes useless. I was trying to do my best to keep my hands warm and my clarinet working properly.

Passing the President and his wife gave me such great joy that it brought tears to my eyes. That was the moment I will treasure forever. Above all things, this trip affirmed the fact that I am proud to be an American, a gay American, living in a time of change where I no longer have to hide in fear. How lucky I am to live in this country, especially having been born and raised in this great city of Chicago. I love this town.♥