Random Thoughts on the Pride Parade

I marched with the Marriage for DC contingent in D.C.'s Pride Parade this evening. Devoted Scott's Take readers and personal friends may be surprised to hear that, given my experience two years ago.

Well, the marriage issue has got me wanting to take to the streets again. So, here are some random thoughts about the parade:

• It didn't rain. I have yet to march in a gay pride parade with rain. So if you wanna march dry, better make sure I'm there.
• Wow, some spectators were really drunk.
• There seemed to be more people than ever.
• DCDD Drum line lookin great!
• The DC Cowboys may look Brokeback Mountain, but they seem to be increasingly clubbish in their repertoire. Still hot, though.
• The Food and Friends float, and the drag queen in the grocery bag costume, were my favorite.
• Lots of bride drag. I'm not sure that really helps. Oh well, not everything has to be taken seriously. I'm learning.
• The DC for Marriage contingent was well received. A group in front of the Crew Club was exceptionally enthusiastic. Hmmm.
• I liked the chant, "When I say 'dee-cee' you say 'marriage.' 'Dee-cee:' 'Marriage!' 'Dee-cee!" Marriage!" It was easy on the throat and since they didn't give us water that became really important for loud chanting, especially by 17th street.
• Why do they have announcers at reviewing stands? Every group has people carrying a big banner with their name printed boldly on it. I think it takes away from what the people on the street are doing. I felt that way as head of a marching band; I felt that way as a dry-throated chanter.
• If every person who took one of our cards signs our petition and gets five of their friends to do the same...wow! Pride matters politically this year more than ever, and in the next several years to come. Rather, it matters if we use the annual gathering to really come together and organize. Which means giving us your email address, people!

Did I mention the Kennedy Center?

Did I mention the band I conduct will be performing at the Kennedy Center this weekend?

That's us in rehearsal last night. I'm very proud of them.

To lead a band at a hall like the Ken Cen is beyond my wildest dreams. This weekend will be awesome.

Killing Two Dreams with One Concert

This June I'll be conducting DCDD's Captitol Pride Symphonic Band (at left on tour in New Hampshire last year) at the Kennedy Center.

To conduct at the Ken Cen (actually, any major concert hall) is a lifelong dream.

I'll also be conducting the symphonic band and the Gay Men's Chorus of Washington.

We're guests of the GMCW for their June concert and we have a 30 minute set opening the concert. Then we do two joint pieces, "When You Believe" from "The Prince of Egypt" (you probably know it from the Mariah Carey version) and Randall Thomson's "Testament of Freedom."

I'm conducting the "When You Believe" number in addition to our opening set.

A small minded person a few years ago leveled a charge against me that I'd rather conduct a chorus than a band.

That's not worthy of a resonse, but I will say that I can't imagine any conductor not being thrilled with the opportunity to conduct the large and varied forces offered by a 70-piece symphonic band and a 200 strong voiced choir in a world class concert hall. Not to mention the fact that I love the music from the Prince of Egypt (same composer who gave us "Wicked").

The version we're doing with the GMCW is more faithful to the movie version than Mariah Carey's. That version follows.