And the Seagulls Danced

When the John Williams piece began, a flock of seagulls gracefully rose from the pond in front of the Capitol near where I was standing. They rose and circled higher, in perfect choreography with the music. It was if music was bringing nature and man together to celebrate a moment. It was not lost on the crowd as everyone near me marvelled at the sight (and speculating that the gulls were "doves" they had released or "geese." Haven't you people ever been to the beach?)

Ultimately it was the seagulls that made that moment of the ceremony. I doubt anyone will ever hear the Williams piece again.

Rick Warren: Coda

I saw two people -- apparently a husband and wife -- turn their backs on Rick Warren during the invocation. Given the moment, the feeling of hope and togetherness in the crowd (despite the near mob conditions to get in) the act seemed petty. Small. One can deplore some of the thing the man espouses without becoming smaller than he is.

As Obama said in quoting scripture, we must put aside childish things.

Washington Post Alerts

I signed up for "INAUGURATION & NEWS" alerts (all caps the Post's) to my phone, but so far, other than the confirmation text the only thing I've gotten from them is text asking me for information.

Gay Men's Chorus of Washington to Perform for Obama

At an Inaugural event (according to a little bird I know). Don't know which one, but I doubt Rick Warren will be there.

Skip the HRC's Out for Equality Ball

Some people are mad that the HRC is planning an inaugural ball ("We should be marching instead of dancing") but I say let's take it further and urge everyone not to go. Why?

Well, setting aside for a second that HRC is an ineffective civil rights organization (it is) that doesn't deserve your donations (it doesn't), attending won't do us any good. Oh, the pictures will look fabulous in the Washington Blade and Metro Weekly (we clean up well). But if we stick to business as usual (love those Dems, let's all get together and give them our money and votes!!) we get what we've gotten, which is the shaft. What good will it do to ghetto-ize our participation at the Obama inaugural?

Instead, yes -- go celebrate Obama. But go to other inaugural balls and events. Wear your "No on H8" button. Take your partner or boy or girlfriend. Hold hands. Kiss and dance. Talk to people. Let them know you expect Obama to deliver on his promises to our community. Getting a Democrat into the White House wasn't the goal...repealing DOMA and DADT is. Let people know we are watching.

And to be fair, there are other organizations participating in the HRC Ball, ones that are worthy of your contributions. So contribute to them directly and skip the wasteful masturbatory HRC extravaganza.

Here's a list of inaugural events you can chose from. Why isolate ourselves when we don't have to?

Obama's Inaugural Parade to Include Gay Band

UPDATE II: A friend and reader points out to me that both Clinton inaugural parades included a large contingent from the Names Project, marching with quilt panels. That was a big deal, and in fairness to the Clinton administration, I should point that out (yes, folks, I'm actually acknowledging something positive about the Clintons. It must be Christmastime...).

UPDATE: Looks like the word is out. Go LGBA!

The Lesbian and Gay Band Association (LGBA) has announced that a marching contingent comprised of people from its members bands has officially been accepted to march in Obama's Inaugural Parade.

This is the first time in history an openly gay group will be in the parade (Clinton okayed gays taking part on the side lines in his two inaugurations).

I hope my friends at LGBA will make sure to get the word out, as the fact that our community actually has LGBT bands is a well kept secret. And some folks are already getting antsy about gay visibility in the festivities.