Inclusion is the order of the day

The New York Times has an article by Katharine Seelye about plans for the inauguration:

For the first time, a gay and lesbian band will be marching in a presidential inauguration. Barack Obama’s Presidential Inaugural Committee has chosen the Lesbian and Gay Band Association, with members from across the country, to march in the inaugural parade in Washington on 20 January. “We are extremely pleased to announce that the Lesbian and Gay Band Association will be included as a marching contingent in the Inaugural Parade,” says a message on the band’s website. “This is the first time that an LGBT group will be represented in a Presidential Inaugural Parade, truly our chance to make history.”
The Washington Blade, a gay newspaper that was the first to report the news, said that Bill Clinton allowed gay groups to perform their music on the sidewalk during his inauguration but not to march in the parade.
There were a record number of applicants to march in this year’s parade — nearly 1,400 — with only a few dozen being selected. During the last inaugural, in 2005, about 340 bands applied to march and 47 were selected.

Rico says it turns out Barack is more gay-friendly than Bill; who knew?