President-elect Barack Obama says he is “proud” to have invited a homosexual marching band to perform in his inaugural parade.

The Lesbian and Gay Band Association, N.Y., is among the 70 marching bands and other groups that have accepted invitations to participate in the parade, as of Dec. 11.

“This is the first time that an LGBT group will be represented in a Presidential Inaugural Parade, truly our chance to make history,” the Lesbian and Gay Band Association says on its website.

“I am honored to invite these talented groups and individuals to participate in the Inaugural Parade,” Obama said in a Dec. 10 press release, Catholic News Agency reported. “These organizations embody the best of our nation’s history, diversity and commitment to service. Vice President-elect Biden and I are proud to have them join us in the parade.”

Exactly how do the homosexual band’s performances “embody the best of our nation’s history, diversity and commitment to service”?

At this year’s Halloween parade in Greenwich Village, band members performed as “The Male Witch Marching Band.” A video of their performance is posted on the band’s website, along with a blurb entitled “Deliciously Wicked in New York.”

Catholic News Agency notes that the homosexual band is also booked to perform in next year’s “Southern Decadence” parade in New Orleans, an event that usually features obscene public behavior by some participants.

That’s not to suggest that the band will engage in any such behavior at the Inaugural Parade.

But one thing’s for sure: The band will indeed bring some “diverse” experience to the corps of marching bands in the parade, which otherwise consists mostly of high school and military marching bands.

— Tom McFeely