Oak Lawn Band Presents “March for Freedom” Concert
Pillar of Freedom award to be presented to Don Jenkins aka Donna Dumae
The Oak Lawn Band will present its fourth annual March for Freedom concert with the theme “Express Yourself” June 23 at the Latino Cultural Center. During the event, the band will also present its Pillar of Freedom award — an honor given to outstanding philanthropic commitment to Dallas’ LGBT community — to Don Jenkins who performs as Donna Dumae.
This family-...
Oak Lawn Band Presents “March for Freedom” Concert
Pillar of Freedom award to be presented to Don Jenkins aka Donna Dumae
The Oak Lawn Band will present its fourth annual March for Freedom concert with the theme “Express Yourself” June 23 at the Latino Cultural Center. During the event, the band will also present its Pillar of Freedom award — an honor given to outstanding philanthropic commitment to Dallas’ LGBT community — to Don Jenkins who performs as Donna Dumae.
This family-friendly event will feature a wide variety of artists from Aaron Copland, Steven Reineke, Lada Gaga, Madonna, and pieces arranged/composed by current Oak Lawn Band members Michael Eaves and Dave Velez.
“Artistic expression is one of the primary areas of humanity that allows for freedom of identity and for the individual to demonstrate their actual truth,” said Oak Lawn Band Artistic Director Timothy V. Norris, Jr. “We honor those who have pushed the boundaries in their pursuit of social justice through expressing their truth through art and culture. We also remember those who died in this pursuit.”
Don Jenkins, the band’s Pillar of Freedom recipient, has performed as Donna Dumae for over 30 years. He began raising funds for the AIDS crisis in the late 1980s for a chapter of the International Court System when few organizations were helping. He’s hosted "Friends Helping Friends," a benefit event for AIDS Services of Dallas (ASD), for 21 years, including this years’ event on Sept. 2. Over the years, Jenkins has raised money for many organizations in Dallas, but ASD remains special to him. He estimates he’s raised more than $20,000 for the PWA housing agency just from his annual show.
About Oak Lawn Band
Since 1980, the Oak Lawn Band has served the DFW community performing both locally and nationally. As a founding member of the Lesbian and Gay Band Association (LGBA), the Oak Lawn Band has performed at the presidential inauguration ceremonies of Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, the Gay Games, the March on Washington, and other historic events. The group performs throughout the year as a marching and pep band for a number of parades including the Oak Cliff Mardi Gras Parade, and Pride Parades in Austin, Houston, Dallas, and Fort Worth. For more information, visit oaklawnband.org