In terms of queer history, 1973 is most often remembered in New Orleans as the year of the horrific Up Stairs Lounge fire. Understandably so—the fire claimed 32 lives and remains the deadliest fire in New Orleans history. June 2023 marked the 50th anniversary of the fire. This year, however, also marks another golden anniversary. 50 years ago, the American Psychiatric … [Read more...] about 1973: The Year the Shrinks Decided Queers Were Not Mentally Ill
Moments in Queer New Orleans History
Trans History: The New Orleans Home Rule Charter
Courtney Sharp and Stewart Butler met in 1995 at the LGBT Community Center, which was then located on N. Rampart Street. One afternoon, as Stewart was sitting on the Center’s stoop smoking a cigarette, Courtney approached the entrance to meet with Crystal Little, with whom she volunteered at the Center. Stewart greeted her and then gruffly asked, “Who are … [Read more...] about Trans History: The New Orleans Home Rule Charter
Southern Decadence and Its Parade Permit
According to Robert Laurent and Frederick Wright (two of the co-founders of Southern Decadence), during the 1970s, New Orleans District Attorney Harry Connick Sr. followed the Southern Decadence parade down Esplanade Avenue with a raised eyebrow, wondering what was going on—a sentiment echoed by other city authorities. In 1990, police officers approached parade … [Read more...] about Southern Decadence and Its Parade Permit
Pride Flags on N. Rampart Street
Pride flags once again adorn the neutral ground along N. Rampart Street on the edge of the French Quarter. Many people reasonably assume the flags are there because June is Pride month, but that’s not entirely true. Originally, the rainbow flags on N. Rampart grew not out of Pride, but rather out of Southern Decadence. To be more specific, the flags trace their origin to a … [Read more...] about Pride Flags on N. Rampart Street
Reggie, Regina, and the 50th Anniversary of the UpStairs Lounge Fire
Reggie was a young black man from Dallas studying to become a Jesuit priest. Ricky was a young white Mormon from New Orleans preparing to go on a mission trip to China. Their divine callings would be radically altered when they eventually met each other one night at a neighborhood gay bar on the edge of the French Quarter in New Orleans. There, they found a … [Read more...] about Reggie, Regina, and the 50th Anniversary of the UpStairs Lounge Fire
Women Make History: Carnival 2023
The Krewe of Apollo, New Orleans, made history last year when it named Andrea Sabillon Halstead as Queen at its Ball. Halstead was the first female person to hold a royalty position in the Krewe’s history, including Chapters in other cities. This year the Lords of Leather also shattered the royalty glass ceiling and the Radical Faeries named a Jewish lesbian as Empress at its … [Read more...] about Women Make History: Carnival 2023
UpStairs Lounge Fire 50th Anniversary Commemoration Activities Announced
A coalition of local organizations spearheaded by the LBGT+ Archives Project of Louisiana will present a weekend of events to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the tragic 1973 UpStairs Lounge fire. The events will take place in various locations in the historic French Quarter of New Orleans on June 23, 24 and 25, 2023. In addition to the Archives Project, the other … [Read more...] about UpStairs Lounge Fire 50th Anniversary Commemoration Activities Announced
A Treasure Trove of Vintage Gay Mardi Pictures
In 1963, Arthur Jacobs came up with a great idea to drum up business for his Bourbon Street diner, The Clover Grill. He would host a costume contest on Mardi Gras, late in the afternoon after the Rex parade. Because the Clover Grill was located in the “gay” section of Bourbon Street, directly across from Café Lafitte in Exile (the city’s oldest gay bar), the contest drew … [Read more...] about A Treasure Trove of Vintage Gay Mardi Pictures
Moments in Queer New Orleans History: Remembering Donnie Jay
I recently attended the annual Hookers Ball. It was a fun evening and a very successful fundraiser for Southern Decadence. Kudos to Todd Blauvelt for putting together such a wonderful event. While the performances were great and it was fun seeing friends, the highlight of the show for me was a vintage video of Southern Decadence Grand Marshal XXXII, the late … [Read more...] about Moments in Queer New Orleans History: Remembering Donnie Jay
Before Southern Decadence Became Super Gay
I recently spent the afternoon with Maureen & Charlie Block and Robert Laurent at their beautiful antebellum home on Magazine Street. Those names may not ring a bell, but they should. These three people, along with a handful of their friends, started Southern Decadence in 1972. Back then, of course, they had no idea a simple house party would evolve into the … [Read more...] about Before Southern Decadence Became Super Gay
