Party Down This was another Mardi Gras for the memory book. From the streets to the ballrooms, the city came alive with beads, boas and sequins. It was a gay dream come true. The week prior to Mardi Gras I spent either working or getting ready for the Krewe of Armeinius’ ball on Saturday night. Many reasons made this year special starting with the fact that it was moved … [Read more...] about Under the Gaydar
Articles
20 Years of HIV/AIDS Headlines
The LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana recently hosted a panel discussion on the history of HIV / AIDS in New Orleans. In preparation for the event, Archives Project intern Philip Ross, a student at Tulane University, compiled the following bibliography of early newspaper coverage of the crisis in New Orleans. Mulvhill, Kathleen A. “AIDS: Mystery Disorder” The … [Read more...] about 20 Years of HIV/AIDS Headlines
Republicans & Pedophilia
I have always been bamboozled by the fact that Southern voters consistently vote republican, against their own best interests. As a historian, I understand why the South turned red: white voters were pissed off when Democratic President Lyndon Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act in 1964. Johnson thought the Democrats had lost the South for a generation, but 53 years later, … [Read more...] about Republicans & Pedophilia
The Holiday Shopping Guide
Black Friday, Cyber Monday and a host of other buying opportunities abound at this time of the year. Then there are the charities. Tis the season for the big “ask” because tis the season AND its tax write off time. So, listen to those little bells in the malls and all of those free stamps and gifts that you get in the mail from us non-profits. Tis the Season! Then it is the … [Read more...] about The Holiday Shopping Guide
The Official Dish
Thanksgiving has come and gone. I stayed in the City and cooked at home with good friends, too much food, too much wine, and way too much Bourbon Punch, but the 48-hour “food coma” that followed was almost worth it. Now, in rapid succession we move toward Christmas, New Years, Mardi Gras, and the beat goes on and on. Pace yourself, plan ahead, and enjoy every minute of the fun … [Read more...] about The Official Dish
The Inheritance of Shame by Peter Gajdics.
The Inheritance of Shame. Peter Gajdics. Brown Paper Press, 2017. ISBN: 978-1-941932-08-7. 355 pages. $17.99. Unfortunately, a book about surviving conversion therapy is still necessary. Author Peter Gajdics spent six years in a bizarre form of conversion therapy that attempted to “cure” him of his homosexuality. Kept with other patients in a cult-like home in British … [Read more...] about The Inheritance of Shame by Peter Gajdics.
Dreams Do Come True by Nicholas Van Sickels, MD
An impossible dream for people gripped by fear of an uncontrollable epidemic Dreams do come true. Thirty years ago, a simple way to prevent HIV was an impossible dream for people gripped by fear of an uncontrollable epidemic. Now it seems the nightmare may be ending. Pre-exposure prophylaxis, or PrEP, has revolutionized the HIV prevention arena. One pill a day, prescribed by … [Read more...] about Dreams Do Come True by Nicholas Van Sickels, MD
Trodding the Boards
Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra through May 19 I had missed the first Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra (LPO) Holiday Spectacular featuring the 610 Stompers in 2015 and resolved to see last year’s edition which turned out to be fabulous. Could they top themselves this year? Indeed they did. Whereas last year’s Spectacular had a “round the world” theme and included a diverse … [Read more...] about Trodding the Boards
Under the Gaydar
Party Down December is such a fabulous month filled with lots of holiday cheer, parties and there is always something exciting going on here. Most of my last two weeks were spent out of town in Chicago and Scottsdale which you will read about in the other articles, but I did manage to have a little fun in NOLA so let’s get this party started. I normally hit up all the tree … [Read more...] about Under the Gaydar
Upstairs Inferno is Now Available on DVD and Blu- Ray
In 2013, during the 40th Anniversary of the deadly Up Stairs Lounge Arson (one of the most significant, yet often overlooked events in LGBT history), Camina Entertainment publicly announced the production of Upstairs Inferno, a comprehensive and compassionate documentary recounting (what was) the “Largest Gay Mass Murder in U.S. History”. Today, Camina Entertainment proudly … [Read more...] about Upstairs Inferno is Now Available on DVD and Blu- Ray
