Across the street from the historic Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village in a small gated area called Christopher Park, stands the Gay Liberation Monument—a sculpture depicting a seated lesbian couple and a gay male couple standing. The couples are innocently yet affectionately touching each other. If you’ve made a pilgrimage to Stonewall, you’ve undoubtedly seen the … [Read more...] about Dr. Peter Putnum and Houma’s Connection to Stonewall
Book Review: What Rough Beast
Cover of What Rough Beast by Robert Dole What Rough Beast. Robert Dole. Austin Macauley Publishers, 2017. 126 pages. This is a strange, odd mess of a book. Hot and shitty? Not necessarily—but certainly weird and peculiar. What Rough Beast is marketed as a novel but it’s more of a novella, sort of. The first half reads like notes for … [Read more...] about Book Review: What Rough Beast
Critical Thinking and Democracy
Many moons ago, when I worked in academia, I taught freshman composition. Because it was a required course among all undergraduates, every professor in the English Department taught at least one composition class. Most professors hated teaching the course. They preferred to teach literature or linguistics to juniors and seniors. They viewed the … [Read more...] about Critical Thinking and Democracy
1850 House
Few places offer the chance to experience the lifestyle of our ancestors of more than 150 years ago. The 1850 House is one of these rare places, offering a glimpse of upper-middle-class life in antebellum New Orleans, the most prosperous period in the city’s history. The 1850 House doesn’t represent any single family’s house. Rather, it reflects mid-19th century prosperity, … [Read more...] about 1850 House
Oracle Gala Set for Sept. 14
This year the LGBT+ Archives Project is honoring Valda Lewis at its annual Oracle Gala. From 1987 to 1993, Lewis and Loretta Mims produced an LGBT+ themed TV show called Just for the Record. Thanks to the Archives Project, that show has been digitized and made available for future generations. Lewis, who now lives in Ohio, will attend the Gala. She will be on hand to … [Read more...] about Oracle Gala Set for Sept. 14
Winter Wonderland Announces 2019 Charities, Royalty
Winter Wonderland VIII had its Royal Coronation and Sponsorship Party at the Golden Lantern on Wednesday, July 31. A packed house enjoyed salad, meatballs, sandwiches, jambalaya, and many cocktails before Winter Wonderland Misti Gaither took the stage to acknowledge previous royalty, hand out awards, announce the charities, and reveal the new royalty. Jeffrey Palmquist … [Read more...] about Winter Wonderland Announces 2019 Charities, Royalty
Up Stairs Lounge Commemorative Plaque Restored
The memorial plaque commemorating the site of the Up Stairs Lounge fire has been given a facelift. The restoration effort was part of an international project to clean and restore LGBT+ monuments around the world. The project is being directed by artist Ryan Leitner who has received a Traveling Fellowship from The School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts … [Read more...] about Up Stairs Lounge Commemorative Plaque Restored
The Presbytere
Designed in 1791 to match the Cabildo, alongside St. Louis Cathedral on Jackson Square, the Presbytere stands today as a beautiful reminder of both Louisiana’s singular past and its vibrant present. The Presbytere, originally called Casa Curial or “Ecclesiastical House,” was built on the site of the residence, or presbytère, of the Capuchin monks. The building was used for … [Read more...] about The Presbytere
Forum for Equality Holds Annual Meeting
The Forum for Equality held its annual meeting on Wednesday, July 24, at the New Orleans Jazz Market. About thirty members of the Forum and a few guests enjoyed cocktails and sweets before the meeting was called to order. Three political candidates, all running for the State House of Representatives, worked the crowd during the cocktail hour: Carling Dinkler … [Read more...] about Forum for Equality Holds Annual Meeting
Tour-Guiding Classes at Loyola University to Feature LGBT+ History
LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana President and Ambush columnist Frank Perez will incorporate local LGBT+ history into three courses he is teaching at Loyola University this fall. Loyola University began offering Professional Tour Guiding courses last year as part of a new initiative to accommodate the city’s growing tourism industry as well as to address increasing … [Read more...] about Tour-Guiding Classes at Loyola University to Feature LGBT+ History
