Ambush Magazine

The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™

Frank Perez

Pride Flags on N. Rampart Street

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

Alfred & Stewart: A Love Story that Made History

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The pick-up line was direct: “You can fuck me, and I’ll suck you.”  That’s what Alfred Doolittle whispered in Stewart Butler’s ear on the night they met. The pair left Lafitte’s and immediately went to Stewart’s house.  On the way there, Alfred remarked, “You’ll probably throw me out in the morning like the rest of them.” But Stewart didn’t throw him out. The two fell … [Read more...] about Alfred & Stewart: A Love Story that Made History

Endymion and the Problem with Parades

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When Endymion recently caused an uproar by announcing anti-Semite and racist Mel Gibson would be its Co-Grand Marshal, I rolled my eyes and thought “Here we go again.” The public outrage over such a poor choice was predictable and certainly understandable but all the pearl-clutching and shocked gasps, especially among newcomers to the city, made me chuckle and think, “If they … [Read more...] about Endymion and the Problem with Parades

Announcing King Cake Queen XXVIII—Bootsie DeVille, Queen of the Neon Labyrinth

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Ambush Magazine is pleased to announce Bootsie DeVille will reign as King Cake Queen XXVIII over the Krewe of Queenateenas.  DeVille comes to the position with a wealth of gay Carnival experience, having served as King Armeinius XXXVIII, Queen Petronius L, Queen Amon-Ra LVII, Captain of Petronius seven times, as well as having served on the Boards of Armeinius, Amon-Ra, … [Read more...] about Announcing King Cake Queen XXVIII—Bootsie DeVille, Queen of the Neon Labyrinth

Drag Queen Profile: Fatsy Cline

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Drag Queen Profile: Fatsy Cline Where are you originally from? How did you end up in New Orleans? I fell from heaven and landed in southern Mississippi. Just kidding! I’m originally from Las Vegas but we moved to Mississippi when I was in the second grade so the South is all I've ever really known. Growing up, New Orleans was the big bad city an hour and a half away but I … [Read more...] about Drag Queen Profile: Fatsy Cline