Ambush Magazine

The Official Gay Magazine of the Gulf South™

Frank Perez

Southern Decadence Grand Marshals and their Announcement Party

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On Saturday, April 20, outgoing SDGMs Jimmy Gale, Monica Synclaire-Kennedy, and Nicole Dubois will name their successors. In recent years, the annual announcement party has become a highly anticipated event in the New Orleans queer calendar, but that wasn’t always the case. In the beginning, there were no Grand Marshal announcement parties. In fact, when Southern Decadence … [Read more...] about Southern Decadence Grand Marshals and their Announcement Party

Obituary: Otis Fennell

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Otis Fennell, former owner of Faubourg Marigny Art and Books, died March 14 at Touro Hospital. Fennell was born in Natchez, Mississippi, in 1947. He graduated from Brookhaven High School in Mississippi as valedictorian before attending Louisiana State University, where he served as President of his fraternity, PIKE. After earning an M.B.A. from L.S.U., he moved to New … [Read more...] about Obituary: Otis Fennell

Tom Caplinger and How Lafitte’s Went into Exile

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In 1933, shortly after the repeal of the Volstead Act, Tom Caplinger, Harold Barthel, and Mary Collins leased the building at 941 Bourbon Street (at the corner of St. Philip Street) and opened a bar called Café Lafitte.  At the time, it was just one of two bars on Bourbon Street, the other being the Old Absinthe House. Contrary to popular belief, the iconic building at 941 … [Read more...] about Tom Caplinger and How Lafitte’s Went into Exile

Ron Iafrate and Daryl Dunaway Named 2024 Gay Easter Parade Grand Marshals

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Ambush is pleased to announce the Grand Marshals for the 2024 Gay Easter Parade are Ron Iafrate and Daryl Dunaway. Dunaway has worked in the hospitality industry and is also a drag entertainer, performing as Countess C. Alice. Originally from Zachary, Louisiana, Dunaway is longtime New Orleans resident and served as Southern Decadence Grand Marshal in 2019. Dunaway has been … [Read more...] about Ron Iafrate and Daryl Dunaway Named 2024 Gay Easter Parade Grand Marshals

Fernando Rios Memorial Event Announced

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On Monday, February 26, the Queer Student Alliance at Tulane University, in partnership with the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana, will hold a memorial lecture and vigil in remembrance of Fernando Rios. Rios was murdered 66 years ago by three Tulane undergraduates. The horrific hate crime occurred in September of 1958. Rios was in town from Mexico City working as a tour … [Read more...] about Fernando Rios Memorial Event Announced

Lou Bernard, Olympus, and Gay Carnival

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As we find ourselves in the thick of Carnival season once again, Ambush is proud to remember a pioneer in the history of gay Carnival, Lou “Lucille” Bernard. Bernard passed away on January 8. Bernard and his partner Nick Donovan were members of the groundbreaking krewe, Ganymede (1968—1974). Donovan served as Captain of the Krewe’s third ball, Creepy Crawlers (1970), at … [Read more...] about Lou Bernard, Olympus, and Gay Carnival

Announcing King Cake Queen XXIX – George “Rita George” Roth, The Classic Queen

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Ambush Magazine and the Krewe of Queenateenas is pleased to announce George “Rita George” Roth as your King Cake Queen XXIX, The Classic Queen. Roth was born in 1936 and raised in New Orleans where he attended St. Aloysius High School. He then attended Louisiana State University. While in college, Roth served as a cheerleader for the Tigers. After attending L.S.U., Roth … [Read more...] about Announcing King Cake Queen XXIX – George “Rita George” Roth, The Classic Queen

Gay Mardi Gras Balls 2024

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Krewe de la Rue Royale Revelers  Saturday, January 6, 2024 Mardi Gras Museum of Costumes & Culture, 318 N. Rampart St. 7:00 p.m. Purchase tickets at www.eventbrite.com or by email at frankearlperez@gmail.com Krewe of Stars Friday, January 12, 2024 Mardi Gras Museum of Costumes & Culture, 318 N. Rampart St. 7:00 p.m. Purchase tickets at … [Read more...] about Gay Mardi Gras Balls 2024