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
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
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
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
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
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
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
Frank Perez Commentary: Jeff Landry & Eldorado
If you haven’t seen the recent films El Dorado: Everything the Nazis Hate and Rustin (both on Netflix), you should. Nothing could better prepare you for the impending inauguration of knuckle-dragging, arch-conservative Trump sycophant Governor-elect Jeff Landry. El Dorado: Everything the Nazis Hate (2023) is a documentary that casts a critical eye at Nazi Germany’s … [Read more...] about Frank Perez Commentary: Jeff Landry & Eldorado
National LGBTQ Task Force Creating Change Conference to be Held in New Orleans Next Month
Next month, thousands of LGBTQ advocates, activists, leaders, and allies will gather in New Orleans from Wednesday, January 17 to Sunday, January 21, 2024, at the Hilton Riverside for the 36th Creating Change Conference. Run by the National LGBTQ Task Force, this is the nation’s foremost political, leadership, and skills-building conference for the LGBTQ+ … [Read more...] about National LGBTQ Task Force Creating Change Conference to be Held in New Orleans Next Month
Bulbancha was Queer
In 1720, just two years after French colonizers renamed Bulbancha “New Orleans”, a French military officer named Ladun complained to Governor Bienville about indigenous queerness. Bienville, who founded New Orleans and lived into his 80s without ever marrying, told the young man to relax, that queerness was quite common in these parts among the Natives. Ladun recorded … [Read more...] about Bulbancha was Queer
