Duaine Daniels was named Grand Reveler VI at the Mystik Krewe de la Rue Royale Revelers annual Twelfth Night Party.
Daniels is a well-loved and respected member of the New Orleans gay community, having been a firefighter, the founder of the Renegade Bears, a volunteer with the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana, a former bar owner, a former deputy sheriff, the coordinator of the annual Christmas gift drive for those living with HIV, and numerous other civic contributions and volunteer services.
The party, which was held at the Mardi Gras Museum of Costumes and Culture, was the largest Twelfth Night Party the krewe has ever held with over 400 attendees. Krewe Captain Frank Perez said, “The party was a tremendous success and the venue was perfect.” Museum founder and owner Carl Mack agreed and has invited the krewe to hold its 2021 party at the museum again.
The highlight of the evening was the arrival of the “League of Distinguished Revelers” and the revelation of the new Grand Reveler. Scantily clad show boys hoisted Mardi Gras flags along a velvet rope line as the Lord of Misrule, followed by two Swiss Guards and the Royal Standard Bearer, made their way to the stage. The Lord of Misrule then read the following proclamation:
“WHEREAS THIS NIGHT MARKS THE BEGINNING OF THE CARNIVAL SEASON, AND
WHEREAS THE REST OF THE COUNTRY (WHICH I UNDERSTAND, EXISTS SOMEWHERE ACROSS THE LAKE) IS SETTLING DOWN TO WORK AFTER THE HOLIDAY SEASON, AND
WHEREAS NEW ORLEANS IS JUST GEARING UP FOR MARDI GRAS, AND
WHEREAS MARDI GRAS IS THE MOST AWESOME DAY IN THE HISTORY OF THE WORLD,
I, THEREFORE, AS THE LORD OF MISRULE, DO HEREBY DECLARE IT’S CARNIVAL TIME!
AND NOW, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, THE ROYAL PROCESSION OF GRAND REVELERS AND THEIR LIEUTENANTS.”
The previous Grand Revelers and their lieutenants then made their way to the stage. Former Grand Revelers include: Grand Reveler I, Jeffrey Palmquist; Grand Reveler II, Will Antill, the Financial District Reveler; Grand Reveler IV, Felicia Phillips, the Cheese Reveler, and Grand Reveler V, Frank Perez, the Faux Reveler (Grand Reveler III, Rip Naquin, The Award Winning Reveler, passed away in 2017). To the surprise and delight of almost all in attendance, the Lord of Misrule then introduced Duaine Daniels as Grand Reveler VI and dubbed him “The Peg-Legged Reveler.” Daniels, a former firefighter, lost a leg in a work related incident.
After some mutual roasting between the Lord of Misrule and the new Grand Reveler, the Lord of Misrule then asked Grand Revelers I and V to pin Daniels. This was followed by the traditional Meeting of the Courts of the Krewe de la Rue Royale Revelers and the Krewe of Queenateenas. Outgoing and incoming King Cake Queens Tiffany Alexander and Felicia Phillips and Queenateenas Captain Tomy Acosta proceeded to the stage for the toast.
Unlike some Rue Royale Reveler parties in the past, this one did not end with emergency response vehicles; nonetheless, a grand, gay time was had by all as the Krewe kicked off the 2020 Carnival Season.
