Dear Ambush Nation,
As we march towards the end of August it can only mean one thing – it’s hot as hell outside! Actually, what it really means is that we are less than a month away from Southern Decadence. As always, Ambush will print The Official Southern Decadence Guide™ which will include a listing of all the events, parties, happy hours and other “activities” during Labor Day weekend. The highlight of the weekend is always the Southern Decadence Parade presented by Grand Marshals Daryl Dunaway and William Antill. The parade is on Sunday, September 1 at 2 pm and always starts on Royal Street in front of the “Home of Southern Decadence”, the Golden Lantern Bar.
To our friends along the Gulf South and across America, we invite you to New Orleans’ Labor Day weekend to spend time among friends in a city that celebrates the diversity that is the LGBTQ community. We hope you come to our wonderful city and bring a friend (or two). Once you come to Southern Decadence, you’ll definitely want to come back year after year. For more information, you can always go to the official website at SouthernDecadence.com.
GEAUX SAINTS!
With one preseason game in the books and 3 more to go, our New Orleans Saints are once again marching towards what will hopefully be a Super Bowl victory at season’s end. With their recent success, Sundays in New Orleans during football season have become an event unto themselves. Bars throughout the city show the games on the big screen and invite patrons to enjoy free food and drink specials while wearing their favorite black and gold jersey. Some bars even give free shots every time the Saints score! Inside this issue of Ambush and throughout the football season, we will list the best places to watch the game along with any specials they offer. We hope to see all of you on Sundays this fall enjoying Saints football.
Even if you don’t like football, the social aspect of hanging out at your favorite bar with friends is reason enough to venture out on Sundays. While your friends are yelling at the TV, feel free to have another drink and pretend like you know what that yellow flag is that some guy dressed up like a zebra just threw onto the field. If your friends are yelling and throwing things at the TV, it may mean that the zebra was supposed to throw that yellow flag but didn’t, and no, I still don’t want to talk about the no-call from last year’s NFC Championship game. If you’re not someone who follows football, just yell when your friends do and groan when they do as well. Hopefully, by the end of the season, you’ll start to catch on to the game of football. Until then just keep drinking until the game is over and when the Saints win, you’ll have a reason to drink even more. Geaux Saints!
ELECTIONS HAVE CONSEQUENCES
Last week was the qualifying period in Louisiana for the fall elections which include all state wide and legislative races. If you haven’t done so, please take the time in the coming weeks to learn about the candidates running for office. Ambush is contacting local and statewide candidates and will ask them their stance on several issues including LGBTQ issues. As early voting nears, Ambush will be making endorsements in key races throughout the state.
Why does any of this matter? It matters because elections have consequences. When John Bel Edwards became Governor, one of the first things he did was to sign an executive order that prohibited discrimination against state government workers and contractors based on their sexual orientation or gender identity. A State Court of Appeals later ruled that executive order was unconstitutional and the Louisiana Supreme Court refused to hear the matter allowing the Appeals Court ruling to stand. It’s important to know in Louisiana all judges are elected. Elections have consequences!
In light of the recent shootings in Texas and Ohio, I think it’s important we understand that our elected officials need to address the problem of gun violence in our country. Here again, elections have consequences. In 2018, Democrats took control of the US House of Representatives from the Republicans. While most Americans are busy in their day-to-day lives or following the President on Twitter, Democrats were busy doing the people’s work. Democrats have passed legislation requiring universal background checks for all gun purchases and a ban on assault weapons. In a recent Quinnipiac University poll, 97% of Americans were in favor of universal background checks for all gun buyers. Even with the overwhelming majority of Americans in favor of background checks, Republican Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell refuses to bring the bills up for a vote. A quick civics lesson here, bills need to be passed by both the House and Senate and signed by the President to become law. Again, elections have consequences!
So what does all this mean? It means we need to all be involved and engaged in our elections on both a state and national level. It means if we want our elected leaders to represent our interests, we don’t have the luxury of sitting any election out – even off elections for judges! Please get involved by learning what each candidate stands for. Donate money to candidates who represent your interest and the interest of your community. At a minimum, you should register to vote and vote in every election. Your vote matters. If you don’t believe me, ask Al Gore if every vote counts. He lost the Presidency by 537 votes in Florida during the 2000 election. In Louisiana, you can find all the information you need about how to register to vote and election dates at GeauxVote.com. See you at the voting booth this fall because elections have consequences!
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
New Orleans Advocates for GLBT Elders (NOAGE) will have their next potluck dinner on Tuesday, August 27 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm. The event will be held at St. Anna’s Episcopal Church located at 1313 Esplanade Ave. If you are able to attend please consider bringing a dish (although not required) or a non-perishable food item for St. Anna’s Food Pantry. All ages are welcome to this event! Come eat, network and make new friends!
Southern Decadence Grand Marshals Daryl Dunaway and William Antill invite you to the Southern Decadence Parade on Sunday, September 1 at 2 pm. The parade starts on Royal Street in front of the Golden Lantern Bar. The parade is the highlight of the Labor Day weekend celebration in New Orleans and costumes are encouraged. The parade route will be available the week of the parade on the Ambush and Southern Decadence websites and Facebook pages.
The Chevron Walk to End HIV is set to take place on Saturday, September 28, from 8 am to 2 pm. The walk will take place at Woldenberg Riverfront Park and along the river to the Aquarium of the Americas. The walk is a fundraiser for the NO/AIDS Task Force, a division of CrescentCare, which provides HIV treatment and services to the greater New Orleans community.
