Dear Ambush Nation,
Another Pride Weekend in New Orleans is in the books and from the amount of glitter and rainbow confetti along the streets of the French Quarter, it appears to have been a smashing success! There were plenty of activities for people to enjoy throughout the weekend. The highlights of Pride were the Pride Parade on Saturday night and the performance by Big Freedia, The Queen Diva, at Pride Fest.
I want to take this opportunity to thank everyone who was part of the Pride festivities. Whether you rode or marched in the parade, were a spectator on the parade route or took the time to enjoy Pride Fest and Big Freedia’s performance, it is the participation by everyone in our community and allies that make Pride weekend a success. Pride in New Orleans has continued to expand, and we expect that to continue each and every year. Also, it is encouraging to see Pride events all along the Gulf South. If you have the opportunity, please support our friends at their Pride events in other cities.
Once again this year, Ambush had a float in the Pride Parade. As we rode along the parade route, it was great to see all the families participating in Pride weekend. The parade has grown each and every year, and this one was the biggest ever. With 26 floats and multiple marching groups, over 3,000 people were part of the parade. Special thanks to the Pride Committee and countless volunteers who coordinate the parade each year. It takes untold hours of work to pull off a parade of that size and we thank you for your efforts. Over the last few years, Pride in New Orleans has grown from a very small event to one of the premier event weekends in the city. Again, to the Pride Committee and volunteers, job well done!
THE 31ST ANNUAL GAY APPRECIATION AWARDS
The 31st Annual Gay Appreciation Awards will be held at Oz on Saturday, July 20th at 7 pm. Nominations are closed but now the fun begins. Voting is live and will continue thru July 9th at which time the Top 5 will be announced in each category. We are super excited for this year’s GAA and expect it to be one of the best yet. We’ve added some new categories and hope you will take the time to vote for your favorites.
Be on the lookout on our Facebook page and in the next issue of Ambush for the announcement of the winner of the coveted GAA Lifetime Achievement Award. This award is given each year by Ambush and the GAA Board of Directors to someone in the community who has spent a lifetime advocating for members of the LGBTQ community.
VIP tickets will be available for $100 and tickets to the event will be $10. To reserve a VIP table, email us at info@ambushpublishing.com. Again this year, part of the proceeds from this event will be donated to Southern Decadence 2019.
GRAND ILLUSIONS AT THE LOUISIANA STATE MUSEUM
On June 6, I had the privilege of attending the opening of Grand Illusions: The History & Artistry of Gay Carnival at the Louisiana State Museum in the French Quarter. If I had to describe the exhibition in one word, it would be AMAZING! There are so many wonderful costumes, sketches, posters, pictures and history, all under one roof. The event was well attended and I look forward to going back to the exhibition when I can take more time to enjoy all the displays. The exhibit will be open until December 2020 so you have plenty of time to check it out. I would highly encourage you to see the show for yourself to appreciate the history and splendor of all that is Gay Mardi Gras. Also, spread the word to family and friends who may be visiting from out of town as this is a must see exhibition that you wouldn’t want to miss! A special thanks to Wayne Phillips, Curator of Costumes & Textiles and Curator of Carnival Collections at the Louisiana State Museum for putting together this fantastic exhibition.
MARK YOUR CALENDARS
Johnny Passion’s 6th Annual Snatch Game, a fundraiser for Southern Decadence 2019 is on Saturday, July 13 at 10:15 pm at The Allways Lounge & Cabaret. This event is always a sell-out so contact Misti Gaither via Facebook for reserved seating. The charity for Southern Decadence 2019 is Odyssey House Louisiana.
The Oracle Gala, an annual event of The LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana, will be held on Sunday, September 15 from 6 to 9 pm. This year’s Gala will honor Valda Lewis and the Amistad Research Center. There will be an open bar and hors d’oeuvres will be served. For more information, please follow the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana on Facebook or visit their website at lgbtarchiveslouisiana.org
Equality Fest 2019, presented by the Gulf Coast Equality Council, will take place on Saturday, October 19 from 11 am to 6 pm at Harrah’s Gulf Coast in Biloxi, MS. The day will be filled with music, food, activities for kids, shopping and drag entertainers. For more information please visit gulfcoastequalitycouncil.org.
