LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana Presents

Up Stairs Lounge 50th Anniversary Commemoration Weekend

June 23–25, 2023
Hosted at The Historic New Orleans Collection, New Orleans Marriott, and St. Mark's United Methodist Church

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In 1973, the deadliest fire in the history of New Orleans occurred in a small gay bar in the French Quarter. The Up Stairs Lounge (604 Iberville Street) was a refuge of love and acceptance in the New Orleans community until, in just 19 minutes, it became a symbol of tragedy and rejection. 32 people perished and 15 others were injured in the fire, and the New Orleans LGBT+ community was changed forever.

At the time, local police did not consider the tragedy a top priority. One officer told a reporter, “This was, after all, a queer bar.” No elected official responded publicly to the fire. Archbishop Philip Hannan denied the victims Catholic funerals. Radio commentators joked that the victims’ remains should be buried in fruit jars. The arson at the Up Stairs Lounge remains officially unsolved despite being the deadliest crime against LGBT+ people in US history until the 2016 Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando.

June 23–25, the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana will host a 50th anniversary commemoration to document and share this overlooked event with the community and honor the victims and their families. The Historic New Orleans Collection is proud to be a community partner and co-host of the event.

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