A BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION CELEBRATING LGBTQ+ CULTURE SINCE 1982
VOLUME 42 ISSUE 2 October 14, 2024
T.J. Acosta
EDITOR
DIGITAL
Charles Pizzo, Rev. Bill Terry
PHOTOGRAPHERS
Tony Leggio, Dwain, Hertz
AMBUSH Magazine is published bimonthly. The publisher assumes no responsibility for the claims of advertisers and has the right to reject any advertising. The inclusion of an individual’s name or photograph in this publication implies nothing about that individual’s sexual orientation. Letters, stories, etc. appearing herein are not necessarily the opinion of the publisher.
Copyright 1982-2024 AMBUSH PUBLISHING LLC, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NOTHING HEREIN MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER INCLUDING AD LAYOUTS, MAPS, & PHOTOS. AMBUSH is published six times a year and has a print circulation footprint across the Gulf Coast. For ad rates and other information, email frankearlperez@gmail.com
The Official Dish TJ Acosta
Dear Ambush Nation,
On behalf of everyone at AMBUSH, Happy Halloween and Happy Thanksgiving! New Orleans is a town know for parties and elaborate costumes, and Halloween brings out the best of both. Check out our digital version of AMBUSH at AmbushMag.com for our Official Gay Halloween Guide. It is a full list of events for the month of October. I’m sure you’ll have a spooky good time celebrating Halloween in New Orleans. We put out a monthly event calendar called Under the Gaydar each month, so be sure to follow us at AmbushMag.com and on social media @AmbushMag for our event calendar in November.
As we roll through fall and march toward Thanksgiving, let us remember to be thankful for all the blessings in our lives. First, I want to take this opportunity to personally thank you, the readers of AMBUSH. If not for each of you, there wouldn’t be AMBUSH Magazine. We have a wonderful team of writers and contributors – they are the ones who make this magazine great! And, although I probably don’t thank them enough, I’m very thankful for all their talents and efforts. Also, a special shout out to Frank Perez who has been instrumental in getting AMBUSH back to print. I’m also thankful for all the advertisers who use AMBUSH as a vehicle to promote their businesses and events. I would ask you, the readers of AMBUSH, to try to support our advertisers as they make all of this possible.
Let us also take time to remember that the holidays are not always a joyous time for members of our community. Please make the effort to reach out to friends who are elderly or from out of town and don’t have family nearby to spend the holidays with. Or just someone you haven’t seen in a while. It’s important year-round, but especially during the holidays, that we all feel like we belong to a family even if that family isn’t biological. Again, on behalf of everyone at AMBUSH, Happy Halloween and Happy Thanksgiving.
From the Editor’s Desk Frank Perez
In this issue, we celebrate Halloween and Thanksgiving. Indeed, there is much to be thankful for, and, with Election Day approaching, much to fear.
Election Day is November 5 and while we should all be grateful to those who fought and died for our right to vote, we should also remember that many do not choose to exercise that right. 66% of eligible voters voted in the 2020 presidential race the highest percentage since 1900. Less than half of eligible voters (49%) voted in the 2022 midterms. In addition to voter apathy, turnout is also low because of deliberate efforts across the nation by the Republic Party to purge voting rolls and make it more difficult for likely non-Republicans to vote.
This disdain for democracy and the Republican Party’s lurch toward totalitarianism is truly frightening. Former President Trump has stated the Constitution should be scrapped and that he would be a dictator on day one if he is re-elected. Scary stuff. The only thing scarier than the loss of democracy is what he plans to do if he wins. Women, immigrants, black people, non-Christians, the elderly, queer folk, and the working poor should all be terrified of another Trump presidency.
Trump has promised to be his supporters’ “retribution.” He is solely motivated by vengeance fueled by his own deep-seated malignant narcissism. That, and his fear of going to prison. If he wins, all the federal investigations into his alleged criminal behavior will go away.
The President of the United States should appeal to our better angels to our hopes and aspirations for a better life and a more perfect union. Trump appeals to our basest instincts and our ugliest prejudices. Our nation continues to change demographically, for the better, and Trump is the face of the resistance. His election would be a disastrous step in the wrong direction.
Most people have already made up their minds, but if you happen to be an undecided voter, please vote for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz in the upcoming election. And if you’re a registered voter thinking of just staying home on Election Day, don’t. Take the time to vote. It’s important. The next four years could be horrifying, or something to be thankful for. It’s up to you.
Weekly Events Tony Leggio
Monday
*NOAGE New Orleans Walking Group; Audubon Park; 6500 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA; 7 p.m.
NOAGE’s weekly walking group meets on Mondays at 6:00 PM. They start walking promptly at 6:00, so be sure to arrive a few minutes early. Please consult with your primary care physician before beginning any new fitness regimen, especially if you are not used to regular exercise.
*Betsy Propane’s Smoke Show; The Allways Lounge & Cabaret; 2240 St. Claude Ave.; 8 – 9:30 p.m. Betsy Propane & The Accessories are a Jazz Trio fronted by a female lead singer, who dabbles in the Ancient Art of Bump & Grind, and wants to share those powerful pipes through song & performance. Cover $20
*LAZY SUSAN KARAOKE: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; 9 p.m.– 1 a.m. Mondays are, once again, a DRAG! See your favorite Queens! Sing your favorite songs! GET WEIRD! With a rotating cast of drag hosts.
Tuesday
*Trivia Night: Crossing NOLA; 439 Dauphine St.; 7:30 p.m. 5 Rounds of Ten Questions Plus a Bonus Round; Prizes for 1st, 2nd & Last Place; $3 Wells & Domestics til 8PM; Kitchen Open til 10PM. Call the Bar at (504) 523-4517 to Reserve a Table
*George’s Tuesday Night Trivia; George’s Place; 860 St. Louis St., Baton Rouge; 7 – 9 p.m. Come play trivia every Tuesday with a different theme each week.
*Big Easy Stompers Line Dancing: GrandPre’s; 834 N Rampart St.; 8 – 9 p.m. The Big Easy Stompers have free dance classes every Tuesday at Grandpre’s. They have been giving dance classes to the LGBT community and general public for the last 26 years. Classes are free and start at 8:00PM and open dancing at 9:00pm. All are welcome and beginners are welcome.
*No Judgment Karaoke at Good Friend’s: Good Friend’s Bar; 740 Dauphine St.; 8 p.m. – midnight. Come enjoy karaoke with fabulous hosts and a chance to win great prizes.
*Weekly Pool Tournament; Phoenix Bar; 941 Elysian Fields Ave.; 8 – 10 p.m. The Phoenix Pool Tournament is hosted by Jesse every Tuesday night! $5 buy in, winner takes all. Drink specials begin at 7pm.
*Trivia Tuesdays; SIPPS Gulfport; 2218 25th Ave. Gulfport, MS; 8 – 10 p.m. Come out and enjoy Big Gay Trivia with Tara Shay Montgomery.
*Open Talent Night: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA; 9 p.m. – 1 a.m. Hosted by Debbie with a D.
Wednesday
*Dance Cardio with NOAGE: Treme Recreation Community Center; 900 N. Villere St.; 6 p.m. Dance Cardio is a low impact dance cardio workout for active adults aging actively, set to high energy hip-hop, rock, R&B, blues and funk.
*Showtunes Sing-A-Long; Bourbon Pub & Parade; 801 Bourbon St.; 8 – midnight. With VJ Brendan Thompson. Grab a Cocktail and Sing – A – Long to some of your all time favorites.
*No Judgment Karaoke; Cafe Lafitte in Exile; 901 Bourbon St.; 8 p.m. – midnight. Come sing you heart out at the oldest Gay Bar in New Orleans.
*Wednesday Night Variety Show: The Page; 542 N. Rampart St., New Orleans, LA.; 9:15 p.m. Hosted by Simone Rishard. $5 entry fee and drink specials all night. (Cont’d on pg. 10)
AMBUSH is published six times a year in February, April, June, August, and October. Contact Frank Perez at frankearlperez@gmail for advertising rates and other information.
Weekly Events Cont’d.
*Drink & Drown: SIPPS Gulfport; 2218 25th Ave. Gulfport, MS; 9 p.m. – midnight. Drink & Drown every Wednesday from 9pm – Midnight $15 all you can drink; Well single pour liquor drinks and Domestic beers 21+ to enter. Come sing your heart out.
*The Ladies of Oz Show Night; Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; 9:30-11:30 p.m. Featuring the Ladies of Oz and DJ Tim Pflueger.
*Queen’s Karaoke; George’s Place; 860 St. Louis St., Baton Rouge; 10 p.m. – midnight. Hosted every Wednesday by Alvin McGee starting at 10 p.m.
Thursday
*Karaoke at Pub: Bourbon Pub & Parade; 801 Bourbon St.; 7 p.m. – midnight. Sing your heart out every Thursday upstairs at the Parade. There will be a different special host each week. Choose form over 30,000 songs.
*The Van Ella Bordella: A Storyville Burlesque; The Allways Lounge & Cabaret; 2240 St. Claude Ave.; 8 –9:30 p.m. The Van Ella Bordella, New Orleans’ Storyville spectacle, is back with an all new show, original music, and courtesans. Limited seating. Join Madam Lola van Ella and her courtesans for an evening of debauchery, scandal, decadent delights and Victorian era brothel history. For tickets, go to www.eventbrite.com.
(Cont’d. on page 11)
Weekly Events Cont’d.
*QUEERS OF COMEDY New Orleans: Oz; 800 Bourbon St.; 8 p.m. A group of queer comedians performing comedy together
*Oz Strip Off; Oz; 800 Bourbon St.; 10 p.m. – midnight. Come enjoy the Oz Strip Off contest sponsored by Swiss Navy and hosted by Persana Shoulders. Contestants in this male Go-Go competition can win $300 in cash and prizes for 1st Place.
*Clay’s Karao Kiki; George’s Place; 860 St. Louis St., Baton Rouge; 10 p.m. – midnight. Hosted every Thursday by Clay Donadlson starting at 10 p.m.
*So You Think You Can Drag: B-Bob’s; 213 Conti St., Mobile AL; 11 p.m. Winner chosen by audience applause.
Friday
*Trixie Minx’s Tease the Season Burlesque Ballroom at The Jazz Playhouse, feat. Romy Kaye: Royal Sonesta; 300 Bourbon St.; 7 and 9 p.m. shows. Come join us for a modern spin on a classic 1960’s Bourbon Street Burlesque Show with a rotating cast of soloists all performing classic striptease to live music, bringing quality Jazz & Burlesque back to its original home
On Bourbon Street. Get tickets at www.eventbrite.com
*Flamingo Night: The Four Seasons Den & Patio Bar; 1229 N. Causeway Blvd., Metairie, LA; 8 p.m. Tiffany Alexander hosts a night of crazy fun and games.
*Freaky Fridays: Oz; 800 Bourbon St.; 8 p.m. Oz New Orleans is the place to be this Friday and all Fridays as Ivy Dripp and JoJo host “FREAKY FRIDAYS ,” featuring performances that are sure to amaze and delight! A show that celebrates glam and horror! Join us for this one of a kind variety show spectacular!
*Raw Dog Comedy: Ugly Dog Saloon; 401 Andrew Higgins Blvd.; 8 – 11 p.m.Raw Dog Comedy is a FREE weekly comedy show in the Warehouse District.The open-mic list often features the city’s best comedians, visiting comics, national touring acts & first timers. It’s FREE to attend, but tipping’s highly encouraged (comics gotta eat, too).
*Bayou Blues Burlesque: The Allways Lounge & Cabaret; 2240 St. Claude Ave.; 10:30 p.m. Tickets available at eventbrite.com and at the door. An intimate night of live blues music accompanied by burlesque and variety acts. Drink specials by your bartenders and comfy seating to enjoy the art of the striptease. Music by The Delta Revues Burlesque by Miss Oops C. (AKA Oops the Clown)
*Karaoke Night @ Sipps: SIPPS Gulfport; 2218 25th Ave. Gulfport, MS; 9 p.m. – midnight. Come sing your heart out.
*Flip’n Fridays: Splash Nightclub; 2183 Highland Rd., Baton Rouge; 9 – 11 p.m. Splash presents Flip’N Fridays! Flip a coin each round to see if you win a gift card equal to the value of that round! Featuring a performance at 10:30 where the queen flips a coin to see what she is performing that number!
*The Famous Corner Pocket New Meat Contest; The Corner Pocket; 940 St. Louis St.; 10 p.m. (Boys dancin’ from 7 p.m.).
The country’s longest running all-male amateur dance contest (over three decades!) Hosted by Corner Pocket Emcee III Felicia Phillips and former Southern Decadence Grand Marshal. Bring your sexiest, skimpiest, and tightest undies (but no jock straps) for a chance at a cash prize of $100 ($200 if it’s your first time in our contest). Open to all contestants over 21. New dancers encouraged.
*Dollz with Ballz: The Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St.; 10 p.m. Come out and enjoy a great show with Taze-Ya-Ballz and cast.
*Guys Night Fridays: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA; 10 p.m, Dance the night away at New Orleans’ #1 Gay Dance Club with DJ Tim Pflueger 15 X Winner GAA “DJ of the Year” / Adam Joseph / Orlando Ricardo. (Cont’d. on pg. 14)
Museum Spotlight: Sand, Ash, Heat / New Orleans Museum of Art
The New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) presents the first ever comprehensive look at the institution’s extensive collection of glass objects ranging from tiny ancient Egyptian amulets to large-scale works of contemporary sculpture. “Sand, Ash, Heat” opened on August 30 and explores how a common material has inspired innovation in the arts and sciences for millennia. The exhibition is on view in NOMA’s Ella West Freeman Galleries through February 10, 2025.
Featuring an expansive range of objects drawn entirely from NOMA’s exceptional glass collection, the exhibition showcases a diversity of work to foreground how glass is connected to histories of scientific discovery, foodways, cultural exchange, and artistic innovation.
“A comprehensive historic glass collection comprises one of the hallmark areas of NOMA’s important holdings in decorative arts and design. “Sand, Ash, Heat” proposes a unique interpretive lens to consider these objects alongside works in other parts of NOMA’s collection,” said Susan M. Taylor, The Montine McDaniel Freeman Director of NOMA. “The exhibition demonstrates how we might use one ubiquitous material as a case study to examine a much broader history of human creativity across time and place.”
The history of glass is ultimately a history of art, culture, technology, and science. “Sand, Ash, Heat” highlights glass artistry and production across a span of over 4,000 years, exploring glass as a vehicle for the transfer of ideas around the world and tracing innovation in manufacture and artistic expression in this important medium.
NOMA, New Orleans’ oldest fine arts institution, opened in 1911 with only nine works of art. Today, the museum hosts an impressive permanent collection of nearly 50,000 artworks. The collection, noted for its extraordinary strengths in French and American art, photography, glass, and African and Japanese works, continues to expand and grow, making NOMA one of the top art museums in the South.
The twelve-acre Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden at NOMA is one of the most important sculpture installations in the United States, with over 90 sculptures situated on a beautifully landscaped site among meandering footpaths, reflecting lagoons, Spanish moss-laden 200-year-old live oaks, mature pines, magnolias, camellias, and pedestrian bridges.
Free general museum admission on Wednesdays for Louisiana residents courtesy of The Helis Foundation. Free general museum admission for children 12 and under.
Olafur Eliasson, The Hinged View, 2017.
Fred Wilson, The Way the Moon’s in Love with the Dark Chandelier, 2017
Sharif Bey, Domestic: Queen, 2024
THE OZ GOGOs DANCING ON THE BAR ALL WEEKEND!
*Friday Night Drag: George’s Place; 860 St. Louis St., Baton Rouge; 11 p.m. Join us Fridays Nights @georgesplacebr for the area’s best drag entertainers.
Saturday
*Drag Brunch @ the Country Club: Country Club; 634 Louisa St.; 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Enjoy delightful Drag performances and a delicious brunch! Reservations can be made at opentable.com
*Free Comedy Jam for Improvisers: Big Couch; 1045 Desire Street; 1 p.m. Just because improv is unscripted, doesn’t mean you can’t practice it! We welcome improvisers of all levels to join us weekly to hone their improv skills, learn new ones, and connect with fun folks. An improv jam is an opportunity for anyone to perform and watch scenes.
*Kingz & Corsets: A Sexy Studded Affair: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA; 8 p.m. Attention: Kings, Queens, and everyone in between! Oz New Orleans is thrilled to announce our newest show under the Oz Entertainment umbrella: Kingz and Corsets! “A Sexy Studded Affair” Starring: Justin Betweener Hosted by: Paris Dee DeLorean. The show will feature weekly special guests.
*Dance Bitches Dance: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA; 10 p.m. Dance the night away at New Orleans’ #1 Gay Dance Club with DJ Tim Pflueger. 15 X Winner GAA “DJ of the Year” followed by DJ Adam Joseph or DJ Orlando Ricardo.
*Show Night: SIPPS Gulfport; 2218 25th Ave.; Gulfport, MS.; 11:30 p.m. Come check out the fabulous Nicole DuBois and a rotating cast of drag performers each week. (cont’d on pg. 18)
Lazarus House’s Bon AppetiteFundraiser
Amon Ra’s Girls Gone Broadway
Saturday Night at the Corner Pocket
Varla Jean Merman’s Errors Tour Show
Lords of Leather Miss LA Leatherette Contest
Esom Art Gallery Opening
Chop Chop Charles Pizzo
In the old Jewish Quarter of Rome, white-haired nonnas stuff seasonal squash blossoms with delicate fillings laced with ricotta cheese and batter them before lightly frying them fritto misto-style. It’s labor of love oft repeated throughout the Mediterranean, so imagine my shock at finding them as a special of all places in nearby Arabi.
Light and crackling crisp, the tender zucchini flowers burst open with steam to reveal a savory and light ricotta cheese filling. The combination is magical, as is the fragrant lemon chive aioli on which
they sit. There are pools of bright basil pesto on the plate, making for a colorful composition.
This is not what I expected when my friend Ken asked me if I knew about the Kitchen Table Café (KTC), which he said has one of the best burgers in the area. That drew me in, though I never tried the burger because the range of the menu is ambitious and creative. Beyond American comfort foods, KTC offers Latin, European, and Asian-inspired dishes. It’s a difficult feat for a kitchen to pull off so many disparate cuisines, yet I’m happy to report for Ambush readers that KTC does so admirably. KTC is hardly new, but it’s a sleeper. I was quite impressed with the cooking of the new owner and his son, who appear to have remained closely aligned with the farm-to-table ethos of KTC’s former owners.
The menu does not tell the whole story. At least four menu boards adorn the dining room with myriad specials, and there’s another on the spacious outdoor patio (lovely this time of year). It’s a rare restaurant where I’d be comfortable bringing companions who want to eat healthy, vegan, or vegetarian (and all the produce appears to be fresh).
Donna's Kale and Roasted Beet Salad was composed with fresh, house-roasted beets over kale in a sunny and slightly sweet citrus dressing. Shredded carrots added sweetness to tame the kale; pumpkin seeds add crunch. A scattering of blue cheese adds creamy umami.
A duck empanada appetizer has a remarkable pastry crust (I wondered if it was fried in lard given how crisp and flavorful the crust is). The filling, shredded duck in a thick jus lacked something, but the accompanying hot sauce added acidity and punch.
Crispy Fried Duck, an entrée, succeeded in pulling all the elements together. It is very slow roasted for several hours, fried to order for crispness, and topped with a passion fruit glaze. The leg and dark-meat breast were juicy without being fatty. The slimmer end of the breast was well done, yet those crispy bits melded perfectly into basil fried rice (which seemed to have a bit of duck fat mixed in for richness). Wonton crisps add texture, and fried green onions impart a mild sweetness.
A quartet of Boudin Balls, featuring pork and rice sausage said to be house made, reminded me of the Cajun flavors of Southwestern Louisiana; a pungent mustard sauce accompanies. Spinach Artichoke Balls get the similar “meatball” treatment; they are also served with creamy lemon chive aioli. While this dish piqued my curiosity, it would not replace my love for cheesy spinach dip found elsewhere (which has a higher ratio of spinach). Both balls are deep-fried (pun intended).
Rosemary Pork Tenderloin is fork tender, topped with cranberry balsamic gastrique. The menu description called for apple, and the taste of rosemary was absent or subtle. But that didn’t matter: it was superb comfort food. The whipped potatoes were creamy and did not require butter, and the roasted veggies were fresh and well-seasoned. My dining partner got a thick pork chop that appeared to require serious knife wrangling skills.
Banana bread pudding is nicely balanced, not too banana-forward, and moist. It’s served with a very light vanilla crème anglaise plus chocolate sauce. A Godiva Dark Chocolate and Irish Cream four-layer cake was rich, luscious, and the cream filling is superb.
Wines by the glass and bottle are priced affordably, and pretty-looking craft cocktails are available.
The patio and men’s room are upscale. Weather-permitting, there is live (Cont’d. on pg. 26)
Stuffed Squash Blossoms
Crispy Fried Duck
Know Your History
Frank Perez
Remembering Fernando Rios
September 27 marked the sixty-sixth anniversary of Fernando Rios’ murder. Rios was a 26 year old gay man
who was brutally attacked and beaten to death in the French Quarter in 1958. The fall semester at colleges and universities was underway. Three undergraduates decided to“roll a queer.” This homophobic ritual essentially consisted of two to five guys going to the “gay” section of town, or a gay bar if the town had one, and beating up someone they perceived to be gay.
In New Orleans, that meant the French Quarter and Café Lafitte in Exile, the oldest gay bar in the city. And so, one night, three undergraduates from Tulane University (John Farrell, Alberto A. Calvo, and David P. Drennan) decided to “roll a queer.” The three men went to the Quarter for a night of carousing. Early in the evening, Farrell suggested they “roll a queer,” but Calvo and Drennan dismissed the idea. Later, after hours of drinking, Farrell brought up the idea again, this time with no resistance.
Farrell went to Café Lafitte in Exile about 1:30 in the morning and settled on Fernando Rios, a twenty-six-year-old tour guide visiting from Mexico. The two sat next to each other in the bar and chatted for a while before they decided to leave together. As Rios and Farrell were walking through the Quarter, they entered an alley adjacent to St. Louis Cathedral, where Calvo and Drennan were lying in wait. The three undergrads then attacked Rios, beating him repeatedly in the head and kicking him in the stomach several times.
After the attack, the three gay bashers returned to campus bragging about the assault and showing off Rios’ wallet, which they had stolen. Rios, barely conscious and unable to move, was not discovered until the next morning. His face bloody and swollen, he was rushed to Charity Hospital where he subsequently died.
During a routine autopsy, the city coroner discovered Rios had an unusually thin cranium and this revelation played a key factor in the murder trial that followed. Farrell, Calvo, and Drennan were arrested and went to trial on murder charges on January 21, 1959. The defendants admitted to the beating but argued Rios died because of his feminine “eggshell cranium,” not because of their attack. Tortured logic aside, this defense made perfect sense to a homophobic, all male, all white jury in 1959 and the three students were easily acquitted by the jury after deliberating a mere two hours and fifteen minutes.
The acquittal and press coverage of the trial provide a glimpse into the highly homophobic public attitudes of the time. When the “Not Guilty” verdict was announced, the courtroom erupted in cheers and applause. The New Orleans States-Item pictured on its front page a picture of the defendants smiling broadly next to a boxed joke entitled “Today’s Chuckle,” which read, “Overheard in a nightclub: ordinarily I never chase a man, but this one was getting away.” Also, a deluge of letters poured into the editorial offices of the city’s newspapers, the overwhelming majority of them supporting the homophobic defendants and urging the city to “clean up the Quarter.” The few letters in support of Rios were often backhanded. One incensed reader argued the police should leave the gay bars alone so the “perverts” wouldn’t feel compelled to mingle with “normal” people.
In 2016 I received an email from Sean Farrell, the son of John Farrell. He was writing to inform me that his father had recently passed away and, in the course of going through his father’s papers, he learned for the first time his father had been a defendant in a murder trial while he was a student at Tulane. He had performed a Google search and found an article I had written about Rios. I put him in touch with Clayton Delery, who was writing a book on the Rios murder at the time. Delery interviewed Sean Farrell and the transcript of that interview is included in his book, Out for Queer Blood: The Murder of Fernando Rios and the Failure of New Orleans Justice (2017).
Cover image of Delery’s book
Weekly Events Cont’d.
Sunday
*Drag Brunch @ the Country Club: Country Club; 634 Louisa St.; 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. Enjoy delightful Drag performances and a delicious brunch! Reservations can be made at opentable.com
*Morning Worship: Metropolitan Community Church of New Orleans; 5401 S. Claiborne Ave.; 10 – 11 a.m. Our worship services are best described as “Blended”. We recognize that many of our congregants come from different religious and spiritual backgrounds. We strive to incorporate elements from those various backgrounds so that all can feel a little more connected to our services.
*Solemn High Mass; St. Anna’s Episcopal Church; 1313 Esplanade Ave.; starts at 10:30 a.m. We are a diverse congregation and our slogan is “All are welcomed. None are shunned.” Our worship style is ornate with deep ritual yet it remains warm and inviting. We are also kid and pet friendly. A real community church, St. Anna’s welcomes all members of the LGBTQ+ community.
*Sunday Drag Brunch: Barrilleaux Restaurant; 2000 Burgundy st.; 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. Every Sunday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. with a rotating cast and show director. Bottomless mimosas. Call 504-609-6390 for reservations.
*WigSnatchers Drag Brunch: Marigny Brasserie; 640 Frenchmen St. , New Orleans, LA; 12 – 3 p.m. Located in the heart of historic Frenchmen St. comes the hottest Drag Show New Orleans has to offer. Hosted by Cosette LaFemme and Mistie Bonét, Drag Brunch @ Marigny Brasserie guarantees a welcoming and entertaining experience with some of Nola’s finest Drag Queens. Come enjoy performances of some of the most iconic artists of all time while you start the day with a plate of New Orleans, a drink in hand, and a safe space to have fun and express yourself. Email marigny.brasserie@kfkgroup.com to inquire about special event offers and group pricing of parties of 5 or more
*Trash Disco; Cafe Lafitte in Exile; 901 Bourbon St.; 4 – 10 p.m. Come dance the night away at one of the best places to end your weekend of fun, Lafitte’s in Exile, home of the world famous napkin toss that happens every Sunday between 8:30 and 10 p.m.
*The PlayGirlz Show: The Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St.; 5 –7 p.m. Come out and enjoy the show featuring Gia GiaVanni with Taze Ya Ballz and a special guest each week.
*Zingo!; The Corner Pocket; 940 St. Louis St.; 6 p.m. Zingo! with the boy’s pullin’ the balls. Can you say, O 69? Come play to win fabulous prizes and bar tabs (free to play). Corner Pocket Emcee III Felicia Phillips and former Southern Decadence Grand Marshal hosts.
*SIPPS Drag Bingo: SIPPS Gulfport; 2218 25th Ave.; Gulfport, MS.; 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Come play bingo for great prizes every Sunday.
*Drag Bingeaux; Oz; 800 Bourbon St.; 7 – 9 p.m. Hosted by Ivy Dripp with gogo boys. 11 games, no cover.
*The Opulence Hour: Maison; 508 Frenchmen St.; 8 – 9 p.m. The troupe that brought you “Talk Nerdy To Me: A Weekly Nerdlesque Revue” is putting on our Sunday best for this new burlesque and variety show. The Society of Sin Burlesque & Variety every Sunday at The Maison on Frenchman at 7pm. Every week (Cont’d on pg. 24)
Noel Twillbeck Wins Lifetime Achievement Award
The recipient of the 2024 GAA Lifetime Achievement Award is Noel Twilbeck. As a young man still in the closet, the advent of the AIDS epidemic in the 1980s initially terrified Twilbeck. He first thought was to stay in the closet, but he changed his mind and embarked on a career fighting the disease.
He began as a volunteer with the NO/AIDS Task Force in 1987, was hired as Director of Volunteer Services two years later, and became Executive Director in 1999. Twilbeck retired from CrescentCare (formerly known as NO/AIDS Task Force in New Orleans, LA) as the Chief Executive Officer in December 2022 after a 35-year career with the organization.
Under Twilbeck’s leadership as the organization’s CEO, CrescentCare recognized significant growth. CrescentCare has grown from a staff of 30 to over 270 employees and an annual budget expansion from $3.5 million to $56 million as the organization has transitioned from a HIV/AIDS Service Organization to a Federally Qualified Health Center.
Recently, Twilbeck came out of retirement and currently works as a Senior Management Specialist for St. Thomas Community Health Center. He also does consulting work for Project Lazarus. Twilbeck also currently serves on the Board of the New Orleans Pride Center, the New Orleans Advocates for GLBT+ Elders (NOAGE) (Treasurer), and the First Unitarian Universalist Church of New Orleans (Immediate Past-President).Twilbeck has an MBA from the University of New Orleans and continues to share an incredible life with his husband of 35 years, Glen Kahrman. For more information on the Gay Appreciation Awards, visit https:// www.ambushpublishing.com/ (Cont’d on pg. 41)
Investigative Report: How Swiss Navy Hijacked the Southern Decadence Parade
Frank Perez
By most accounts, Southern Decadence 2024 was a huge success. The Grand Marshals raised a record amount of money, local bars and businesses did well, and everyone seemed to have a great time. Nevertheless, some have raised eyebrows and a serious question about the Southern Decadence parade: Why was Swiss Navy leading the parade?
Many parade viewers were surprised, and even angry, when the parade approached and they saw
not the Grand Marshals, who have always led the parade since the first Grand Marshal was named in 1974, but rather a contingent representing Swiss Navy (a lubricant company) leading the parade. In the center of the Swiss Navy group was celebrity Billy Porter. One veteran Decadence devotee exclaimed, “What fuckery is this? Where are the Grand Marshals?” Another remarked, “I didn’t know they had celebrity Grand Marshals.”
Their response was understandable. Having a business entity lead the parade is unprecedented and signals a significant departure from history and tradition. Southern Decadence is unique among large events in that it has no corporate structure, no bylaws, no board of directors. The responsibility of producing the annual parade falls each year to the Grand Marshals. The SDGMs spend all summer planning events and raising money to pay for the parade. Since 2010, they have given whatever is left over to a local charity. The parade has always been about the Grand Marshals and their entourages.
So, why was Swiss Navy at the head of the parade? The short answer is they were not supposed to be. Originally, Swiss Navy was slated as group 33, about half-way through the parade. Parade Captain Antoinette Reynolds, at the request of one of the Grand Marshals, moved them up to position 20.
Before the parade, Ellen Friedman, representing Swiss Navy, told Reynolds that Billy Porter, who Swiss Navy had brought in for an event at the Bourbon Pub, could not get to the line up position because of the crowds and that he feared for his safety. Reynolds instructed them to wait at the corner of Royal and Governor Nicholls streets a block from where the parade starts and that an assigned volunteer would tell them when to slip into their assigned spot as the parade passed.
As the parade began and approached the corner, Swiss Navy jumped in ahead of the Grand Marshals. Friedman claims the volunteer assigned to them told them to go, a claim the volunteer vehemently denies. “When they started to walk,” the volunteer said, “I said, ‘You can’t do that’.”
Friedman also claimed she didn’t know what position they were supposed to be. But screenshots of message exchanges between Reynolds and Friedman before the parade started obtained by AMBUSH clearly indicate Reynolds told them what position they were supposed to be. In an interview with AMBUSH, Friedman said, “It was never my intention to be first” and added “It was so confusing and there was so much going on.” Friedman chalks it all up to a misunderstanding. Nevertheless, deliberately or not, Swiss Navy usurped the Grand Marshals’ rightful lead spot.
In an interview with AMBUSH, Friedman insisted she has never wanted to lead the parade a claim disputed by former parade captains and that she didn’t realize she was leading this year’s parade. When asked how she didn’t realize Swiss Navy was at the front pf the parade, Friedman said, “There was a lot going on and it was all very confusing. The volunteer said ‘Go,’ and we went.” Friedman also noted, “we have never participated in a parade where the participants were not numbered.”
Complicating the incident was Billy Porter’s presence. When it was announced that Porter would be in the parade, a controversy ensued among former Grand Marshals. Some argued against having a celebrity in the parade, claiming it would take attention away from the GMs and their entourages, who had worked all summer to produce the parade. A compromise was reached and Porter, along with Swiss Navy, would be in the parade but not in front.
Some have noted that Swiss Navy had not donated any money to Southern Decadence. When it was pointed out that they donated some of their products for an auction, Reynolds replied, “I had to jump and rearrange all this for a bottle of lube? Well, ok then.”
(Cont’d on pg. 24)
(Investigative report cont’d.) Others warned against a corporate takeover of Southern Decadence, citing modern Pride parades.
Kennedy said, “If we allow a corporate takeover, we’ll have Southern Decadence Houston and Southern Decadence Atlanta.” This sentiment speaks to the very nature of Southern Decadence. It is a uniquely New Orleans phenomenon that has always been decentralized and subversive.
When asked about Swiss Navy and Billy Porter’s participation, current SDGM Paribe Meyer described it as “underhanded,” and said, “I was surprised at how it all went down. They should have been more respectful.” Part of the problem, according to Meyer, was Swiss Navy never notified the Grand Marshals about Billy Porter’s presence in the parade. AMBUSH reached out to Porter’s publicist for comment but received no reply. In 2019, Actor Jeff Goldbloom’s agent reached out to GMs Will Antill and Countess C. Alice and asked if Goldbloom could be in the parade. They said yes and invited Goldbloom to march with them. Meyer points out that had Swiss Navy contacted the GMs directly, they would not have been so angered.
GM Vanessa Carr Kennedy noted, “I was offended they did not speak to the GMs at all. It was clandestinely worked out.” She also noted, “They didn’t ask us. They just took over.” Several former GMs also expressed outrage at how Swiss Navy hijacked the parade. Jeffrey Palmquist said, “How dare they do that!” Another former GM described the incident as a “stunt” and called it “outrageous” and “bullshit.”
This year’s controversy is not the first time Swiss Navy has caused headaches for Southern Decadence. When reached for comment, former SDGM Steven Mora, who served as parade captain from 2012 to 2019 said, "The Southern Decadence Grand Marshal parade is a beloved tradition that celebrates the Grand Marshals, who can construct their parade in any way they desire. With over 1,000 registrants and tons of hours volunteered in planning behind the scenes, many volunteers became frustrated and concerned to see the Swiss Navy group trying to push their way to the front and lead the parade, which they have demonstrated in more than one parade. Although we appreciate their participation, the Grand Marshals are the stars of the show, and I’ve never really understood why anyone would want to be in front of them unless the Grand Marshals decide on that.”
Mora’s remarks are echoed by several former GMs and other parade captains. Over the years, Swiss Navy has wanted floats and trucks in the parade, both of which are not allowed. One former GM noted, “They have never understood or respected the tradition of Southern Decadence.”
So, if you’re wondering why Swiss Navy led this year’s Southern Decadence parade, now you have both sides of the story.
Weekly Events Cont’d.
there will be a different show filled with decadent costumes, extravagant aesthetics, and big moods from our rotating cast of entertainers. For tickets, go to www.eventbrite.com
*Lipstixx Ladies on Parade; Bourbon Pub & Parade; 801 Bourbon St.; 8 – 10 p.m. Hosted by Miss Aubrey Synclaire and starring Mercedez L’Oreal, Tiffany Alexander and Miss Love Latonia. Showtime 8pm Sharp! Reservations accepted on a “first come first serve” at 504-529-2107.
*Sunday Confession: Phoenix Bar; 941 Elysian Fields Ave.; 9 p.m. Hot gogo men on stage, every Sunday night.
*The Ladies of Oz Show Night; Oz; 800 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA; 9:30-11:30 p.m. Featuring the Ladies of Oz and DJ Tim Pflueger.
Chop Chop Cont’d. music outside on cool weekend nights. The main dining room, however, has a frumpy neighborhood vibe. Were it updated, KTC might better compete with a well-appointed eatery in nearby Chalmette whose food is underwhelming.
The promise of a good burger and hearty gumbo still beckon. I’ll be back because the Kitchen Table Café is the tastiest little place you’ve probably never heard of.
Kitchen Table Café, 7005 St Claude Ave, Arabi (in a small strip center, ample parking in lot on the left rear side). Tuesday – Saturday 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. All major credit cards. (504) 3012285 https://www.facebook.com/kitchentablearabi/
Charles Pizzo is a native New Orleanian and PR professional. He is a graduate of the Culinary Institute of America and former chairman of IABC, the International Association of Business Communicators.
Rosemary Pork Tenderloin
ELECTION DAY:
TUESDAY, NOV. 5
Curtain Up Brian Sands
I wish I could tell you there’ll be oodles and oodles of shows between now and Thanksgiving. But what with cutbacks and the fickleness of scheduling, which has some theater companies presenting the bulk of their offerings for this season next year, you might be more likely to find comedy (plus some scares) in Halloween shenanigans and drama in the upcoming election.
Still, there’ll be presentations throughout the area and, if you take into account university productions (Gem of the Ocean at Dillard through Oct. 20; for colored girls who have considered suicide / when the rainbow is enuf at Loyola Oct. 24-Nov. 2 followed by Everybody Nov. 14-23; A Midsummers Night's Dream at Tulane Nov. 12-17; Holy Wars at UNO Nov. 13-17; and The Groundling at Delgado Nov. 20-24) you should be able to find enough theatrical entertainment to take your mind off that aforementioned election. Just be sure to vote!
By the time this edition of Ambush Magazine hits the stands, Bob Dylan’s Girl from the North Country will be playing at the Saenger Theatre (Oct. 1520) where it will conclude its national tour. Set in 1934 in Duluth, Minnesota, it reveals how a group of wayward travelers’ lives intersect in a Midwestern boardinghouse.
Written & directed by playwright Conor McPherson, Girl from the North Country reimagines 20 Dylan songs including "Hurricane," "Slow Train Coming," and "Like A Rolling Stone." Seen on Broadway just before the pandemic shuttered theaters, I found Girl dreary and manipulative with too many stories packed in; maybe you'll feel differently.
Girl from the North Country will be followed at the Saenger by Beetlejuice (Nov. 12-17). Based on Tim Burton's beloved film, this musical tells the story of Lydia Deetz, a strange and unusual teenager whose whole life changes when she meets a recently deceased couple and a demon with a thing for stripes. Irreverent yet touching, and featuring an astonishing set, Beetlejuice may be a bit late for Halloween here, but could still serve as inspiration for Mardi Gras outfits.
Currently on the boards (or the rails, as the case may be), 30 by Ninety Theatre’s Murder on the Orient Express continues through October 27 in Mandeville. This is a stage version of Agatha Christie’s grand tale of the murder of an American tycoon aboard a luxury train that’s seemingly unsolvable until ace Belgian detective Hercule Poirot (played by 30 by Ninety’s Co-Founder Jason Leader) starts putting the clues together. Whodunnit?! Head to the Northshore to find out.
To find out what’s going on over at the Frankenstein place, head to the Mahalia Jackson Theater for the Performing Arts on October 24 when Patricia Quinn, the original Magenta, will greet fans prior to a screening of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The evening will also feature a costume contest, a performance by the local Shadow Cast, and a memorabilia display with artifacts & costumes from the movie.
The longest-running theatrical release in film history stars Tim Curry as the devious and fabulous Frank-N-Furter, Meat Loaf as Eddie, Barry Bostwick & Susan Sarandon as the nerdy couple Brad & Janet, and the film's creator Richard O'Brien as Riff Raff. Tickets for The Rocky Horror Picture Show can be purchased at the Saenger Theatre box office; limited VIP tickets are available and include a meet and greet with Ms. Quinn. Just in time for Halloween, this evening sounds like it’ll be quite a treat!
The NOLA Project starts its 20th Season not far from the Mahalia Jackson Theater at the New Orleans African American Museum (NOAAM) (1418 Gov. Nicholls St.) and on the same night asThe Rocky Horror Picture Show, but there the similarities end as Antoinette Chinonye Nwandu's Pass Over draws on Waiting for Godot, the Book of Exodus, and current (and not-so-current) headlines as two young Black men, Moses and Kitch, in “the (future) present; but also 2021 CE; but also 1855 CE; but also 1440 BCE” pass time by “the river's edge; but also a ghetto street; but also a plantation; but also a desert city built by slaves; (and also the new world to come ((worlds without end)).”
Seen on Broadway in 2021, I found parts of Moses’ and Kitch’s plight involving, though there seemed (Cont’d. on pg. 34)
Chiara Trentalange (center) and the cast of GIRL FROM THE NORTH COUNTRY (photo by Evan Zimmerman for MurphyMade)
ASTROLOGICAL LOVE MATCHES
Hairy Bottoms
“Scorpio & Sagittarius”
Water and fire meet when these two signs connect, and the result is a steamy affair. Scorpio and Sagittarius are two of the most powerful signs in the zodiac and they each have a lot to offer each other. Sagittarius probably initiated the relationship because the Centaur senses Scorpio’s sexual magnetism will satisfy his lusty appetites. Scorpio, you’ve learned from previous lovers that your intense passion and secretive nature sometimes intimidates and alienates other sun signs, but that is not the case with Sagittarius. Your expansive Sagittarius lover is jovial and curious and will want to explore the depths of your emotions. Sagittarius is the teacher of the zodiac and affords Scorpio an opportunity to learn about trust and achieving full potential. It is sometimes hard for Scorpio to open up, but the effort is worth a try with Sagittarius. Sagittarius, you must remember that while you are kind and generous, you are not always gentle, and your Scorpio lover is vulnerable to being hurt by words and actions you feel should not be taken too seriously. Scorpio, you are loyal to a fault and require the same. Remember, Sagittarius is a wanderer and needs freedom. Sagittarius may find monogamy challenging but not impossible. For Scorpios, sex is emotional. For Sagittarians, sex is inspirational. The sex should be incredibly intense.
Ask Felicia Felicia Phillips
Dear Felicia: Should I open an Only Fans account? Pseudo exhibitionist
Dear Pseudo: Send me pics and videos and I’ll let you know.
Dear Felicia: I’m bottoming for the first time. What douche type do you suggest? Anxious in Alabama
Dear Anxious: I would suggest only eating celery the next two weeks, then drink a couple of bottles of Magnesium Sulfate (plan on staying near a bathroom ). I prefer my bottoms use Summers Eve for that extra freshness! Please note poppers are no longer available here (damn Landry!) so you might want to start small for your first top and work your way up. I’m available on Saturday.
Dear Felicia: Will frequent fisting make me undesirable to tops? Anxious in Alabama
Dear Anxious: My that accelerated fast! While it could, in time it will make you very popular with local proctologists.
Dear Felicia: I want to impress guys with my oral talents. Would it be rude to spit instead of swallow? Anonymous on Sniffies
Dear Anonymous: Gays that give good head, whether in a car or in the bed, can lick and lick until it gets thick, they can lick and flick till they make him holler, but the trick isn’t coming back unless you swallow!
Although this column is meant to amuse, feel free to email me actual questions to fphillips1011@gmail.com, it is no surprise that queens of a more ‘mature’ age tend to share their opinions freely!
‘Til next time darlins,
I’m Felicia Phillips with things to say
Curtain Up Cont’d. to be a good deal of filler. The play came most to life in a surreal scene as Mister, a seemingly obliging white guy (emphasis on “seemingly”), shares a large meal with Moses and Kitch, and then, later, when a vicious cop has a change of heart. Pass Over may not be a perfect evening of theater, yet it’s an interesting and worthy one that gives audiences lots to think and talk about.
The NOLA Project production will be directed by Tenaj Wallace and features Martin "Bats" Bradford (Moses), DC PauL (Kitch) and Keith Claverie (Mister/Cop). Pass Over will be presented at NOAAM's outdoor Sanctuary Stage October 24-November 9 with reserved and bring-your-own seating options available.
Out in Metairie, Jefferson Performing Arts Society (JPAS) presents Jekyll & Hyde: The Musical (Oct. 25-Nov. 3). Based on Robert Louis Stevenson's classic thriller, Jekyll & Hyde tells the tale of a brilliant mind gone horrifically awry; set to a pop-rock score by Frank Wildhorn with book & lyrics by Leslie Bricusse, the musical will be directed by Ken Goode and stars Tyler Walls in his JPAS/ NOLA debut.
JPAS continues its season at the Westwego Performing Arts Theatre with The Leopard, a one-man show about the last days of author Ernest Hemingway, written by Yabo Yablonsky and performed by John F. Goff. It runs November 14-24.
And back on the East Bank, Anita Vatshell’s Open Up the Kingdom (Mama) plays at the New Marigny Theatre November 7-16.
Set in a post-Roe v. Wade New Orleans where access to reproductive care is severely restricted, a pregnancy causes controversy when a 56-year-old widow must determine if a miracle conception is fate or the result of a voodoo hex on her lover.
Depending on how the election turns out, this could be a fantasy, a documentary, a horror story, or some combination of all three!
The Golden Lantern
Radical Faeries’ Prince of Perversion Ball
Allies Against Cancer
Sipps & Just Us Lounge
The Vicarious Vicar Father Bill Terry
What a few weeks it’s been. Decadence was a success by most standards. We danced with Francine and the PTSD kicked in along with loads of snacks and another round of hunkering down. As “they” say, “coulda been worse.” The DNC Convention and Presidential Debate. Headlines galore and to top that off, most recently, another assassination attempt on Donald Trump’s life.
My focus is less on our immediate community and so I want us to take a look at the larger community.
It is a glorious place to live and a dangerous place to live both at the same time. The Democratic National Convention illustrated this.
As a reminder, Convention speakers included: Kim Rubio mother of Lexi (Robb Elementary), Abbey Clements teacher (Sandy Hook Elementary survivor), Rep. Lucy McBath (son killed for loud music), Melody McFadden (mother killed in domestic violence shooting; niece shot by a ‘random’ bullet), and finally Edgar Vilchez (a High School student when he witnessed a drive by shooting near his school). In another segment Gabby Giffords recounted her own experience with gun violence. Not to put too fine a point on it, a man with an AR style weapon was about to take out nominee Donal Trump and according to the Gun Violence Archive about 30 people were killed on the Sunday October 15, 2024. For Christians, Sunday is sabbath and for most a day of recreation and relaxation (except for gig workers). 30 folks dead and most will be nameless because maybe we are numb to this kind of thing.
I could not shake those voices who gave testimony to the violence that has overtaken our nation. Killing has become so easy. “They buy guns” so “we” buy guns. The only ones profiting from this transactional way of life are the firearms industrial complex and its professional lobbyists. This all matters in our community locally and to the queer community specifically. Please DO NOT FORGET PULSE! What we do matters. When did we last come together as a community to remember PULSE? I recall when we first gathered to share our sorrow and anger. St. Anna’s Church was beyond capacity; supporters and mourners were standing in the adjacent courtyard and on the street in front of the little church. We estimate that almost 425 people showed up in a grass roots and yet meaningful way.
Where is the outrage? Where is the continuing movement against gun violence? Why aren’t we talking about it more. It impacts all of us. Do you feel safe? Do you feel safe? To learn more about violence and the queer community: https://www.sandyhookpromise.org/blog/news/ facts-and-statistics-about-the-impact-of-gun-violence-on-lgbtq-people/
According to Sandy Hook Promise, LGBTQ+ people are 2X more likely to become a victim of gun violence. Further, 30% of trans people have attempted suicide (usually by gun) and 80% have considered suicide. Queer community deserves to feel safe. Given the current climate, that is a challenge indeed and our society is potentially, if not actually, starting to force tribalism again. Is the Gay Ghetto back? I don’t know but I do know that we all have a voice and we need to use it. We need to show the world that this community deserves the right to love and be who we are without any Government interference nor social pressures.
Saint James, the brother of Jesus had a lot to say about faith. In the past two decades we have heard, “thoughts and prayers” enough. Because “thoughts and prayers” are not enough. Saint James said this about faith, which I believe is on point, “Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead” James 2:17.
If you are in a leadership position: Captain of a Krewe; Chair of an advocacy group; community leader of any sort, even a great and popular bar tender join me in forming an alliance and help give our community a voice against violence against Queers in general and specifically against gun violence. Let’s stay safe out there and help to make our community a safe place to be just who we are. To reach me send me and to begin a conversation just send an email to: fr.billterry@gmail.com. In the meantime, be safe and enjoy life!
Community Focus Jim Meadows
The 2024 NOAGE Gala: Celebrating a Decade of NOAGE!
New Orleans Advocates for LGBTQ+ Elders (NOAGE) will be hosting a fundraiser gala on Friday, November 22, 7-10PM, at the New Orleans Culinary and Hospitality Institute (NOCHI). Tickets are available online now at noagenola.org. The last several NOAGE galas have sold out in advance, and there will be no tickets available at the door, so be sure to get your tickets as soon as possible.
There will be live entertainment, music, dancing, food, an open bar, a silent auction, and all the great fun you’ve come to expect from this annual event. This year is NOAGE’s tenth anniversary, so we’re celebrating our first decade of providing services and advocacy for the community! The theme for costuming is “Decades,” so please feel free to costume in the style of your favorite decade. (Costuming is encouraged, but not required. Business casual is OK too!)
The gala will also feature the presentation of the 2024 NOAGE Awards. The 2024 NOAGE Trailblazer Award winner is Kenneth J. Mitchell. Kenn was born, raised, and educated in New Orleans, and he became an activist soon after coming out in the mid 1970s. He volunteered at New Orleans’ first gay community center (Gay Services Center), and became the first president of the local chapter of Dignity, a support group for gay Catholics. Later, with a group of other social workers, he helped start a coming out support group to help people who were struggling with the unpredictable coming out process. He helped found the Louisiana Lesbian and Gay Political Action Caucus (LAGPAC), Louisiana’s first political action committee devoted to empowering the LGBTQ+ community politically. Later, he helped found the Langston/Jones Society, which aimed to increase the involvement of people of color in LAGPAC. When HIV/AIDS began impacting the community, he worked at the NO/AIDS Task Force, now known as CrescentCare. Initially, he was a volunteer HIV testing counselor, and eventually became a contract therapist for people who tested positive. He also worked with the Hate Crimes Project, helping those victimized by homophobic and racist acts. In 1987, he attended “The Great March” on Washington, a massive protest for LGBTQ+ civil rights. He also helped found Men of Color New Orleans, an organization serving gay men of color in the greater New Orleans area. Part of that organization was a group called ManTalk, a discussion group for men that remains active to this day. More recently, Kenn served on the steering committee that created NOAGE, and he served on the NOAGE board of directors for several years. Kenn’s service to our community over the last five decades is deeply appreciated, and NOAGE is very pleased for the opportunity to honor him as the Trailblazer that he is.
This year’s NOAGE Community Impact Award winners are the 2024 Southern Decadence Parade grand marshals: Vanessa Carr Kennedy, Paribe Meyer, and Jeffrey Mayeux. These amazing people hosted dozens of fundraiser events during the past year, and all funds raised (after expenses) will benefit both NOAGE and the cost of replacing the Up Stairs Lounge memorial plaque. They have made an incredible impact on the local LGBTQ+ community, and we look forward to honoring them for all the work they have done on our behalf. (Cont’d on pg. 41)
Community Focus Cont’d.
At press time, confirmed sponsors include Home Instead, CrescentCare, St. Thomas Community Health Center, Louisiana Public Health Institute (LPHI), Maison Vie, Lake Lawn, Galloway Law Firm, the Gulf South LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce, The Bach Group, Louisiana Assistive Technologies Access Network (LATAN), Liskow, the John Burton Harter Foundation, the Big Easy Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence, Integrity Health and Wellness, Ambush Magazine, St. Bernard Veterinary Hospital, Sir Speedy, Agape Care Group, Green Coast Enterprises, Michael Hickerson & David Munroe, Bobby Revere, DonPaul Landry, Brian Sands, and David Bernard, and Charles Urstadt.
NOAGE is still seeking more sponsors for this event. If you’d like to receive a sponsor packet, which includes information on the various sponsorship levels and benefits, send an email info@noagenola.org, or call (504) 517-2345.
NOAGE’s mission is to improve the well-being of LGBTQ+ older adults in the New Orleans metro area. NOAGE hosts regular socialization and educational events for LGBTQ+ older adults, including potlucks, fitness groups, a book club, coffee talks, support groups, and more. NOAGE also works to increase the cultural competency of healthcare and other service providers who work with older adults through trainings, workshops, and conferences. NOAGE is committed to ensuring that all LGBTQ+ older adults in the New Orleans metro area can live their best possible lives with the dignity, respect, and good health that they deserve. For more information, visit noagenola.org.
New Orleans AIDS Memory Project Chronicles History of AIDS
The latest installment in the New Orleans AIDS Memory Project (NOAMP) will take place on October 19 at the Dodwell House. The event will be a reception and historical exhibit co-produced by the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana and the National Stonewall Museum, Archives & Library. The exhibit will feature New Orleans panels from the AIDS Memorial Quilt as well as “Standing on the Shoulders of Heroes,” a living exploration of those whose lives have given the LGBTQ+ community strength, courage, and a pathway to a brighter future. The event begins at 7:00pm and is free and open to the public. The Dodwell House is located at 1519 Esplanade Avenue.
On November 7, NOAMP is also hosting a film screening of a new documentary called From Where We Stood: AIDS and the Culture Wars. The documentary film is being written and produced by Valda Lewis. The screening will take place at the Prytania Theatre at Canal Place For more information about the New Orleans AIDS Memory Project, please visit the LGBT+ Archives Project at https://lgbtarchiveslouisiana.org/
THANKS TO OUR ADVERTISERS!
AMBUSH thanks our advertisers. Without their support, this magazine would not be possible. Please support the following businesses and organizations:
