A BIMONTHLY PUBLICATION CELEBRATING LGBTQ+ CULTURE SINCE 1982
VOLUME 43 ISSUE 3 June 3, 2025
Pride Issue
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 or camzimmerman504@gmail.com
T.J. Acosta
EDITOR IN CHIEF
Frank Perez AD SALES
Frank Perez, Cam Zimmerman CONTRIBUTORS
Brian Sands, Tony Leggio, Jim Meadows, Felicia Phillips, Charles Pizzo, Rev. Bill Terry, Kelly Schexnaildre LOGISTICS COORDINATORS
Jeffrey Palmquist, Ryne Stoned, Chris Trentacoste, Dwain Hertz PHOTOGRAPHERS
Tony Leggio, Dwain Hertz COVER DESIGN
Ryan Leitner
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Copyright 1982-2025 AMBUSH PUBLISHING LLC, ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. NOTHING HEREIN MAY BE REPRODUCED WITHOUT WRITTEN PERMISSION OF THE PUBLISHER INCLUDING AD LAYOUTS, MAPS, & PHOTOS.
The Official Dish TJ Acosta
Dear AMBUSH Nation,
June is Pride Month and there are plenty of events to celebrate in New Orleans and the Gulf South. Baton Rouge will hold their annual Pride on Saturday, June 28th from 12 noon to 7 pm at the Raising Canes River Center. In New Orleans, Pridefest will be moving away from the heat and into the evening with their event taking place on Saturday, June 14th starting at 5 pm. The New Orleans Pride Parade will once again roll through the French Quarter on Saturday, June 14th at 5 pm.
For more information on these events and others check out BatonRougePride.org, NolaPridefest.com and NewOrleansPride.org. Also check out AmbushMag.com for our Official Pride Guide with all the events happening in New Orleans and the Gulf South.
Also, during Pride Month be sure to support local LGBT+ owned businesses and their employees, especially those that advertise with AMBUSH. The summer months can be a slow time for our brothers and sisters who work in the service industry, and they can use our support. We appreciate all our advertisers who make it possible for us to bring you this print edition of AMBUSH We also want to wish all of you, our readers, a Happy Pride Month!
From the Editor’s Desk Frank Perez
Pride Month has arrived once again and this year, Pride is more important than ever. The Trump administration’s aggressive assault on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives has had disastrous effects on our community. From scrubbing all LGBTQ references from government websites to grant cancellations for medical research and the arts and humanities, it seems the current regime is determined to erase us. But more than slashing funding for DEI programs, the results of this attack on our community has had a far more dangerous, and deadly, consequence the empowerment of those
who would have us back in the closet. By emboldening those who oppose us, Trump has legitimized hatred and bigotry. Rightwing politicians are brazenly trying to roll back all the gains we’ve made in recent decades. And big business is falling in line too. Mastercard, Pepsi, Citi, Nissan, Comcast, Anheuser-Busch, and others have all withdrawn their sponsorship of Pride Parades this year, thus exposing the hollowness of rainbow capitalism. Dozens of businesses with government contracts have followed suit under the threat of government investigations and the loss of their contracts. But Pride Parades will roll nonetheless. My hope is this year Pride Parades regain the spark of anger and righteous indignation that gave rise to them in the first place. Stonewall was anything but a corporate tradeshow.
The rise of fascist authoritarianism should be a rallying cry for all of us. It is our duty in these troubling times to be out and loud and proud. Going back into the closet is not an option. That’s why Pride this year is so important.
Weekly Events Tony Leggio
Monday
·NOAGE New Orleans Walking Group; Audubon Park; 6500 Magazine St, New Orleans, LA; 6 p.m. NOAGE’s weekly walking group meets on Mondays at 6:00 PM at the Magazine Street entrance to Audubon Zoo. 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. PLEASE NOTE: The walking group will be AUTOMATICALLY CANCELED in the event of inclement weather.
·Cooking with Monica: The Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St., New Orleans, LA; 5 p.m. Come enjoy delicious food cooked by Monica every Monday at 5 p.m. and stay and enjoy cocktails with her till her shift ends at 2 a.m.
·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.
·Mondays at the Den: The Four Seasons Den & Patio Bar; 1229 N. Causeway Blvd., Metairie, LA; 8 p.m. Come check out the hot men dancing every Monday night.
·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
·Sing-A-Long Karaoke with DJ Slay: Flip Side Bar and Patio; 213 Conti St., Mobile, AL.; 7 – 11 p.m.
·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.
Wednesday
· Big Easy Stompers Line Dancing: Mags 940; 940 Elysian Fields Ave., New Orleans, LA.; 8 – 11 p.m. The Big Easy Stompers have free dance classes every Tuesday. They have been giving dance classes to the LGBTQ+ community and general public. 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., New Orleans, LA; 8 – 10 p.m. The Phoenix Pool Tournament is 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.
·B-Bob’s Gay Bar Bingo: B-Bob’s; 213 Conti St., Mobile AL; 8:30 & 10 p.m. Hosted by Champagne Munroe, come out for fun and great prizes.
·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
·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. (Cont’d. on pg. 10)
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AMBUSH is published six times a year in February, April, June, August, October, and December. Contact Frank Perez at frankearlperez@gmail or Cam Zimmerman at camzimmerman504@gmail.com for advertising rates.
Weekly Events
Cont’d.
·Men At The Den: The Four Seasons Den & Patio Bar; 1229 N. Causeway Blvd., Metairie, LA; 8 p.m. Join the Four for an evening of gogo dancing!
·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 drinks specials all night.
·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
·Meat Night: Le Cabaret; 834 N. Rampart St., New Orleans, LA; 5 – 7 p.m. Meat Night starting on Thursdays! 5-7 p.m. ! Bring Beef, Chicken and Pork. The bar provides sides.
·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 from 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
Friday and Victorian era brothel history. For tickets, go to www.eventbrite.com.
·Thursday Night Trivia: The Four Seasons Den & Patio Bar; 1229 N. Causeway Blvd., Metairie, LA; 8 p.m. Join us for weekly trivia and test your brain. Free shots along the way and fun for everyone.
·QUEERS OF COMEDY New Orleans: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St.; 8 p.m. A group of queer comedians performing comedy together.
·Terrioke: Le Cabaret; 834 N. Rampart St., New Orleans, LA; 10 p.m. Come sing karaoke with Terri Aqui.
·Oz Strip Off: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA; 10 p.m. – midnight. Come enjoy the Oz Strip Off contest sponsored by Swiss Navy. Contestants in this male gogo competition can win $300 in cash and prizes for 1st Place.
·Clay’s KaraoKiki; 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.
·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 hiphop, rock, R& B, blues and funk.
·Trixie Minx’s Burlesque Ballroom at The Jazz Playhouse: 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 strip teaseto live music, bringing quality Jazz & Burlesque (Cont’d on pg. 11)
Weekly Events Cont’d. back to its original home on Bourbon Street. Get tickets at www.eventbrite.com.
·Freaky Fridays: Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA; 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).
·Friday Show Night: Splash Nightclub; 2183 Highland Road, Baton Rouge, LA; 9 p.m. Splash’s Show Night is BACK, and it's about to be EPIC! Join us every Friday for the hottest drag show in the capital city! Get ready to be dazzled by the fabulous Bombshells of Baton Rouge, plus a surprise special guest each week! Hosted by the fabulous Miss Thing, who’s serving looks and laughs all night long! Whether you’re a drag aficionado or just looking for a fun night out, this is the place to be! Don’t miss the chance to live your best life with us!
·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 strip tease. 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.
·Fab Fridays Show Night: Splash Nightclub; 2183 Highland Rd., Baton Rouge; 9 p.m. Join us every Friday for the hottest drag show in the capital city! Get ready to be dazzled by the fabulous Bombshells of Baton Rouge, plus a surprise special guest each week! Hosted by the fabulous Miss Thing, who’s serving looks and laughs all night long! Whether you’re a drag aficionado or just looking for a fun night out, this is the place to be! Don’t miss the chance to live your best life with us! $4 well drinks before 11.
·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 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. 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.
·LGBTQIA+ Youth Drop Inn Nights: New Orleans Pride Center; 2762 Orleans Ave., New Orleans, LA: 3 - 5 p.m. Every Saturday from 3-5pm, LGBTQ+ youth (ages 13-24) can join us at The Pride Center for different activities including movies, arts, journaling, and more! FREE to attend!
·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.13)
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.
·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
·Writing Across the Rainbow: New Orleans Pride Center; 2762 Orleans Ave., New Orleans, LA; 2 - 5 p.m. Writing Across the Rainbow is our new ongoing monthly LGBTQIA+ workshop focused on all aspects of writing, spanning how to get your first words on paper, to getting published and sharing your work with the world! Award-winning publisher, editor, and writer Sorella Smith will host this event which will also feature other writers as guest presenters. This is an ongoing workshop, so you can attend as many meetings as you want! This is a free event, but everyone should bring their own pens, notebooks, computers, and tablets. Everyone has stories to tell, fictional, factual, or otherwise. This workshop will assist you with such concepts as: World-building,, Plotting, Character creation, Continuity maintenance, Editing, Sharing constructive criticism of work, The journey forward, either to
publishing or wherever you want to take your writing. All prose types are welcome, including poetry, fiction, nonfiction, etc. We hope to see you there!
·Sunday Ladies Tea Party: The Four Seasons Den & Patio Bar; 1229 N. Causeway Blvd., Metairie, LA; 3 - 8 p.m. Join your favorite bartender Jake Jr for the libations of the day and enjoy the company of the friends and family we have come to love.
·Sing-A-Long Sundays: Bourbon Pub & Parade; 801 Bourbon St.; 4 p.m. – midnight. Join Gay Appreciation Award Winner VJ Brendan for Sing-A-Long Sundays.
·Vanessa Carr: The Golden Lantern; 1239 Royal St., New Orleans, LA; 3 – 5 p.m. Come see Vanessa Carr Kennedy sing your favorite songs.
·Trash Disco & Historical Napkin Toss; Cafe Lafitte in Exile; 901 Bourbon St.; 1 – 10:30 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 Felicia Phillips and former Southern Decadence Grand Marshal hosts.
·Minx Burlesque: Howlin Wolf; 907 S. Peters St., New Orleans, LA; 6 p.m. Minx Burlesque is LIVE at the Howlin’ Wolf. Featuring a rotating cast of performers for a new and exciting show each week. From classic strip tease, to circus acts, to comedy Queens, Minx Burlesque has something to please and tease every audience member. For tickets, go to https://www.ticketweb.com/ events/org/13741?pl=howlin (Cont’d. on pg. 35)
The Phoenix
Chop Chop Charles Pizzo
Ethnic Food on St Claude Runs Hot and Cold Middle Eastern food is vegan friendly, while offering grilled meats as an accompaniment. The first thing you notice at Moshiko Falafel and Shawarma, which bills itself as “Authentic Jerusalem Eats,” is the gleaming marble interior. The menu is short and sweet. You order at the counter; there are four tables.
The falafel (fried balls made from a mixture of chickpeas and herbs) bowl included eight balls plus five cold salads and toppings.
The falafel were crisp and topped with tahini (sesame) sauce. The interior was moist yet wetter than usual. Hummus (cooked chickpeas pureed with tahini, lemon, garlic, and cumin) was creamy and lemony. Tabbouleh (bulghur wheat, parsley and vegetables) was oddly chunky with lots of cucumber and large pearl couscous. It’s nicely acidic but lacked salt.
The foundation of Baba Ghanoush is roasted eggplant. It was extra creamy but mild on eggplant flavor, with a big bite of acidity. A different eggplant salad is crunchy, mixed with red & green peppers and onions. It’s more pickled. Corn salad is mixed with colorful red bell peppers and parsley but flavorless. You finish your bowl with a choice of toppings. I tried the parsley, mint, tahini (sesame), chili, and spicy green sauce (jalapeno, cilantro, and parsley). These are winners.
On a return visit, I opted for the Shawarma Saj. Shawarma is thinly sliced stacked meat on a revolving cone grilled against a radiant spit. You choose beef or chicken. Saj is a thin and very large flatbread or wrap.
It’s a large dish that will fill you up. The portion of beef is generous with a meaty, juicy, and grilled taste. The wrap contains lettuce, tomatoes, onions, and cornichons (small pickles). It’s accompanied by very crispy fries. Recommended.
Up the street is Mr. Joe’s Island Grill Seafood and BBQ. It’s hard to miss the large pit parked outside the former location of Kabob. The menu is a mixture of grilled meats and vegetables typical of Jamaican and Caribbean cuisine. Seafood is served on Friday and Saturday.
I opted for the most familiar item on the menu: jerk chicken. Jerk seasoning typically features a combination of smoke, allspice, and fiery Scotch bonnet peppers.
Years ago I traveled to Boston Beach in Jamaica, where jerk is thought to have originated. It was crazy spicy and smoky. The characters running the joint Falafel Bowl
were so stoned that I was amazed they could even work.
But at Joe’s, the jerk seasoning is not authentic. It’s mild and sweet. The immediate impression is BBQ sauce, so I asked. “Yes, BBQ sauce, jerk seasoning, vinegar, sugar,” I was told. The server added that a lot of people don’t like it spicy. They do keep a hotter sauce on request, but it’s neither listed nor offered as an option. (If you like mild and sweet, it’s not bad just not real jerk).
To compound matters, the dark meat chicken was dry albeit fork tender. It comes with a side of rice and vegetables. Cabbage was overcooked. The rice and peas (small beans mixed with rice) were flavorful and moist – one of best versions I’ve had.
If you don’t care about authenticity or spice, the lunch special (roughly a third off) is a steal.
After being disappointed, I decided to go for a comparative meal at the Jamaican Jerk House further down St. Claude. They were lauded by Bon Appetit Magazine in 2023. It’s popular, so prepare to wait.
Their jerk chicken has a more authentic flavor, strong with allspice. There is a pleasant tingling on the tongue, not overwhelming. While not as hot as what I had in Jamaica, it’s not overly Americanized.
The rice and peas were good if mostly rice, but not as good as Joe’s. Instead of cabbage, I tried the jerk corn. This is excellent, sweet and spicy like you find at a crab boil. Truly hot! Recommended.
Moshiko Falafel and Shawarma, 3200 St Claude Ave. Open Monday – Saturday 10:30 a.m. – 9:00 p.m., Sunday noon –9:00 p.m. Instagram: @moshiko_nola
(Cont’d. on pg. 22)
Shawarma Saj
Know Your History Frank Perez
Pride in New Orleans
In recent years, Pride Parades have been criticized for being too cis, too white, and too corporate. Indeed, the members of the Gay Liberation Front that arose out of the Stonewall Inn riot who founded the first Pride Parade would barely recognize what their protest has evolved into. In 1970, the “parade” was an angry march; today many Pride Parades are little more than corporate trade shows. Back then, marchers yelled, “We’re here! We’re queer! Get used to it!” Now
Corporations sponsor floats and exclaim, “Look at our rainbow logo! Buy from us!”
The first Gay Pride Parade in New Orleans did not occur until 1980. This may seem odd given the size of the gay population in New Orleans and the fact that New Orleans unequivocally loves a parade. But it’s important to remember that New Orleans has never been a hotbed of political activism, gay or otherwise. New Orleanians are prone to organize socially rather than politically, a fact evidenced by the phenomenon of Gay Carnival which dates to 1958 and the incredible popularity of Southern Decadence, which started rather humbly in 1972.
The first event locally to call itself “Gay Pride” occurred in 1978 when the very radical Pink Triangle Alliance hosted a Gay Pride Rally. The following year saw the birth of “Gay Fest,” organized by Mark Gonzalez, Charlene Schneider, Richard O’Connor, and others. Gay Fest produced the first Gay Pride parade in New Orleans. The first two Gay Fests were held at Washington Square; the third, which featured Ellen DeGeneres, was held at Armstrong Park. By the mid-1980s,
By the 1990s, “Pridefest” was being sponsored by the New Orleans Alliance of Pride. Notable Parade Grand Marshals in the 1990s include Alan Robinson (1993), Mark Gonzalez, Charlene Schneider, and Richard O’ Connor (1994), Father Bill Richardson (1995) and Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain (1996).
Gay Fest was plagued by financial difficulties and in 1988 “Gay Fest” was changed to “Gay Pride.”
A look back at the parade participants from those early years provides a glimpse of not only how the parade has changed but also at what our community was like in those years. Consider the participants in the 1989 parade: Bourbon Pub/ Parade, Community Gospel Church, Grace Fellowship in Christ Jesus Church, Happy Hunters, Knights d’ Orleans, Krewe of Olympus, M&M Productions, Metropolitan Community Church, Midtowne Spa, Mon- ster/Dixies/Refuge, MRB/ Wolfendales, NO/AIDS Task Force, Phoenix/Country Club, Twenty-Six-O-One, Wood Enterprises. In recent years gay friendly churches still have a presence in the parade, but gay bars do not, which is odd considering the prominent role they play in LGBT+ community.
One could argue that pride celebrations (even if they were not called that) in New Orleans date back to 1971. The very first gay identified public event in Louisiana took place on February 6 at City Park. The event, sponsored by the newly formed local chapter of the Gay Liberation Front, was a picnic called a “Gay In.” On February 20, 1971, three days before Mardi Gras, the G.L.F. presented “Gay In” at Washington Square Park in the Marigny. In June of 1971, the Gay Services Center and the local chapter of the Daughters of Bilitis organized a “Gay Day Picnic” at Popp Fountain at City Park.
Throughout the 1980s and into the early 1990s, annual “Celebration” events, usually held in June, were also popular. Celebrations featured dinners, musical concerts, ecumenical religious services, and workshops. Nationally
known speakers were also brought in.
Historically, there is a sense among many that Pride in New Orleans has never quite lived up to its potential. The reasons why are the subject of another article but surely the heat and humidity don’t help (indeed, Pride was briefly moved to October for this reason). Neither does the enormous popularity of Southern Decadence, which many people erroneously assume to be our version of Pride. And at various times throughout its history, New Orleans Pride has also been plagued by financial troubles and personality conflicts. Nevertheless, the LGBT+ community in and around New Orleans has much to be proud of.
And given the current political climate and incessant attacks on us from the far right, Pride is more important than ever.
NEWS BRIEFS
Up Stairs Lounge Plaque to be Dedicated June 22
The new Up Stairs Lounge memorial plaque will be unveiled on Sunday, June 22, in a commemorative ceremony at 604 Iberville Street, New Orleans. The old plaque, which was installed in 2003 to commemorate the thirty-two lives lost in the Up Stairs Lounge arson, was stolen last year. Danny Conner was arrested and charged with the theft. The Up Stairs Lounge fire occurred on June 24, 1973 and remains the deadliest fire in New Orleans history. The dedication ceremony will include a second-line to Crossing (439 Dauphine St.) for a reception.
Louisiana Queer Arts Festival Set to Kick Off Pride Month
Louisiana Queer Arts will be the focus of a four day program planned by the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana. The festival will take place June 5 through June 8 at a variety of locations throughout New Orleans. The program launches at the Archives Project’s annual membership meeting on June 5 at the Dodwell House with two art exhibits (J.B. Harter & Barbara Scott) and a panel discussion on Harter’s legacy. On June 6, LQA will offer a screening of a new documentary about artist George Dureau at The Historic New Orleans Collection. A working artists show, accompanied by an exhibition of George Dureau’s photography, will take place on Saturday, June 7 at the Marigny Opera House. The festival ends at the Broad Theater on June 8 with partial screenings of queer films currently in production. More information is available on the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana website.
Trump Administration Cuts $800 Million in LGBTQ+ Health Research
According to the New York Times, 323 of 669 grants terminated by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) were tied to LGBTQ health. Areas affected include HIV prevention, depression and suicide among trans teens, cancer research, and sexual violence prevention. Termination letters sent by the NIH to researchers stated their work based on “gender identity” or “amorphous equity objectives” no longer aligned with agency priorities. Trump has proposed slashing the NIH’s budget in an effort to eliminate what he calls the agency’s “radical gender ideology.” The majority of the funding cuts ($806 million) have resulted in the abrupt cancellation of studies already underway. Critics of the cuts have claimed the research cancellations “create a hierarchy of patients” with LGBT+ people at the bottom of the hierarchy. They also argue the cuts will result in disease outbreaks, higher HIV infection rates, and a spike in preventable deaths.
NOTE: the ad on the opposite page was placed upside down by request.
A Message from Larry Bagneris
Next year will mark 25 years of the Rainbow Flags on Rampart Street. As director of the project, I would like to thank all the gay bars and business that have supported this project over the years. It began with an attack by Rev. Grant Storms during Southern Decadence. (Storms was later arrested and convicted of exposing himself to children in a public park.) Over the years, the inclusive flags have made a bold statement to our NOLA visitors: “These flags mark the neighborhood in which our LGBTQ+ Community lives and plays if you can’t respect us don’t come.” To the many individuals and businesses who have supported this program over the years, I offer a big “THANK YOU!”
Pride Month Events
Crescent City Leathermen Film Festival June 1, 15, 29, New Orleans, LA
Louisiana Queer Arts June 5 8, New Orleans, LA
Northshore Pride Parade June 7, Mandeville, LA
Gulf Coast Pride June 7, Biloxi, MS
Artwalk Pride Street Party June 13, Mobile, AL
New Orleans Pride Parade June 14, New Orleans, LA
New Orleans Black Pride June 14, New Orleans, LA
New Orleans Pridefest June 14, New Orleans, LA
Baton Rouge Pride Fest June 28, Baton Rouge, LA
NELA Pride June 28, Monroe, LA
Queer History at the B-K House June 30, New Orleans, LA Chop Chop Cont’d.
Mr. Joe’s Island Grill Seafood Grill and BBQ, 2315 St Claude Ave. Open Tuesday – Sunday 11:30 a.m. until very late or sold out, (504) 205-0653 www.joesislandgrill.com
Jamaican Jerk House, 4017 St Claude Ave. Open 11:30 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. Tuesday – Thursday and till 9:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. Sunday noon –4:00 p.m. (504) 441-8905 www.jamaicanjerkhouse.com
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.
June 7th, 1-3pm: Pride Month Fundraiser Kick Off Party at MidCity Ruby Slipper
June 8th, 3-5pm: Writing Across the Rainbow Writers Group at the Pride Center
June 10th, 6-8pm: Intergenerational Game Night at the Pride Center
June 11th, 6-8pm: Wellness Wednesdays at the Pride Center
June 17th, 6-8pm: Community Meetup w/ Dinner and a Show at the Pride Center
June 29th, 1-3pm: Pride Month Fundraiser Closing Party at Marigny Ruby Slipper
The New Orleans Pride Center is located at 2762 Orleans Ave.
The annual Southern Decadence Grand Marshal Announcement Party was held at Oz in New Orleans on Saturday, May 10. After a lengthy show, outgoing Grand Marshals Vanessa Carr, Jeffrey Mayeux, and Paribe Meyer named their successors: Willie Mackie, Monique Michaels Alexander, Bill Hinks, and Chi Chi Rodriguez. The new Grand Marshals will be subject of a spotlight feature in the Southern Decadence issue of AMBUSH, which hits the streets August 4.
Southern Decadence began as a house party in 1972 with a close-knit group of friends who playfully dubbed themselves, “The Decadents.” The first Southern Decadence parade was held the following year and began at Matassa’s. The first Grand Marshal, Frederick Wright, was named in 1974. Today, Southern Decadence is the third largest event in New Orleans’ annual calendar and has an economic impact of over $250 million.
Pride Events at The New Orleans Pride Center
Southern Decadence 2025 Grand Marshals Named
Jerk Chicken
Pride Flags on N. Rampart St. in New Orleans
(Photo by Ryne Stoned)
Curtain Up Brian Sands
Things heat up in New Orleans in June and July so head indoors and cool off while watching any of the upcoming productions listed below. And while, for Pride month, none of the shows have explicitly gay themes, a few queer characters are sprinkled throughout them plus one leading actor who starred in a groundbreaking comedy-drama series on the Logo network.
Doug Spearman, who appeared as Professor Chance Counter in Noah's Arc, headlines when the New Orleans Shakespeare Festival at Tulane (SFT) presents Molière’s The Imaginary Invalid. Ryder Thornton provides a new translation/adaptation of this classic farce where doctors plot and hypochondria runs wild. Anne-Liese Juge Fox directs a cast that also features Jessica Podewell. Performances begin June 6 and continue until June 22.
Wanna know what happens when the worlds of improv and Shakespeare collide? Then don’t miss it when the SFT’s Fools
Ensemble presents A Very Important Play, Again on June 25. And (un)prompted Shakespeare returns to the Shakespeare Festival on June 28 for a one-of-a-kind theatrical experiment a full production of King Lear rehearsed and performed in a single day!
The Shakespeare Festival concludes its season July 11-27 with one of the Bard’s most popular comedies, A Midsummer Night's Dream, directed by Graham Burk. Two pairs of lovers, fairies, a magic potion, an ass (who’s actually a human), and a troupe of amateur thespians–what could wrong?
If you’re in the mood for musical theater, go next door to Dixon Hall for Summer Lyric Theatre at Tulane University which kicks off its season with A Chorus Line (June 19-22). Jauné Buisson directs & choreographs the Michael Bennett/Marvin Hamlisch Tony and Pulitzer-winning tribute to those dancers who may not be in the spotlight but are a vital part of a show’s success.
A Chorus Line will be followed by two other “C” musicals, Stephen Sondheim’s Company, July 10-13, directed by Leslie Castay, and Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Carousel, July 31August 3, directed & choreographed by Diane Lala.
Another “C” musical, Chicago whose Tony Award-winning revival is in its 29th year on Broadway, returns to the Saenger Theatre (https://www.saengernola.com/events/the-wiz/ June 10-15 with its tale of conniving murderesses desperate for fame and attention, and a score that has such classics as Cell Block Tango, When You're Good To Mama, Razzle Dazzle, and All That Jazz
Also at the Saenger, on July 29 “Weird Al” Yankovic brings his multimedia comedy rock show BIGGER & WEIRDER, playing his hits as well as fan favorites which have never been per-
formed live. “This is kind of a ‘best of both worlds’ tour,” explains Yankovic. “We’ll be doing all the big crowd-pleasing parodies as well as some deep cuts for the hardcore fans.” Opening will be cult favorite Puddles Pity Party, the 7-foot sad clown.
It may not be a “C” musical, but a Tony-winner and joyous show comes to Le Petit when it presents Ain't Misbehavin' June 5-22. Directed & choreographed by Donald JonesBordenave this Thomas "Fats" Waller revue features 30 songs-including T'ain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do, Honeysuckle Rose and the title number by or associated with the inimitable Waller.
Three more musicals can be found on the Northshore. Mandeville’s 30 by Ninety Theatre will be giving Lynn Ahrens/ Stephen Flaherty’s Lucky Stiff its first regional outing since NOCCA did it in 2012. Based on the novel The Man Who Broke the Bank at Monte Carlo, Lucky Stiff is an offbeat murder mystery farce, complete with mistaken identities, six million bucks in diamonds, and a corpse in a wheelchair. 30 by Ninety Co-Founder Jason Leader directs and it will be playing June 14-29.
Lucky Stiff will be followed by Andrew Lloyd Webber’s buoyant musical School of Rock. Based on the movie, the tuner follows Dewey Finn, a wannabe rock star who decides to earn some extra cash by posing as a substitute teacher at a prestigious prep school. There he turns a class of straight–A pupils
into a guitar-shredding, bass -slapping, mind-blowing rock band. But can he get them to the Battle of the Bands without their parents and the school’s headmistress finding out? See for yourself August 9–24.
And there’s something rotten at Playmakers Theater in Covington. Or rather, (Cont’d. on pg. 25)
“Weird Al” Yankovic
Curtains Up Cont’d. Something Rotten!, a hysterically funny and tuneful musical comedy about two brothers who want to write a hit play but are overshadowed by the Renaissance rock star "The Bard". Set in 1595, Something Rotten! follows the Bottom brothers, Nick and Nigel, who are inspired to write the world's first musical after a soothsayer predicts that theater will involve singing, dancing, and acting. Something Rotten! was written by brothers Karey and Wayne Kirkpatrick who grew up in Baton Rouge.
Enjoy! And try to, as it says on the label of Hellman’s mayonnaise, keep cool but do not freeze.
NOAGE Spring Party
The Corner Pocket and Le Cabaret
Ask Felicia Felicia Phillips
Dear Felicia: Is there any truth to the endless rumors of a regular Zingo player at the Corner Pocket cheating? I believe his name is Anwar. It’s also suggested that you help him cheat, true or not? Can you clear this matter up? Sincerely, A Very Concerned Zingo Player
Dear Concerned: If someone could explain exactly how anyone can cheat at Bingo or has enough time to figure out a way, please let me know as I will happily write a trailer park coffee table book on it, so I can sell them on Amazon and retire to Arabi. What I can say in all reality is this patron you ask about is the only Zingo player I know that does not drink, so he is one of the few players sober enough to pay attention to every number called, as many players pay more attention to the balls on the boys than the balls on the board.
Now does he carry a mini printer hid in his man purse that he uses to print out cards with the numbers as I call them? Frisk him if you really want to know. (He is a notorious bottom so a cavity search may be in order).
All this being said ,ITS JUST A DAMN GAME! It’s not like we are playing to win European vacations or Luxury cars, we are playing for the finest prizes that the clearance table at Marshals has to offer along with Bar Tabs, which when used too quickly contributes to the winner not paying attention to the next numbers called. More importantly we are playing for fun, fellowship, and a few laughs. And given the current world we are living in, I think that is priceless. Hope this clears things up.
Thank you for the question, Anwar, um, I mean Concerned Player.
While 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 more freely! ‘Til next time darlins, I’m Felicia Phillips with things to say.
Gay Easter Parade
Kevin & Lyn’s Crawfish Boil
U-Haul Diaries Kelly Schexnaildre
What’s Love Got To Do With It?
The path through the violent wilderness of this American reckoning will be paved with love, a love that is fierce, bold, and unrelenting. Love that has been fought for and won; love that is not owned by God, and love that demands radical change. Love will always be known, for it is the force and energy awake in everything. The repression and silencing of queer love could never cheapen or lessen its impact, for true love in all its forms is a
revolution; it is always transformative and demands that we become more fully ourselves. When love has its way with us, we are never the same as we were before.
In February 2020, LGBTQ activist Alexander Leon tweeted, “Queer people don't grow up as ourselves, we grow up playing a version of ourselves that sacrifices authenticity to minimize humiliation & prejudice. The massive task of our adult lives is to unpick which parts of ourselves are truly us & which parts we've created to protect us.” When I read this quote for the first time, I was struck by its accuracy and reflection of my own experience. To embody radical, life changing love requires a relationship with oneself rooted in unconditional acceptance and joy; it requires communing with and discovering your own soul. It is only when we worship at our own altar that we can burn brightly at the altar of another. As queer people who have grown up as our not selves, the work will always be to reclaim our souls so that we may show the rest of the world what it means to stand in your own light.
We are the leaders of the love revolution. We no longer have to love in shadows and quiet whispers in dark corners; we do not hide behind closed doors or in damp closets. We can hold hands and kiss on the street; we can witness love’s divinity across the room in the eyes of our lover. We have pride flags marking safe spaces; groups of allies ready to welcome love in all its forms, knowing that by love we will ascend and be made whole. Our houses are filled with love and devotion so loud that passersby sense the magic and find freedom in their own hearts. To love is to remember our essence, and to find that essence reflected within another person. Audre Lord says, “I am who I am, doing what I came to do, acting upon you like a drug or a chisel to remind you of your me-ness, as I discover you in myself.”
The work of love in us, on us and around us is the work that will usher in a brighter, more peaceful future. It starts in every individual heart and becomes the fabric our of existence when we surrender to its might. Love beckons us forward. Love is a homecoming. And my darling, I did not know home could be so sweet.
Weekly Events Cont’d
·SIPPS Drag Bingo: SIPPS Gulfport; 2218 25th Ave.; Gulfport, MS.; 7 p.m. Come play bingo for great prizes every Sunday.
·Drag Bingeaux; Oz New Orleans; 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 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. Showtime 8pm Sharp! Reservations accepted on a “first come first serve” at 504-529-2107.
·The Ladies of Oz Show Night; Oz New Orleans; 800 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA; 9:30- 11:30 p.m. Featuring the Ladies of Oz and DJ Tim Pflueger.
June 5—8 | New Orleans
Community Focus Jim Meadows
American Scare: An Interview with Robert W. Fieseler
Robert W. Fieseler is a local journalist and historian whose first book, Tinderbox, won multiple major awards and has become the preeminent publication on the topic of the Up Stairs Lounge fire. I recently met with him to discuss his new book, American Scare: Florida’s Hidden Cold War on Black and Queer Lives, a fascinating exposé of the Florida Legislative Investigation Committee (better known as the Johns Committee), which devastated the lives of queer and Black Floridians in the mid-20th century.
JM: Thank you for taking the time to speak with me. This is a fascinating subject, and the book is an absolute page-turner, with plenty of lessons for our times. What was the Johns Committee?
RF: The Florida Legislative Investigation Committee was formed by Charley Johns, a former acting governor turned state senator in Florida. It held residents of the state of Florida ransom to an extrajudicial committee that had the power to declare anyone it didn't like enemies of the people. The committee was so powerful and so notorious in its day that it gained the nickname of the guy who was leading it.
JM: What was so unique about Charley Johns that he was able to wield such influence in Florida?
RF: He was an incredibly charismatic and likable guy. One of his greatest political enemies said, “Charley Johns is the most likable guy I've ever met. I have to remind myself that I hate him.” This was a guy who had the parliamentary trickery abilities of Mitch McConnell, the chumminess of George W. Bush, and the authoritarian bent of our current president. He had a certain set of skills that have become table stakes for a certain subset of political leaders today.
who were already very irked with the oppression of the segregated south. They didn't relate to cops, and they knew inherently to admit nothing to these authority figures..
JM: Were there other forms of resistance?
RF: Some of the most intensive cases of abductions, interrogations, firings that the Johns Committee perpetrated were at the University of Florida. And the students felt like their school’s reputation had been tarnished, in addition to their whole academic year being screwed up by this committee. So during the Spring semester of 1959, they started rebelling, and you started to see examples of civil disobedience, like when students hung an effigy of Charley Johns from a tree in the quad.
JM: How did Homosexuality and Citizenship in Florida, the so-called “Purple Pamphlet,” bring about an end to the committee?
JM: Some of the people the committee interrogated, many of whom were college professors, named names and betrayed friends and colleagues fairly quickly under pressure.
RF: Most of the people who became informants or collaborators for the Johns Committee in those darkened rooms were profoundly in denial that they existed in any way counter to the system. They thought that they were not “homosexuals.” They thought that they engaged in some sort of unlabeled, loosely defined, naked horse play with other men, but that they were straight and married. And they were not against segregation.
JM: But there were also people who resisted these interrogations.
RF: The “Purple Pamphlet” was published by the Johns Committee in 1964. It was supposed to shock the public into understanding the dangers of homosexuality. But it put forward imagery and terminology that citizens of 1960s Florida had never heard before. The document was declared obscene by a Dade County prosecutor. It was pulled from distribution by the governor, and declared by many parties to be a pornographic document. And it actually is pornographic, to the point that a queer press in DC reprinted it and sold it to queer readers throughout the country, who then campily displayed it on their coffee tables. It had the unintended boomerang effect of damaging, not the reputation of gays in Florida, but the reputation of the Johns Committee.
JM: Do you think he really believed, morally, in the aims of the committee?
RF: In terms of his morals, I do believe he was a segregationist and a racist. I think he was disgusted and confused by homosexuality in the same way that he was disgusted and confused by anything that was different from the sort of white style of life he loved so much. His only loyalty was to the system that rewarded him so well. (Cont’d. on pg. 38)
Community Focus Cont’d.
He was, other than to his own family that he liked to enrich, a valueless man in that aspect.
JM: Thank you once again for meeting with me, and congratulations on the publication of American Scare.
To read the full interview, visit ambushmag.com
Robert W. Fieseler, author of American Scare: Florida’s Hidden Cold War on Black and Queer Lives, published by Penguin Random House
Fieseler is also the author Tinderbox:The Untold Story of the Up Stairs Lounge Fire and the Rise of Gay Liberation
