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47-613: Events commonly referred to as the Gay Mardi Gras include: Southern Decadence , in New Orleans Sydney Mardi Gras , in Sydney (formerly known as Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras) Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title Gay Mardi Gras . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change

94-555: A brief restoration of French rule, the Americans gained control of the colony with the 1803 Louisiana Purchase . They translated the French street names into English, with Rue Bourbon becoming Bourbon Street. During the 19th century, New Orleans was similar to other Southern cities in that its economy was based on selling cash crops , such as sugar and tobacco. By 1840, newcomers whose wealth came from these enterprises turned New Orleans into

141-443: A couple of people who had to wade in through flooded streets from other neighbourhoods to get there. As the city was officially being evacuated at the time, a police officer at first attempted to stop the small observation of tradition, but one of the participants was able to produce the parade permit issued pre-Katrina showing it was a scheduled legal event, and the small procession was allowed to continue. National media reporters noted

188-456: A group of 40 to 50 friends both straight and gay. They billed their event as "Southern Decadence Party: Come as Your Favorite Southern Decadent." People who attended were required to dress as their favorite decadent Southerner. Two weeks later, the group threw another party as a farewell to Michael Evers, who left to join his lover David Randolph in Michigan. The first small "walking parade" occurred

235-602: A person or group from gathering on Bourbon Street) "for the purpose of disseminating any social, political or religious message" was "so patently unconstitutional that they could not hope the judge would rule otherwise", said attorney Nate Kellum with the Center for Religious Expression. A 2018 Vice News documentary hosted by Jamali Maddix featured prominent American Christian street preacher Ruben Israel and his Bible Believers group, which publicly protests Southern Decadence. The group often yells slurs at and harasses attendees. In

282-483: A public park. He was convicted of obscenity on August 22, 2012. The city later passed an ordinance that effectively banned the dissemination of any social, political, or religious message on Bourbon Street from sunset to sunrise, punishable by up to six months in jail and a $ 500 fine. City Councilwoman Kristin Palmer, who sponsored the ordinance, said the city "has a legitimate interest in protecting residents and visitors in

329-463: A report by The Times-Picayune/The New Orleans Advocate , the closure of bars, restaurants, and entertainment venues along Bourbon Street led to substantial revenue losses and widespread layoffs, plunging many businesses into financial distress. Moreover, the absence of tourists, who typically flock to the street year-round, further exacerbated the economic downturn, with hotel occupancy rates plummeting to historic lows. Beyond its economic ramifications,

376-431: A rich insight into New Orleans' past. The French claimed Louisiana in the 1690s, and Jean Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville was appointed Director General in charge of developing a colony in the territory. He founded New Orleans in 1718. In 1721, the royal engineer Adrien de Pauger designed the city's street layout. He named the streets after French royal houses and Catholic saints. He paid homage to France's ruling family,

423-567: Is a historic street in the heart of the French Quarter of New Orleans . Extending twelve blocks from Canal Street to Esplanade Avenue , Bourbon Street is famous for its many bars and strip clubs . With 17.74 million visitors in 2017 alone, New Orleans depends on Bourbon Street as a main tourist attraction. Tourist numbers have been growing yearly after Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and the city has successfully rebuilt its tourist base. For millions of visitors each year, Bourbon Street provides

470-734: Is lesbian-friendly. Dykes on Bikes and other lesbian groups participate in the annual parade in the French Quarter and GrrlSpot (lesbian party promoter) sponsors a few events for lesbians. Themes were presented on and off from the beginning, but themes did not become a consistent fixture of the event until "Plagues, Pests, Parasites" theme in 1988. They have been featured every year that the Decadence has been held since then. They have ranged from themes as varied as "Voodoo That You Do", "Menage à Trois", "Ancient Truths, Lies, and Sacrifice", and "Hurricane: This Year, They Blow Back." The theme for 2018

517-621: Is the locals’ hangout, the Bourbon House. "Lower Bourbon Street" (lower being a reference to downriver, or downstream Mississippi River), from the intersection of St. Ann Street, caters to New Orleans' thriving gay community. Featuring such establishments as Oz and the city's largest gay nightclub, the Bourbon Pub, St. Ann Street has been referred to as "the Velvet Line" or "the Lavender Line,"

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564-548: The American Civil Liberties Union during the first round of their case, those arrested saw the law temporarily suspended via a restraining order that was granted by a federal judge. Later the New Orleans City Council voted to lift the 2011 ordinance banning Street Preaching from sunset to sunrise on the city's famous Bourbon Street. The unconstitutionally of the city restrictions which (prohibited

611-569: The House of Bourbon , with the naming of Bourbon Street. New Orleans was given to the Spanish in 1763 following the Seven Years' War . The Great New Orleans Fire of 1788 destroyed 80 percent of the city's buildings. The Spanish rebuilt many of the damaged structures, which are still standing today. For this reason, Bourbon Street and the French Quarter display more Spanish than French influence. Following

658-568: The Storyville red-light district was constructed on Basin Street adjacent to the French Quarter. The area became known for prostitution, gambling and vaudeville acts. Jazz is said to have developed here, with artists such as King Oliver and Jelly Roll Morton providing musical entertainment at the brothels. This was also the era when some of New Orleans' most famous restaurants were founded, including Galatoire's, located at 209 Bourbon Street. It

705-402: The hurricane cocktail , the resurrection cocktail, the hand grenade and the so-called "huge-ass beers" – a large plastic cup of draft beer marketed to tourists at a low price. The most heavily visited section of Bourbon Street is "upper Bourbon Street" toward Canal Street , an eight-block section of visitor attractions including bars, restaurants, souvenir shops and strip clubs . In

752-401: The 21st century, Bourbon Street is the home of New Orleans Musical Legends Park , a free, outdoor venue for live jazz performances. The park has sculptures and other tributes to the city's legendary music personalities. Also home to Larry Flynts' Iconic flagship Hustler Club. Most of the bars are located in the central section of Bourbon. Popular spots include Pat O'Brien's , Johnny White's,

799-537: The Famous Door, Spirits on Bourbon, Channing Tatum's Saints and Sinners, Razzoo and The Cat's Meow. Marie Laveau 's House of Voodoo is located on the corner of St. Ann Street. The most renowned restaurant on Bourbon Street is Galatoire's ; it represents traditional New Orleans dining and has a dress code . Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop and the Old Absinthe House are two of the many casual eateries. Also notable

846-537: The Quarter typically match or exceed Mardi Gras crowds. Most events take place in or around the French Quarter, centered at the intersection of Bourbon and St. Ann streets. Crowds range from 100,000 to 300,000 revelers from across the world. In 2018, there were over 250,000 participants and the positive economic impact on the City of New Orleans was estimated at over $ 275 million. Decadence caters primarily to gay men, but it

893-574: The city, featuring celebrities such as Emeril Lagasse and Patricia Clarkson with the slogan, "Come fall In love with Louisiana all over again." Travelers heard mixed messages in the media. Advertising campaigns gave the impression that New Orleans was thriving, while city leaders asked for increased federal financial assistance and National Guard troops to help control municipal crime waves. New Orleans has been working its way back to pre-Katrina tourist numbers, as it attracted 9.5 million visitors in 2014 and 10.5 million visitors in 2016. The 2016 record

940-725: The edge or approximate boundary of the French Quarter's gay community. Cafe-Lafitte-in-Exile is the oldest gay bar in the nation. The intersection of Bourbon and St. Ann Streets is also the center of the Labor Day weekend event Southern Decadence , commonly referred to as the Gay Mardi Gras, which attracts upwards of 100,000 participants. Bourbon Street's nightlife is also a major part of its entertainment, bar, and restaurant places like Bourbon Bandstand, Fritezel's Jazz Club, Half Past Whiskey, are mainstays for concerts or just good night-out on Bourbon Street. Historically, noise violations were

987-416: The emotional toll of lost traditions and communal rituals. Largely quiet during the day, Bourbon Street comes alive at night – particularly during the French Quarter's many festivals. Most famous of these is the annual Mardi Gras celebration, when the streets teem with thousands of people. Local open container laws allow drinking alcoholic beverages on the Quarter's streets. Popular drinks include

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1034-654: The event. It was the first parade in New Orleans after the hurricane, the most recent previous New Orleans parade having been the Krewe of OAK "Midsummer Mardi Gras" parade the night before the city's mandatory evacuation. With the theme "Southern Decadence Rebirth", the event rebounded in 2006, attracting near-normal crowds. In 2007, the Bourbon Street Extravaganza , annually hosted by Napoleon's Itch, saw Deborah Cox, Fredrick Ford, Jeanie Tracy and Mat Jordan headline

1081-405: The festival. Due to the approach of Hurricane Gustav in 2008 and a mandatory evacuation notice, some events on Saturday and all official Southern Decadence events after Sunday, August 31 midday were cancelled that year. As a result of Sunday's parade being cancelled, the 2008 Southern Decadence Grand Marshals, Paloma (Samson Utley) and Tittie Toulouse (Gary Delaune), returned for 2009. However, as

1128-423: The first grand marshal by members of the original group in 1974, who had complete control over the parade of characters and costumes as they marched through the French Quarter. Decadence, as it is commonly known by participants, is marked by having parades, bead tossing, and having street parties and dance parties. It resembles New Orleans Mardi Gras , but Southern Decadence is sexual in tone. Decadence crowds in

1175-674: The following year when the participants first met at Johnny Matassa's Bar in the French Quarter to show off their costumes and then walk back home to Belle Reve, a name taken from A Streetcar Named Desire , in the Tremé neighbourhood via Esplanade Avenue. This first group impersonated people and characters, such as Belle Watling (the prostitute character in Gone with the Wind ), Mary Ann Mobley , Tallulah Bankhead , and Helen Keller . The event expanded with Frederick Douglas Wright, an African American, appointed as

1222-459: The highly trafficked area of Bourbon Street at night. She said aggressive solicitation can be a crowd control issue, and people are allowed under the law to speak their messages if they take five steps off Bourbon Street. This is really an issue of trying to protect public safety." Nine preachers and activists were arrested on September 1, 2012 after they allegedly yelled slurs at people attending Southern Decadence on Bourbon Street. Represented by

1269-452: The link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Gay_Mardi_Gras&oldid=932838728 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Southern Decadence The event traces its beginnings to August 1972 as an end-of-summer party among

1316-400: The local community and beyond. The effects of COVID-19 on Bourbon Street were far-reaching, encompassing economic, social, and cultural dimensions. The implementation of strict public health measures, including lockdowns and capacity restrictions, dealt a significant blow to the area's economy, particularly its hospitality sector. On Saturday, July 25, the first day of the ban, the morning pace

1363-468: The local law is unconstitutional. Besides being difficult to enforce, music enthusiasts claim that noise ordinances threaten the city's notable music culture. Local jazz bands who play in the streets, such as the To Be Continued Brass Band , would be prohibited from doing so under such ordinances. "Aggressive solicitation" bans are a more recent issue on Bourbon Street. In 2011, an ordinance

1410-425: The pandemic also reshaped the social landscape of Bourbon Street. Traditional gatherings and cultural events, such as Mardi Gras festivities and live music performances, were either canceled or significantly scaled back to comply with public health guidelines. The profound impact of these cancellations on the local community was highlighted in a study conducted by researchers from Tulane University , which underscored

1457-412: The responsibility of the individual making the noise. This changed in 1996 with Yokum v. 615 Bourbon Street, which ruled that the property owner, not the noise-maker, is responsible for noise violations. A 2010 city ordinance states that no music may be played in the French Quarter between 8 pm and 9 am. Enforcement has been inconsistent, and critics claim its goals are vague. Some even say that

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1504-502: The street's authenticity had been lost in this process. On April 5, 2018, a giant saxophone, nearly 11 feet (3.4 m) high, was inaugurated in the street. It was offered by the city of Namur (Belgium) to recall that the inventor of the instrument Adolphe Sax is from the region of Namur, specifically Dinant . Given Bourbon Street's high-ground location in the French Quarter, it was mostly intact following 2005's Hurricane Katrina. A major tourist attraction, Bourbon Street renovation

1551-467: The third largest metropolis in the country. The city's port was the nation's second largest, with New York City being the largest. The main difference between New Orleans and other Southern cities was its unique cultural heritage as a result of formerly having been a French and Spanish possession. Promoters emphasized this cultural legacy, in the form of its architecture, cuisine and traditions, to attract tourists to New Orleans. The French Quarter

1598-525: The wartime influx of people, property owners opened adult-centered nightclubs to capitalize on the city's risqué image. Wartime Bourbon Street was memorably depicted in Erle Stanley Gardner ’s detective novel “Owls Don’t Blink”. After the war, Bourbon Street became the new Storyville in terms of reputation. By the 1940s and 1950s, nightclubs lined Bourbon Street. Over 50 different burlesque shows, striptease acts and exotic dancers could be found. There

1645-481: The way women have exposed their breasts during the traditional Mardi Gras balcony bead toss. The complaints led to a vocal response from business owners and hoteliers in New Orleans in support of the festival. Ultimately the police posted notices clarifying what constitutes public sex. Grant Storms, the pastor who spearheaded, videotaped, and filed the petition, was arrested in February 2011 after being caught masturbating in

1692-401: The year 2005, that year's edition of Southern Decadence was officially cancelled in the wake of safety precautions against Hurricane Katrina . However, a small group of residents who still remained in the French Quarter celebrated the event anyway. An abbreviated parade took place in the French Quarter with some two dozen participants. Most were French Quarter hold-outs; there were also at least

1739-737: The year 2020, that year's edition of Southern Decadence was officially cancelled in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic . The following year's edition was also cancelled in 2021 due to continued concerns surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, plus the effects of Hurricane Ida on South Louisiana. Southern Decadence - The Official Website Southern Decadence in New Orleans - The Definitive History. A book by Frank Perez and Howard Philips Smith. [REDACTED] Media related to Southern Decadence at Wikimedia Commons Bourbon Street Bourbon Street ( French : Rue Bourbon , Spanish : Calle de Borbón )

1786-447: Was "House of Bourbon -- Unleash Your Beast", and the theme for 2019 was “Fruit Salad: Come Toss a Good Time”. In years past, religious and conservative groups have rallied against the festival. In 2003, there was a formal petition filed to have the event terminated, with video footage handed over to officials depicting dozens of men engaged in "public sex acts". There were examples of men exposing themselves to others for beads, similar to

1833-464: Was a move in the 1960s under District Attorney Jim Garrison to clean up Bourbon Street. In August 1962, two months after he was elected, Garrison began raiding adult entertainment establishments on Bourbon. His efforts mirrored those of his predecessors, which had been largely unsuccessful; however, he had more success. He forced closure on a dozen nightclubs convicted of prostitution and selling overpriced alcohol. Following this campaign, Bourbon Street

1880-403: Was about the same as a normal day on Bourbon Street but by afternoon, it had picked up to 17 to 20 people per minute, and steadily increased over the next eight hours, peaking between 10 and 10:30 p.m. to around 58 people per minute. Few appeared to be holding drinks, and those who did had probably purchased cans or bottles at stores, as all the bars and music clubs were closed. According to

1927-469: Was central to this image of cultural legacy and became the best-known part of the city. Recent arrivals in New Orleans criticized the perceived loose morals of the Creoles , a perception that drew many travelers to New Orleans to drink, gamble and visit the city's brothels , beginning in the 1880s. Bourbon Street was a premier residential area prior to 1900. This changed in the late 1800s and early 1900s, when

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1974-412: Was established by Jean Galatoire in 1905. Known for years by its characteristic line snaking down Bourbon Street, patrons waited for hours just to get a table — especially on Fridays. Before World War II, the French Quarter was emerging as a major asset to the city's economy. While there was an interest in historic districts at the time, developers pressured to modernize the city. Simultaneously, with

2021-517: Was given high priority after the storm. However, New Orleans was still experiencing a lack of visitors. In 2004, the year before Katrina, the city had 10.1 million visitors. The year after the storm, that number was 3.7 million. One third of the city's operating budget, approximately $ 6 billion before Katrina, came from visitors and conventions , so officials saw tourism as vital for post-disaster economic recovery. The New Orleans Tourism Marketing Corporation initiated efforts to draw visitors back to

2068-575: Was passed which prohibited individuals and groups from "disseminating any social, political or religious message" at night. The ordinance did not explain the justification for the rule. On September 21, 2012, the ACLU of Louisiana won a temporary restraining order against the ban, on behalf of Kelsey McCauley (Bohn), a woman who converted to Christianity through a religious group's activities on Bourbon Street. The group had several of its members arrested, some of whom were cited on September 14, 2012, for violating

2115-464: Was populated by peep shows and sidewalk beer stands. When Mayor Moon Landrieu came into office in 1970, he focused his efforts on stimulating tourism. He did so by making Bourbon Street a pedestrian mall, making it more inviting. The 1980s and 1990s were characterized by a Disneyfication of Bourbon Street. Critics of the rapid increase of souvenir shops and corporate ventures said that Bourbon Street had become Creole Disneyland. They also argued that

2162-401: Was the case with 2005, a small group of French Quarter residents still celebrated the 2008 event anyway with an "unofficial" parade taking place once again in the French Quarter . This parade had some two-dozen participants, just like three years earlier. With the theme "Hurricane: This Year, They Blow Back", the event once again rebounded as a whole in 2009, attracting near-normal crowds. In

2209-482: Was the highest since 2004. For a time in April 2017, the 100 block of Bourbon Street was closed off for reconstruction of the street and its underground utilities as part of the city's $ 6 million French Quarter infrastructure project. The emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 profoundly impacted this renowned destination, triggering a series of unprecedented challenges and transformations that reverberated throughout

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