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The story of the UpStairs Lounge fire told from a new perspective

Many young people in the queer community, especially outside of the New Orleans area, had no idea about the history of the arson attack.
Bun Choum
Managing Editor
The story of the UpStairs Lounge fire told from a new perspective

Many young people in the queer community, especially outside of the New Orleans area, had no idea about the history of the arson attack.

SINCE A FIRE AT A FRENCH QUARTER GAY BAR CLAIMED THE LIVES OF 32 PEOPLE. AND TOMORROW COMMEMORATE MARCH IS SCHEDULED THROUGH THE FRENCH QUARTER. AND NEW TONIGHT, THE CREATORS OF A NEW PODCAST ARE TELLING THE STORY OF THE UPS UPSTAIRS LOUNGE FIRE FROM A NEW PERSPECTIVE. THAT’S BECAUSE MANY YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE QUEER COMMUNITY, ESPECIALLY OUTSIDE OF THE NEW ORLEANS AREA, HAVE NO IDEA ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE ARSON ATTACK THAT HAPPENED IN THE FIRE UPSTAIRS PODCAST. IT SEEKS TO EDUCATE ABOUT THE TRAGEDY, BUT ALSO DISCUSS HOW EVEN WITH ALL THE PROGRESS IN LGBTQ RIGHTS, THERE ARE STILL MANY CHALLENGES. THERE’S SO MUCH INTERNALIZED GUILT, SHAME, IF NOT FULL ON HOMOPHOBIA WITH PEOPLE OF QUEER IDENTITIES. AND I THINK THE TAKEAWAY NEEDS TO BE YOU ARE PART OF A LARGER CONVERSATION AND DIALOG AND PATCHWORK OF HISTORY, AND THAT NO MATTER WHERE YOU FIND YOUR PEOPLE OR YOUR HISTORY OR YOUR IMPORTANT STANCE IN THE CULTURE, AT WHATEVER POINT IN YOUR LIFE, IT’S TOTALLY VALID. WELL, WITNESSES ON THE SCENE SAY THE PERSON WHO STARTED THE FIRE WAS A BAR PATRON WHO HAD BEEN PUT OUT OF THE BAR THAT NIGHT. TO THIS DAY, THERE’S BEEN NO JUSTICE FOR THE 32 PEOPLE WHO WERE KILLED IN THAT FIRE. THERE WAS NEVER AN ARREST MADE IN THAT CASE. THE NOPD SAYS THE CA
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The story of the UpStairs Lounge fire told from a new perspective

Many young people in the queer community, especially outside of the New Orleans area, had no idea about the history of the arson attack.
Bun Choum
Managing Editor
On this 50th anniversary of the UpStairs Lounge fire, the creators of a new podcast are telling the story of the tragedy from a new perspective. That's because many young people in the queer community, especially outside of the New Orleans area, had no idea about the history of the arson attack. The Fire UpStairs" seeks to educate about the tragedy, but also discuss how even with all the progress in LGBTQ+ rights there are still many challenges. "There's so much internalized guilt, shame, if not full-on homophobia with people of queer identities. And I think the takeaway needs to be you are part of a larger conversation and dialog and patchwork of history, and that no matter where you find your people or your history or your importance in the culture, at whatever point in your life, it's totally valid," said Joey Gray, one of the creators of the podcast.Witnesses on the scene said the person who started the fire was a bar patron who had been put out of the bar that night. To this day, there has been no justice for the 32 people who were killed in the fire. There was never an arrest made in the case. NOPD said the case is open but unfortunately inactive. On Saturday, a memorial is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at St. Marks Church. It was the only place to do many of the funerals for the gay community in the 70s. A second line will follow with the event culminating at the site of the fire, the corner of Iberville and Chartres streets.
NEW ORLEANS —

On this 50th anniversary of the UpStairs Lounge fire, the creators of a new podcast are telling the story of the tragedy from a new perspective.

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That's because many young people in the queer community, especially outside of the New Orleans area, had no idea about the history of the arson attack.

The Fire UpStairs" seeks to educate about the tragedy, but also discuss how even with all the progress in LGBTQ+ rights there are still many challenges.

"There's so much internalized guilt, shame, if not full-on homophobia with people of queer identities. And I think the takeaway needs to be you are part of a larger conversation and dialog and patchwork of history, and that no matter where you find your people or your history or your importance in the culture, at whatever point in your life, it's totally valid," said Joey Gray, one of the creators of the podcast.

Witnesses on the scene said the person who started the fire was a bar patron who had been put out of the bar that night. To this day, there has been no justice for the 32 people who were killed in the fire. There was never an arrest made in the case. NOPD said the case is open but unfortunately inactive.

On Saturday, a memorial is scheduled for 3:30 p.m. at St. Marks Church. It was the only place to do many of the funerals for the gay community in the 70s. A second line will follow with the event culminating at the site of the fire, the corner of Iberville and Chartres streets.