Queer History of the Quarter

With Frank Perez

Take a leisurely sashay through the French Quarter’s LGBT+ history with a focus on what makes New Orleans queer history distinctive, from Indigenous queerness in Bulbancha to Gay Carnival.

Frank Perez' presentation begins with Indigenous queerness in Bulbancha, examines Pre-Century queerness, surveys gay men’s role in preserving the French Quarter, looks back at the homophobic 1950s and 1960s, and analyses how public attitudes have shifted in the last half century. Through it all, Perez focuses on what makes New Orleans queer history distinctive, including Gay Carnival, Southern Decadence, the Up Stairs Lounge arson, and the city’s unique heritage of gay literature.

Frank Perez is a writer, teacher, tour guide, and public speaker who also serves as the Executive Director of the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana. He has authored several books on LGBT+ history in New Orleans and is also a columnist for three New Orleans magazines. His publications also include a number of scholarly articles in academic journals as well as a number of poems and short stories in various literary journals. His latest book, Rainbow Fleur de Lis: Essays on Queer New Orleans History, is forthcoming from the University Press of Mississippi. As a former Associate Professor of English, Perez has spent a lifetime in the classroom. He also has decades of experience in the tourism industry, not only as a tour guide but also as a concierge, booking agent, business owner, and the manager of a tour company. More information at https://frenchquarterfrank.com/

Sponsored by the Friends of the New Orleans Public Library.

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