The MCC regularly used the Lounge to hold church services because their former church had been set on fire by arsonists several times in the previous few years.Īs horrifying as the actual fire was, the aftermath was utterly tragic as well. Others included members of the New Orleans chapter of the Metropolitan Community Church (the first gay church in America), as well as two MCC clergy. Some of the victims of the arson were never identified. Victims were trapped inside the bar and couldn't easily escape through the windows (because they had safety bars) or out through the rooftop (because once the back door slammed shut, it locked and couldn't be opened).
Almost 50 years ago, on June 24, 1973, an arsonist set flame to the UpStairs Lounge and started a fire that killed 32 people either that night or in the immediate aftermath because of burns or injuries sustained. One such event that heavily impacted LGBTQ communities in New Orleans that should be more widely known is the arson fire at the popular gay bar, the UpStairs Lounge, in New Orleans' French Quarter. Part of Pride Month is learning about historical events and how they have shaped the lives and experiences of LGBTQ communities and influenced action and activism in their wake.
