I’ve lived in New Orleans for three years. My first memory of the city is my mother telling me, as a child, that we couldn’t stay in the hotels in the French Quarter because that’s where all the homosexuals were. Two decades later, I’m proud to count myself as one of them. What can I say? This city has a magical pull.
How can I explain how insanely queer this city is? I’ll try my best. Breaking down roles, recreating identities, writing our own stories, and celebrating the uniqueness of our culture is ingrained in the essence of NOLA. The city is incredibly diverse; the culture of the city grows out of African and Caribbean, French creole, German, and Spanish influences. There’s a thriving young queer and trans population, and the African-American LGBT community may be one of the largest in the U.S. You might not find the typical gay things in New Orleans — we don’t have a big, flashy Pride, for instance. But we have sissy bounce. We have Southern Decadence. We have Krewe du Vieux. Stop by and say hello. I promise to show you what Southern hospitality really means.
When the Saints Come Marching In: Festivals and Fun
The New Orleans social calendar is a smorgasboard. No matter what time of year you visit the city, you’re pretty much guaranteed to find a festival or a parade. NOLA also has no open container laws and no laws requiring bars to close. You can always find a bar that doesn’t have a last call, and every bar and restaurant has “go-cups,” plastic cups to take your beer out the door with you. Magical!
Of course, I can’t mention New Orleans without talking about Mardi Gras. Carnival season starts on Epiphany, January 6th (the first day of king cake!), and goes through Ash Wednesday, when the police sweep the streets and everyone enters a city-wide hangover known to the Catholics as Lent. The first Carnival parade and my personal favorite, Krewe du Vieux, takes place two weeks before Mardi Gras (“Fat Tuesday”). Krewe du Vieux is a hypersexualized, satirical parade through the French Quarter; it’s definitely the most overtly queer event of the season.
The Carnival parades stretch over three weekends, building to the crescendo of five-day, non-stop partying that is Mardi Gras weekend. You won’t see boobs outside of Bourbon Street, but everywhere you go, you will see costumes, more beads than you know what to do with, and fantastic house parties. Carnival has historically been a safe space for queerness, gender-bending, sexual freedom, and identity de-construction.
Spring in New Orleans brings St. Patrick’s Day parades, the Mardi Gras Indians, the Tennessee Williams Literary Festival, and French Quarter Festival, all of which deserve a page of writing to themselves. I can’t skip over a mention of the Gay Easter Parade on Easter Day, when horse-drawn carriages of queers in fabulous hats parade through the Quarter. (Points if you can name the musical reference!) And then there’s the biggest festival of all: New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Fest offering seven days of local and internationally-known artists with 75,000 of your new best friends. During Jazz Fest, every venue in town hosts music, so even if you can’t afford the pricey entrance tickets, you’ll find crowds to dance with until the wee hours of the morning. Check out the plethora of venues on lower Frenchman Street and One-Eyed Jacks any time of year for some of the best live music in town.
Acura Stage at Jazz Fest 2011
Though most of the city slows down for the summer heat, there are a few major events during the hot months. The summer season kicks off with Essence Fest in early July, bringing together some of the best African-American musical artists and fashionistas from across the country, along with Bayou Bougaloo, a Mid-City free neighborhood festival with a plastic duck race in Bayou St. John. The Running of the Bulls in July is a knock-off of Pamplona, featuring roller derby girls from local teams as the “bulls.”
In October we gear up for Halloween, one of the biggest holidays in New Orleans. The three-day Voodoo Music Experience brings thousands of visitors to the city. But Halloween night is best spent on Frenchman Street, where locals stake out a spot to drink, show off costumes, and celebrate the chance to become anyone else under the cover of darkness.
Rolling on the River: Neighborhoods of Interest
the French Quarter
Every neighborhood in New Orleans has its own charm and flavor. The Marigny, Bywater, Mid City, and French Quarter are perhaps most gay-friendly/inclusive, though to be fair, I live in Uptown, and I’m hella attached to my hood and all the queers in it. The city is relatively affordable for a major urban area, though to be honest the cost of living mirrors the lower wages and primarily service-industry economy. Life in NOLA is more expensive than most areas of Louisiana, but has dramatically cheaper cost of living than the East or West coast. Most everywhere in New Orleans is queer-friendly, though there are a few places to avoid, like the frat/college bars around Tulane/Loyola Universities and Bourbon Street.
I can’t emphasize how much I am not a fan of Bourbon Street. The beers are overpriced, the bars are corporate, the food is tourist-marketed, and the bar fights suck. There are hundreds of fantastic, fun bars and restaurants in this city — don’t settle for Bourbon Street. If you do visit Bourbon, head toward the gay end — St. Ann & Bourbon St. — where three gay bars (Napoleon’s Itch, Bourbon Pub & Parade, and Oz) converge on the corner. These are gay mens’ bars that are usually hit-or-miss for women, but you’ll be safer with queer brothers than anywhere else on Bourbon.
A super important note about safety: New Orleans is notorious for crime. While I wouldn’t let that deter you from visiting or choosing to live here, I would tell you not to wander alone at night. There’s no “safe” and “unsafe” areas. Travel in groups, be aware of your surroundings, know your neighbors, and don’t get too intoxicated to find your way home.
A note for transgender and gender non-conforming peeps: Bathrooms can an issue in NOLA. Take a friend with you for safety, or try one of the local (non-chain) coffee shops for gender-neutral/unisex bathrooms.
New Orleans Ladies: Bars and Nightlife
Tribute: The only true lesbian bar in town, which actually sits outside the city limits in Metairie (which does have open container laws). Open only on Friday and Saturday night, Tribute is best for special events — drag king shows, traveling artists, and the occasional lube wrestling competition. Think old-school dyke bar, and you’ve got the right image in mind.
The Allways Lounge and Theatre: A de-facto queer bar hosting drag shows, queer burlesque, all manner of music, arm wrestling matches, erotica, comedy, and anything else that requires a stage and an audience. The theater, an intimate room (read: sweaty in the summertime, just like we like it) is utilized for quieter musical sets and slightly more formal theatrical performances. Pun alert: there is always something happening at the Allways.
Club Fusions: Queer Hip hop bar/club open on Saturdays and featuring Monday night drag shows. Predominantly African-American and trans-friendly.
GrrlSpot: New Orleans’ guerilla girl bar initiative which takes over a new bar each month in the name of gay lady socializing. GrrlSpot tries to hold events all over the city, sampling each of New Orleans’ distinct neighborhoods, and has the keen ability to draw a sizable and eclectic crowd.
The Country Club
The Country Club: A gay oasis in the relentlessly hot New Orleans summer. Nestled near the river in the hip Bywater neighborhood, the Country Club is a bar and restaurant with a clothing-optional pool (chilled in the summer, heated in the winter), hot tub, sauna, outdoor showers and a projector for watchin’ movies while you splash around. Thursday night is ladies’ night, where cheap drinks and birthday suits abound. Strictly 21+ and open until 2am.
Drama Free/Club Entice: Saturday nights are Ladies’ Nights with great music and drink specials. Usually a $5+ cover.
Kajun’s Pub: A 24-hour karaoke destination, Kajuns is queer-owned, features cheap drinks and a late-night kitchen complete with charbroiled oysters. Packed on Friday and Saturday night. Very trans-friendly.
Good Friends bar during the Gay Easter Parade
Good Friends: French Quarter gay bar that is primarily populated with dudes but very friendly. The bar is known for free shots when the Saints score and a frozen coffee/booze drink called a Separator guaranteed to separate you from your pants.
Swirl Wine Bar: Queer-owned wine bar in beautiful Bayou St. John, right off Esplanade. You can grab a bottle of your preferred beverage, french bread and artisan cheese, and walk to the cute park across the street or to the nearby bayou or City Park. Free wine tasting and professional social hour for women on the first Thursday of each month.
St. Rock Tavern: St. Roch is a sweaty steam/crust punk dive bar with one of the best dance nights in town and a vegan kitchen. On Saturday nights you can expect a crowded hip-hop/bounce party and cheap drinks. Fights and excessive drunkenness sometimes occur, and the surrounding neighborhood can be dangerous. Cash only.
Orlando’s Society Page:Â Predominately African-American bar situated on the far edge of the Quarter on Rampart Street. Open late.
Club LAX: Gay/lesbian bar in Metairie (outside the city limits) catering to a low-key, usually 30’s and up crowd.
Wit’s Inn: Mid-City neighborhood bar that has been semi-taken over by lesbians on Thursdays, when ladies get three free drinks.
The city has more gay bars than any one person could list. I noted those that tend to be more friendly to women; not all are welcoming for women and transpeople. While there isn’t usually overt animosity between the L, G, B, and T communities, there are class/race/gender divides within the community. The trans community often struggles with the lack of welcoming venues and inclusive events, though more queer/trans-friendly events have started to pop up in the last two or three years.
Show Me Somethin’ Mister: Drag and Queer Performance
Carnival Kings drag show
New Orleans Carnival Kings: Performing since 2002, the Carnival Kings is New Orleans’ oldest drag troupe. They perform “jukebox drag,” which Primary Show Coordinator Harvey Wallbanger describes as a “mosaic experience” because, like a jukebox, performances are randomly composed of music chosen by individual performers, including contemporary hits, classics, and a smattering of the obscure. The Carnival Kings perform weekly on Tuesday night at midnight at Bourbon Pub & Parade during GirlBar New Orleans. Carnival Kings shows are always queer/trans-friendly.
Vanity: A queer variety show (drag, burlesque, etc.) that performs at different venues around town.
La Familia: Variety drag show featuring both kings and queens. They perform intermittently in the Greater New Orleans area for events such as PrideFest and at bars like Anything Geauxs in Slidell, Club LAX, and the Bourbon Pub and Parade.
Queerlesque!: Described by founder Ace Falcor as “one of the nation’s longest-running all-queer all-burlesque shows.” Queerlesque! prides itself on providing safe stages for a diverse krewe of queer performers of all races, ages, sizes, gender identities and expressions, and most importantly – styles of burlesque. Queerlesque! shows take place at random times during the year, usually at the Allways Lounge, though the venue is subject to change.
“Stellaaaaaaaa!”: Performing Arts
Art by local artist Dr. Bob
NOLA has a thriving performing arts community, with particular attention paid to the unusual, avant-garde, and DIY. The Fringe Theatre Festival held annually in November, always offers a wide variety of queer-themed shows in venues ranging from empty pools to alleyways. While no theater in New Orleans is queer-specific, these theatres have all put on shows with queer characters or themes, and many of them have amazing queer staff and members.
Jefferson Parish Performing Arts
Local production groups/companies that offer shows at various spaces:
New Orleans is also the birthplace of the Free Southern Theatre which disbanded in 1980 but played an important role in the Black Theatre Movement. Junebug Productions (which also puts on fabulous community classes), Ashe Cultural Arts Center, and the Anthony Bean Community Theatre carry on this tradition in their own unique ways.
Lagniappe: A Little Something Extra
NOLA Print Shop: This grassroots arts and education initiative engages local artists, printmakers, and entrepreneurs in the practices of printmaking by providing instructional classes andtechnique demonstrations suited to every level of print experience and background, for-hire commercial contract printing, and events that connect artists with buyers.
Black, Brown, and Queer (BBQ)Â Monthly barbeque and picnic for queer people of color and their friends
New Orleans Bondage and Leather Enthusiasts (NOBLE): The local queer-friendly kink group. NOBLE hosts regular munches (conversational, low-key meet-ups in local restaurants or coffee shops), play parties, and educational classes.
Zeitgeist: Central City institution for independent film, queer films, and several film festivals. Constant and varied programming make this a film destination nearly every night of the week.
NOLAW: New Orleans Ladies Arm Wrestling:Â The New Orleans Ladies’ Arm Wrestlers NOLAW are fired up ladies who toe the line between theatrical antics and hardcore athleticism. Eight lady-identified wrestlers compete in each event, called a brawl. Wrestlers choose a persona, bio, theme song, and money-hungry entourage to back them up and collect “bets” from the crowd. Proceeds raised from bets go to a chosen local organization or project that benefits women and girls. Arguably one of the most fun and stimulating events in New Orleans, NOLAW brawls occur about every two months at various locations around town and are always followed by a dance party.
nolaw
No More Fiction: Local organization that books punk house shows for girl/queer bands.
Plan B: NOLA’s beloved community bike project, located in the Marigny neighborhood, seeks to promote bike building/use, educate folks on bike maintenance, and encourage the reuse of salvaged materials, all at a low cost to community members. Ladies/Trans/Sissies only bike-building time on Friday evenings.
New Orleans Free School:Â The New Orleans Free School offers quality, no-cost, volunteer-run, community-based educational opportunities for people of all ages throughout the city of New Orleans. Classes include fermentation, demolition, facilitation, zen meditation, male feminism, and many others.
Burlesque Scene
Check out the 1950’s-style Bustout Burlesque, local troupes Fleur De Tease, and the Storyville Starlettes for classical burlesque.
If you’re looking for something that moves beyond fan dances and into the debaucherous and funky, check out Slow Burn Burlesque, Freakshow to Geaux, and any of the impromptu shows at the Allways Lounge or the Hi-Ho Lounge. What to learn some moves yourself? Bella Blue offers classes weekly through the New Orleans School of Burlesque.
Next: Pride events, food, activism, sports, and more!
Won’t Bow, Don’t Know How: Pride Events
PrideFest: This official pride event takes place on the weekend in June closest to the anniversary of Stonewall. PrideFest is notoriously low-key; don’t expect to see huge crowds or the massive parades common in other large cities. There is usually a second line style parade, a stage with local performances, and a resource fair on Bourbon and St. Anne, the “gay corner of Bourbon.” Pride sponsors pageants, fundraisers, and events throughout the year, so check out their website if you are coming into town.
Southern Decadence 2011
Southern Decadence: The powerhouse of NOLA queer events. Decadence is a home-grown festival held each year on Labor Day Weekend. During Decadence, every business in the French Quarter brings out their gay flags, thousands of people get gratuitously laid, and we celebrate the very sexual and debaucherous side of queer culture. Historically Decadence has been a cisgender gay men’s event, but this is changing. Dykeadence was founded in 2009 to provide safe, high-quality queer events for women, trans people, and people of color during Southern Decadence weekend. The main events are a clothing optional pool party, a queer burlesque show, a kinky costume party, and one of the largest women’s dance parties in the South.
NOLA Masquerade: In New Orleans, we don’t stop celebrating pride when summer ends. The season extends right into November, when NOLA Masquerade takes place. The mission of NOLA Masquerade is to unify the African American LGBT community while promoting awareness of the challenges that face the community, all under a fabulous canopy of booze and glitter.
Etouffee, Jambalaya, and Other Dishes You Can’t Pronounce: Food
Food in New Orleans is a ritual and an obsession. Every local is an expert, and many a bar debate has been started over where to get the best po’ boy in town. By far the most important meal of the week is brunch, the holy hangover cure. My three favorite brunch places (which span four neighborhoods) are:
Satsuma Cafe: Satsuma may be the brunch jewel in the crown of the Bywater neighborhood. High ceilings, local art on the walls, cute side patio, a menu with enough variety to please the strictest vegan to the most voracious meat eater – and much of the food is locally sourced! This is the place to be on Saturday and Sunday mornings, so expect a wait along with your delicious meal.
Surrey’s: Surrey’s boasts two locations – one in uptown NOLA, the other located in the Lower Garden District – and a vegetarian-friendly menu. The mushroom gravy and fresh juice bar make it worth the trip in either direction.
Ruby Slipper: Locations in uptown and Mid-City. Great Bloody Mary, even better crab cakes.
Camellia Grill: Greasy, good diner food. No tables, just a long, winding counter where one can order burgers, onion rings, reubens, milkshakes, and other staples. One location uptown on the streetcar line, another in the French Quarter. Try the pecan pie.
If you get caught needing a late night snack downtown, check out 13, Angeli’s, or the Clover Grill, where someone covered in glitter will serve you up a huge burger any time of night. For Po’ boys, stop by Parkway Bakery in Mid-City or Mahoney’s in Uptown, and for the best oysters you can suck out of the shell, stop by Acme Oyster House or Drago’s. Walk the French Market for souvenirs, local art, and fresh seafood on a to-go platter.
oyster bar at the French Market
New Orleans has its fair share of fabulous cafes, and every neighborhood offers its own version. My personal favorite is Zotz, a gothic-esque, artsy hole-in-the-wall where you’d be hard pressed not to find a handful of queers at any time. There’s also the lesbian-owned JuJu Bag Cafe in Gentilly, which offers both brunch/lunch dishes and everything to meet your caffeine needs. If you’re Uptown, check out the punk-ish venue Hey! Cafe or Mojo’s for a cozy and hip place to burn off a hangover. Should you find yourself downtown strolling the French Quarter, stop in at Envie, which provides both caffeine and boozy drinks to folks of all walk. The Ben Gallery, in Mid-City has a big outdoor porch popular with students and the work-from-home crowd, and the nearby Fair Grinds specializes in vegan treats, fair trade coffee, and a weekly knitting circle. The bohemian Marigny and Bywater neighborhoods offer plenty of stops, but the Orange Couch offers something a bit unusual. Stop in here if you’re coming from the other L.A. and need to ease your way into New Orleans. Sleek and minimalist, with mochi treats and other high end café snacks on hand.
Who Dat Nation: Local Sports
Superdome on game day
There’s really only one sport in New Orleans: football. The Saints are the only thing every single person in this city has in common. Even gay bars are full of screaming fans on game days. There’s also the Zephyrs baseball team and the soon-to-be-renamed Hornets basketball team, which I’m sure are fantastically fun to watch… but I’d be lying if I said this town paid attention to anything that doesn’t involve touchdowns with a pigskin.
Roller Derby is the shiznit, but of course you know that if you’ve ever seen a bout. The Big Easy Rollergirls put on a full season of awesomeness, so don’t miss the chance to see them battle it out with women across the country. There are a handful of local lesbian-friendly sports leagues, like the Bayou Women’s Tennis Club, the Greater New Orleans Women’s Soccer League, the NOLA Softball League, and the New Orleans Women’s Rugby Club Halfmoons if you’re looking to get involved in local team sports.
Gender Studies 101: Collegiate Life
New Orleans has a thriving college population due to the ten colleges and universities in the city. I didn’t go to school here, but I can tell you that almost every school has a queer group, and at least half the girls on OkCupid are undergrads or grads… at least, it seems like it.
Tulane University: the Queer Student Alliance and Tulane Women Organizing Righteous Dykedom for undergrads, along with TOGA for the med school students and Lambda Law Alliance for law students.
Delgato Community College: Gay and Lesbian Alliance (GALA)
Loyola University – Etcetera for undergrads, and the Lambda Law Alliance for law students
University of New Orleans – Safe Space UNO, UNITY for LGBTQIQ and Allies , and the Women’s Center.
How’s Your Mom ‘N ‘Em?: Support for LGBT Families
Hagar’s House: Sanctuary for women and children in New Orleans that provides a residential community, resource coordination, and a safe space to transition into sustainable housing. Trans-friendly.
COLAGE: The local chapter of a national movement of children, youth, and adults with one or more lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and/or queer (LGBTQ) parent/s.
PFLAG New Orleans: Promotes the health and well-being of GLBT persons and their families and friends. Meetings are the second Thursday of the month at Central St Matthew’s United Church of Christ on Carrollton Ave. PFLAG New Orleans offers twenty-five annual scholarships to LGBT students of all ages across the state, so check the website for details on how to apply!
Catholic Charities Crescent House Domestic Violence Services: Offers services for victims of domestic violence in Orleans Parish. Local crisis line: 504-866-9554.
Metropolitan Center for Women and Children: Provides services for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and rape in Jefferson, St. Charles, St. James, and St. John Parishes. Local crisis line: 504-837-5400.
Hate Crimes Project is a program housed at Family Services of Greater New Orleans which provides support and free counseling for victims of hate crimes, along with resources and awareness-raising campaigns in the community.
Doin’ the Dirty Work: Social Activism
Women With a Vision: Works for reproductive justice, particularly for women of color, queer women, and transwomen. They were instrumental in fighting the infamous Crimes Against Nature law used to target and imprison transwomen and sex workers.
New Orlean’s Women’s Health and Justice Initiative: A radical feminist of color organization dedicated to improving the social and economic health of women of color and our communities, by challenging the use of punitive social policies, practices, and behaviors that restrict, criminalize, exploit, and police the bodies and lives of low-income and working class women of color.
Critical Resistance: Critical Resistance seeks to build an international movement to end the Prison Industrial Complex by challenging the belief that caging and controlling people makes us safe.
NO/AIDS Task Force: Multiple locations offer free HIV testing, sex education outreach, and services for people with HIV/AIDS.
Forum For Equality: A statewide organization fighting for gay and lesbian rights.
Southern Poverty Law Center: A national civil rights organization with a local office that fights for justice against hate and bigotry.
The People’s Institute for Survival and Beyond: A collective of anti-racist organizers working to create an equitable society.
BreakOUT!: A group of LGBT youth working to end criminalization and create policy change in for LGBT youth in New Orleans.
Louisiana Trans Advocates: Statewide organization that provides support and political advocacy for all who fall under the transgender umbrella. There is a local group that meets monthly, and the organization maintains a list of trans-friendly health care providers.
LGBT & Feminist Bookstores
Community Book Center has a wide variety of black socio-political literature, including many black LGBT writers, black feminist books, and progressive writers. Check out the children’s books as well!
Faubourg Marigny Books (FAB) on Frenchmen is the only LGBT-specific bookstore, though it’s geared more toward gay men and the 1990’s. Check it out if you are wandering music venues on Frenchman in the evening; it’s open late.
Iron Rail is anarchist bookstore, lending library, and resource for radical organizing. It’s as bad-ass as it sounds, and a great place to donate books you don’t need.
Saints & Sinners Literary Festival is an LGBT literary festival taking place annually in May. SAS brings in some of the country’s most famous LGBT authors and offers workshops for authors, discount student passes, and readings galore.
LGBT and Women’s Services
There aren’t any LGBT-specific health clinics in New Orleans, but Planned Parenthood is a great resource for reproductive health and sexual health needs, though they won’t provide help with transitioning. I recommend NO/AIDS for free HIV testing and services for people with HIV/AIDS; they have multiple locations. The LGBT Center and Louisiana Trans Advocates keep a list of LGB- and T-friendly healthcare providers.
The NOLA LGBT Community Center is located in the Marigny triangle, a neighborhood bordering the French Quarter. It offers some support groups, a library of LGBT-related books, and resources and information on local community groups. It’s volunteer-run, so the hours depend on when volunteers are available to keep the door open. Though the Center maintains an FB page with upcoming and ongoing events, there isn’t much you will learn from them that we haven’t incorporated here. It’s not really a tourist hotspot, but more suited to local groups looking for a place to meet.
Haircuts & Tattoos
What do you mean you don’t trust anyone with a pair of scissors? Yeah, me either. So where should you go to get your hair cut? Recommendations from several friends: Rocket Science Beauty Bar, Sarah Earl at Lacey Stevens Salon on the Northshore, Monica Tinoco at Regis Salon in Lakeside Mall, Headquarters in the French Quarter, TruRoots (specializing in Black/African/Carribbean natural hairstyles), and my fantastic hairstylist, Destiny King at Paris Parker Aveda in Lakeside Mall.
Tattoo-a-go-go was recommended by a queer friend whose work is fabulous, as was Kai Kita at Mid-City Voodoux Tattoo. My favorite artist for custom work is Cornbread at Pigment; he’s also inked several of my(queer and trans) friends. He’s not a pick-a-tattoo-off-the-wall kind of guy; he is a true custom artist. My favorite piercer is Pat Roig at NOLA Tattoo and Piercing. He trained under Elayne Angel at the former Rings of Desire shop in NOLA. Pat is queer/trans-friendly and definitely who you want to go to if you want a genital piercing.
Louisiana Laws
Unfortunately, Louisiana’s legislature isn’t very queer-friendly. Louisiana has no state ENDA (employment non-discrimination act) covering sexual orientation or gender identity. There is an amendment to the Louisiana Constitution limiting marriage to one man and one woman. Single individuals can adopt, but second parent adoption by someone who is not married to the first parent is not legal. There’s no legal recognition of any kind of same-sex relationships. Louisiana does have a hate crime law which covers “actual or perceived gender and sexual orientation,” but not gender identity. Transsexual individuals can get their gender on their birth certificate changed but only with a letter from a doctor certifying full sexual reassignment surgery (top and bottom).
New Orleans itself is much more progressive. Orleans Parish (which includes only the boundaries of the city) has an ordinance banning employment discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity. New Orleans has a domestic partnership registry for same-sex and different sex partners, and the city offers insurance to same-sex partners of civic employees.
Pages: 1 2See entire article on one page
What about Rubyfruit on Decatur?
Rubyfruit is closed. RIP
I was so sad when Rubyfruit closed. My first month in NOLA I went to Rubyfruit during Southern Decadence and got picked up by a 20-year old college student from Mississippi. I’ve had fond memories of Rubyfruit ever since.
yes, Ruby Fruit used to be Whirling Dirvish so, the sound system was really great. I liked the 3 floor option and the silhouettes on the 3rd floor. would love to be a member. I think that it’s hard to find lesbians unless there’s a special day that I accidentally hear about.
How can I become a member?
=Anne
my brother lives in new orleans and today is his birthday so i feel like this is probably his birthday present
i feel like my life has changed in a lot of really serious ways after finding out about nolaw/seeing that picture. can we start chapters in every city
Yeah, that looks like totally awesome. As long as I’m not doing the arm wrestling any how. I mean, the few times I’ve done it I was in more pain afterward then any time I can remember except for when I’ve had ear surgery. I’m really up for the dance party though.
NOLAW is the best thing ever. Start some chapters! And/or come visit NOLA and check it out.
I think I’m in love with NOLA. And then I saw there was a second page. Yea, defo in love
How is it that I lived in New Orleans for six years and never managed to meet any lady gays? I mean, I know I’m a little reclusive, but still . . .
There’s not a lot of organization or infrastructure in the community; you have to kind of know people to find where people are. Facebook is how most events are advertised, but you can only invite people to events if they are on your friends list… which means it’s totally ineffective advertising. There’s a lot of us, it’s just that we don’t do a good job of getting the word out. OKCupid opened my eyes to how many queers there are in this city that I had no idea existed!
I’m working on a website to change that. I want a central place where anyone can find queer events in NOLA easily.
Hey Caroline…. I’d like to help with the website. Marketing is my gig. It’s a shame that everything seems to be so undercover.
Perfect timing! I have two weeks left in Louisiana before I move. Definitely trying to have fun in New Orleans before I leave!
Ooh, awesome, thanks! I was hoping someone would do one of these for New Orleans! I’d never been here until I moved down a couple weeks ago, and I am definitely still trying to find my bearings. The only person I actually know here is my mother, and not that I don’t love my mother, but… well. There is really only so much time a girl can spend hanging out with her mom. And more to the point, she knows very little about gay bars. :)
I’ve lived here for a year and I’ve seen like five gay ladies outside of the two I know from work. Maybe queer women blend way too easily in this town.
I have totally had this problem as well – I’ve lived here since fall 2009 and meeting queer female-identified people has been soo difficult. Vanity and Allways are spots to generally hang out and see a lot of people. If you want to hang out with a fellow NOLA queer, feel free to send me a message sometime.
We are going to be friends because you like Jesus Christ Superstar.
Caroline…..I dont read auto-straddle!! But I just saw your link, read it and loved it!! You did it and I think it’s amazing!!! Thank you, thank you
P.S You were spot on with us having a large number of black queer people. Until Katrina, New Orleans had the largest population of black LGBTQ people, past that of New York, DC, and ATL!!!!
New Orleans is legitimately one of the greatest cities in the U.S. The first time I went, I fell in love, so much so that I’m currently planning a move there. Thanks for this…going to really come in handy in a few months.
I haven’t been to New Orleans since I was 12, but holy god does this guide make me want to go back now that I’m older and queerer! Everything here sounds amazing.
YES! So happy to see a Queer Guide to my city – I was hoping it would happen. Fellow NOLA queers, you should send me a message – it’s been really hard for most people I know to meet queer female-identified people in the Crescent City. I’ve really enjoyed Vanity at Bourbon Pub, Allways (especially Queerlesque events), and the Country Club. I was really sad when Rubyfruit closed as well. My favorite events, bar none, are NOLAW bouts. Awesome spaces that are explicitly anti-racist and anti-sexist, costumes, entourages, and arm-wrestling – what more could you ask for? At the last event I went to, Kristen Schaal from The Daily Show arm-wrestled one of the refs and got “married” to her fiance on-stage. I can’t express how much I love New Orleans – it’s also an incredible space to learn from amazing community organizers and activist leaders and to understand the process of being an active and engaged member of a community.
And not to ramble forever, but Trolley Stop on St Charles is another great late-night place, open ’til at least 2 am with diner food. Women With A Vision’s offices were just burned – it appears to be a case of arson. To support them, check out http://wwav-no.org/wwav-after-the-fire. And PISAB (People’s Institute) does incredible work – their Undoing Racism trainings are the shit.
I’m moving there in August!! I keep hearing about Southern Decadence– is it all gay guys?
Oh, hello, there’s a second page. Jk!
I’m moving there in August too!
Totally random thought, but are you going to be a Jesuit Volunteer? With the timing I thought maybe…because that’s what I’ll be doing :)
I’m actually going to be a freshman at Tulane! I’m… not actually sure what a Jesuit Volunteer is. Are you working with Loyola at all?
Decadence is primarily gay men, though Dykeadence offers events around the city for everyone on the queer spectrum. In my head they are different things, but in reality, it’s just a weekend full of chaos and magic and more glitter than you can imagine.
Decadence is a weekend with little organization and no “official” events (no matter what anyone says). It was begun by a group of friends, and people keep trying to take over and claim they “run Decadence.” But no one believes them. The parade has an official start time, but anyone, anywhere can join in. A few bars have events, but mostly it’s men in the streets. Dykeadence is better organized; there is a list of events, for example. You make of the weekend what you will. Go to everything, especially the parade, and you will have a fabulous time, no matter who you are with!
This is really helpful… I’ve been here in NOLA for a year but this opened me up to a lot of stuff (I don’t see much, as a grad student).
Not to hop on the bandwagon, but re:sports, I’m part of a new roller derby league that is actively recruiting (i.e. no tryouts) skaters of any level, gender, etc etc. And we’re awesome, if you want to get into that kind of stuff. Look us up: Crescent City Derby Devils.
I think you also should have linked to the LesBe Nola FB page, just because it updates on events a lot:
http://www.facebook.com/groups/LesBeNOLA/
Thanks for this!
I will definitely look you all up – I love roller derby. I won’t be back until the end of July, but if it’s still possible to get involved then I would love to. Where are you a grad student at? I just finished my third year of grad school at Tulane.
I’m at Tulane too! I’d ask what department you’re in but it’s such a small school I feel like your internet identity would be compromised. So I shan’t.
I’m not worried about my Internet identity being compromised, but thanks for the thoughtfulness!
Thanks! Didn’t know about the LesBeNOLA group. I just recently heard about the Derby Devils; I’m excited ya’ll are partnering with the Carnival Kings!
Yeah me too! Our fundraiser on the 30th is going to be fantastic! I’m trying to put together my own first drag performance and I’m sort of nervous… but it should be fun :)
I’m excited for this post. Just got stationed in Miss. and I don’t know much about it
So stoked to see this! I just moved to NOLA from Boston about 2 1/2 weeks ago to start training with teachNOLA. They’ve been keeping me busy so far, but when training is over in 3 weeks I can’t wait to start checking out everything on this list. It’s so cool to be living in a city that is so vibrant and full of all of these amazing opportunities to get involved in activism and community building. I’m really excited to get started with my life down here!
NOLA queers, we should have a pride meetup next weekend!
Hi Becca! Could you share with me your transition from Boston to NOLA? I am thinking of making the same move! I know there is a tiny chance that you will see this but thought I would try anyway :D
Thank you so much for posting this! I’ll be moving to NOLA in August and this article makes me very happy :)
Just so everyone knows, the Carnival Kings are going back to the Pub on Tuesday nights at midnight, so Frat House won’t have queer events anymore.
If you’re around NOLA this weekend, there is a ton of stuff going on because it’s Pride Weekend:
NOLA Pridefest: https://www.facebook.com/nolapridefest
Carnival Kings @ Ampersand Friday night: https://www.facebook.com/events/346909225379443/
2 Shows from Vanity/Queerlesque!/La Familia on Saturday at Allways: https://www.facebook.com/events/461764547170340/
https://www.facebook.com/events/380459562011367/
Happy Pride, ya’ll :)
Metairie! Birthplace of Ellen DeGeneres!
Hey! this is a sweet guide, but one thing:
Why do you mention when a bar is “predominantly african-american,” but don’t talk about race otherwise?
I understand if you’re trying to. . .offer resources for people of color queers who might be looking for a queer, mostly people of color safe space to hang out in. . . but why not say when spaces are mostly white then? Or something else?
Sooo excited to see a post about my hometown!!! It brings me back to the babygay days, when me and my best guy gay would use our fake ids to sneak into Oz…good times!
THANKS! I’ve been wondering when someone would write a post for the queers of NOLA. I’m moving there within the year and while I’ve been around the city (all the love to Frenchman! And, One Eyed Jacks. ALSO: check out The Spotted Cat and Mimi’s in the Marigny, also great chill hangouts with lotsa music.) I haven’t had much experience with queer NOLA. So anyways, this is rad. Gotta get me down to that country club shebang, sounds rad.
OH SHOOT. i read the second page. Fuck yeah, tattoo-a-go-go. I got all my work done there. They are super great and in a really pretty area of Magazine. There’s a great coffee shop down that a way, too.
geaux Saints! (and queers.)
As a native New Orleanian, this is by far and away the best possible city guide… and good goddess Caroline do you never sleep!! Heh j/k — and thanks for posting the Pride links. I am one of the co-organizers of Dykeadence (I also produce Queerlesque! and perform in other stuff). I just wanted to post directly in case anyone wants to know more about Dykeadence.
Caroline in her post above described it pretty well — we are an umbrella of events produced by dozens of people and orgs. Literally they can range from a drum circle or book club to an impromptu all clothes off pool party (impromptu on the clothing removal). But the people who run the Dykeadence website, make sure Dykeadence is advertised all over the South and nation (already have friends from as far away as Seattle and New York coming in), find folks housing… that’s all we really do (though it is a lot more work than it seems but isn’t everything worth doing?). The events come from the people which is why we always say it is community-led and -driven. So — anyone living in Nola, check out dykeadence.com and if you have an idea for any kind of event — submit! And for out-of-town folks — I can honestly say (very crassly, I know) that every friend of mine who has come to Dykeadence has gotten laid. I promise there is much more than that — but we want to stay true to the spirit of SoDec too haha!
Also, just as an aside about Queerlesque! — I am very explicit about the shows featuring all types of queer bodies and have worked really hard on that especially on getting masculine women and transmasculine people a safe (and sexy) stage. So I have performers who say they do draglesque, butchlesque, boilesque, translesque and — my newest — bearlesque. (of course femme or feminine women are also welcome and I hope it goes without saying that that includes feminine cis and trans women). I am always welcoming new performers and am happy to help train and mentor you or find someone whose style you like to help out. We aren’t a troupe — but we are a family.
Thanks again Caro! You done us good. (I’m refraining from inserting some cheesy Nola-only line — like Laissez le bon temps rouler… Oh damn I did it ;D )
I’m so happy to see this guide. I’m taking a road trip to NOLA next month with a group of queer friends, and this tells me everything we could possibly need to know. Thank you so, so much! I had no idea New Orleans was such a queer city. The only problem is that our two days in town is clearly not enough.
ahhh y’all this is such a good guide. I love Zot’z! I don’t know if I would say it’s goth though, just artsy and super queer. Tuesday nights at The Pub on Bourbon are girls night upstairs, although it’s not something I’ve been to since high school. Also, St. Charles Tavern in the Lower Garden District is queer friendly and 24 hours with great breakfast food.
La Trans Advocates is a great resource for trans* people all over the state, and has social support meetings in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Lafayette, and Shreveport. I love the group, and it’s such a great way to meet other trans*, gender-variant, and allied people!
Lastly, on June 23rd in Baton Rouge, we’re having the first-ever march for LGBT rights in the state. The Equality March starts at 9am at the corner of 4th street and North Boulevard. We want as many people as possible to come out with signs and t-shirts and loud voices!
In other local queer lady news, Sarah Paulson and Pariah’s Adepero Oduye are both in town, I served them drinks in Bywater on Saturday night.
country club is sooo magical
FINALLY one for NOLA! Having this inside scoop will definitely make my nights out there with a queer agenda much more successful. :D Thanks so much Caroline!
Just a note – The Tulane Women Organizing for Righteous Dykedom (TWORD) has changed our name to Student Women Embracing Equality at Tulane (SWEET) and you can find us at tulanesweet.tumblr.com! I’m the president of the club for 2012-2013 so if you have any questions feel free to contact me or message us on tumblr.
So, it hit me that we’ve never done any sort of Autostraddle meet-up in New Orleans. Why is that? And would anyone be interested? Maybe a random weekend (or a Thursday night) in a random bar? Or maybe during a Ladies’ Night at Witt’s Inn or Country Club?
My friends and I will be in town the 13-15. We’d love to meet queer women in town while we’re there, if you’d be willing to take us out somewhere. We definitely want to see Country Club.
Unfortunately my young cousin is staying with me that weekend, so I won’t be going anywhere near the queer scene or bars in general. But you should definitely check out Country Club (even if you don’t make it on Ladies’ night, it’s still a great place). I haven’t heard of much going on this weekend, but if I do, I’ll try to post it here.
Pingback: New Orleans – A Great Summer Travel Destination | Purple Roofs Gay Travel Blog
I am flying in tomorrow, and now I am so excited!
Hey all! My gal and I are headed to New Orleans November 16th through 20th. We have yet to determine where we are staying. Any recommendations on good queer or centrally located hostels? Or queer coops that would lend a couch! Thanks y’all
NOLA sounds incredible, can’t wait for my visit (3-5 feb) although timing really could have been better what with the Super Bowl. If anyone’s around then and fancy meeting I’m always keen to meet fellow straddlers…
I can’t even tell you how helpful this was! I was just in NOLA for Mardi Gras. Spent 4 nights wingwomaning my friends and failing to find ANY gay ladies. Thank you for restoring my faith that I am not crazy. The city itself was super cool, but Bourbon is so overrated.
Thanks for this guide! I’m just pulling out of NOLA after an awesome couple of days which wouldn’t have been the same without this helpful article. Queer Girl City Guides are the best! xx
We are about to head down again in a couple of weeks, and I was wondering if you had any new ideas! A bunch of the awesome places in this article are no more…..What did you find?
Pingback: The 6 Best Cities in America for Queer Women to Live - Snap Tips!
my wife is applying for jobs in NOLA and we are looking to move soon. we are looking for places to rent, but we have 3 animals (2 dogs and 1 cat) and we also need affordable. do you have suggestions on how to find a good place?
Hi,
Nice job but it’s from 4 years ago. Any updates ? ;)
Pingback: The Lost Lesbian Bars of New Orleans | Viral Social
I completely cosign on how great Kajun’s and The Shadowbox are. They’re fairly close to one another; Doing them together is a great night out.
THANK YOU for updating this. I am moving to NOLA in less than two weeks and I had read the old version many times. This is so comprehensive! I will be referencing it often!!!
Thanks for this. Just amazing.