2/7/2024 0 Comments Fire gay bar new orleans(Freddy and Inez’ story may remind you of Brenda McCool, who died in the Pulse shooting while saving her son’s life. MacKenzie Moffat, MCIR Justice Squad But the Up Stairs Lounge arson in 1973 occurred before there was a national gay pride day, week or month, and when homosexual activity was a crime. After being beaten by a cop for carrying his wigs and dresses in public, Freddy still puts on a show (heavy on the “Hedwig” overtones), thanks to Wes’ skill at making gowns from trash bags. A plaque in the sidewalk at the former entrance to Up Stairs Lounge in New Orleans commemorates the victims of an arson attack on the gay bar on June 24, 1973. There is also Puerto Rican drag performer Freddy (Ruben Melendez Ortiz) and his loving mother, Inez (Selene Perez). These include a prayer service for the Metropolitan Community Church led by Richard (Robert Quintanilla), who also pleads for donations to the local children’s hospital as a way of “making allies in the greater community.” This doesn’t sit well with Dale (Eric Lindahl), who reminds everyone frequently of his own homeless status and who clashes early with Wes. But as the show goes through all the different components of what made the UpStairs a community center as much as a watering hole, Wes develops a greater understanding of what it means to be connected in more than the social media sense. Wes, as you might imagine from his resume, is self-centered in a way that doesn’t sit well with most of the patrons initially.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |