The sold-out event on October 14 at the Historic New Orleans Collection highlights the LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana’s efforts to collaborate with various institutions to safeguard local queer history. Titled “Preserving the Party: The Legacy of Halloween New Orleans,” the event will feature video clips and a conversation about the 40-year tradition of Project Lazarus’s costume parties. Speakers include Arthur Roger, longtime event chair, and Ian Bicko, executive director of Project Lazarus, a nonprofit supporting individuals living with HIV since its establishment in 1985 at the height of the AIDS crisis.
Eugene “Guy” Lamothe, president of the Archives Project, will also be present to discuss the expansion of their mission, which now includes a gallery space at 311 Burgundy Street dedicated to local queer history. This small gallery includes panels, photographs, and artifacts, chronicling the queer community’s evolution in New Orleans, from the first written mention of homosexuality in 1724 to the founding of the New Orleans Pride Center in 2014. Displays also commemorate major events such as Gay Carnival, Pride, and the AIDS crisis.
Additionally, the gallery serves as an educational resource for tourists and locals, providing insights into significant venues like the legendary Club My-O-My and historic protests against anti-LGBTQ policies. Tours of French Quarter landmarks are also available by appointment.
Frank Perez, a pivotal figure in establishing the LGBT+ Archives Project, passed away in August but left a lasting legacy, including the Queer History Exhibit Space. Perez, who worked tirelessly to raise awareness of queer history, emphasized the urgency of recounting this often overlooked narrative, especially in the current political climate. The gallery will continue operating under the guidance of a dedicated board of historians, writers, and activists.
The LGBT+ Archives Project of Louisiana’s Queer History Exhibit Space is open daily from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., except Wednesdays, with more information available at their website.
