On June 24 th, four days before the fourth anniversary of the Stonewall arrests, a group of 125 were attending services at the Metropolitan Community Church. Unfortunately, the New Orleans LGBT community would suffer tragedy in 1973. By 1974, Southern Decadence was deemed officially part of the New Orleans festival scene with the inclusion of its first grand marshal. This first gathering was such a success, that the following year they began to ‘parade though the French Quarter, stopping at their favorite bars. It was to be a costume party and the theme was ‘your favorite Southern Decadent’. In 1972, a handful of Tulane students living in the Tremé neighborhood decided to throw a party for the Labor Day weekend.
It is possible that these public exhibitions of homosexuality in 1971 would lead to another yearly tradition, Southern Decadence. Later that year another was held in Washington Square on Frenchman Street. Instead, the short lived Gay Liberation Front of New Orleans sponsored a “Gay-In” Picnic at City Park. Contrary to what the city is known for, it did not have a parade. New Orleans did not make a public commemoration until February of 1971. Chicago, therefore held theirs one day earlier on Saturday. The City of New York planned one for the actual anniversary on the 28 th which would fall on a Sunday in 1970. One year later, on the weekend of the anniversary of the Stonewall Riots, the first Gay Pride events were held. The protests would involve thousands and lasted for five days. That is when the crowd began to throw rocks and bottles at the officers. The protesters soon outnumbered the police, nearly fifty to one! According to witnesses, a peace officer would strike a woman and arrest her. As word spread of yet another raid that specifically targeted the homosexuals of New York City, patrons and neighbors began to assemble out side of the bar. The charges were more and more trumped up. During the 1960’s these raids that police claimed were to maintain civic decency were more and more common. It was established to commemorate the 1969 Stonewall riots which resulted from the initial arrest of thirteen gay men during a raid on the popular Greenwich Village club, The Stonewall Inn. June is known internationally as Gay Pride Month.
June in the Crescent City is known for its heat, afternoon thunderstorms and the rainbow flags and bunting decorating the balconies and street posts throughout the French Quarter.