Gay Balls and Carnival Future

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The Balls

The traditions of Gay Mardi Gras came into being in the 1950s. The first Gay Mardi Gras krewe was the Krewe of Yuga or "KY." This krewe was formed to satirize the straight, aristocratic Mardi Gras traditions in 1958. In 1962, the Krewe of Yuga threw its first Ball at a badly chosen sight, a private children's school. No sooner had the tableau begun with queen and maids expectantly waiting the adoration of the spectators when police cars roared up and the ball was raided. Doors were locked and people were unceremoniously hauled to jail.
Taking a deep breath, the Gay community soon reorganized and new Gay Mardi Gras krewes began to flourish. Peaking in the early 1980s, there were dozens of Gay krewes that were the highlight of the Carnival season. Local matrons would beg for tickets from their hairdresser. They were quite the event.
The Gay balls required formal attire and the tableaus were a sight to behold. Many a cocktailed queen was seen to fall over from the weight of a bigger than life costume. It was all wonderful, some of the most cherished Carnival memories.
Why past tense? AIDS took many of the best and most talented people from New Orleans. It would be easy to blame a weak economy and apathy for the decline of the Gay krewes. It's not that. It was AIDS that hurt this fine tradition, redirecting funds from carnival clubs to fight the disease.
However, several krewes did survive across the Gulf South, plus new ones have organized in recent years bringing about the rebirth of Gay Mardi Gras. It's back! It's big! It's FAB!!!
In New Orleans there are now eight Gay krewes - Krewe of Amon Ra, Krewe of Armeinius, Krewe of Mwindo, People of Substance, Krewe of Petronius, Krewe of Queenateenas, Lords of Leather and Mystic Krewe of Satyricon.
In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, there are two - Krewe of Apollo Baton Rouge and Krewe of Divas .
In Lafayette, Louisiana, there are two - Krewe of Apollo de Lafayette and Royal Order of Unicorn.
In Shreveport, Louisiana, there is one - Krewe of Apollo Shreveport.
In Birmingham, Alabama, there is one - Krewe of Apollo Birmingham.
In Dallas, Texas, there is one, the Krewe of Apollo-Dallas.
In Houston, Texas, there is one, the Krewe of Olympus.
These Gay balls carry on the lavish traditions for everyone. Attire is formal and the balls are by invitation only. And if you hear of a krewe fundraiser, please support each and every one of them, to help maintain this Gay Mardi Gras tradition preserving Gay life, music and culture.

2008 EVENTS
Ambush Mag is providing its Carnival/Krewe Calendar to assist Gay Mardi Gras Krewes with their fund-raisers, functions and balls to support and help preserve the cultural fabric of the GLBT community. To submit your carnival/krewe function, e-mail info@ambushmag.com.

THURS., June 5th...
~8pm, Krewe of Armeinius' special performance of Cabaret featuring Bianca Del Rio, Tickets 504.756.8434, Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre

SUN., June 8th...
~Krewe of Mwindo Annual Crawfish Boil-BBQ & Essence Tickets Raffle, Audubon Park

FRI., June 13th...
~6-10pm, Krewe of Mwindo Second Friday Fish Fry, Krewe Den, 5902 Alost St.
~Lords of Leather Hot Daddy Contest, Phoenix, 941 Elysian Fields

SAT., June 15th...
~3-7pm, Bar Crawl promoting Den Night Armeinius, starting at Freddie Guess Studio on Royal St.

SUN., June 22nd...
~6:30pm, The Homo Depot: Den Night Armeinius, fund-raiser to repair the krewe's den, Hors d'Oeurvres & Cocktails followed by 8pm show featuring Bianca Del Rio and Blanche Debris along with Homo Depot Girls, Mary Maids & others, $40 donation, Tickets 504.756.8343, 435 N. Broad & St. Louis

SAT., June 28th...
~8-10:30pm, Krewe of Amon Ra Prom Night, JohnPaul's, 940 Elysian Fields

FRI., July 11th...
~6-10pm, Krewe of Mwindo Second Friday Fish Fry, Krewe Den, 5902 Alost St.

SUN., July 13th...
~3-7pm, Lords of Leather Luau, Lions Inn

FRI., August 8th...
~6-10pm, Krewe of Mwindo Second Friday Fish Fry, Krewe Den, 5902 Alost St.

SAT., August 16th...
~7pm, Krewe of Petronius' Dinner and Drag, Progressive Dinner and Drag Show, $30donation, JohnPaul's, 940 Elysian Fields

FRI., August 29th...
~10pm-2am, Lords of Leather & Phoenix present Southern Decadence Leather Block Party, 941 Elysian Fields

SAT., September 6th...
~8pm, Krewe of Mwindo & In This Together present FISH, Bubbles and Balloons, Laborers Union Hall

FRI., September 12th...
~6-10pm, Krewe of Mwindo Second Friday Fish Fry, Krewe Den, 5902 Alost St.

SAT., September 20th...
~Lords of Leather Miss Louisiana Leatherette Contest, JohnPaul's, 940 Elysian Fields

SAT., October 4th...
~Krewe of Mwindo JSU-SU Football Trip to Jackson, MS

FRI., October 10th...
~6-10pm, Krewe of Mwindo Second Friday Fish Fry, Krewe Den, 5902 Alost St.

FRI., October 17th...
~Lords of Leather Mr, Louisiana Leather Bear Bust, Phoenix, 941 Elysian Fields

SAT., October 18th...
~Lords of Leather Mr. Louisiana Leather Contest, Marigny Theatre, 1030 Marigny St.

SAT., October 19th...
~1-4pm, Lords of Leather Mr. Louisiana Leather Celebration Brunch, JohnPaul's, 940 Elysian Fields

FRI., November 14th...
~6-10pm, Krewe of Mwindo Second Friday Fish Fry, Krewe Den, 5902 Alost St.

SAT., November 22nd...
~7pm, Krewe of Petronius' QBSN(Queer Bar Shopping Network), Live Wreath Auction, Buy Me Now Specials and Holiday Show, JohnPaul's, 940 Elysian Fields

SAT., November 29th...
~8pm, Lords of Leather American Bandstand 2008, JohnPaul's, 940 Elysian Fields

FRI., December 12th...
~6-10pm, Krewe of Mwindo Second Friday Fish Fry, Krewe Den, 5902 Alost St.

2009 EVENTS

FRI., January 9th...
~6-10pm, Krewe of Mwindo, Second Friday Fish Fry, Krewe Den, 5902 Alost St.

SUN., January 11th...
~Lords of Leather Royalty Appreciation Party, site TBA

FRI., January 23rd...
~8-10pm, Krewe of Queenateenas 16th annual King Cake Queen of Gay Mardi Gras Coronation, presenting KCQ XVI, by invitation only, Ambush Headquarters, New Orleans

SAT., January 24th...
~Krewe of Mwindo Bal Masque XI, Laborers Union Hall
SAT., January 31st...
~8pm, Krewe of Amon Ra Bal Masque XLVI, site TBA, New Orleans

SUN., February 1st...
~7pm, Krewe of Petronius Bal Masque XLVIII, site TBA, New Orleans

SUN., February 15th...
8pm, Mystic Krewe of Satyricon Bal Masque VII, Sugar Mill, New Orleans

FRI., February 20th...
~10pm-2am, Lords of Leather & Phoenix present Night of the Black Mask: The South’s Oldest Leather Block Party, Phoenix/Eagle, Elysian Fields @ N. Rampart
SAT., February 21st...
~12noon, Annual Spanish Town Parade, 5th & Spanish Town Road, Baton Rouge
~8pm, Krewe of Armeinius Bal Masque XLI, Alario Center, New Orleans
~10pm-2am, Night of the Black Mask: The South's Oldest Leather Block Party, Phoenix/Eagle, Elysian Fields @ N. Rampart, New Orleans
SUN., February 22nd...
~8pm, Lords of Leather Bal Masque XXVI, Alario Center, New Orleans
MARDI GRAS (FAT TUESDAY), February 24th...
~12noon, 45th Annual Bourbon Street Awards, Oz, Corner of St. Ann at 800 Bourbon, New Orleans
~2pm - 22nd Annual Official Gay Mardi Gras Bead Toss, led by King Cake Queen XVI of Gay Mardi Gras, Ambush Headquarters Balcony, 828 Bourbon St., New Orleans
Additional Special Events

Future Mardi Gras Dates !
Just so you don't miss it...
Many people believe that Mardi Gras is a single day of celebration. Mardi Gras or "Fat Tuesday" is actually the climax for the Carnival season. Parades and formal Gay Balls begin on the twelfth night of Christmas (Kings Night-January 6). Parades roll in New Orleans and in Metairie. Below are the dates for Mardi Gras in the new century...
FUTURE DATES
2010 - February 16
2011 - March 8
2012 - February 21
2013 - February 12
2014 - March 4
2015 - February 17
2016 - February 9
2017 - February 26

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