People like Bryan Fischer of “American Family Association” which can’t find a gay guy in a family to save his life. And people like Tony Perkins and Maggie Gallagher hellbent on destroying our lives so they think they can solve the “problem” which exists in their own minds. People like Democrat Ruben Diaz who held a rally where “gays are worthy of death” was uttered to the cheers of several thousands. Sadder still, that there are still people so hateful, so fearful, so driven by scorn, that there are still people calling us “intrinsically evil,” “sick,” “dysfunctional,” “child molesters,” demented,” “depraved,” “disgusting,” and worse, far far worse. Despicable even, that gay men are considered such trash that no one gives a damn, then or today. Sad, isn’t it – 32 men burned to death in horror. And very few people in this nation, gay or straight, will talk about it, for it is the “unknown massacre.” Yet, it is also the largest unsolved massacre of Americans in our nation’s history. No one in the federal government will call for a renewed effort to solve the crime, either. No politician in New Orleans or at the state level in Louisiana will say a word, and back then, it was dismissed as “just a bunch of queers, no big deal.” Nor will either one of our senators issue a statement in remembrance or call for an renewed investigation. Not even covered up with a blanket or his eyes closed, so strong was, and in some quarters still is, the hate against us. The cops left the burned body of one man hanging out of the window for far longer than decency for the dead would allow for another other sort of person. Only one preacher in the entire city would even say a word to the bereaved he was chastised by his superiors for having done so. Several of the families wouldn’t even claim their own sons from the morgue. The smell of gasoline was reported to have been very strong. And that’s just the way it was reported, the one or two articles which appeared in the local press at the time said, “queers.” The police investigation was all of a question or two, and no one saw a thing, they said, and then the police got back to their corrupt ways and raided a few more gay bars.
And pretty much unremembered, for it was just a bunch of “queers” and no one gave a damn. A bar which doubled as our church, for we were not welcome in any other. 32 Gay Men Burned To Death New Orleans, ģ2 Gay Men were Burned To Death New Orleans, - who will say something? Who will speak up? Who will say enough? What public figure will call for mollycoddling gay folks instead of harassing, hounding and haranguing us all our days? Who?Īnd let us now remember that 32 gay men were burned to death in a firebombing at the Upstairs Lounge in New Orleans on June 24 th, 1973.