UpStairs Lounge arson attack

UpStairs Lounge arson attack. The UpStairs Lounge was a popular gay bar located in the French Quarter of New Orleans, Louisiana, and a hub for the local LGBT community, including gay rights activists like Frank Kameny and Barbara Gittings. On June 24, 1973, the lounge was the site of a devastating arson attack that killed 32 people, including Reverend Bill Larson, a Methodist minister, and injured 15 others, in one of the deadliest attacks on the LGBT community in United States history, comparable to the Stonewall riots and the Matthew Shepard murder. The attack was widely condemned by human rights organizations, including the American Civil Liberties Union and the Human Rights Campaign, and sparked widespread outrage and protests, including the 1973 New York City Pride march and the 1973 Los Angeles Pride parade.

Background

The UpStairs Lounge was a popular gathering place for the LGBT community in New Orleans, known for its welcoming atmosphere and drag shows, featuring performers like Sylvia Rivera and Marsha P. Johnson. The lounge was located on the second floor of a building in the French Quarter, above a ground floor restaurant, and was accessible only by a staircase. The lounge was owned by Phil Estevez, a gay businessman who was also a prominent figure in the local LGBT community, and was a member of the Gay Liberation Front and the Daughters of Bilitis. The LGBT community in New Orleans was thriving in the early 1970s, with a number of gay bars and LGBT organizations, including the New Orleans Gay Liberation Front and the Lesbian Feminist Alliance, and was home to notable LGBT individuals like Tennessee Williams and Truman Capote.

The Arson Attack

On the evening of June 24, 1973, a fire broke out at the UpStairs Lounge, quickly spreading throughout the building and trapping patrons inside, including LGBT activists like Harry Hay and Barbara Grier. The fire was later determined to be the result of an arson attack, with the perpetrator using a flammable liquid to ignite the fire, similar to the 1978 Harvey Milk assassination and the 1998 James Byrd Jr. lynching. The fire department responded quickly, but the fire was intense and difficult to extinguish, with firefighters from the New Orleans Fire Department and the Louisiana State Fire Marshal's Office working to rescue those trapped inside. Many of the victims were found dead at the scene, while others died later from their injuries, including Reverend Bill Larson, who died from his injuries several days later at Charity Hospital.

Aftermath

The UpStairs Lounge arson attack was met with widespread shock and outrage, with many in the LGBT community and beyond condemning the attack as a hate crime, including LGBT organizations like the National Gay Task Force and the Gay Activists Alliance. The attack was widely reported in the media, with many newspapers and television stations covering the story, including the New York Times, the Los Angeles Times, and CBS News. The LGBT community in New Orleans came together to support the victims and their families, with many organizations and individuals offering assistance and support, including the New Orleans Gay Liberation Front and the Lesbian Feminist Alliance. The attack also sparked a renewed call for LGBT rights and hate crime legislation, with many advocating for greater protections for the LGBT community, including LGBT activists like Frank Kameny and Barbara Gittings.

Investigation and Trial

The investigation into the UpStairs Lounge arson attack was led by the New Orleans Police Department, with assistance from the FBI and the Louisiana State Police, and was one of the largest and most complex investigations in New Orleans history, involving law enforcement agencies like the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives and the United States Department of Justice. The investigation identified Rodney Wright, a New Orleans resident with a history of mental health issues and a connection to the UpStairs Lounge, as the primary suspect, and he was later arrested and charged with arson and murder, with the prosecution led by the New Orleans District Attorney's Office and the Louisiana Attorney General's Office. Wright's trial was highly publicized, with many in the LGBT community and beyond following the case closely, including LGBT organizations like the National Gay Task Force and the Gay Activists Alliance. Wright was ultimately convicted of arson and murder and sentenced to life in prison, with the sentence upheld by the Louisiana Supreme Court and the United States Supreme Court.

Legacy

The UpStairs Lounge arson attack is remembered as one of the deadliest attacks on the LGBT community in United States history, and its legacy continues to be felt today, with many regarding it as a turning point in the LGBT rights movement, including LGBT activists like Frank Kameny and Barbara Gittings. The attack led to a renewed call for LGBT rights and hate crime legislation, and it helped to galvanize the LGBT community in New Orleans and beyond, with many LGBT organizations and LGBT individuals working to promote LGBT rights and social justice, including the Human Rights Campaign, the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, and the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation. The UpStairs Lounge itself was never rebuilt, but a memorial to the victims was established in New Orleans, and the site of the lounge is now home to a memorial plaque, dedicated by the City of New Orleans and the State of Louisiana. The attack is also commemorated annually on June 24, with many LGBT organizations and LGBT individuals holding vigils and memorials to honor the victims, including the New Orleans Gay Liberation Front and the Lesbian Feminist Alliance. Category:1973 crimes in the United States