EP 251 - Revisiting the Upstairs Lounge Fire
Summary
Host Mark Bologna revisits the 1973 Upstairs Lounge arson, the deadliest LGBTQ massacre in US history until 2016. He interviews authors Bobby Feasler and Clayton Edwards about their books, detailing the fire’s gruesome events and its impact on New Orleans’ gay community. The episode explores the era’s social climate, the bar’s role as a community hub, and the tragedy’s lasting legacy.
Topics discussed
Introduction and sponsor announcement
Guest introductions and personal connections to the fire
The Upstairs Lounge as a community center and religious hub
Social context of New Orleans and the night of the fire
The arson attack and the tragic escape attempts
Media silence, political inaction, and initial community response
Long-term impacts, memorials, and historical scholarship
Comparison to Pulse shooting and concluding remarks
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