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 nine Gay Carnival organizations - 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.

2010 EVENTS/New Orleans
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, email info@gaymardigras.com.
Friday, April 30th...
~9pm-12midnight, Lords of Leather 5th Friday Beer Bust,Phoenix

Wednesday, May 5th...
~Krewe of Petronius host "Grey Gardens", Le Petit Theatre

Sunday, May 16...
~2-6pm, Lords of Leather Art Gallery & Auction, JohnPaul's

Saturday, June 5th...
~7-10pm, Krewe of Petronius Cocktails & Crowns, Fredrick Guess Studio

Friday, June 18th...
~9pm, Lords of Leather Who's Your Daddy Contest & Beer Bust, Phoenix

Saturday, June 19th...
~8-11pm, Krewe of Amon-Ra Prom Night, JohnPaul's

Wednesday & Thursday, July 7th & 8th...
~Krewe of Petronius hosts "Wedding Singer", Le Petit Theatre

Sunday, July 11th...
~1-5pm, Lords of Leather Luau, Lion's Inn
~2-5pm, Krewe of Amon-Ra Tea Dance/Beer Bust, JohnPaul's

Saturday, July 24th...
~8-10pm, 23rd Annual Gay Appreciation Awards Gala, Oz
~8pm, Lords of Leather Bizarre Church Bazaar, JohnPaul's

Sunday, July 25th...
~2-5pm, Christmas in July, JohnPaul's

Friday, July 30th...
~9pm, Lords of Leather 5th Friday Bathhouse Beer Bust, Phoenix

Saturday, July 31st...
~7pm, Krewe of Petronius presents Golden Jubilee of Gay Mardi Gras Show, Le
Petit Theatre

Saturday, August 14th...
~8pm, Lords of Leather Miss Louisiana Leatherette, JohnPaul's

Saturday, August 21st...
~Krewe of Amon-Ra Miss & Mr. America Pageant, TBA

Friday, September 3rd...
~10pm, Lords of Leather Decadence Block Party, Phoenix

Sunday, September 19th...
~3-6pm, Krewe of Amon-Ra Sister Sunday Social/Miss Turnabout, JohnPaul's

Sunday, October 3rd...
~1-4pm, Lords of Leather Halloween Decoration Auction, JohnPaul's

Friday-Sunday, October 15th-17th...
~Lords of Leather Mr. Louisiana Leather Weekend, various locations

Saturday, October 16th...
~Krewe of Petronius does New Orleans School of Cooking School

Saturday, October 23rd...
~8-11pm, Krewe of Amon-Ra Soul Train Revival, JohnPaul's

Friday, October 29th...
~9pm, Lords of Leather 5th Friday Halloween Beer Bust, Phoenix

Sunday, November 14th...
~Krewe of Amon-Ra Savenger Hunt, The French Quarter

Saturday, November 20th...
~Krewe of Petronius QBSN Christmas Show & Wreath Auction, JohnPaul's

Saturday, November 27th...
~8pm, Lords of Leather American Bandstand, TBA

Sunday, December 5th...
~Krewe of Amon-Ra Christmas Party, TBA

Sunday, December 12th...
~2-6pm, Lords of Leather Art Gallery Auction & Wine and Cheese, JohnPaul's

~Friday, December 31st...
10pm, Lords of Leather New Year's Eve Fetish Ball, JohnPaul's
2011 EVENTS

Sunday, January 9th...
~2pm, Lords of Leather Royalty Appreciation & Mardi Gras Wreath Auction,
JohnPaul's
~4pm, Krewe of Petronius Late Late Brunch Show, JohnPaul's
Saturday, January 29th...
~7pm, Krewe of Apollo Baton Rouge Bal Masque XXX, Baton Rouge
~8pm, Krewe of Mwindo Bal Masque, New Orleans
Saturday, February 5th...
~9pm, Krewe of Amon Ra Bal Masque XLVI, St. Bernard Civic Center, New Orleans
Saturday, February 12th...
~9pm, Krewe of Petronius Bal Masque L (50), St. Bernard Civic Center New Orleans
Saturday, February 19th...
~8-10pm, 18th King Cake Queen Coronation, by invitation only, New Orleans
Friday, February 25th...
~7pm, Mystic Krewe of Satyricon Bal Masque VIII, $20 General Admission, Sugar Mill, 1101 Convention Center Blvd., New Orleans
Friday, March 4th...
~9pm-12midnight, Friday Night Before Mardi Gras Extravaganza XII, New Orleans

~10pm-2am, Lords of Leather present Night of the Black Mask: The South’s Oldest Leather Block Party, Phoenix/Eagle, Elysian Fields @ N. Rampart, New Orleans
Saturday, March 5th...
~12noon, Annual Spanish Town Parade, 5th & Spanish Town Road, Baton Rouge

~8pm, Krewe of Armeinius Bal Masque XLIII, New Orleans
Sunday, March 6th...
~8pm, Lords of Leather Bal Masque XXVIII, St. Bernard Civic Center, New Orleans
MARDI GRAS (Fat Tuesday), March 8th...
~12noon, 47th Annual Bourbon Street Awards, Oz, Corner of St. Ann at 800 Bourbon St.

~2pm - 24th Annual Official Gay Mardi Gras Bead Toss led by King Cake Queen XVIII, Ambush Headquarters Balcony, 828 Bourbon St.

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
2012 - February 21
2013 - February 12
2014 - March 4
2015 - February 17
2016 - February 9
2017 - February 28
2018 - February 13
2019 - March 5
2020 - February 25
2021 - February 16
2022 - March 1
2023 - February 21

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