Southern Decadence
Encyclopedia
Southern Decadence is a week-long, predominantly gay-male event held in New Orleans, Louisiana
and its environs by the gay and lesbian
community during Labor Day Weekend, climaxing with a parade through the French Quarter
on the Sunday before Labor Day
. Most events take place in or around the French Quarter neighborhood of New Orleans, centering especially on the intersection of Bourbon and St. Ann streets.
Crowds range from 100,000 to 300,000 revelers from across the United States
. In 2010 there were over 125,000 participants and the positive economic impact on the City of New Orleans was estimated at over $160 million.
Decadence, as it is known by participants, is marked by parades, bead tossing, street parties and dance parties. In these ways it resembles New Orleans Mardi Gras
, however, Southern Decadence is more adult and sexual in tone. It is informally known as "Gay Mardi Gras". Decadence crowds in the Quarter typically match or exceed the Mardi Gras crowds, although the influx of visitors to the city as a whole is not so great as for New Orleans Mardi Gras
.
For 2011, the theme was "Viva New Orleans: What Happens in New Orleans Stays in New Orleans." The official colors were fuchsia pink, black and silver. The official song for 2011 was Fireworks by Katy Perry. The Grand Marshals for 2011 are Tiffany Alexander and Misael Rubio, and they will reign until their replacements are announced in June 2012.
In 2011, The Bourbon Orleans Hotel launched the "Envy Party". The event was created as a way to give back to the LGBT community via such non-profits as the It Gets Better Project. The event was packed with big name celebs from the LGBT community from all over the country. Envy will become a part of Southern Decadence each year.
; however, a very small group of residents who still remained in the French Quarter celebrated the event anyway. An abbreviated parade
took place in the French Quarter with some two dozen participants. Most were French Quarter hold outs; there were also at least a couple of people who had to wade in through flooded streets from other neighborhoods to get there. As the city was officially being evacuated at the time, a police
officer at first attempted to stop the small observation of tradition, but one of the participants was able to produce the parade permit issued pre-Katrina showing it was a scheduled legal event, and the small procession was allowed to continue. National media reporters noted the event. It was the first parade in New Orleans after the hurricane, the most recent previous New Orleans parade having been the Krewe of OAK
"Midsummer Mardi Gras" parade the night before the city's mandatory evacuation.
With the theme "Southern Decadence Rebirth", the event rebounded in 2006, attracting near-normal crowds.
and a mandatory evacuation notice, some events on Saturday and all official Southern Decadence events after Sunday, August 31 midday were canceled for 2008. As a result of Sunday's parade being canceled, the 2008 Southern Decadence Grand Marshals, Paloma and Tittie Toulouse, returned for 2009.
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a major United States port and the largest city and metropolitan area in the state of Louisiana. The New Orleans metropolitan area has a population of 1,235,650 as of 2009, the 46th largest in the USA. The New Orleans – Metairie – Bogalusa combined statistical area has a population...
and its environs by the gay and lesbian
Homosexuality
Homosexuality is romantic or sexual attraction or behavior between members of the same sex or gender. As a sexual orientation, homosexuality refers to "an enduring pattern of or disposition to experience sexual, affectional, or romantic attractions" primarily or exclusively to people of the same...
community during Labor Day Weekend, climaxing with a parade through the French Quarter
French Quarter
The French Quarter, also known as Vieux Carré, is the oldest neighborhood in the city of New Orleans. When New Orleans was founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville, the city was originally centered on the French Quarter, or the Vieux Carré as it was known then...
on the Sunday before Labor Day
Labor Day
Labor Day is a United States federal holiday observed on the first Monday in September that celebrates the economic and social contributions of workers.-History:...
. Most events take place in or around the French Quarter neighborhood of New Orleans, centering especially on the intersection of Bourbon and St. Ann streets.
Crowds range from 100,000 to 300,000 revelers from across the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. In 2010 there were over 125,000 participants and the positive economic impact on the City of New Orleans was estimated at over $160 million.
Decadence, as it is known by participants, is marked by parades, bead tossing, street parties and dance parties. In these ways it resembles New Orleans Mardi Gras
New Orleans Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana, is a Carnival celebration well-known throughout the world.The New Orleans Carnival season, with roots in preparing for the start of the Christian season of Lent, starts after Twelfth Night, on Epiphany . It is a season of parades, balls , and king cake parties...
, however, Southern Decadence is more adult and sexual in tone. It is informally known as "Gay Mardi Gras". Decadence crowds in the Quarter typically match or exceed the Mardi Gras crowds, although the influx of visitors to the city as a whole is not so great as for New Orleans Mardi Gras
New Orleans Mardi Gras
Mardi Gras in New Orleans, Louisiana, is a Carnival celebration well-known throughout the world.The New Orleans Carnival season, with roots in preparing for the start of the Christian season of Lent, starts after Twelfth Night, on Epiphany . It is a season of parades, balls , and king cake parties...
.
For 2011, the theme was "Viva New Orleans: What Happens in New Orleans Stays in New Orleans." The official colors were fuchsia pink, black and silver. The official song for 2011 was Fireworks by Katy Perry. The Grand Marshals for 2011 are Tiffany Alexander and Misael Rubio, and they will reign until their replacements are announced in June 2012.
Opposition
In the past several years religious and conservative groups have rallied against the festival. In 2003 there was a formal petition filed to have the event terminated, with video footage handed over to officials depicting dozens of men engaged in "public sex acts". There were examples of men exposing themselves to others for beads, similar to the way women have long exposed their breasts (and more in "girls-gone-wild" style) for the traditional Mardi Gras balcony bead toss. Ironically, the pastor who spearheaded, videotaped, and filed the petition, Grant Storms was arrested in February 2011 charged with masturbating in a public park while watching children on a playground. There was an extremely vocal response from business owners and hoteliers in New Orleans in support of the festival. Ultimately the police made a show of posting notices clarifying public sex, and the public urination of the many drunken revelers is forbidden.Expansion
In 2009, Dykeadence was started in response to Southern Decadence's primarily drawing in European-American wealthy gay men to its festivities. Dykeadence is a series of events created by and for women, transpeople, people of color and our friends and allies.In 2011, The Bourbon Orleans Hotel launched the "Envy Party". The event was created as a way to give back to the LGBT community via such non-profits as the It Gets Better Project. The event was packed with big name celebs from the LGBT community from all over the country. Envy will become a part of Southern Decadence each year.
Hurricane Katrina
For 2005 Southern Decadence was officially canceled as a result of Hurricane KatrinaHurricane Katrina
Hurricane Katrina of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season was a powerful Atlantic hurricane. It is the costliest natural disaster, as well as one of the five deadliest hurricanes, in the history of the United States. Among recorded Atlantic hurricanes, it was the sixth strongest overall...
; however, a very small group of residents who still remained in the French Quarter celebrated the event anyway. An abbreviated parade
Parade
A parade is a procession of people, usually organized along a street, often in costume, and often accompanied by marching bands, floats or sometimes large balloons. Parades are held for a wide range of reasons, but are usually celebrations of some kind...
took place in the French Quarter with some two dozen participants. Most were French Quarter hold outs; there were also at least a couple of people who had to wade in through flooded streets from other neighborhoods to get there. As the city was officially being evacuated at the time, a police
Police
The police is a personification of the state designated to put in practice the enforced law, protect property and reduce civil disorder in civilian matters. Their powers include the legitimized use of force...
officer at first attempted to stop the small observation of tradition, but one of the participants was able to produce the parade permit issued pre-Katrina showing it was a scheduled legal event, and the small procession was allowed to continue. National media reporters noted the event. It was the first parade in New Orleans after the hurricane, the most recent previous New Orleans parade having been the Krewe of OAK
Krewe of OAK
The Krewe of OAK is a small neighborhood New Orleans Mardi Gras krewe and parade held in the Carrollton neighborhood of New Orleans, Louisiana. The parade starts and ends on Oak Street, presumably the origin of the name, although members say that OAK stands for "Outrageous And Kinky".The krewe's...
"Midsummer Mardi Gras" parade the night before the city's mandatory evacuation.
With the theme "Southern Decadence Rebirth", the event rebounded in 2006, attracting near-normal crowds.
Hurricane Gustav
Due to the approach of Hurricane GustavHurricane Gustav
The name Gustav has been used for five tropical cyclones in the Atlantic Ocean:* 1984's Tropical Storm Gustav - Spent most of its existence as a tropical depression hovering over Bermuda, no major damage was reported....
and a mandatory evacuation notice, some events on Saturday and all official Southern Decadence events after Sunday, August 31 midday were canceled for 2008. As a result of Sunday's parade being canceled, the 2008 Southern Decadence Grand Marshals, Paloma and Tittie Toulouse, returned for 2009.
External links
- Southern Decadence ( archived version at Internet ArchiveInternet ArchiveThe Internet Archive is a non-profit digital library with the stated mission of "universal access to all knowledge". It offers permanent storage and access to collections of digitized materials, including websites, music, moving images, and nearly 3 million public domain books. The Internet Archive...
) - Southern Decadence contact information