45 People Attend Southern Decadence

Despite the tragedy that engulfed New Orleans this week, the spirit of Southern Decadence was alive and well over the Labor Day weekend. The planned parade through the city's French Quarter went on as scheduled, albeit on a more intimate scale. "Instead of the 90,000 people, we had about 45, " wrote Starlight by the Park bar owner CW Stambaugh in an e-mail. "Lisa Boumann was our Grand Marshal who led us from the Golden Lantern (not open) to Johnny Whites, a local straight bar that has been open since, and then the parade went to our bar, Starlight."


Stambaugh kept his bar open through Hurricane Katrina and operated it as a make-shift shelter. He had to close his bar on Wednesday night, two days after the hurricane hit, after authorities ordered him to shut his doors. Then, through the weekend, he was able to shelter seven people in his home in the French Quarter, near his bar. Despite losing everything, those who stayed behind came together Saturday to celebrate what matters most -- each other and the sense of community that has helped them through crises ranging from AIDS to Hurricane Katrina.

Authorities are currently evacuating the entire city; Stambaugh said he will finally leave on Labor Day on orders from city officials.

http://www.baywindows.com/media/pape...y-975756.shtml

I think its great that even though Katrina struck the gay community still took to New Orleans for this years Southern Decadence, especially after that religious nutjob earlier last week said the hurricane was a punishment from god because of 'gays'.

Lets hope the sense of community throughout New Orleans continues over the coming months and that N.O can start rebuilding what was and will be again, a beautiful city :thumbsup:

Regards,

Lee