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HOME | 40th ULF Anniversary Memorial | Pride | Upstairs Lounge Fire | UPSTAIRS the Musical

Ambush Mag presents 40th Anniversary Upstairs Lounge Fire Memorial Weekend
Thursday-Monday, June 20-24, 2013

Presented by Ambush Mag, NOLAPride.ORG, and Capital City Trolleys; sponsors include: PLATINUM: Crescent City Tour Booking Agency, King Cake Queen Royalty Club, Charlie Case & Val St. Cloud, P.G. Killgore in Honor of Johnny T. Townsend, Stewart P. Butler, Wayne Self & Cody Braswell/UPSTAIRS Musical, Barry Rutherford, David Berni; GOLD: In Memory of Marcy Marcell; SILVER: In Memory of Donnie Jay, Rhonda Roget & David Forth, Buddy Mullino & Joel Harris; and BRONZE: Rev. Robert A. Raymo & Lance Sauvageau, Frankie Fierce & Dusty Debris, P.G.Killgore in Memory of Toni Pizanie.

If you would like to be a part of the 40th Anniversary Fire Memorial LGBT Commemoration Ceremonies, SPONSORSHIPS are available at five levels including Presenting $500, Platinum $100, Gold $75, Silver $50, and Bronze $25. Proceeds minus expenses benefits The Historic New Orleans Collection in Memory of the 32 Upstairs Fire Victims.

ULF Down The Bayou BBQ

ULF Down The Bayou BBQ Raises $1,023 @ Michael's On The Park

Gumbo Cook-Off Champions Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain presented their ULF Down The Bayou BBQ June 2nd raising $1,023 at Michael's On The Park.

This fundraiser was hosted for the 40th Anniversary Upstairs Lounge Fire Memorial LGBT Commemoration Ceremonies which will be held June 24th. All proceeds minus expenses benefits The Historic New Orleans Collection in memory of the 32 Upstairs Lounge Fire Victims.

The Mayor of New Orleans, Mitch Landrieu, issued an official certificate recognizing June 24, 2013 as "40th Anniversary Upstairs Lounge Fire LGBT Commemoration Ceremonies" Day in the City of New Orleans. The certificate of recognition was presented to Rip and Marsha Naquin-Delain by Human Relations Commission Executive Director Larry Bagneris

Attendees got a chance to meet special guest Wayne Self who is bringing the World Premiere of the dramatic new musical UPSTAIRS to New Orleans June 20th-24th.

Guests were treated to all-you-could-eat Pulled Wild Boar with New Iberia BBQ Sauce; Smoky BBQ Sausage, Mushrooms & Baby Corn; Rip & Marsha’s Famous Potato Salad; Bayou Baked Beans & Bacon; Cane Field Garlic Bread; and Krispy Kreme Bread Pudding.

The event raised 420.00 door donations, 100.00 Platinum Sponsor Stewart P. Butler, 100.00 Platinum Sponsor Wayne Self & Cody Braswell/UPSTAIRS Musical, 100.00 Platinum Sponsor Barry Rutherford, 100.00, Platinum Sponsor David Berni, 50.00, Silver Sponsor Rhonda Roget & David Forth, 76.00 50/50 Raffle, 77.00 50/50 Raffle winner Barry Rutherford donation, for a 1,023.00 total. Special thanks to Steve Patrick and Paul Melancon for working the door, and Rhonda Roget for doing the 50/50 Raffle.

Headliner Spectacular Raises $2,672 for 40th ULF Commemoration Ceremonies

Ambush Mag and NOLAPride.ORG are proud to announce the ULF Headliner Spectacular raised $2,672 May 18 at Oz New Orleans. It ensures the success of the 40th Anniversary Upstairs Lounge Fire Memorial LGBT Commemoration Ceremonies on Mon., June 24th, 3pm. All proceeds minus expenses benefits The Historic New Orleans Collection in memory of the 32 Upstairs Lounge Fire Victims.

ULF Headliner Spectacular

A prize basket worth over $1,300 in prizes and liquor was up for auction, and Michael’s On The Park’s Mike Cookmeyer took the top bid at $1,200. Thanks to the generous basket donors including Ambush $745 Full Page Color Ad; Absolut Berrikran Vodka donated by the Phoenix; Mardi Gras Vodka, Evan William's Bourbon, Crown Russe Gin, and Inver House rare Scotch donated by Rip and Marsha; $100 in Cocktails or Food from Kajun's Pub/Borracho; $50 Mona Lisa Restaurant Gift Certificate; $50 in Cocktails from Golden Lantern; $50 in Cocktails from Oz; $40 Rab-Dab Gift Certificates; $30 in Cocktails from Cafe Lafitte in Exile; $30 in Cocktails from Good Friends Bar; $30 in Cocktails from Rawhide; $30 Clover Grill Gift Certificate; $30 in Cocktails from The Corner Pocket; $25 in Cocktails from Double Play, Billy's or 4 Seasons; $15 in Cocktails from Cutter's; Jim Diamond Erotica donated by COK @ Phoenix; Pride Flag, Rainbow Tie, "Live Free, Be Strong" t-shirt, and 7 Specialty Beads all donated by Bourbon Pride.

Additional proceeds included: 640.00 Door, 507.00 Stage Performance Tips, 100.00 VIP Table James Garner/Golden Lantern, 100.00 VIP Table Frank Perez & Paul Casella, 100.00 Platinum Sponsor/P.G. Killgore in Honor of Johnny T. Townsend, 25.00 Bronze Sponsor/P.G. Killgore in Memory of Toni Pizanie, for a total of 2,672.00.

For the first time together as emcees, Mother and Daughter Blanche and King Cake Queen Dusty Debris did an incredible job for the Spectacular.

Headliners from every walk of the LGBT community delivered some of the best entertainment ever seen in the city. The exciting lineup donating their talents and tips included The Big Easy Sisters: The Sisters of the Muddy Waters, Regina Adams (partner of ULFvictim Reginald Eugene Adams, Jr.), Entertainer of the Year Monique Michaels, Miss Gay New Orleans America Monica Synclaire-Kennedy, Miss Splash America Aubrey Synclaire, Miss Louisiana Leatherette Countess C. Alice, Miss Golden Lantern Gia GiaVanni, Lesbian of the Year Misti Ates, Amon-Ra Prom Queen Athena Jewelle, and Slidell’s Queen of Comedy Big Momma Lavouge.

One of the moving parts of the evening is when Rip Naquin brought Regina Adams to the stage to let everyone know how much he appreciated Regina and all that she has done over the years for the LGBT community. Regina's first lover, Reginald Eugene Adams, Jr. perished in the Upstairs Lounge Fire, and when she spoke, she brought home the raw emotions and true feelings of loss that many of the younger generation there had been unable to identify with until that moment.

The next day on Facebook, a wonderful post captured the emotion of the event:

Arthur Severio: Last night I saw a circle complete for me and so many others who are residents of the city of New Orleans and gay community everywhere. Rip Naquin and Marsha Delain of Ambush Magazine sponsored a fundraiser for a memorial to people who perished in the Uptairs Lounge Fire.

Marcy Marcel was a transexual performer at the Upstairs Lounge. I would listen to her stories when she tended bar of the fire. She was on her way to work that night and like most people was running late "watching a Bette Davis movie on tv." While waiting for the cab, the movie was interrupted with a news flash of the fire.

Regina Adams left the bar to go to get a checkbook at her home. Regina’s lover was at the bar when the villain threw the fire bomb that lit the stairwell that killed 32 people. The pictures from the fire tell a story where people were trapped like animals, They tried to escape through the bars and were crushed by people behind them trying to escape the fire.

In death as in life, their families and friends were ashamed of people knowing of their sexual identity and the stigmata of being attached to it.

Years have passed now and so much has changed. I am in the generation between the Marcy/Regina and the youth of today.

The two monumental moments for me were watching Regina Adams tipping the new generation Aubrey Synclaire and Aubrey tipping Regina: a passing of the torch. The next moment was Rip bringing Regina on onstage and telling her how much we appreciate her.

Somewhere in heaven, pussycat (Marcy Marcell) is saying, "Thank you dawlin!"

Aubrey Synclaire: It was a beautiful and emotional night and a true honor to participate in it. XO

Tami Tarmac: Arthur Severio you said everything —It was a wonderful night and seeing everyone coming together to give what each of those lost from the fire should receive from the New Orleans community. I know Marcy is looking down on each of the new generation today and saying — Pussycat—keep up the great work. Regina Adams it was wonderful to see you perform last night. Rip Naquin and Marsha Delain thank you for putting a great function together—and Oz for hosting the function.

Rip Naquin: Both Marsha and I could not have been more pleased by the outpouring of support last night at the ULF Headliner Spectacular celebrating the lives of the 32 Upstairs Lounge Fire Victims...and due to the extreme generosity of all at Oz raising $2,672 for the 40th Anniversary Upstairs Lounge Fire Commemoration Ceremonies set for June 24th, 3pm (see NOLAPride.ORG for details) with proceeds minus expenses benefiting the Historic New Orleans Collection in memory of the 32 victims. Thank you Arthur Severio for such a wonderful tribute...we can hear Marcy speaking through you...


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