EP 31. The UpStairs Lounge Fire

Flames swallowed the building. Dozens were trapped inside. And the city turned its back.

In 1973, an arson attack on the UpStairs Lounge in New Orleans killed 32 people—making it the deadliest assault on LGBTQ+ lives in American history until the Pulse nightclub shooting. The fire was horrifying, but what followed was even worse: silence. Politicians ignored it. Churches refused to host funerals. Families disowned the victims.

This episode unearths the heartbreaking story of a queer space reduced to ashes, and the community that rose from the wreckage. It’s a tale of grief, neglect, and hard-won remembrance in a country all too willing to forget its queer dead.

Hosted by Jordi and Brad, Beers With Queers brings chilling crimes, queer stories, and twisted justice to light—all with a cold one in hand.

Press play, grab a drink, and join us as we uncover the darkest corners of LGBTQ+ history.

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