Southern Decadance: One of the craziest, queerest events in the U.S. (Photos by Barrett DeLong)
Loosen your morals, eat fab fried chicken and sip on stiff drinks at Southern Decadence
STEVEN LINDSEY | Contributing writer
StevenCraigLindsey@gmail.com
Unless you spend Labor Day Weekend in New Orleans, you’re missing out on one of the craziest queer events in the nation: Southern Decadence is around the corner, so put down your needlepoint, release your inhibitions, and book a flight to NOLA, ASAP.
Living in Texas increases the odds that you’ve been to the multi-day party worthy of the Greek god Dionysus (last seen at the Paris Olympics, if you recall). But for those unfamiliar, here’s the CliffsNotes version of the high homo holiday.
Founded in 1972 as a small gathering of friends, Southern Decadence has grown over the decades into one of the highest-attendance events in the city. Since 2000, it has weathered cancellations due to hurricanes, tropical storms and pandemics, yet it always bounces back to celebrate the uniqueness of the LGBTQ experience.
Unlike Pride, this adults-only gathering offers people a chance to let loose and have fun simply for the hell of it. Dozens of events for everyone from lesbians to daddies unfold from Aug. 29-Sept 2.
Though certainly an LGBTQ-inclusive event, Decadence has always attracted a majority percentage of gay-identifying men. Personally, my husband and I have lost count of how many times we’ve been a little easy in the Big Easy. (We blame Pat O’Brien’s potent hurricanes.) This year marks at least our 20th Southern Decadence in our 31 years together.
Some people — even within our community — take issue with the event’s unapologetic parade of carnal desires and overindulgence. Still, Southern Decadence has never failed to evoke a sense of pure, unadulterated happiness and belonging.
It’s entirely possible to have a once-in-a-lifetime experience there totally sober, too, taking in all the sights, sounds and flavors of the city.
Choose your own adventures and go at your own pace. Simply because they offer yard-long margaritas on every corner doesn’t mean you need to drink them all.
Where to Stay
Dozens of hotel options in New Orleans welcome queer people with open arms, but this year, no single property comes close to embracing the spirit of Southern Decadence like Virgin Hotels New Orleans. Like our Dallas location, rooms at the New Orleans property offer luxurious comfort and impeccable design. Click on the hotel’s dedicated Southern Decadence page (virginhotels.com/new-orleans/southern-decadence) to discover multiple exclusive events, including a rooftop party with the Halloween New Orleans gang (another vacation-worthy event), a Dolly Parton-themed drag and burlesque brunch, Saturday and Sunday pool parties, and a Labor Day Southern Decadence Tea Dance. Rooms start at $182/night.
Where to Eat & Drink
If we’ve been to New Orleans 20 times for Decadence alone, then my hubby and I have been to the city itself at least 50 times. So, we’re always searching for tried-and-true places to stuff our faces (a very different prospect now that the bathhouse has closed.)
Fried chicken will always be a hotly debated topic in New Orleans, but our favorite discovery in recent years is Coop’s Place (coopsplace.net), where a seat at the bar gets you fantastic service and to-die-for breasts and drumsticks.
For po-boys, head right to Parkway Bakery & Tavern in Mid City (parkwaypoorboys.com) and sit at the bar there, too, to avoid the long lines.
Queer-owned Alma Date Night Diner (eatalmanola.com) offers Honduran food and a chill escape from the rest of the madness.
For a non-drag brunch, try Tujague’s (tujaguesrestaurant.com), the second-oldest restaurant in the city where brunch was actually invented.
Where to Party
New Orleans has more than 14 LGBTQ bars, so challenge yourself to a drink at each throughout the weekend. Whether you’re looking for jock strap lube wrestling at The Allways Lounge (theallwayslounge.net), porn stars, go-go boys and dance hits at Oz New Orleans (ozneworleans.com) or a stiff Rose Kennedy with a Hat (vodka soda with a splash of cran and a lime) at the oldest continuously operated gay bar in the U.S., Lafitte’s (lafittes.com), you’re guaranteed to meet some outrageous characters and create memories to last a lifetime — if you don’t black out first.
For more information, visit SouthernDecadence.com and NewOrleans.com