The city of New Orleans is rediscovering the history of a deadly attack that took place on June 24, 1973, at the UpStairs Lounge in New Orleans. Memorial events took place this week in the Southern city, introducing a new generation to the tragedy and its victims. Robert W. Fieseler, author of “Tinderbox: The Untold Story of the UpStairs Lounge Fire and the Rise of Gay Liberation” said, “This wasn’t a hate crime, but the response by the police, the media, and the city certainly was clouded by bigotry, nonsense, and homophobia.” New Orleans institutions suppressed news of the attack, particularly that its target was a gay bar. Some of the victims’ families were ashamed to claim their bodies. Local talk show hosts and police officers openly mocked the victims’ sexuality. Even the LGBTQ+ community was mostly quiet. Until the Pulse massacre, the fire was the largest attack on the LGBTQ+ community in US history with 32 people losing their lives. #Queer Up Gay Culture