New Orleans Insider .com

Gay New Orleans

The New Orleans gay and lesbian community is well served by dozens of groups addressing cultural, political, religious, health and philanthropic aspects of the lives of gay people. Below are highlights of some of these groups.

As in almost any place across the country, one of the most loved organizations here is Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG). This is a support, advocacy and education organization dedicated to creating understanding and tolerance of gay people in the community at large. They also provide support for gay people struggling with rejection by their own families and friends. PFLAG maintains an extensive library of pamphlets, brochures, books, magazines and videos that address every aspect of sexual orientation and transgender issues from coming out to religion. Local meetings are held the second Thursday of each month at the Presbyterian church on Saint Charles Avenue. The group also sponsors GLBT student scholarships each year.

The New Orleans Gay Men's Chorus was formed in 1982. The chorus has performed in New York City at Lincoln Center, as well as Seattle, Tampa, Minneapolis and Denver. Joint concerts have been held with gay choruses from Houston, Berlin, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles and other cities. The chorus features two smaller groups, Lagniappe, which performs Broadway style show tunes, and Les Trouveres, an a cappella madrigal group. Besides participating in many local gay community group events such as AIDS Candlelight Marches and Pride Parades, the chorus has also caroled at Riverwalk and performed with the New Orleans Opera in its 1989 production of Aida. Rehearsals are held every Tuesday evening at the University of New Orleans' Performing Arts Center and is always looking for new recruits interested in joining regardless of their level of vocal experience.

The Gulf Gender Alliance provides support to transgendered individuals in the New Orleans area and works to achieve legal equality for them. The group is affiliated with the national Renaissance Transgender Association. Meetings are held the second Saturday of each month and the significant others of members are invited to attend. Members come from across the Gulf south states. Activities include open forum discussions on issues affecting the transgendered community, talks by leaders in other supporting organizations, lectures by and discussions with helping professionals, group outings and other social type events and participating in other organization's activities such as the Annual Gay Pride Parade.

Organizations like these are the real reason that the New Orleans gay community has such strength and diversity.