Out Of Ashes, An Unwavering Resolve: ‘That’s The Legacy. We Never Ran Away’

In 1973, someone set fire to a gay bar in New Orleans, killing 32 people trapped inside. Recovery for survivors of what was the deadliest fire in New Orleans history wasn’t easy—local leaders were largely silent on the event or even outright cruel. Rev. Troy Perry traveled to New Orleans to support the LGBTQ survivors, including ensuring there was a proper memorial service for those who were killed. Despite the fear of being outted and all the potentially devastating consequences that came with that, the LGBTQ commnity came together to mourn their losses and support one another.