Dedication of the New Up Stairs Fire Plaque

Storyboard

Jun 23

After the plaque dedication at the site of the fire (the corner of Iberville and Chartres Streets), the crowd second-lined through the French Quarter to Crossing bar for a reception. Photo © Cheryl Gerber

 June 22, 2025

A plaque dedication and second line commemorate the victims of the 1973 UpStairs Lounge fire in New Orleans, which killed 32 people in one of the deadliest attacks on the LGBTQ+ community in U.S. history.

- photos by Cheryl Gerber

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Note: This plaque replaces an earlier one which was stolen last year - read the story here. You’ll learn more about the Up Stairs tragedy in this piece by Frank Perez.

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