HLS 23RS-3290 ORIGINAL
2023 Regular Session
HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOL UTION NO. 129
BY REPRESENTATIVE KNOX
HISTORIC COMMEMORATI ON: Commemorates the fiftieth anniversary of the 1973 Up
Stairs Lounge fire in the French Quarter in New Orleans
1 A CONCURRENT RESOL UTION
2To commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the 1973 Up Stairs Lounge fire in the French
3 Quarter in New Orleans.
4 WHEREAS, in 1973, the city of New Orleans experienced a devastating fire that
5remains the deadliest in the city's history; this tragic event unfolded at 604 Iberville Street,
6in the heart of the French Quarter, at the Up Stairs Lounge; and
7 WHEREAS, serving as a sanctuary of love and acceptance in New Orleans, the Up
8Stairs Lounge was tragically transformed into a symbol of sorrow and exclusion in a mere
9nineteen minutes; the fire claimed the lives of thirty-two individuals, hospitalized fifteen
10others, and left an indelible mark on the city's LGBTQ+ community that forever altered its
11course; and
12 WHEREAS, regrettably, local police at the time did not respond to the fire with the
13urgency it deserved, and elected officials remained publicly silent about the unnecessary
14tragedy; adding further anguish, Archbishop Philip Hannan denied the victims Catholic
15funerals, compounding the pain experienced by the LGBTQ+ community; and
16 WHEREAS, the 1973 arson at the Up Stairs Lounge remains unsolved, despite being
17the deadliest crime perpetrated against the LGBTQ+ community in American history until
18the 2016 Pulse nightclub shooting in Orlando, Florida.
19 THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislature of Louisiana does hereby
20commemorate the fiftieth anniversary of the 1973 Up Stairs Lounge fire in the French
21Quarter in New Orleans; does hereby express profound regret and immense sorrow for the
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HCR NO. 129
1suffering caused by this horrible tragedy and official responses to it, and does hereby express
2sincerest wishes that we continue to grow as a state in our acceptance and support of our
3fellow Louisianians.
DIGEST
The digest printed below was prepared by House Legislative Services. It constitutes no part
of the legislative instrument. The keyword, one-liner, abstract, and digest do not constitute
part of the law or proof or indicia of legislative intent. [R.S. 1:13(B) and 24:177(E)]
HCR 129 Original 2023 Regular Session Knox
Commemorates the 50th anniversary of the 1973 Up Stairs Lounge fire in the French Quarter
in New Orleans.
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