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LGBT News The Upstairs Lounge Fire

Discussion in 'Current Events, World News, & LGBT News' started by mnguy, Nov 23, 2013.

  1. mnguy

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    I never heard of this part of GLBT history. It's a long article, but very worthwhile. So tragic as any fire like this is, but the hateful response of people at the time is nauseating.

    From page 5 of the article, "One local radio jockey joked, “What will they bury the ashes of queers in? Fruit jars.” The joke was retold countless times around “respectable” offices in the city. The newspapers printed quotes from ordinary citizens riddled with homophobia, including “I hope the fire burned their dress off,” and “The Lord had something to do with this.”"

    It's so incredibly sad that some victims' families didn't claim thier sons and the survivors couldn't grieve openly. It pushed some people further into the closet. One man was fired from his job while he was still in the hospital. :icon_sad:

    Remembering the Worst Mass Killing of LGBT People in U.S. History | Advocate.com