Southern Decadence being brought up in debate last night!

The festival, which brings millions of tourism dollars into the state each year, was a hot-potato issue last night for both candidates.

The Southern Decadence Festival is a worldwide festival for gays, lesbians, and bisexuals who descend onto New Orleans for a festival celebrating their homosexuality.

The subject was if either candidate was elected Governor, would they support the festival through funding, or subsidies?

Jindal stated unequivocally that while he didn't support nor want to attend the festival, nor did he feel it was appropriate to even consider doing so, that the necessary permits and tourism publicity and promotion for the event would be left to the local municipality in this case, which would be New Orleans. Mayor Ray Nagin has already said he's fine with the festival being located in New Orleans.

Blanco stated unequivocally that there were no state subsidies associated with the holding of Southern Decadence...

I wonder, however...

Just how long has this Southern Decadence Festival been held in New Orleans? What was the driving force behind it landing in New Orleans, with its epicenter at "Oz" on Bourbon Street? Who was in charge of the state's top tourism post at the time? It obviously must be the Lieutenant Governor of our state, whoever was in that position at that time...

I wonder...

I'm off to do some research...Could Blanco be talking out of both sides of her mouth here? Openly courting and attracting gay festivals celebrating homosexuality through her position as the Lieutenant Governor?

I will find out...

 

I believe Decadence has been around since Ole Miss was considered a credible SEC program (late 1960s).

Jindal seemed a little TOO adamant about not wanting to attend--methinks the man doth protest too much

 

Trust me, if I brought up to my friends that I knew that much about it, I'd be protesting what you'd consider "too much" as well, and I'd never live it down...

Not saying that a little light-hearted homophobia isn't close-minded, but just saying that it is what it is...and I don't have a problem with his reaction...

 

I never quite understood why being intolerant of those who find homosexuality to be morally wrong and/or objectionable is not "close-minded"???

 

It's a special code.

I believe also that if you protest (too much) those who find faggotry to be disgusting (or immoral) then secretly you find faggotry to be disgusting (or immoral). Or something like that, contact your local media, they have a playbook you can borrow I'm sure.

 

As far as I know it's just a regular old gathering for homos. While I was bartending in the quarter I loved southern decadence. I had no problem with the cash those folks dropped on me. Compared to the people that come down for mardi gras, the southern decadence festival is great.

If I had to rank the major occurances in NOLA in terms of revenue generation for the little guy, non-corporate monster (most of this cash goes out of town anyway):

1 - The Superbowl. This was both an incredible experience and an incredible cash night. The Patriots stayed in the hotel where I was working, so that definately helpped...
2 - The Final Four. The Syracuse and Kansas folks were great tippers.
3 - Southern Decadence.
4. The Spring Festivals - This is one for the waiters and waitresses around town, really. The people that come to jazz fest and FQFest, etc, etc don't usually amble in the fbar, but when i worked at the hotel they would come in after hours and get desert and the older folks were good tippers. I had some problems with some lesbians once that had to get somewhere in half an hour yet still insisted on getting a burger a piece before they left. I finally told them that the resturant wasn't mcdonalds, they weren't going to get their food in time. They reported me to the hotel general manager....:angry:
4 - The Sugar Bowl/New Years (sort of blur together). Florida, Ohio State, Texas and FSU fans were alright with the cash, Virginia Tech, Miami, A&M, Illinois fans were cheap bastards.
5 - Mardi Gras - These are mostly kids who tip 5%. I've held back booze until a tip in on the bar before. One bitch actually counted out her change when the bar on bourbon street was running 5 deep.

added:
I don't think the state government should mess with the festivals and gatherings that occur in New Orleans. Our local, traditionally river-based economy has been absolutely obliterated because of the state's stupid taxing structure, etc, etc. We're left to be the country's adult disneyland (since when did folks piss on the side of space mountain?) and be whores for the folks who want to come to NO and get plastered, both through the consumption of alcohal and other accessable vices and on the side of a girls gone wild box.

The state helped create this monster, they've got to live with it.

 

Thanks SEN, great offset to TuWho's consistent misinformation!

 

Re: Thanks SEN, great offset to TuWho's consistent misinformation!

they both tipped rather well. Young male homos were cheap, a lot like the young males that come to Mardi Gras looking for T&A. The greenpeace/hemp crowd that came to both jazz fest and southern decadence were cheap too.

They also smelled.

 

Re: Thanks SEN, great offset to TuWho's consistent misinformation!