To that end, the owners appear to have done right by the rape victim, accommodating her requests for security camera footage. And anyway, Country Club conduct is carried out between consenting adults, with the tragic exception of the rape. Also, it’s a bit much to slam a business for being lewd in a city known for Krewe du Vieux floats featuring giant penises and that hangs its tourism marketing hat on jazz, a genre of music invented in brothel waiting rooms. The many repeat beholders at the club had paid the price of admission, so whatever was on offer clearly wasn’t offending them. I’d argue lewdness is in the eye of the beholder. The New Orleans City Attorney’s staff - who apparently have never been to New Orleans - said the Club permitted “obscene, lewd, sexually indecent, immoral or improper conduct.” The case built against the Country Club was framed in curiously prudish Victorian terms.
Rather, they seem to have responded to a series of thefts and a rape that occurred at the Club during the course of the summer. There has been no indication (as yet) that they were pressured in any way by the Country Club’s neighbors. If you’re looking for a culprit, look to the New Orleans Alcohol Beverage Control Board and the City Attorney’s office. And I say that in this situation because I am a guidebook writer and travel journalist, and part of my job is looking for the subtle ripples that speak to sea changes in local identity. We live in a city with a murder rate that would make developing nations blush, and our ire is raised when we can no longer disrobe to enter the manicured garden pool of a place that draws its name (albeit ironically) from the kind of establishment that epitomizes exclusivity and class hierarchy.Īll I can say is life has big issues and little ones, and sometimes the latter reflect the larger. At first blush, this seems like a silly overreaction, given what it says about our sense of privilege and our priorities. No more nudity is like a red-alert threat to local funkiness. Look at the comments on the Country Club’s Facebook page and you’ll quickly see people turning this incident into a cypher for everything they believe is wrong with modern New Orleans. People are already projecting an enormous backlog of frustrations onto the news we can no longer skinny dip on Louisa Street. Thus, the swimsuit policy feels like a threat to that same place. At its best, a nice night at the Country Club, with its tropical landscaping, easy friendliness, good food and strong drink, crystallized everything I loved about New Orleans. The nudity policy spoke to a laissez-faire attitude towards hedonism, sexuality and good times. It’s an excellent way to unwind, and while I only strip naked every now and then, I appreciate the nakedness of others, and not, if I may say so, in a creepy way. I’d say at least once every month I find myself relaxing in its pool while sipping a whiskey and ginger ale. The mahogany seats and brass fittings make for an elegant ride.Last week brought unimaginable news: The Country Club, the jewel of the Bywater, a gay-friendly hangout cum restaurant and bar, would no longer maintain a clothing optional policy in its swimming pool area. These streetcars are the real deal, most of them dating back to the 1920s. Charles Street past dozens of antebellum mansions. The 13-mile route is just gorgeous, taking you down tree-lined St.
The world’s oldest continually operating streetcar line, it began service in 1835. New Orleans has always had a reputation for tolerance and it remains one of the oldest gay-friendly cities in the Western hemisphere, marketing itself as the ‘Gay Capital of the South.’ Neighborhoods such as the French Quarter and Marigny are major destinations on the LGBTQ+ travel circuit.įor the quintessential New Orleans experience, take the streetcar St.
Don’t forget to find out the theme for the party and colors – and get stitching to stand out and proud! The Southern Decadence Fest is the largest event in New Orleans, the street party runs all day and night over the Labor Day weekend. Rather, the queer vibe in the city seems to be strongest during major festivals such as the Southern Decadence Fest and Gay Easter Parade. New Orleans is a pretty integrated city, few areas or businesses feel exclusively gay. Bywater is another historic area that is also a great hangout spot. This charming old world neighbourhood have lots of clubs and bars are within walking distance of each, so bar hopping is super easy. The gay scene, though not confined to it, centers in the French Quarter or the Vieux Carre. Music on practically every corner, its easy to get swept away in this oasis of calm and enjoy a few days in the Gulf Coast’s Big Easy. With its 24-hour bar culture, great restaurants and relaxed pace, New Orleans is guaranteed to keep you entertained.