Timeline of Gay Carnival in New Orleans
1949
Steamboat Club’s Lundi Gras Luncheon debuts at Brennan’s Restaurant
1958
Krewe of Yuga, New Orleans’ first gay Carnival Krewe is founded
1962
Krewe of Petronius is founded
1962
Yuga ball is raided
1963
Arthur Jacobs presents the first Bourbon Street Awards at the corner of Bourbon and Dumaine Streets
1965
Krewe of Amon-Ra is founded
1968
Krewe of Armeinius is founded
1969
Amon-Ra presents 1st Miss America Pageant
1970
Mystick Krewe of Apollo debuts at Monteleone; 1st gay ball presented in a hotel
1971
Krewe of Olympus debuts; 1st gay ball presented at the St. Bernard Civic Auditorium
1972
Mystick Krewe of Apollo is the 1st gay ball to be held at the Municipal Auditorium
1976
Mystick Krewe of Apollo de Lafayette is founded
1977
Mystick Krewe of Apollo/Birmingham debuts
1977
Mystic(k?) Krewe of Celestial Knights (KOCK) is founded
1977
Academy of the Golden Goddess, Inc. (AGGI)/New Orleans debuts presenting annual awards show celebrating gay Carnival clubs
1978
Mystick Krewe of Apollo (Shreveport) is founded
1979
Police strike cancels parades in New Orleans; patrons of Charlene’s & the Golden Lantern take to the streets as the Krewe of Cancellation
1980
Police cancel Krewe of Cancellation parade because they have no parade permit
1981
Mystick Krewe of Apollo (Baton Rouge) is founded
1981
Krewe of Ishtar, the 1st lesbian krewe, is founded
1982 - 1983
Edd Smith hosts Bourbon & St. Ann St. Awards; no Bourbon Street Awards held
1983
Krewe of Polyphemus is founded
1984
Lords of Leather, the 1st leather krewe, is founded
1984
11 gay Carnival krewes present balls, a record in New Orleans
1984
No Edd Smith or Bourbon Street Awards
1986
Bourbon Street Awards resumes & moves to St. Ann & Burgundy
1987
Krewe of Queenateenas debuts, presenting 1st Official Gay Mardi Gras Bead Toss
1991
AGGIs ends
1992
Petronius, Amon-Ra, Armeinius & Lords of Leather present only gay balls in New Orleans
1993
Krewe of Barkus is founded
1994
Krewe of Queenateenas crowns 1st King Cake Queen of Gay Mardi Gras
1999
1st new gay Carnival Club since 1984, Krewe of Mwindo, is founded
1999
Lundi Gras Luncheon celebrates 50th anniversary
2000
Le Vendredi de Nuit Mardi Gras Avant debuts benefiting AIDS service organizations
2001
People of Substance's Krewe of Anubis is founded
2002
Bourbon Street Awards returns to Bourbon & St. Ann Streets
2002
Petronius celebrates 40th anniversary
2003
Krewe of Satyricon is founded
2003
Krewe of Queenateenas celebrates 10th King Cake Queen Coronation
2004
40th Bourbon Street Awards presented
2005
Amon-Ra celebrates 40th anniversary
2006
Petronius celebrates 45th anniversary
2007
Queenateenas celebrate 20th Official Gay Mardi Gras Bead Toss
2008
Armeinius celebrates 40th anniversary
2008
Lords of Leather celebrates 25th anniversary
2008
Queenateenas celebrates 15th King Cake Queen Coronation
2009
Bourbon Street Awards returns to Bourbon Street
2010
Amon-Ra celebrates 45th anniversary
2012
Petronius celebrates 50th anniversary
2013
Queenateenas celebrates 20th King Cake Queen Coronation
2014
50th Bourbon Street Awards
2015