Palatine, IL - Cutting Hall
Jun
14
7:00 PM19:00

Palatine, IL - Cutting Hall

Ticket Info Here

Author Robert Fieseler will discuss his acclaimed debut book Tinderbox, The Untold Story of the Upstairs Lounge Fire, and the Rise of Gay Liberation. An essential work of American civil rights history, Tinderbox reconstructs the 1973 fire at a gay bar that devastated New Orleans’ subterranean gay community. There is a strong Palatine connection to this relatively unknown piece of American history, and Fieseler’s talk will explore this hidden link. Chicagoland, in fact, lost one of its own at the 1973 New Orleans tragedy: a traveling businessman who grew up in Palatine named Guy Owen Andersen. A former Illinois high school drama teacher, Andersen frequently visited New Orleans and fell victim to the intentionally set blaze. Fieseler feels that Andersen’s story deserves to be properly memorialized in his hometown community. Buried for decades, the Up Stairs Lounge tragedy has only recently been recognized as a galvanizing historical event—the worst mass killing of queer citizens in 20th century America. By telling this story during June Pride Month, Fieseler hopes to raise local awareness of Andersen’s life and legacy. The discussion will last approximately one hour.

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New Orleans, LA: Saints + Sinners Literary Festival
Mar
25
to Mar 27

New Orleans, LA: Saints + Sinners Literary Festival

Saturday, March 26

2:30 – 3:45 PM

QUEER HISTORY IN FOCUS: COMMUNITY RESPONSE TO TRAGEDY AND DISCRIMINATION
This panel is a retrospective discussion of the LGBTQ+ Movement in the South from the 1960s to the 1990s. Focusing on three prominent eras—the fallout of the 1973 Upstairs Lounge fire, the persecution of queer New Orleanian Clay Shaw, and the rise and fall of the Sweet Gum Head club in queer Atlanta—this discussion will focus on how the community responded to each of these seismic shifts. Panelists include moderator Robert Panelists: Alecia P. Long, Martin Padgett, and Frank Perez. Moderator: Robert W. Fieseler.

Sponsored by the LGBTQ+ Fund of the Greater New Orleans Foundation.

Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal B

Sunday, March 27

11:30 AM – 12:45 PM—Reading Series

SAINTS AND SINNERS: WRITERS READ

Sponsored by the John Burton Harter Foundation

Take the rare opportunity to hear authors in their own voice. This highlighted Festival event has authors share their vivid imaginations with their new creations, or revisiting a past work that holds special meaning. Please join us in welcoming: Daniel W.K. Lee, Robert W. Fieseler, Elizabeth Gross, Jan Edwards Hemming, James Magruder, Eric Nguyen, and Felice Picano for this year’s mix of established and exciting new writers.

Hotel Monteleone, Lobby Level, Royal D

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Oct
5
6:30 PM18:30

10/5 New Orleans: Advance Reading at Blue Cypress Books

Tuesday, October 5th at 6 pm, Robert W. Fieseler will be reading from his upcoming publication in 64 Parishes magazine, as well as his book, Tinderbox: The Untold Story of the Up Stairs Lounge Fire and the Rise of Gay Liberation. Tickets will be required for the event and will include a signed copy of the book. Proof of vaccination is required for entry to the event. More info HERE.

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IN-PERSON + VIRTUAL EVENT: New Orleans, LA Frenchmen Art & Books Benefit Reading
Jun
24
6:30 PM18:30

IN-PERSON + VIRTUAL EVENT: New Orleans, LA Frenchmen Art & Books Benefit Reading

“History: Out of the Closet”

A benefit reading of Tinderbox by Robert W. Fieseler for the LGBT+ Archives Project

Thurs. June 24, 6:30 p.m. in the loft adjacent to Grand Krewe 2305 Decatur Street. Hosted by Frenchmen Art & Books, free wine tasting prior to reading. Online component TBD, will announce.

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VIRTUAL EVENT: Jackson, MS Mississippi Capital City Pride Book Club
Jun
23
6:00 PM18:00

VIRTUAL EVENT: Jackson, MS Mississippi Capital City Pride Book Club

Every month Capital City Pride Book Club Members will choose 1 LGBTQ+ book to read as a group. Each month there will be suggested books for members to choose from and will be selected by majority vote.

BOOK OF THE MONTH (MAY 20 - JUNE 23)

The fifth book we will be reading is "Tinder Box: The Untold Story of the Upstairs Lounge Fire and the Rise of Gay Liberation" by Robert Fieseler based out of New Orleans, LA.

Sign Up for Book Talk


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Jun
6
2:00 PM14:00

VIRTUAL EVENT: Lexington, KY - Faulkner Morgan Archive and Lexington Public Library

Join the Faulkner Morgan Archive and Lexington Public Library as we welcome Robert Fieseler to discuss his book, Tinderbox: The Untold Story of the Upstairs Lounge Fire and the Rise of Gay Liberation.

Before the 2016 Pulse Massacre, the arson committed at the Upstairs Lounge in New Orleans was the largest murder of LGBTQ people in United States history. Amazingly, there were a number of important Kentucky connections to this tragedy. Register HERE.

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Mar
31
7:00 PM19:00

VIRTUAL EVENT: Naperville, IL - North Central College

Fieseler’s look at the evolution of Naperville, Illinois, from a small town with a history of discrimination against non-white citizens to a large, suburban “melting pot” with a diverse population and broader sense of social acceptance. Through research and analysis of local records, documents and anecdotes, Fieseler tracks the changes back to three particular people, showing how efforts to improve diversity, equity and inclusion often start small and expand to city-sized proportions with dedication. Register here.

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Jul
3
1:00 PM13:00

Orlando, FL - MCC General Conference 2019: Celebrate!

History talk - The Up Stairs Lounge Fire and the Legacy of Bill Larson 

A spiritual exploration of the 1973 Up Stairs Lounge tragedy -- a notoriously unsolved arson fire at a New Orleans gay bar that claimed 32 lives -- through the life and legacy of MCC pastor Bill Larson, who perished in the fateful bar on the night of June 24, 1973. Reverend Troy Perry, founding pastor of the MCC, will stop by and meet Robert in person for the first time.

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