Interesting book coming out

[MountainLaurel]

Some of y'all might be interested -- a librarian friend posted about it on our discussion list.

On Gay Pride Day in 1973, someone set the entrance to a French Quarter gay bar on fire. In the terrible inferno that followed, thirty-two people lost their lives, including a third of the local congregation of the Metropolitan Community Church, their pastor burning to death halfway out a second-story window as he tried to claw his way to freedom. A mother who'd gone to the bar with her two gay sons died alongside them. A man who'd helped his friend escape first was found dead near the fire escape. Two children waited outside of a movie theater across town for a father and step-father who would never pick them up. During this era of rampant homophobia, several families refused to claim the bodies, and many churches refused to bury the dead. Author Johnny Townsend pored through old records and tracked down survivors of the fire and friends and relatives of those killed to compile this fascinating account of a forgotten moment in gay history.

http://johnnytownsend.com/pages/letburn.php

[murielm99]

1. That is interesting.

Thanks for posting.

[William769]

2. Thanks for posting this.

Recommended.

[Glorfindel]

3. recommend

n/t

[Rabblevox]

4. k&r, bookmarked for future reading.

[Not Me]

5. This is exactly why the history that is taught in schools

should include glbt history.