• About the Author
  • Archives
  • Categories
  • Return to Queer Paranormal

    • Archive for the ‘louisiana’ Category

    A House as Famous as Its Owners…


    2008 - 11.03

    Posted in actors, hauntings, houses, louisiana, new orleans, news, real estate | Comments Off

    Anyone interested in owning a piece of haunted New Orleans may finally have a chance. The historic LaLaurie Mansion, known by many as “the Haunted House”, is up for sale. It is located in the French Quarter on the corner of Royal Street and Gov. Nicholls Street.

    The house has seen a bizarre past. It was purchased by Madame Delphine LaLaurie and her husband in either 1831 or 32. Delphine’s parents were believed to have been murdered during a slave uprising in the late 1700s and she apparently harbored ill will toward slaves ever since. She was known to have tortured and mutilated countless slaves in the house: a fact which was uncovered after a fire in 1834 set by a slave to avoid further torment. A secret attic room held nude male and female slaves, surrounded by torture devices and body parts.

    Since LaLaurie’s death in 1842, the house has been known for its ghosts. It served as a music conservatory, apartment building, and furniture store over the years. In 2007, it was purchased by actor Nicolas Cage who currently lives in the adjacent building with his family.

    Cage has been well aware of the building’s haunted history and attended a few ghost tours to learn more about the sordid history. Just recently, the actor placed the home on the market again. The asking price is a chilling $3.9 million.

    Reading, ‘Riting, and Rice…


    2008 - 10.11

    Posted in authors, books, california, christopher rice, louisiana, new orleans | Comments Off

    I seem to be neglecting good literature lately, but I thought it was time for another mention of an author worth reading. A man with a rather famous last name: Christopher Rice.

    Now the subjects covered in Christopher’s books are not paranormal in nature, yet I felt compelled to mention him. Yes, paranormal topics and ghosts do encompass a lot of my interest, but I do not limit myself strictly to things of this nature. I read a wide range of works and enjoy thoroughly engaging topics, films, and literature.

    As is often the case with me, I discovered his books by accident in a bookstore. I began with The Snow Garden before tracking back to his debut novel, A Density if Souls. Light Before Day made its way onto my bookshelf soon after it was published. I had been aware of the work of his mother, Anne Rice, for many years but it was not this connection which lured me. I have been a fan of thrillers and mysteries most of my life, so the synopses caught my attention.

    I have yet to be disappointed with any of his work. Perhaps it comes from the two of us being extremely close in age (though he has accomplished far more, but I commend him for that). Even his column articles in The Advocate are worth a read. And I’ll confess something else: unlike his mother’s work, I have actually finished reading his books. Odds are if I begin reading something, mark my page, and lay it down, I will probably never finish it. At least in this lifetime. Then again if I read an entire novel in a day or two and schedule everything else around it, I’m going to keep that one forever.

    Check out this little snippet about his newest book, Blind Fall:



    For more information, be sure to visit his website. And those of you who are fans should note that another book, The Moonlit Earth, is currently being written…

    Put the Crystal Ball Down and Come Out with Your Hands Up…


    2008 - 09.17

    Posted in fortunetelling, laws, louisiana, news, pennsylvania, psychics, tarot, vermont | Comments Off

    Last month, new age practitioners breathed a sigh of relief in Vermont. A 1966 ban on fortunetelling was lifted in the town of St. Johnsbury on August 21st. Among the many acts deemed illegal by the former law were tarot reading, palmistry, and even feng shui.

    Many communities across the country, from Oklahoma to Washington, D.C. to Florida, have similar laws on the books in an effort to prevent fraud. Arguably, these could also be considered infringements of freedom of religion in many cases.

    Last year, Livingston Parish in Louisiana officially outlawed fortunetelling. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania discovered a forgotten law and cracked down on tarot readers, crystal gazers, astrologers, and psychics, closing businesses across the city.

    Yet Scientology, with its belief in alien beings forming humanity and returning to earth one day, remains protected by religious freedom.

    We may all have our opinions of different practices, but everything from psychics to ghosts to voodoo is a part of our culture: our human makeup. If Ebay can sell a grilled cheese Virgin Mary effigy for thousands of dollars, is there really anything inherently wrong with someone asking for a few bucks for a palm reading?

    It may not last as long, but there’s no worry of mold from it killing you…

    A Bumpy Night for Spooks…


    2008 - 09.02

    Posted in damage, hauntings, history, hurricane, louisiana, myrtles plantation, news | Comments Off

    New Orleans may be relieved that Hurricane Gustav bypassed the city, but not everyone fared so well. Of all the places suffering severe damage from the storm, a famous haunted location was hit hardest.

    The beloved Myrtles Plantation was rocked with high wind and pelted by rain during the storm. The list of damages is more extensive than we would have hoped.

    Early indications of severe effects of Gustav include leaks in the roof and an unnatural sway to the frame itself. People staying in the home feared that it may actually blow over. Trees and debris are strewn across the property. One tree fell near the restaurant and another nearly missed the Caretaker’s Cottage.

    The gift shop, housed in the rear of the Bradford House, is gone. This first building built on the property was felled by a tree. A hand-etched stained glass in the front of the house was blown out. It is beyond repair and irreplaceable.

    This information was confirmed by an employee and forwarded to me via email.

    If you have further information on this, please let me know. As damages are further assessed, I’ll update everyone.

    Queer Paranormal Road Trip: Cafe Lafitte in Exile


    2008 - 05.08

    Posted in gay ghosts, hauntings, louisiana, new orleans, paranormal, road trips, united states | Comments Off

    New Orleans is known to be one of the most interesting, if not most haunted, cities in the United States. And of course, no paranormal travel destination would be complete without a haunted gay bar… complete with gay ghosts!

    Billed as “the best gay bar in the French Quarter”, Cafe Lafitte in Exile is possibly the oldest gay bar in the country. The two-story establishment is open 24 hours a day and was once the watering hole for a few famous people. In fact, some of them haven’t quite left.

    Tennessee Williams frequented the bar during his lifetime. He would often be seen sitting at the far end of the bar, quietly nursing a cocktail. Still today, the occasional customer or employee will sometimes catch a glimpse of the writer sitting in his usual place. Another former patron was the late Truman Capote. His ghost is believed to spend time in the stairwell, chatting up anyone who will stop long enough to listen.

    Not all the spirits in LaFitte are notable names. A rather frisky spook called “Mister Bubbly” is known to wander the building occasionally pinching customers playfully on the rear. Other figures have been spotted wandering the balcony, sometimes even stopping to wave at a tourist before vanishing into thin air. The downstairs center bar seems to be a popular place for a ghost or two to catch a drink as well.

    Suffice to say, Lafitte is a perfect spot for a paranormal investigator or tourist to unwind and get a taste of New Orleans. Undoubtedly, whether you’re looking for ghosts or bottled spirits, you’re guaranteed to have a good time. Just be sure to bring your camera in case you spot something out of the ordinary… beyond beads and thongs.

    You may not be able to snag an autograph, but you just might find yourself face to face with a deceased celebrity…

    There’s Something Queer About That Old, Spooky House…


    2008 - 02.18

    Posted in gay ghosts, ghosts, hauntings, homosexuality, louisiana, tennessee, united states | Comments Off

    I can’t help it. It’s nearly impossible to be a gay man and not try to find a gay slant to nearly everything.

    Even the paranormal.

    When I first started investigating the supernatural, I still felt quite alone. I was a teenager in a small town, battling my own demons and shame while searching for dead people in the darkness. Actually, that’s what drew me further into the world of ghosts and hauntings: they seemed so sad. So misunderstood. So feared and hated for no good reason. They were viewed how I felt I was being viewed. They just needed someone to listen. Like me.

    Then came the other investigators. Many were devoutly religious and “of a high moral fiber” (meaning Bible-thumping tyrants). Some were very nice, though, and very accepting. And as time went on, I stumbled across one or two who were ‘family’. At least I wasn’t the only gay in the village anymore…

    I’ve come to realize that there are many gays and lesbians in the field, scattered across the country (we really are everywhere!) and many were just as shocked to find out they weren’t alone.

    But that wasn’t quite good enough for me. It lead to another question: are there any gay ghosts?

    Obviously, there had to be. The world of the dead can’t be all straight! Right?

    In fact, I was right. I have found stories. I’ve even been compiling notes for a book on the subject.

    So, where are these queer spooks, you say? Just look around the globe and you’ll find them. Corpsewood Manor, tucked away in a remote section of Tennessee, is allegedly haunted by a gay couple who were murdered for worshiping Satan (hmm… what better way to rationalize a hate crime than making the victims sound like terrible people). A well-known bar in New Orleans, Cafe Lafitte’s in Exile, is rumored to be the favored watering hole of long-dead writers Tennessee Williams and Truman Capote. There’s even a haunted gay bar in Italy!

    And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

    To be honest, I’m dying of curiosity to see these places for myself and investigate the spirits which inhabit them. It’s not simply because of the gay content. The tales themselves are just plain fascinating to me. Though I will admit, the fact that they involve gay characters does make it more intriguing.

    We may not have the right to marry, but we do still have the right to haunt the bastards who’ve bashed us!