For centuries, gay people were excluded from participating openly in “official” Carnival festivities (although homoeroticism and cross-dressing have always been a component of Mardi Gras).  Gay Carnival balls began in 1957, more than a decade before Stonewall!  These began as a way for gay people to celebrate Mardi Gras, and from the beginning have emphasized over-the-top costumes and satire.  Originally, gay balls were held in secret to reduce the risk of police raids and outing of members.  As recently as the late 1990s, cameras were prohibited at gay balls, and photographs from this era are rare.  Today, we are excited to be full participants in the City’s Carnival celebration.  Throughout, Armeinius has continued the tradition of larger than life costumes and satire as key elements of our ball.

 

Founded in 1968, Armeinius presented its first tableau ball in 1969 and today is the largest gay krewe in New Orleans.  Every year, our members devote hundreds of hours of their personal time, beginning shortly after the previous Mardi Gras, to produce a lavish tableau.

 

The Armeinius members are a diverse group, coming from all walks of life and ranging in age from 20s to 80s.  Today, Armeinius continues to support its primary mission to maintain the unique art and craftsmanship of gay Mardi Gras, which is as fresh and relevant today as it was in 1957.

 

As we look forward, our vision is that future generations of LGBTQ+ individuals will continue to have the opportunity to express their creativity through the unique art form of gay Mardi Gras for all New Orleanians to experience and enjoy.  Our website hosts information about our current ball as well as photos from balls of the past.  Check us out!