Remembering the Origins of New Orleans' Gay Carnival Krewes

A dozen founders of New Orleans' gay and lesbian Carnival krewes - 11 men and a woman - are getting together at the Louisiana State Museum on April 3 for a public discussion about gay Mardi Gras organizations and the experiences of gay Carnival from the 1950s until now.

Likely topics include the joy of being able to create and show off wildly flamboyant Mardi Gras drag when men could be arrested for cross-dressing in public; the raided ball that ended New Orleans' first gay Carnival krewe; AIDS, which wiped out two-thirds of the krewes; Mardi Gras balls on a shoestring, with oodles of flair.

Mike Moreau (muh-ROW), a founding member of the third gay krewe and queen of its 50th anniversary ball last year, is among the panelists.