Gay Mardi Gras is conundrum wrapped in an enigma shrouded in mystery with a side of bafflement sprinkled with bitterness and devil-may-care. It’s also a little elusive.
The secret society nature of Mardi Gras is a cozy security blanket for many an outcast. In most Mardi Gras cities, gay Mardi Gras still operates as a kind of subculture. On one hand, this comes as no surprise: Most Mardi Gras cities are nestled in the bosom of the American South. On the other hand, the South is exactly where a culture of shrouds and masks and biting bless-her-heart political satire can flourish – a fertile estuary for some stealthy visibility and acceptance. A perfect little example illustrating how far we’ve come and how far we’ve yet to go.