The Fire Up Stairs Podcast is a miniseries about the 1973 UpStairs Lounge arson, exploring its lesser-known history and present-day themes.
Over the course of the series, host Joey Hardy Gray is joined by notable members of the queer community to discuss the story of the Up Stairs Lounge; its role in the larger arc of queer history, and themes that are just as relevant to the queer community of today as they were fifty years ago.
Guests include: drag superstar Ben DeLaCreme, journalist Robert Fieseler, HRC's Cathryn Oakley, political strategist Brian Derrick, journalist Clancy Dubos, Up Stairs Lounge survivor Ricky Everett, and documentarian Robert L. Camina.
The Fire Up Stairs is produced and hosted by Joey Hardy Gray, executive produced by Ryan Killian Krause, and edited by Citizens of Sound. Presented by Equal Pride and Provincetown Brewing Co. Sponsored by Sean x Val, Malin & Goetz, Double Scorpio, and Halloween New Orleans.
CHAPTER TWO: THE HISTORY
On this episode, host Joey Hardy Gray talks to journalist Robert Fieseler, author of Tinderbox: The Untold Story of the Up Stairs Lounge Fire and the Rise of Gay Liberation. They discuss how the arson fits within the larger arc of queer history, as well as the cultural and societal climate at the time of the attack and how those factors influenced the events leading up to the fire and its aftermath. Visit Robert's website to read more of his work and purchase your copy of Tinderbox.
CHAPTER FOUR: THE LEGACY
On this episode, we cover the state of the affairs for the LGBTQ+ people in the United States. What is life like for queer people in 2023 and how does that differ from life in 1973?
Host Joey Hardy Gray chats with Cathryn Oakley, State Legislative Director and Senior Counsel at the Human Rights Campaign and political strategist Brian Derrick. They discuss the wave of Anti-LGBTQ+ legislation that has swept across state legislatures, the impact these bills will have on the lives of queer people, where we've seen some glimmers of hope in recent days, and how we can best donate our time and resources to fight for a more equitable world.
CHAPTER ONE: THE STORY
On this episode, host Joey Hardy Gray shares the story of The Up Stairs Lounge: the bar, the people who called it home and what it meant to them, and that terrible Sunday night in June when it all came burning down.
Guests include: UpStairs Lounge arson survivor Ricky Everett, journalist Clancy DuBos, and documentary filmmaker Robert L. Camina.
CHAPTER THREE: THE COMMUNITY
On this episode, host Joey Hardy Gray is joined by international drag superstar BenDeLaCreme to discuss the importance of queer spaces. The two chat about the recent drag bans popping across the country, the importance of fostering community, how queer people pass culture down through generations, and why drag is its own form of rebellion.
To stay up-to-date on BenDeLaCreme, you can visit her website or follow her on Instagram and Twitter.