Ricky Everett News Today

“I was asked later if this was a hate crime, but I said the hate crime wasn’t who started the fire. ... The hate crime was the reaction after the fire," a survivor said.

“I was asked later if this was a hate crime, but I said the hate crime wasn’t who started the fire. ... The hate crime was the reaction after the fire," a survivor said.

In 1970s New Orleans, a boy from Hamilton was living a dream some would have considered impossible at the time. Roscoe Lairson had created a new life for himself and was leading a church congregation as Rev. Bill Larson.

A book and a family tree uncover Hamiltons little-known role in gay liberation Bill Larsons death in the worst fire in New Orleans history is tragically well-documented. But, until several years ago, little was widely known about his life. and last updated 2020-12-21 18:37:34-05 HAMILTON — Bill Larson lived a nearly impossible dream in 1970s New Orleans: He was an openly gay minister. His death, in the worst fire in that citys history, is tragically well documented. But, until several ...