An LGBTQ+ Historic Site in New Orleans, LA

The Faerie Playhouse

The Faerie Playhouse is the former home of the late Stewart Butler and Alfred Doolittle and was the site of many LGBTQ+ community meetings in the late 20th Century, as well as today. The home contains many important artifacts and memorabilia of local LGBTQ+ cultural and political significance, including boasting a large collection of gay art. The backyard’s Memorial Garden contains the cremains of many LGBTQ+ activists in New Orleans, many of whom died during the AIDS crisis.

A commemorative plaque placed by the Bienville Foundation in 2007 adorns the front of the home. Efforts are underway to have the home recognized by the Historic District Landmark Commission.

Why save The Faerie Playhouse?

Many in New Orleans know The Faerie Playhouse as “the house with the hearts” on Esplanade Ave. but fewer know the significance of the building and its role in LGBTQ+ history.

The Esplanade property was originally part of the Plauche Plantation and the cottage itself dates to 1844. It’s the only remaining one of four identical structures called the Passebon Row cottages. The home’s first owner was Athalie Drouillard, a free woman of color.

The Faerie Playhouse became the home of activists Stewart Butler and Alfred Doolittle in 1979 and has since served as a landmark in the LGBTQ+ community. But the home is now at risk of being lost to the community forever. Join our efforts to save The Faerie Playhouse and preserve this historic landmark for future generations.

Take the Virtual Tour