Parliament House was a gay resort on the Orange Blossom Trail in Florida, United States, that included several bars and hosted performances such as drag shows.[1] There were 112 rooms in the complex, which encompassed ten thousand square feet, including an outdoor stage, a swimming pool, and a dance floor.[2] The resort was established in 1975,[3] and eventually became the most well-known gay resort in Orlando.[4] In 2006, the resort expanded to include a timeshare.[5] In 2010, Parliament House was in danger of foreclosure.[6] In 2012, Kenneth Creuzer, a 48-year-old HIV-positive man, was arrested on charges relating to his having allegedly raped a man at Parliament House.[7] Alison Arngrim, who portrayed Nellie Oleson on the television series Little House on the Prairie, performed a one-person show called "Confessions of a Prairie Bitch" at Parliament House in 2013.[8] On July 25, 2014, the resort filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy, with $12.4 million in debts and nearly $4 million in assets.[9] In February 2015, a fourteen-million-dollar debt relief plan was approved by the relevant parties.[10] In 2019, NewNowNext declared Parliament House the most popular gay bar in the United States.[11]
| Parliament House | |
|---|---|
 | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Type | Gay resort |
| Address | 410 Orange Blossom TRL |
| Town or city | Orlando, Florida |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 28°32′53″N 81°23′51″W / 28.548140399465282°N 81.39738847946768°W |
| Opened | 1975 |
| Closed | 2020 |
| Grounds | 10,000 square feet |
| Other information | |
| Number of rooms | 112 |
| Website | |
| www | |
Parliament House Resort was the only remaining motor inn from the Parliament House Motor Inn chain. It closed on November 2, 2020, and demolition began on the complex on January 4, 2021.
Decline and closure
editParliament House saw a decline in condition, service and patronage in its final years. As of March 2019, the property was listed for sale at $16.5 million.[citation needed] On October 28, 2020, Parliament House's owners announced that they had been unable to secure financing to renovate the existing venue and that it would close on November 2. They further stated: "In the coming weeks, we'll reveal our plans for the immediate future.... This is by no means goodbye. We promise to keep you updated about our grand re-opening."[12]
Notable performers
edit- Courtney Act
- Roxxxy Andrews
- Alison Arngrim
- Claudja Barry
- Jackie Beat
- Andy Bell
- Willam Belli
- BenDeLaCreme
- Sandra Bernhard
- Bob the Drag Queen
- Pandora Boxx
- Jocelyn Brown
- Belinda Carlisle
- Carmen Carrera
- Cazwell
- Violet Chachki
- Charo
- Coko
- Company B
- Deborah Cox
- Frenchie Davis
- Taylor Dayne
- Bianca Del Rio
- Adore Delano
- Kat Deluna
- Alyssa Edwards
- Estelle
- Laganja Estranja
- Nina Flowers
- Gloria Gaynor
- Macy Gray
- Debbie Gibson
- Keri Hilson
- Jennifer Holliday
- Loleatta Holloway
- Thelma Houston
- Ivy Queen
- Erika Jayne
- France Joli
- Leslie Jordan
- Katya
- Kelis
- Chaka Khan
- Khia
- Eartha Kitt
- Kristine W
- Lady Bunny
- Cyndi Lauper
- NeNe Leakes
- Paul Lekakis
- Amanda Lepore
- Lil' Kim
- Lil' Mo
- Lisa Lisa
- Manila Luzon
- Ts Madison
- Martika
- Trixie Mattel
- Jonny McGovern
- Varla Jean Merman
- Chad Michaels
- Ginger Minj
- Jinkx Monsoon
- Mýa
- Sharon Needles
- Paul Parker
- Miss Coco Peru
- Prince Poppycock
- Randy Rainbow
- LeAnn Rimes
- Vicki Sue Robinson
- Latrice Royale
- RuPaul
- Salt-N-Pepa
- Tyra Sanchez
- Shangela
- Jordin Sparks
- Byron Stingily
- Rip Taylor
- Alaska Thunderfuck
- Tiffany
- Trina
- The Village People
- Sherry Vine
- Michelle Visage
- Martha Wash
- Crystal Waters
- The Weather Girls
- Suzanne Westenhoefer
- Betty Who
- Wilson Phillips
- Ms. Darcel Stevens
- DJ Brianna Lee
- Axel Andrews
- Kylie Sonique Love
- The Footlight Players
References
edit- ^ Taylor (2003), p. 82.
- ^ Allen, Jeff (July 26, 2014). "Claiming $15.5 Million Debt, Parliament House Files for Bankruptcy". News 13. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
- ^ St. Amand, Jason (August 10, 2012). "Orlando Police Accuse HIV+ Man of Rape at Parliament House". EDGE. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
- ^ Palm, Matthew J. (November 13, 2012). "Theater Review: 'The Temperamentals' from Wanzie Presents". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
- ^ Brinkmann, Paul (November 25, 2014). "Parliament House Seeks Bankruptcy Cure with Plan to Shed Debt". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
- ^ Fitzpatrick, Kelly (September 3, 2010). "Lots to Do this Labor Day Weekend". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
- ^ Jacobson, Susan (August 6, 2012). "Police: HIV-Positive Man Raped Stranger at Parliament House". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved January 1, 2015.
- ^ Barnes, Brooks (June 14, 2013). "From 'I Hate Her' to Icon". The New York Times. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
- ^ Lundine, Susan (December 15, 2014). "Year in Review: 10 Businesses that Filed for Bankruptcy this Year". Orlando Business Journal. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
- ^ Brinkmann, Paul (February 24, 2015). "Parliament House Emerges from Bankruptcy". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved April 11, 2015.
- ^ van Gorder, Bryan (January 15, 2019). "The 50 Most Popular Gay Bars in the United States | NewNowNext". www.newnownext.com. Retrieved 2019-01-30.
- ^ FOX 35 News Staff (October 28, 2020). "Orlando's Parliament House resort announces closure set for Nov. 2". fox35orlando.com. WOFL. Archived from the original on October 29, 2020. Retrieved October 29, 2020.
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Bibliography
edit- Taylor, Wendy (2003). Orlando & Central Florida. Lonely Planet. p. 82. ISBN 1740597079.