More Articles | WI LGBTQ History Project

News Articles:

September 15, 2025

Wisconsin readers get a taste of "Dining Out"

Author Erik Piepenburg brings his book tour to Green Bay and Madison this October -- and you're invited!

July 08, 2025

Honoring Jewel-Thais Williams (1939-2025)

Today, we celebrate the Mother of Gay Los Angeles for a lifetime of service.

June 02, 2025

Celebrating our 2025 BeSeen Award winners

Six Wisconsin trailblazers honored for 200+ years of community service

March 09, 2025

Saying goodbye to This Is It

Wisconsin's oldest gay bar -- and one of the ten oldest in the USA -- closed March 9 after six decades of service.

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Blog Articles:

January 16, 2026

In memoriam: Cheri Becker (1958-2026)

Cheri Becker moved to Madison to be closer to her mother. She wound up becoming the matriarch of an LGBTQ movement.

December 01, 2025

Unforgettable: Wayne Benning aka Vanessa Alexandre

Unbound by anything or anyone, Wayne was a whirlwind of wit and wonder who skyrocketed to fame during Milwaukee's golden age of drag.

November 28, 2025

Shawn Wandahsega: causing a commotion with confrontational drag

Thirty-five years ago, he left the brutal bullies of his hometown behind to conquer Wisconsin stages as drag legend Shawna Love.

October 01, 2025

Lecia Sams: from "Cherry Bomb" to chosen family

Soaring above the challenges of her youth with resilience and strength, Lecia became a champion for her community.

October 01, 2025

Paul "Cricket" Jacob: from the farm to the front lines of the fight

He knew he was gay. He thought he didn't want to be. After a supportive caregiver cured his doubts, Cricket became an unstoppable force for change.

October 01, 2025

Kathy Flores: from preacher's daughter to passionate changemaker

For decades, Kathy has been a voice for the voiceless, including abuse survivors, migrants, and the trans community.

October 01, 2025

Mike Fitzpatrick: five decades of shaping Wisconsin's future

Since the 1980s, Mike's relentless activism has connected us on the dancefloor, in the media, and in the streets.

May 27, 2025

Ricardo Galaviz: no more sacrificing my authenticity

Growing up within conflicting cultures and identities, Ricky found friends, family and a path forward at Project Q.

May 19, 2025

Robert Lambert: an outrageous life of avant-garde activism

By daring to challenge the world, Bobby created a legacy that continues to inspire and provoke.

May 05, 2025

"Packer" Chad Bowman: from Two-Spirit roots to Milwaukee's rainbow

From wrestling rings to drag stages, Chad reflects on his wild ride through identity, community, and crisis.

May 04, 2025

Diana Mixalakopoulou: gorgeous glimpses of the Golden Age of Drag

Forty years ago, she photographed the legendary Club 219 showgirls for a film school project. Now, the Diana Diary has become living history.

April 24, 2025

Caryn Moczynski: authentic, amplified and living out loud

Inspired by legendary female musicians, Caryn has become a long-running voice for women's music on Milwaukee airwaves.

February 06, 2025

Didi Darnell: celebrating the last showgirl

As a lifelong artist, costumer, and drag performer, Ken was the last survivor of a legendary cast of characters.

November 30, 2024

Del Slowik: celebrating the Golden Age of Club 219

A chance encounter on a Milwaukee beach ignited the romance of a lifetime -- and launched a legendary gay nightspot's 25-year reign.

November 16, 2024

Goldie Adams: never take freedom for granted

After forty plus years of drag performances, Goldie shares her colorful story for the first time.

October 30, 2024

Barb Coyle: a lifetime of music, community and love

For nearly 20 years, Barb's weekly radio show broke local barriers for women's music.

October 27, 2024

Jeremy Novy: making queer history in the streets

Jeremy's koi fish have decorated Milwaukee streets since 2006. Now he's bringing LGBTQ history alive worldwide.

October 18, 2024

Kenya Black Dupree: give yourself a chance to live

As a high school sophomore, she was the first out trans girl to attend Milwaukee Public Schools. Decades later, she shares her triumphant story.

October 13, 2024

Samantha Stevens: the mother of Milwaukee drag

Producing sensational shows with top-tier talent, Samantha ushered in a Golden Age of Milwaukee drag.

October 11, 2024

Si Smits: champion of cycles, saloons, and charities

Over 50 years ago, Si Smits was one of the first out, proud and confident gay men ever seen on local TV.

October 03, 2024

Evanna Breedlove: a lifetime of love and magic

Over thirty years after moving to New York City, Evanna reflects on growing up Black and trans in the dance clubs and drag cabarets of Wisconsin.

August 28, 2024

Dave Wolz: from first-time customer to legacy owner

"Big Gay Dave" was a fixture of the Milwaukee gay scene, but it took him a while to actually come out.

June 17, 2024

Shannon Dupree: breaking barriers to be seen

She was told to "stay in her lane." Instead, she chose to break all the rules -- and became a drag legend.

April 29, 2024

Brenda Coley: building a healthier, stronger, louder community

"We have a real struggle now, and I don't think people fully understand what we're up against."

April 08, 2024

Larry Patterson: living the fabulous life

After decades of Milwaukee nightlife, "Fabulous" Larry reflects on his lessons learned.

March 31, 2024

Candi Stratton: confronting the hidden dangers of body work

After life-changing surgery, Candi speaks out against the medical black market and the cultural pressures trans women face.

March 29, 2024

Debi Vance and Cindy Olsheske: the dynamic duo

Together nearly 45 years, the couple has defined LGBTQ community involvement for decades.

March 25, 2024

Jerry Dreva: shattering the status quo

Jerry Dreva was a brilliant artist who never owned a gallery. His canvas was the life around him.

March 23, 2024

Eric Wynn: my life as a Club 219 girl

Erica Stevens was one of Milwaukee's most electrifying drag superstars of the early '80s -- until she walked away at the height of her fame.

March 01, 2024

Nik Santilli: rewriting the rules of gender expression

For most of the 20th century, gender expansive people lived in fear of sexual harassment under the mythical "three piece rule." In 1971, the Santilli case changed everything.

January 31, 2024

In Memoriam: Miss Tracey James

At a time when cross-dressing was criminalized, Miss Tracey dared to be the most visible transgender woman of her time.

October 09, 2023

Bobby Rivers: Milwaukee’s queer media pioneer

When Bobby Rivers first arrived on Milwaukee airwaves, mainstream listeners weren’t quite sure what to make of him. He was frantic and fast-paced, sassy and sarcastic, outrageous and outspoken, hip and happening, and sometimes, heavily queer coded.

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