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

Moving and shaking

Bowman's first time exploring the downtown gay scene was on a sweltering summer night in 1983. He was 16 years old and curious. 

"I tried to get into the original Factory Disco, but owner Chuck Cicirello and Tiny, the burly doorman, wouldn't let me in. They knew I was using my brother's ID." 

Suddenly, drag queen Goldie Adams and her friend Areeba strolled by and asked him why he was outside. After he explained the ID and recognized how young and in need of a friend he was, Goldie said, 'Follow me, kid.' They took him in, and he had a blast.

"When I came out, there were 21 gay and lesbian bars, but that number has dwindled to just 7. The rise of the internet and cell phones changed the Milwaukee bar scene. Those venues used to serve as our version of Facebook and Instagram." 

In Chad's estimation, people went to bars for three reasons: to meet friends, get drunk, or hook up—often all three. The gay culture in the 1980s was more of a special club that was open 7 nights a week.

When he wasn't going out enjoying Milwaukee nightlife, he also took pride in fulfilling his childhood dream of becoming a professional wrestler. This dream was something many doubted he could achieve.

" I started training in a boxing ring at UCC when I was sixteen. I initially performed as a Native American character named Billy Bold Eagle, then switched to a flamboyant heel, Fabulous Fabian. I enjoyed five great years in wrestling but eventually quit, realizing that I was too small, and that the industry favored larger, more imposing wrestlers."

Bowman was named the Midwest Wrestling Association (MWA) Rookie of the Year in 1985 and won the light-heavyweight championship on three occasions. He still has the championship belt as a memento of that chapter of his life and says there were no regrets when he stepped away from the mat. He knew his outgoing personality and work ethic would provide many amazing opportunities in the future.

That sense of self would prove valuable as the next few years became more tumultuous. 

During that time in professional wrestling, during the AIDS epidemic, he was openly gay, and nobody in the business cared. They were supportive and respectful, often overprotective of him. So, his simple existence helped to bridge understanding with the straight world. 

In the razzle-dazzle of the bar scene, Chad formed lifelong alliances with those he met. 

"I had great friends who loved me for who I was, like Goldie Adams, Mandy McCall, and Lana St. James, as well as Al Thomas from the Triangle." 

He found a fantastic support group in the SSBL gay softball league and the vibrant social scene at the time. In 1988, he took a bartending job at the Triangle Bar.

"It was a fun time at that bar.  Al (Thomas) was always generous and did much for the people he served." 

The toughest times for him came when he suddenly started losing friends to AIDS, often referred to as "the gay cancer" at the time. 

"It was a challenging era for our community, and there was a lot of violence against gay individuals after bar hours. Many victims avoided reporting to the authorities, knowing that the police would likely not help."

The rise of Chastity Belt

Using his wrestling and bartending as a base for theatrics, he began performing drag in 1989. The legendary drag queen and professional grouch Doris Delago made him a dress for the "Rona's Around the World" show at the famous M&M Club. He performed "Harper Valley PTA," and this is where his comedic character, Chastity Belt, was born. Charlotte Lorraine and Boo Boo at the M&M Club would often call the young performer, "Belt me in the lamb chops!"

As a comedy performer in drag, he states, "I don't foresee 'Vegas-style' shows making a comeback, like the ones at La Cage or Club 219."