"Beacons of Brew City" honors the lifetime contributions of local LGBTQ elders

Today, on 414 Day, the Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project honors eight living LGBTQ elders (aged 55+) who have made significant lifetime contributions to the greater good of metro Milwaukee.

The 2026 Beacons of Brew City are:

• Dynasty Scott
• Reverend Janis K. Doleschal
• Israel Ramon
• Eloise McPike
• Shannon Dupree
• Jack H. Smith
• Karen Valentine
• Casper Garcia

The Beacons of Brew City include entertainers, organizers, philanthropists, business owners, faith leaders, healthcare advocates, chefs, culture keepers, storytellers, and public servants who have supported critical LGBTQ causes, events, and organizations for decades -- often as unsung heroes who didn't expect or receive recognition of any kind.

"They stood in the fire when it was dangerous to be seen, let alone heard, eight pioneers who refused to disappear and, in doing so, made it possible for all of us to exist openly today,” said Ritchie T. Martin, Jr. of the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center.

“Their courage didn’t just change lives, it changed history.”

In June, the Beacons of Brew City documentary will debut at the Oriental Theater, followed by a traveling exhibit that will visit ArtBar (722 E. Burleigh St.,) Style Pop Cafe (934 S. 5th St.,) the Milwaukee County Courthouse rotunda, and other locations TBA.

The Beacons of Brew City project is dedicated to Milwaukee pioneer Eldon Murray (1930-2007,) who used his privilege to foster the formation, mobilization, and advancement of the LGBTQ community for over four decades. Almost every LGBTQ organization that exists in Milwaukee today can trace its roots back to Eldon Murray's trailblazing leadership.

“We recognize the vital importance of preserving and amplifying the histories of the pioneers whose resilience, perseverance, and lived experience helped shape Milwaukee’s LGBTQ community," said Marty Brown of the Eldon E. Murray Foundation Fund Board of Directors.

Eldon was especially concerned about the needs of LGBTQ elders, and worked with the national SAGE organization to form a Milwaukee chapter in 1993. For the next decade, Eldon served as the SAGE board chair and as an advisor to the Milwaukee County Department on Aging.

"Eldon Murray was committed to a world where LGBTQ seniors could live authentically without going back into the closet in their golden years," said Brown.

"Systemic ageism is one of the biggest barricades standing between LGBTQ people and our own heritage," said Michail Takach, chair of the Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project. "As our elders age, they often step away from nightlife, the workforce, community service, and the public eye. Unfortunately, they are often left on the outside looking in, feeling isolated, invisible, and forgotten by the community they helped build."

"However, it's the community that suffers the most. By disconnecting from elders, we disconnect ourselves from our own heritage cycle and destabilize our own strength. We lose sight of history, culture, and knowledge that we need more than ever."

"Since 1994, the Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project has committed to reconnecting our community with its past to combat this cultural amnesia and inspire a more equitable future."

Beacons of Brew City follows the successful January launch of Beacons of the Bay, which included a documentary premiere at the Historic Tarlton Theater, a moderated Q&A panel discussion, and a rotating heritage exhibit that visited four Green Bay venues.

This fall, the History Project will bring the Beacon program to south central Wisconsin with a final 2026 exhibit honoring LGBTQ elders from the Madison metropolitan area. Visit our website for ongoing updates about the Wisconsin Beacon program.

We are thankful for the generous financial support of the Eldon E. Murray Foundation Fund and Potawatomi Bingo Casino in making the Beacons of Brew City project possible. 

Special thanks to Mark Mariucci for donating his photography services and to the Milwaukee Central Library for hosting our documentary filming.