"Beacons of the Bay" documentary debuts January 31

They ignited the torches. They blazed the trail. They guided our path forward. Along the way, they made northeastern Wisconsin a better place to live, work, play, and love -- despite the tremendous challenges and obstacles of earlier times.

We're celebrating the stories of our "Beacons of the Bay," eight living LGBTQ elders whose lifetime experiences, contributions, and achievements are a valuable lesson for us all.

"Beacons of the Bay," a multimedia documentary experience, will debut at the Tarlton Theatre with a red carpet opening night on Saturday, January 31.

Our eight Beacons of the Bay include:

• Sandy Brown
• Mike Fitzpatrick
• Kathy Flores
• Paul "Cricket" Jacob
• Martha Marvel
• Lecia Sams
• Joseph Ray Torres
• Lola Zak

The Beacons project, made possible by a generous grant from The Canary Fund, explores the history of LGBTQ progress in Wisconsin, through the voices of those who fought on the front lines for liberation, equality, and social justice across six decades. The Beacons project includes a gallery exhibit, guest speakers, a video documentary screening, and a live panel discussion, Q&A, and photo opportunities with the Beacons themselves.

"Too often, our LGBTQ elders are only honored after they're gone," said Michail Takach, chair of the Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project. "The Beacons of the Bay event is that rare moment we don't always get: a moment to not only show people how much they mean to us, but to celebrate everything they've done for us in their lifetime."

"The Beacons project is just another way we are reconnecting our community to its heritage," Takach explained. "For a variety of reasons, LGBTQ people have long suffered from a lack of intergenerational connections, which has only destabilized and diminished our shared understanding of who we are, where we came from, and how we got to here."

"Like every other community throughout human history, we have much to learn from our elders."

All seating must be reserved in advance at the Tarlton Theatre website.  Every guest will need a ticket to attend.  Full food and beverage service will be available, and guests are encouraged to preorder their dinners at the time of booking.  Your tax-deductible donation of $10 per person supports the ongoing work of the Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project throughout the region.

The Beacons of the Bay exhibit is dedicated to Jim Rivett, Green Bay community champion, whose relentless spirit of social responsibility later inspired the creation of The Canary Fund.

The project will continue in Milwaukee with "Beacons of Brew City," coming in early 2026, sponsored by a grant from the Eldon E. Murray Foundation Fund.

Many thanks to our documentary producer, Ashley Altadonna of Tall Lady Productions, and our filming hosts (Kate Krause of Paradigm Coffee & Music and Kylie LaCombe of the Tarlton Theatre) for their relentless support of this project.

Questions? Contact us!