Milwaukee celebrates living legend Sharon Dixon

Sunday, March 30 was a magical day in Milwaukee – as the Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project honored Sharon Dixon for 50+ years of creating, defending, and uplifting our community. Eleven local performers donated their time, talent, and passion to host an old-fashioned variety show raising money to support our community elder.

Sharon Dixon arrived in Milwaukee as an unhoused 14-year-old teenager fending for herself. Over the years, she became a bouncer, bartender, and cook in local LGBTQ nightlife. After working in other people’s bars for years, she decided it was time to open her own: a lesbian bar for women, by women, where the customers weren’t simply tolerated as moneymakers, but celebrated as part of a community.

In March 1975, fifty years ago this month, she and her partner JoAnn Kilsdonk opened the Sugar Shack, a groundbreaking regional lesbian destination. Sharon later went on to open Fannies (later Studio 200) at 200 E. Washington Ave and Shorty’s Party Room (later Kathy’s Nut Hut, which lasted over 34 years.) 

Over five decades, Sharon earned a reputation for being “tough as nails with a heart of gold,” known for her fierce generosity – and her protective oversight of the community. After defending her customers from a violent invasion, Sharon became known locally as the “Female Clint Eastwood:” someone who was armed, determined, and simply not to be messed with.

After Studio 200 closed in the pandemic, Sharon virtually disappeared, which concerned long-time friends and former employees. Eventually, they discovered Sharon had lost her building, was evicted from her home, had been unhoused for a time, and was experiencing health issues. Tragically, she was back when it all began at age 14.

“She thought, ‘well, I did this when I was 14, so I’ll just do it again,” said Jessica “Fortune” Fenner. “She didn’t really ask anyone for help, instead choosing to tough it out on her own.”

After a successful GoFundMe, Sharon stabilized with safe and affordable housing, medical care, and other accommodations. Diane Gregory of the Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project, a former customer and employee of Sharon’s, felt it was important for the community to rally around Sharon’s cause.

“She gave as much as she could of herself for decades,” said Diane, “so we decided it was time to give back to her. We have to take care of our own – just like we did in the old days – because nobody else is going to take care of us.”

Diane partnered with hostess Karen Valentine to produce a March 30 La Cage cabaret show and fundraiser honoring Sharon’s lifetime of giving. The event was attended by nearly 300 guests – mostly queer women, some of whom visited from other states – and raised over $2,600 in three hours. 

To date, over $10,000 has been raised in 2025 to support Sharon’s next chapter in life.

The event received regional media coverage from OnMilwaukee.com, TMJ4 News, Wisconsin Public Radio and WUWM 89.7 – Milwaukee’s NPR.

Thank you to Diane Gregory, Karen Valentine, Miss BJ Daniels, Esther Talopram, Maple Veneer, Jerry Grillo, Dianna Jones, Brittany Morgan, Corky Morgan, Judy Bownz, Baby Jane Hudson, photographer Cormac Kehoe, and Dave Wolz and his La Cage team for creating this magical and meaningful moment for Sharon.