Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project

09/02/2026

We are everywhere -- and we always have been!

While The Blue Lite (1992-2024) was the city's most popular gay bar, another Sheboygan tavern is warmly remembered for creating hometown space for nearly two decades.

Sherlock's Home, a gay-friendly pub in Sheboygan, opened in April 1981 under the ownership of Gordy Bourret. Although it was intended to be a straight bar, Sherlock's quickly became a popular LGBTQ hangout. Until 1995, it was actively listed in Wisconsin gay guides. After nearly 20 years in business, Gordy Bourret sold the bar and retired in 2000. Today, Legend Larry's operates at this address.

What are your favorite memories of Sherlock's Home?

Explore over 550+ historic q***r spaces at our Places Directory: https://tinyurl.com/places2026 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

09/02/2026

We're SO proud of Dan Terrio, our director of fundraising and partnerships, who is this year's Bridgebuilder Award Honoree in the Milwaukee County Health Equity Champion Awards!

The Milwaukee County Health Equity Champion Awards celebrate people and organizations who are helping make our community healthier and fairer. Learn more at https://tinyurl.com/mcequity26

09/02/2026

Save the dates: our Summer to be Seen Tour concludes October 22-25 at BLAQToBERFEST 2026 in Milwaukee!

This year's festival embraces the theme "Cultivating Futures: Wellness, Legacy, and Liberation," with special focus on transforming healing into action by investing in the future of Black, Brown, Latino, Indigenous, and LGBTQ communities.

As an expression of our commitment to anti-racism, social justice, and community belonging, the Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project is a proud sponsor of BLAQToBERFEST.

Learn more: https://blaqmke.com/

09/02/2026

Happy birthday today to our community partner, Patrick Farabaugh of Our Lives Magazine!

When Our Lives launched in 2007, it was one of several LGBTQ print publications in Wisconsin. Two decades later, it is the last surviving source of q***r media in our state. Today, Our Lives is stronger than ever, with a nonprofit organizational structure, a statewide board of directors, regional reporters, and an ever-increasing digital and social presence. Thank you, Patrick, for never losing sight of your vision -- no matter what challenges the world has thrown at us all -- and for ensuring everyone's story can be told!

🎂 HAPPY BIRTHDAY! 🎂

09/01/2026

Will you be joining us at Doors Open Milwaukee: Gayborhoods that are Gone?

This walking tour explores not only the long-lost 20th century gay bars where pride and liberation were born, but the men-only saloons, sailor bars, and other homosocial spaces that defined Walker's Point as Milwaukee's gayborhood as early as 1866.

Tickets go on sale TOMORROW (for Historic Milwaukee, Inc. members) and Wednesday, Sept. 9 for the general public. Get yours ASAP -- because our Doors Open Milwaukee tours always sell out! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Doors Open invites Milwaukee explorers to visit 188 locations this September. Here's everything newly added to the event in 2026.

09/01/2026

Are you ready? Nominations are NOW OPEN for the 2026 Wisconsin Drag Awards!

From now through September 15, you're invited to nominate your favorite Wisconsin drag artists in this first round of voting.

We were SO honored to be named "Best Community Partner" in the 2025 Awards. And we're looking forward to seeing all y'all beautiful people again in Madison in January! ❤

NOMINATE TODAY: https://forms.gle/xW8LtaDJpsxvJnVP9

09/01/2026

It's Bisexual Visibility Month!

Since 2014, Bi+ Pride Milwaukee has been leading the way in connecting bi and pan folks across the region. Learn more about their history at OnMilwaukee. 🩷💜💙

Bi+ Pride Milwaukee raises awareness of sexuality as a spectrum.

09/01/2026

When hate got loud, Susan Seiler made sure that love was louder.

After standing up to evangelical protesters at PrideFest Milwaukee, Susan became a symbol of family acceptance and the ambassador of a beloved annual tradition. For 20 years, she greeted visitors at the festival gates with open arms, warm welcomes, encouraging words, and unlimited selfies. As the founder of PFLAG Waukesha, she harnessed her unconditional love for her son into a personal commitment for LGBTQ advocacy.

"I asked myself, 'what can I do? what can one mom do?' As it turns out, one mom can do a lot," she said.

Here's her story: https://tinyurl.com/susanseiler26

08/31/2026

Have you seen the Ghostlab project at 266 E. Erie Street?

Ghostlab, a collaboration between UWM School of Architecture and Urban Planning (SARUP), Milwaukee Preservation Alliance, Inc. and the History Project, is bringing the past into the present at the former Wreck Room Saloon. By exposing architectural elements across 140+ years, Ghostlab helps us appreciate the long and colorful lifespan of this impossibly historic building. We can't wait to see it come back to life! 🏳️‍🌈

Learn more: https://www.ghost-lab.com/266eerie