October is the 30th Annual National LGBT History Month. Rodney Wilson, a Missouri social studies teacher, founded the event in response to the exclusion of LGBT history from public education. At the time, no school or university in Missouri even mentioned LGBT people. (In 1996, the University of Wisconsin launched a ‘Gay & Lesbian Studies’ course, despite protests from legislators, regents, and professors.)
“The LGBT community is the only community worldwide that is not taught its history at home, in public schools, or in religious institutions,” said Wilson. “LGBT History Month provides role models, builds community, and makes a civil rights statement about our extraordinary contributions.”
In Milwaukee, the Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project is honoring October with outreach exhibits at the Milwaukee County Courthouse, City Hall, Marquette University, and Milwaukee Area Technical College, which hosts “Raising the Flag,” a gallery-style presentation of over 50 people, places, and moments of progress through Nov. 3.
These exhibits – and the visibility they create – are especially critical right now.
In August, Wisconsin dedicated its 616th historic landmark, which was also its first honoring a LGBTQ historical event. There’s a lot of catching up to do. But even the Black Nite Brawl, one of the nation’s earliest uprisings that launched a domino effect of decades-spanning activism, was already forgotten a decade later. And, as our elders continue to leave us, the forgetting continues every day.
But all is not lost. Every now and then, a chance discovery balances the scales, offers a new opportunity to learn from our past, and inspires more inclusive history for our future.
And that’s exactly what happened to Brian Firkus – otherwise known as Trixie Mattel – co-owner of This Is It, 418 E. Wells.
Inheriting a hidden history
Brian Firkus remembers getting the text.
“My first reaction was, WOW,” said Brian. “My eyes just popped out of my head.”
That text came from a friend, who shared photos of historic LGBTQ materials from the 1970s and 1980s, including Gay Liberation Front protest flyers, Pride Week calendars, news clippings, and original publications (Milwaukee Calendar, InStep, and more.) The original owner of these materials is not known.
Brian’s friend wanted to donate these found objects, and hoped they would find a good home at This Is It. Brian saw an immediate opportunity to preserve this history for future generations. He contacted his partner, George Schneider, and put together a plan to acquire, digitize, and exhibit the collection.
“I knew this was some rare stuff, so I was extremely excited,” said George. “That’s why I engaged the History Project to evaluate the content.”
Don Schwamb, founder of the Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project, concurred.
“Some of these documents are so rare, even I have never actually seen them,” said Schwamb. “There’s an original, hand-drawn flyer for the Jan. 2, 1971 Pride March & Rally that was only distributed on the UWM campus. This was the first-ever pride march in Wisconsin history, and for years, we weren’t even sure it actually happened. Only a few dozen flyers were ever printed. To see that, intact after all this time, was startling.”
“These ‘bar rags’ are more than just a guide to nightlife. They contain articles, ads, and photos that often fill the gaps in our knowledge. What might seem like a minor mention could be a research breakthrough. What might seem like a blurry, faded photo might be the only known image we have of a person.”
“Whoever these items belonged to, they seem to have been deeply involved in gay liberation from the very beginning,” said Schwamb. “And the movement was very, very small, with only a few dozen people involved back then. We can only imagine who this person was and what their role in LGBTQ history might have been.”
“Once everything is scanned and indexed, we will display the collection behind glass in the bar,” said George. “To actually see a piece of history is always very impactful. It provides a connection to the past that digital doesn’t always provide. We hope to inspire people to learn more about where we came from.”
“I’ve really been inspired by Palm Springs,” said Brian. “The vibrant gay community really respects history and values preservation. They work as a team to make sure Palm Springs stays one-of-a-kind and super gay. When renovating the Trixie Motel, we always had history in mind and wanted to create something that seemed like it had always been there.”
“So, I’d love to have [the collection] prominently displayed for the happy hour crowd to reflect over a cold one,” said Brian. “Our pioneering generations really laid down the pink carpet for us and we should always be grateful.”
“This is an excellent example of why we do what we do,” said Schwamb. “I can’t even estimate how many lifetime photo collections wound up in landfills over the years, because survivors didn’t know what to do with them. Families never realize that they’re throwing away rare and priceless artifacts. You never know what mysteries could be solved; what lessons could be learned. Their trash is truly our treasure.”
“Every time we rescue these collections from the dumpster, we win a little bit of our history back.”
Milwaukee’s living LGBTQ museum
Open since 1968, This Is It is not only the oldest gay bar in Wisconsin, but one of America’s top ten longest-running gay bars.
“Most people don’t realize that the Stonewall Inn closed soon after the uprising, and didn’t reopen as Stonewall until 1991,” said George. “This Is It was open during the Stonewall Riots and it’s still open today. There are very few surviving gay bars in America that can say that.”
After six years on-staff, George bought This Is It in 2016 following the death of legacy owner Joe Brehm. He’s learned much from the bar’s clientele over the years.
“Being able to connect with the generation who led the movement, the activism, the social change … it’s had a huge influence on me,” said George. “Just listening to how things used to be, and how far things have come, inspires me to continue the fight so we don’t go backwards.”
“That being said, I’d like to see more outreach to the next generation,” said George. “People make assumptions about young people, but in truth, they’re just as proud of our history and eager to celebrate it. When people of all ages learn about the rich queer history of Milwaukee and Wisconsin, it will inspire even greater strides in our fight for equality, acceptance and freedom.”
Since 2018, This is It has hosted the History Project’s only permanent exhibit, which showcases drag performers, trans pioneers, local landmarks, and key events. The bar is also the neighborhood steward of the commemorative rainbow crosswalks in Cathedral Square.
In 2021, Brian Firkus made an ownership investment in This Is It.
“Buying a bar was the only way I could keep tabs on my mother,” joked Brian, who currently lives in Los Angeles. “People say This is It is the Cheers of the LGBTQ bar scene and it really is. It becomes a tradition for people after they go once.”
“And considering queer spaces can disappear just like that, people need this space. They really do.”
Want to learn more? Explore nearly 100 years of local LGBTQ heritage at the Wisconsin LGBT History Project website.
