By Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer Published Jun 22, 2020 at 12:30 PM

If you’re a fan of OnMilwaukee, you’re likely familiar with the weekly virtual happy hours we’ve been hosting since coronavirus came and kicked us all out of the bars and restaurants around town.

This week, we’re pleased to share with you a special Pride Month virtual happy hour hosted by the Matthew Shepard Foundation and Miller Lite.

The Stay Proud, Be Loud Virtual Happy Hour takes place Tuesday, June 23 from 5 until 6 p.m. at MillerLitePride.com.

Judy and Dennis Shepard – the parents of Matthew, who was killed in an attack in 1998 when he was 21 years old – along with representatives from the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce and from local LGBTQ bars will talk about the importance of staying connected, as well as ways people can support the community and celebrate pride while we’re socially distanced.

For more information and to register for the happy hour, go to MillerLitePride.com. Attendees must be 21+ to participate.

Similar happy hours are set for Chicago and Washington, D.C. this week.

Bobby Tanzilo Senior Editor/Writer

Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.

He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.

With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.

He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.

In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.

He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.