LGBT Milwalkee

This day of service in honor of the great Martin Luther King, Jr., seems the perfect time to share that we will be devoting our resources to our sibling project, House of History MKE, for the majority of 2024. It’s an honor to help share the stories of Black LGBTQ+ Milwaukeeans and weave them into our broader understanding of LGBTQ+, Black and Milwaukee history. It’s a gift to see people empowered through history. And it’s a joy to work with genuinely good people creating something meaningful.

We just received a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) for the House of History. It’s a really big deal to get a federal grant like this. The application took 60 hours and it seemed like such a long shot, but definitely a shot worth taking. And the NEH agreed with us that Black LGBTQ+ Milwaukeeans are national treasures. People involved with this project have experienced some of the worst that our country has to offer (racism, homophobia and transphobia) but exemplify the best in humanity: resilience, grace, wisdom, love.

If you haven’t already done so, please subscribe to the YouTube channel where we will be sharing a new video almost every week until the interactive website launches in June. As a program of Diverse & Resilient, we will be engaging the community in several ways. On February 10th we will be co-hosting our first event (along with the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center): An elders’ lunch where folks are invited to bring photos and memories to share. An opportunity to celebrate Black History Month through community connection.

Thank you for supporting lgbt milWALKee, without which there would be no House of History. I hope today is just the beginning of your support for this other really cool local q***r and trans history endeavor. May all of us who have benefited from allies embrace opportunities to become allies ourselves.

[Pictured: Janice Colby (Toy), mother of the House of History, and me (Brice Smith)]

Proud to amplify the powerful work of our sibling project, House of History MKE! In honor of National Coming Out Day, Black LGBTQ+ elders share their resilience, grace and wisdom. Come inside and feel the love. All are welcome at the House of History MKE!

https://youtu.be/vNGbGRnARSw

For too long, our Black LGBTQ+ elders haven’t been given their rightful place in our city’s history. Thanks to the legendary Janice Colby and a grant from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, we’ve launched an oral history and research project that we can’t wait to share. We will also be adding a 5-site tour highlighting the history of Black LGBTQ+ bars to the app. Happy Black History Month!

Janice Colby
Greater Milwaukee Foundation

https://youtu.be/YYqUtX4_LuQ

Many people don't know the incredible story of Manonia Evans and Donna Burkett and how they tried to marry 50+ years ago at the Milwaukee County Courthouse. But, in the words of Manonia Evans "You cannot stop love."

Happy Black History Month, everyone!

We’re making history this LGBTQ+ History Month! Special thanks to all the elected officials, organizations and individuals who expressed their support, to the landmarks committee for embracing this opportunity, to the historians who validated this story and the heroes who lived it.

Milwaukee's Black Nite tavern set to become the first LGBTQ landmark in county history Chairman of the Milwaukee County Landmarks Committee, Randy Bryant, told the Journal Sentinel "it's going to happen."

On August 5th, 1961, history was made in Milwaukee. Wisconsin's first LGBTQ uprising, centered around the Black Nite bar, showed the city and the world that LGBTQ Milwaukeeans would not back down. Learn more about this historic moment and site here!

Black Nite, 400 N. Plankinton Ave.