Quest PrideFest Weekend Feature:
DRIVING AWAY INTOLERANCE
Fagbug drives into Milwaukee’s PrideFest

The AIDS Memorial Quilt On Display at Milwaukee Art Museum

MILWAUKEE – Sections of The NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt will be on display at the Milwaukee Art Museum Starting June 8 and running through June 20 in the Schroeder Galleria.  The exhibition is coinciding with the 25th anniversary of ARCW who is one of the sponsors.

Nine specially selected quilts showing the contributions of fashion designers Dolce & Gabbana, Versace, Ralph Lauren and Isaac Mizrahi and others will be on display. Also included in this show is the original quilt designed in 1987 by ARCW. The exhibition is free to the public.
“The Quilt emerged from an era of the AIDS epidemic marked by fear, stigma, discrimination and death,” said Doug Nelson, ARCW President and CEO. “The Quilt quickly became a galvanizing symbol of fighting back against AIDS by honoring those we lost, defeating the stigma and building solidarity throughout the country.”

The genesis of The NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt goes back to 1987 when a small group of people gathered in San Francisco to document the lives lost to AIDS - lives they feared history would overlook. The goal was to create a memorial for those lost to the epidemic and help people understand the devastation and the impact of AIDS in their community.

The result of their work is the AIDS Memorial Quilt which triggered an enormous response with contributions of quilt panels coming in from communities all across the United States and several foreign countries. The AIDS Memorial Quilt had its first showing on October 11, 1987 on the National Mall in Washington, DC. It covered a space larger than a football field and included 1,920 panels. Today more than 44,000 panels have been contributed to the AIDS Memorial Quilt.  The nine specially selected panels on display will be 12 feet long by 12 feet wide.
“These quilts are very special because they catalyzed our nation’s response to policy by moving the topic of HIV/AIDS into mainstream society,” Nelson said.  “We are proud to be a part of this exhibit because it serves as a celebration of how far we have come in the fight against AIDS and reminds us of how far we have yet to go to stop this epidemic on its destructive course through Wisconsin.”

Daniel T. Keegan, Director of the Milwaukee Art Museum said, “The AIDS Memorial Quilt is the largest community folk art project in the world and the museum is honored to host this exhibition, especially in conjunction with American Quilts: Selections from the Winterthur Collection. Both of these exhibitions chronicle important moments in American history in very personal ways.”

The AIDS Memorial Quilt exhibition is made possible through support from the Greater Milwaukee Foundation Johnson and Pabst LGBT Humanity Fund and from ARCW.  The exhibition is free to the public.

Joseph Pabst, advisor to the Johnson and Pabst LGBT Humanity Fund was recently honored by ARCW as its philanthropist of the year. “Fashion designers joined the earliest ranks of leaders in the fight against AIDS and they used their creativity to compel others to be bold and join them in building a dialogue on AIDS,” said Pabst. “I hope this exhibit will motivate people to continue the fight against AIDS.”

Wisconsin Public Television Recognizes Gay Pride Month With Several Programs

Madison - Wisconsin Public Television's (WPT) June schedule includes several programs that honor Gay Pride Month.
At 9 p.m. Tuesday, June 8, Anyone and Everyone follows the stories of families from various religions and nationalities all connected by a common thread — a gay child. Parents of homosexual teens and young adults eloquently recall their initial reactions to their child's coming-out and their journeys to acceptance.
At 9 p.m. Friday, June 11, P.O.V. “Wrestling With Angels” Playwright Tony Kushner” celebrates one of the country's leading playwrights and one of its fiercest moral critics as it delves into the passions that keep him reaching for the great American play.
At 9 p.m. Friday, June 18, In the Life looks at the “Intersections of Church and State.” The separation of Church and State is a fundamental tenet of the U.S. Constitution.  Increasingly policies that funnel taxpayer dollars into faith-based organizations challenge this important principle. This month’s program follows the money to expose some faith-based initiatives that sanction homophobia here and abroad. WPT will encore the program at 12:30 a.m. Wednesday, June 30.
At 9:30 p.m. Friday, June 18, Out & Proud in Chicago profiles famous and unsung LGBT Chicagoans. Through their voices the documentary tells the story of citizens who helped shape the face of a city.

Skylight Opera Theatre RENT Private Performance Nets Big Win for ARCW

Milwaukee - AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin (ARCW) reported the May 23rd private performance of RENT at the Skylight Opera Theatre was attended by 300 guests and raised $7185 to help provide safe and affordable housing for people living with HIV/AIDS.
“The show displayed an amazing wealth of talent and music, along with some very meaningful and powerful moments,” stated a press release from ARCW. “The night didn’t end when the stage lights dimmed and the house lights came up! Many of our guests joined the cast of RENT at MOCT for an exuberant party hosted by our media partner 4PM magazine that lasted well into the night.”

RENT performances at the Skylight Opera Theatre and reviewed in this issue of Quest will continue to run through June 20. Mention ARCW and receive a 10% discount off the ticket price.

MILWAUKEE LGBT PRIDE PARADE ANNOUNCES GRAND MARSHAL AND JUDGES FOR PARADE

Milwaukee - The Milwaukee Pride Parade is happy to announce William ‘Bill” Serpe as the Grand marshal for the 2010 Milwaukee Pride Parade.  Bill Serpe is the Executive Director of SAGE/Milwaukee, Services and Advocacy for Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender Elders.  As a self identified gay male he came to this position in January of 2004 with 40 years of life experience and a nonprofit management background.  His involvement with the issues of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender elders over the past 6 years has given him in-depth knowledge of the aging issues that are endemic to this specific population.  Bill is on the Board of Governors for the Family Care program at the Milwaukee County Department on Aging. He is also a member of the National LGBT Aging Roundtable.

Three judges for the 2010 parade were also annouced: David Boyer - currently the Promotions manager at numerous taverns located in Chicago, IL. as well works with the Historic Bijou Theater in Chicago, IL.  He works every year to put together some of the best event(s) for the GLBT leather community in Chicago including the Mr. Chicago Leather contest, bus trips to Great America's Gay Days, and bus trips Milwaukee's very own Pridefest and the Pride Parade. Marilynn Mee - from 96.5 WKLH Classic Rock, a staple of the Radio Industry in Milwaukee for Many Years.  She hosts the Mid-day radio show on WKLH on a daily basis and is an active supporter of the Wisconsin Humane Society.  Dino Maniaci - owner of WOOF’s Bar, Madison is the third judge.

The Milwaukee Pride Parade would also like to thank everyone for their gracious support of our fundraisers over the past few months. The Parade is also looking for volunteers.  After all if it were not for the volunteers who help every year there would be no Pride Parade at all!  Applications for the 2010 Parade are also out and available for download.  There is still plenty of space to fit in every unit who would like to be in the parade.  Download an application today from www.prideparademke.org.

The Milwaukee Pride Parade is a GLBT family entertainment oriented event.  It is currently in its 5th consecutive year of operation.   The Parade will take Place on Sunday June 13th, 2010 on 2nd street from Greenfield Ave to Seeboth Ave. with step off taking place at 2:00pm sharp.

New Bars Spice Up Milwaukee Nightlife This summer

Milwaukee - In the wake of City Lights Chill closing in May, a slate of bar opening brings the hope of new excitement to the club scene in the Cream City.

Already open and growing in popularity, Hybrid Lounge ads a much needed bar in the Brady Street neighborhood. Hybrid told Quest food service with a full menu is coming. In the meantime, you can check out this friendly neighborhood watering hole featuring some of the best looking bartenders in town at 707 East Brady Street. This friendly bar has great drink specials and a daily happy hour. Although it is located far from the festival grounds, there is a daily shuttle with hourly stops at participating bars including Hybrid during PrideFest. Look for their daily specials at www.hybridLounge.net.

As Quest went to press two more bars had an opening, one in Downtown Milwaukee and the other in the heart of the gay bar district. TEMPT enjoyed an opening night Thursday, June 3rd. The bar is located on Mason Street downtown in what used to be know as The Velvet Hour. Steve Sova, the bar manager has planned a cocktail bar with DJ and dancing in a different style than the typical dancebar. Advertising states they are “combining the intamcy of a lounge with the heated energy of a nightclub.” Steve has stacked the deck with a slew of drink specials for each night of the week. Quest photographer Will Sharkey caught snaps of the opeing night. Some are posted in this issue with more online at www.quest-online.com (click the photo gallery link)

A third bar had a “soft opening” this past weekend and plans a grand opening over PrideFest Weekend. D.I.X. takes over a classic victorian bar that used to house Generals recently. There are two large rooms and will feature video screens with a feel like SideTracks says co-owner Cory Bartel who moved up from New Orleans to open the bar with Liz. Located at 739 S. First Street, this is the first new bar in the main section of LGBT bars in quite a while. There are some pretty famous DJ’s palnned to spin the tunes over the grand opening weekend inlcuding DJ Terri Bristol with DJ Psycho Bitch Saturday night.

There are other changes that are not new bars, but new events. Wherehouse which has tried LGBT themed nights in the past is launching Shevents aimed at a mixed crowd that includes the Lesbian community. Look for Turkish Oil wrestling bubble party & go go girls on Friday June 11, and Carnival Of Sin on Sunday June 13. The crowd will be mixed and sounds like a fun time. Sunday is their “industry night” for those who work in the hospitaltiy industry.

Harbor Room has undergone a remodel and if I guess right, somewhat of a clientele change too. Look for Milwaukee’s own Jerry Grillo Historical Mystery Band to play on several Thursdays this summer, including for the bars 10th anniversary on July 23.

Let’s not forget to mention Montage on the second floor (third level) of LaCage. This new showlounge is a great place to catch all the glammour of pagentry and impersonator shows in a clasy setting. Opened this past October, Montage has brought a new level of class to the “Impersonator . Shows” which are scheduled weekly on several days. Pride Weekend will feature and extra show when international recording star Kaci Battaglia performes her hit single during an “after party” in Montage at 11pm.

Our only sad note is that City Lights Chill was sold recently and closed on May 27. Pat Sweeney the former owner celelbrated a 5th year with a final party for his customers. In a statement to Quest (and others) Pat said, “Our mission was to create a clean, comfortable, and fun atmosphere without pretense in a neighborhood setting. We hope someone else will someday pick up the torch and follow our path.”

Statement of U.S. Senator Russ Feingold On Celebrating LGBT Pride Month 

  “In keeping with Wisconsin’s great progressive tradition, I am proud to stand alongside so many Americans as we celebrate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Pride month.  This month, we celebrate the progress we have made while recommitting to the work that still remains to guarantee equal rights for all Americans regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation.  We have finally seen progress in repealing the law that wrongly discriminates against gay Americans serving in the military.  The Senate Armed Services Committee and the House of Representatives held crucial votes recently and now the repeal of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ is closer than ever.  Discrimination has no place in American society and I will continue to support an end to this harmful policy. 

  “I have also worked to ensure that LGBT rights and freedoms remain a priority in our foreign policy, by passing a bipartisan Senate resolution condemning an anti-homosexuality bill under consideration in Uganda and other similar laws worldwide, and by passing an amendment to ensure the State Department reports and addresses human rights violations against gay communities around the world.  I am dedicated to ensuring all Americans have equal opportunities and equal protection under the law, regardless of gender identity or sexual orientation.”