This Month in the History of Gay and Lesbian life in Wisconsin--
Month by Month, Year by Year

This Month in Wisconsin LGBT History: March 2008
by Michail Takach and Don Schwamb

30 years ago-- 1978-- On March 4, Grace Jones made her Milwaukee premiere at the Red Baron nightclub (625 East St. Paul Avenue.) The disco diva made her grand entrance on a motorcycle, wearing a silver lame jump-suit, sunglasses and a racing cap. As Jones closed the show with “I NEED A MAN,” the entire club burst into a dance party. It may have been the Red Baron’s finest hour.

20 years ago-- 1988-- On Tuesday, March 8, La Cage hosted a release party for HAIRSPRAY, then playing exclusively at the Brown Port Theater. The party featured hair-do and costume contests, with free giveaways of movie posters, film stills, soundtrack cassettes… and of course, free cans of hairspray.

15 years ago-- 1993-- After Wisconsin’s “hate crimes” laws were ruled invalid by the State Supreme Court, and appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court, the LGBT media reported on several high-profile gay-bashings. In one controversial case, a 36-year-old Milwaukee man was violently assaulted in his own home by a stranger shouting homophobic insults. After being attacked with a sword, the victim suffered severe lacerations, broken bones, and a skull fracture that actually exposed his brain. Shockingly, the case was not logged as a hate crime by the Milwaukee Police Department.

10 years ago-- 1998-- Just as domestic partnerships were finally being recognized by large corporations and city governments (including the City of Chicago), a bill to limit domestic partner benefits was introduced into the Wisconsin legislature. Bill AB-759 would have eliminated the possibility of health insurance coverage for the domestic partners of unmarried state employees, whether involved in same-sex or opposite-sex relationships. In addition, the bill would have banned the use of state or local funds to pay for any domestic partner benefits. Bill AB-759 was the first confrontation in a decade-long debate that continues to rage on today.

See relevant articles related to the above, and do your own exploring, in issues of the following periodicals that appeared 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, and 35 years ago:

Note: Keep in mind that relevant news may appear in issues previous to or after the month of interest: earlier issues may have advertisements or announcements of upcoming events, and later issues may carry actual photos or more extensive coverage of events that occurred after publication deadlines.

 

Credits: "This Month in History" concept by Kate Sherry of Q-Life, and Don Schwamb;
Page design and arrangement by Don Schwamb.
Last updated: July-2008.