Mark Hagen is best (almost entirely) known to the Wisconsin LGBTQ community as drag persona 'Dear Ruthie'.

'Dear Ruthie', aka Ruthie Keester, has been a fixture in Wisconsin's LGBT community since the 1990's. Her persona appears to many as an amalgamation of Lucille Ball (the red wigs), Dame Edna (the eyewear), and the cast of Absolutely Fabulous, Eddie and Patsy (white trash version). Ruthie says it was a combination of Bette Midler, Carol Burnette and Joan Rivers. Her first drag show was at M&M Club, and her first number was "Coming Up Roses" by Bette Midler. That performance didn't go over as well as Ruthie expected, but her 2nd performance was a comedy number, and that brought the house down. The comedic, bodacious gal we've become to know as Ruthie Keester, was born.

Dear Ruthie began her drag career in the late 1990s, writing the advice column "Dear Ruthie" for Wisconsin Light newspaper. She began appearing in Milwaukee drag shows and quickly became known as the "funny girl." Over time, her advice column would be published in several LGBTQ+ publications, including Quest, In Step and Outbound.

The advice column was not to be taken too seriously, leaning more towards tongue-in-cheek. People would write to Ruthie, looking for advice about love, relationships, an occasional recipe, and other daily advice. One later question went as follows:

"Dear Ruthie,

I'm hosting a party next week, and a friend asked if she could bring her psycho sister along. I don't like this woman (the sister) and don't want her in my house. She has a history of stealing, is on drugs, and I just don't need her knowing where I live. Plus, she's rude, and I do not want to expose my other guests to her. What should I tell her? Or, do I just suck it up and let her bring the bitch?

Feeling Pissed,

F-This Fred" (Question appeared in the Shepard Express Aug of 2018)

Ruthie's advice was basically, no, the sister wasn't invited. And "if all else fails, more booze."

Over time, Ruthie began printing recipes in her column, and people began to ask about them or contribute their own. To satisfy the recipe questions, Ruthie launched a cooking show on YouTube, Ruthie's Bitchin' Kitchen. A campy show, with coffee, a shot or 3 of booze (or entire bottles), cigarettes, and co-host, Cynthia. Ruthie walked us through the recipes, while Cynthia worked on the lovely beverages… drinking them. The recipes were real, and from what I've read in the comments, quite good. On a side note here. I changed out a light fixture for Ruthie at her house… I mean trailer, and she gave me a bag of cookies, which were delicious. I sent a text, asking for the recipe, expecting her grandmother's recipe. Nope, it was "doctored up store bought cookie dough" (true story).

Ruthie eventually landed a spot as a roving reporter on the "Don and Bo show", on channel 58, a camp counselor on the TV reality show "Camp Wannakiki" airing on 'OutTV' for 6 seasons, and in three locally produced films, "Queen of the Castle," "Slay Belles" and "Walter's Wedding".

Dear Ruthie held lead (drag) roles in productions for many of Milwaukee's professional theater companies. Some of these performances include "Whatever Happened to Baby Jane?" "Torch Song Trilogy," "Vampire Lesbians of Sodom," Die, Mommy, Die," "Scenes of Love and Death in the Third Reich," "Psycho Beach Party" and many others. This writer went to see "Psycho Beach Party" and had a blast. Lot's of eye candy in that production.

Ruthie has won various awards over the years, including "Favorite Drag Personality" (2024-25), Best Emcee (2017) the Tommy Polubinsky Possum Queen Memorial Award (1999) and the "Best Use of Duct Tape and Sequins Award" (2020). Ok, I made that last one up, but there were other awards I haven't mentioned.

Ruthie may be the only (or at least the first) drag queen in the country to toss out the first pitch at a National League baseball game.

Ruthie is currently remodeling the kitchen in her trailer, located in the Rusty Nail Trailer park on Milwaukee's South Side. Her best gal pal Pearl, has been bitching about the shag carpet and burnt orange refrigerator for weeks. Ok, this paragraph isn't exactly true… but she does live on the south side... or is it west?

Ruthie continues to be a force in the gay community to this day. Working with various charities raising hundreds of thousands of dollars (including her own, Ruthie's Kennel club), hosting events, and being a general nuisance to us all.. I'M KIDDING!! We look forward to Ruthie's sarcastic, humorous presence for years to come.

(Preceeding 'Dear Ruthie' biography written by Jamie Taylor, March 2026)

Mark Hagen was recognized by the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors in June 2023 for his contributions under the 'Dear Ruthie' stage name. Recognitions were made in the categories of "Community Leaders and Activists," "Government Leaders," "Business and Cultural Leaders," and "Health and Wellness Leaders".

By the initiative of Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson and Supervisor Peter Burgelis, some forty individuals and organizations were recognized by the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors and presented citations in a special meeting on June 22, 2023. "Today, we recommit Milwaukee County to supporting and uplifting the LGBTQ+ community, celebrating those who make a substantial positive impact on the LGBTQ+ community in Milwaukee County," Supervisor Burgelis stated. "Today we are making up for lost time. We have dozens of people to recognize, not because so much has been done in the past year, but because decades and even years ago, there was little to no recognition of the LGBTQ+ community. I am thankful to work with a Chairperson who enables our County Board to honor these well-deserving individuals."

Hagan's citation (largely self-written) read as follows:

• WHEREAS, Dear Ruthie, the stage name of Mark Hagan, has been a journalist with numerous LGBTQ+ publications for several decades and continues to write the Dear Ruthie advice column in the Shepherd Express, a witty and thoughtful column that answers questions from community members about a wide variety of topics and problems; and
• WHEREAS, Dear Ruthie was made an honorary member of the Milwaukee Press Club for her work in journalism, was awarded the LGBTQ+ Progress Award for Arts & Entertainment, and was named Grand Marshal of the Milwaukee Pride Parade twice; and
• WHEREAS, Dear Ruthie has an impressive performance resume which includes appearances on season one of Americas Got Talent, three locally produced movies, local network-affiliated Don & Bo Show on CBS 58, opening performances for Taylor Dayne, Tiffany and The Weather Girls, dozens of professional productions with various theater companies throughout the city, and is a co-host on Camp Wanna-Kiki, a reality TV show streaming on Out TV and cable networks in the UK; and
• WHEREAS, Dear Ruthie launched a non-profit charity, "Ruthie’s Kennel Club," which raises funds annually for the City of Milwaukee's various animal-related charities, and also raises thousands of dollars for city and state-wide charities through bingo nights at Hamburger Mary's; and
• WHEREAS, Dear Ruthie is an exemplary performer, selling out venues throughout the city and state for her Joan Rivers tribute show and stars in the annual Golden Girls Drag Parody; and
• WHEREAS, Dear Ruthie is respected and admired as an LGBTQ+ role model and advocate, proudly showcasing and sharing the art of drag with a wide audience, and notably is featured in the book and nationwide art exhibit "Legends of Drag"; now, therefore
• BE IT RESOLVED, the members of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors, on the motion of Supervisor Peter Burgelis along with Supervisors Ryan Clancy, Priscilla E. Coggs-Jones, Caroline Gómez-Tom, Willie Johnson, Jr., Juan Miguel Martinez, Shawn Rolland, Steven Shea, Liz Sumner, Sequanna Taylor, Sheldon A. Wasserman, Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson do herewith commend Dear Ruthie for her dedicated efforts and contributions to the LGBTQ+ community, and wish her prosperity, happiness, and continued success in all her personal and professional endeavors.