Milwaukee Gaze

“Hide/Seek: Difference and Desire in American Portraiture,” the first exhibition focused on gay relationships at a major American museum, came under fire from Republicans while on display at the National Portrait Gallery from Oct. 30, 2010, to Feb. 13.

The exhibit’s co-curator Jonathan D. Katz came to Milwaukee on May 26 to present a history of the event and to lead a panel discussion of the issues it raised. The event nearly filled the auditorium at the Milwaukee Art Museum.

Marquette University appears to have few LGBT students, and those who are out on campus face ongoing harassment in classrooms and residence halls, according to an investigation commissioned by university officials.

LGBT faculty members also face a hostile atmosphere at Marquette. One unnamed professor told the investigator, “As a lesbian faculty member, I am in constant terror that I will become the next big campus controversy, so I tend to avoid campus events and speaking out.”

A 54-year-old man was found dead in Milwaukee’s Midtowne Spa, 315 S. Water St., on Jan. 3. The cause of death is under investigation.

The man, whose name was not released, was last seen alive on video going to his room at the gay bathhouse at 3:42 p.m. on Jan. 2. A staff member found him unresponsive the next day with a chain wrapped around his neck, according to the spa manager, who identified himself only as Michael.

I had no idea how short forever was.

My longtime friend Harry “James” Marr died suddenly on March 31. We met many years ago in New Mexico and have lived in Milwaukee for the last 20 years. James had such a wide-ranging influence on so many people, but on a personal level he changed my life profoundly without even knowing it. I was lucky enough to be able to tell him how he changed mine before he died.

The only Republican among the five candidates vying for Gov. Scott Walker’s former job as Milwaukee County executive, state Rep. Jeff Stone has a consistently conservative and anti-gay voting record in the Legislature. During the last session of the Assembly, Stone voted against a school bullying law to help protect LGBT students from harassment and opposed a measure to allow victims of employment discrimination to seek punitive damages.

At the other end of the equality spectrum, former state Sen. Jim Sullivan has the strongest pro-LGBT record of the candidates. Sullivan believes same-sex couples have a “fundamental right” to the same legal benefits and responsibilities as heterosexual couples. He has earned the support of equality activists throughout his political career.