Diners are drawn to the campy ambiance of Hamburger Mary’s location in Chicago’s Andersonville neighborhood. – Photo: Courtesy
Hamburger Mary’s, where large gourmet burgers are served with a hefty side of sass, is headed to Milwaukee.
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.
Editor’s Note: Illustration is not from the documentary “Out of Respect.”.
“Out of Respect” offers a 90-minute window into a year in the life of five young homeless LGBT adults in Milwaukee whose childhoods were dominated by instability, neglect, abuse and abandonment. The film also reveals the inadequacy of community support for those whose sexual/gender orientation makes them more vulnerable to such hazards as discrimination, substance abuse and sexual exploitation.
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.
Mo’Nique – Photo: Courtesy
Academy Award-winning actress and comedian Mo’Nique will open PrideFest Milwaukee with a performance on the Miller Lite Mainstage on June 10.
James Marr – Photo: Courtesy
James Marr, 43, of Milwaukee, died March 31 in his sleep from a torn aorta.
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.”
Andrew Olacirequi – Photo: Courtesy
A judge sentenced Andrew Olacirequi to 11 years in prison and seven years of extended supervision for the May 7 slaying of Dana (Chanel) Larkin, an African-American transgender woman who resided in Milwaukee.
Maria Caldenas – Photo: Courtesy
After six years as executive director of Milwaukee’s Cream City Foundation, Maria Cadenas is moving to California to become philanthropy manager for Driscoll’s, a global corporation based in the Santa Cruz area.
Photo: Dan wilson
Mayor Tom Barrett cuts the ribbon marking the official opening of the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center’s new home at 252 E. Highland Ave. The ribbon cutting was part of an evening of celebratory fundraising events held at the center on March 12. For more information about the center’s new home and programs, go to www.mkelgbt.org.
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.
December’s Milwaukee Guerilla Gay Bar takeover at Red Rock Saloon. – Photo: Facebook
Like San Francisco’s The Castro, New York City’s Chelsea and Chicago’s Boystown, Walker’s Point serves as a sort of nucleus to Milwaukee’s LGBT nightlife. For years, gay and lesbian bars and clubs have flourished in the area, also known as the Fifth Ward.
