Wisconsin's 1st LGBTQ historic marker unveiled at site of former Black Nite tavern in Milwaukee

 

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The city of Milwaukee declared Monday "Black Nite Remembrance Day," as the LGBTQ community celebrated a moment in time when a bar brawl changed everything.

Over 60 years ago, a group of Black transgender women stood up against four men and defended the only bar in the city where they felt they could be themselves.

Today, weeds line a vacant lot just off I-794.

"This is an address that hasn't existed in 60 years of 400 Plankinton. This is where the Black Nite stood," said Michail Takach, chairman, Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project.

The Black Nite had just eight bar stools, but it was the only place in Milwaukee people could show up in gender non-conforming clothes.

"The gay bars of the era being very shadowy, very confidential, very anonymous places, did not want attention and they definitely did not want gender expansive people in there because they felt that they would cause trouble," said Takach.

On Aug. 5, 1961, four men started a fight with the bouncer, left and returned for a bigger brawl, not realizing patrons would be ready. The solidarity, huge.

"People realized that there were more of them than there were of their harassers and that they could take a stand against their harassers," said Takach.

All these years later, recognition. At the corner of St. Paul and Plankinton, Wisconsin now has its very first LGBTQ historic marker.

"They fought back, and they won. The bar was demolished but the community understood the people in the LGBTQ community aren't gonna get pushed around anymore," said Milwaukee Alderman Peter Burgelis.

Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson and Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley also attended the Monday afternoon event, along with dozens of others.

"The historic marker is a powerful symbol of visibility and representation, particularly for our Black transgender siblings who have faced extraordinary challenges," said Tony Snow, Visit Milwaukee director of community engagement and inclusion.

Days like these are reminders of continued resiliency. The community has experienced a string of violence in recent times, with four Black transgender women murdered in Milwaukee from 2022 to 2023.

"Often times, we, as Black trans women, go unnoticed or we go without receiving the visibility or the support we need from amongst our community members," said Sevyn Lockett of Milwaukee.

The Wisconsin Historical Society's got a two-part series on the Black Nite Uprising in its publication, "The Wisconsin Magazine of History."

The first part was published in June. The second part will be out this fall.