Milwaukee Film and PBS Wisconsin to Host Premiere of LGBTQ+ History Documentary Wisconsin Pride

MILWAUKEE – Monday, May 1, 2023 – Non-profit arts organization Milwaukee Film and public television station PBS Wisconsin announced Monday their plans to co-host a Red-carpet gala event at the historic Oriental Theatre for the premiere screening of Wisconsin Pride on Friday, June 9th, 2023.

A collaboration between PBS Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Historical Society, the new two-hour documentary profiles historical figures and gathers contemporary perspectives of LGBTQ+ Wisconsinites whose lived experiences reveal a vital, often overlooked part of the state’s history. Through the intimate, personal accounts of trailblazing activists and regular people who challenged LGBTQ+ harassment and injustice in visionary ways, Wisconsin Pride explores the hard-fought battles for human rights that took place across the state long before these efforts received national attention.

PBS Wisconsin producer Andy Soth hopes viewers take away a richer appreciation for our state’s history. “LGBTQ+ history, simply put, is Wisconsin history,” he asserts. “This is an authentically Wisconsin story. There are so many intersections with Wisconsin traditions and our LGBTQ+ citizens.”

The feature presentation of its annual Pride Month programming, Milwaukee Film, will offer free tickets to the premiere event through its Community Cinema Initiative, a community-centric program providing free screening events at the Oriental Theatre in collaboration with corporate sponsors and local non-profit organizations.

“Wisconsin’s LGBTQ+ communities and our allies cannot miss this opportunity.” Emphasizes Jack Feria, Milwaukee Film’s GenreQueer & Shorts programmer. “The gravity of honoring our trail-blazers and facing our histories together, on the Oriental Theatre’s largest screen is going to create one of the most unique Pride celebrations Wisconsin has ever seen. You cannot replicate this experience at home. This is going to be a monumental evening for GenreQueer, Milwaukee Film, and Wisconsin.”

Wisconsin Pride will screen at 7 p.m. on June 9 at the Oriental Theatre (2230 N Farwell Ave.) and will include a who’s who of local activists, historians, gay rights leaders, and elected officials, as well as experts interviewed for the program in attendance. The filmmaking team will be in attendance.

For more information on the film and event or to reserve a free ticket to the premiere, visit mkefilm.org/pride.

Wisconsin Pride will premiere on Milwaukee PBS at 7 p.m. Tuesday, June 20, and will be available for streaming on the free PBS App and at pbswisconsin.org/pride.

 

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. It has not been verified for its accuracy or completeness.