We’ve Been Here All Along: Wisconsin’s Early Gay History

by R. Richard Wagner

The first of two groundbreaking volumes on gay history in Wisconsin,  We’ve Been Here All Along provides an illuminating and nuanced picture of Wisconsin’s gay history from the reporting on the Oscar Wilde trials of 1895 to the landmark Stonewall Riots of 1969. Throughout these decades, gay Wisconsinites developed identities, created support networks, and found ways to thrive in their communities despite various forms of suppression—from the anti-vice crusades of the early twentieth century to the post-war labeling of homosexuality as an illness to the Lavender Scare of the 1950s.

In We’ve Been Here All Along , R. Richard Wagner draws on historical research and materials from his own extensive archive to uncover previously hidden stories of gay Wisconsinites. This book honors their legacy and confirms that they have been foundational to the development and evolution of the state since its earliest days

Genres: History, LGBT, Queer, Nonfiction

416 pages, Hardcover

Published May 7, 2019

About the author

Scholar and activist Richard Wagner was the first openly gay member of the Dane County Board of Supervisors, where he served for fourteen years. In 1983 he was appointed by Governor Tony Earl to co-chair the Governor’s Council on Lesbian and Gay Issues, the first in the nation. In 2005 he joined the Board of Fair Wisconsin to fight the constitutional amendment against marriage equality. Wagner has served on the Wisconsin Arts Board, the Wisconsin Humanities Committee, the Board of Downtown Madison Inc., the Madison Plan Commission, the Madison Urban Design Commission, the Madison Landmarks Commission, Historic Madison, the Madison Trust for Historic Preservation, the Board of the Olbrich Botanical Gardens, and the Board of the Friends of UW Libraries.

Reviews

[Sue · Rating 5 out of 5]

I bought this book for two reasons. I am a history buff, especially any kind of social history and I have met the author several times and wanted to support him.

I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed "We've Been Here All Along..." It is well written, filled with detailed information on the history of gays in Wisconsin and elsewhere and also has many interesting anecdotes. eg. I had no idea Pendarvis was built and run by two gay men.

I highly recommend this book for anyone interested in social history and especially in gay history.

[Michelle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good, but not great. Very narrowly focused on white gay men. Lesbians are mentioned as an afterthought, and very few people of color are featured. Missing key events such as the Black Nite Brawl, which makes the completeness suspect, at best. Nonetheless, it contains some interesting material.

[Eric · Rating 3 out of 5]

I learned of this book in June amidst the observance of PRIDE in the LGBTQ community. It caught my attention because it was specifically about LGBTQ people in Wisconsin. The first of a two-book series, this opening volume takes a look at the reality of gay people and lives in WI during the first 3/4 of the 20th century.

It is hard to imagine today, but less than 100 years ago homosexuality was considered a crime. The book reviews a large number of cases where people were convicted of sodomy violations and sent to prison for up to 7 years. There were political committees established to address this rising wave of crime and social deterioration due to homosexual activities. Slowly, the focus shifted away from homosexuality as a crime to that of a mental illness. People were sent to mental institutions to be 'cured,' reminiscent of the still popular "conversation therapy" efforts of Evangelical Christians today. There is extensive exposure of the effort of the University of WI system (viewed by many today as a liberal bastion!!!) that sought to infiltrate student organizations to find gay students for expulsion and public exposure. Many students on the eve of graduation were removed from school, not getting their degrees. It is almost comical to read today, if it were not so sad.

There was an interesting discussion of how WWII allowed for greater openness of gay men. Pulled together for the war effort, gay men were able to meet one another and to bring their new sense of freedom home with them following the war. It is clear that there were large numbers of gay men in the military, and the military for the most part did not want to upset the basket during the war effort as every soldier was need. Yet "don't ask don't tell" didn't become effective until the 1990s.

Perhaps the darkest section of the book was the post war McCarthyism witch hunt. While most people think of McCarthyism as a quest to expose the presence of Communists in government, there were far more people investigated and removed for being "sexual perverts" (i.e. gay) who threatened national security, it was argued, due to fear of potential blackmail. McCarthy is a large stain of embarrassment upon the State of WI; it is even worse when one realizes he did more damage to gay people than he did to any communist threat. The fear that McCarthy created is still felt with the LGBTQ community today.

The book wraps up with signs of hope and openness for LGBTQ people emerging in the 60s and early 70s, both pre and post Stonewall. The second book in the series, "Coming Out, Moving Forward" will address Gay life in WI since the 1970s to present day.

Wagner's work is well documented, with extensive footnotes. It reveals both courageous acts by those in the LGBTQ community, as well as actions now viewed as reactionary and immoral by so many leaders and politicians. Those in the LGBTQ community still have a long way to go for full inclusion and equality in America. Life under the Trump Administration was extremely difficult, and there was an obvious legal deterioration for their rights and standing. Hopefully America is heading in a positive direction again. I will be interested to read the second volume of this set.

[Derek Kreider · Rating 3 out of 5]

I actually really enjoyed this book. I didn't think I would because I don't care that much about Wisconsin. I selected the book because I know McCarthy was from Wisconsin and I thought it might be interesting given the Lavender Scare and all. But the author goes into quite a lot of stories and even extends the history out, discussing events like the trial of Oscar Wilde.

Something I did find interesting was that there was A LOT that was uncovered which referenced sexual encounters with youth. I thought all along that the Right made spurious associations with the gay movement and pedophilia or NAMBLA. Of course there are perverts who happen to be homosexual and advocate for pedophilia, but I thought the strong linkage was propaganda. But this book, as well as another book I recently read entitled, "Indecent Advances," both have quite a number of historical events they highlight as encounters with youth. These books are both pro-gay, so I was surprised they included all these instances.

Now there are two possibilities I can see. First, maybe there is an association here and the Right is correct (even a blind squirrel finds a nut, right)? The other possibility is that the newspapers back in the day used the word "young" and "youth" liberally and it doesn't mean what we mean today. The author even gives an example of two young lovers who are in their 30's, but mistaken for being much younger. I'd be interested to hear more from someone knowledgeable.

[Blaise Keller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Throughout its history, early and modern, America has not been kind to those who don’t fit into what is considered the “norm” of society at the time. Despite the unkindness, those who are considered not “normal” still manage to live and sometimes thrive. For R. Richard Wagner, those that continued to live their lives, thrive and keep their identity were the LGBTQ+ community in Wisconsin.

Starting with the Oscar Wilde trial through the end of the 1960s, Wagner takes the reader on how LGBTQ+ Wisconsinites, and those not part of the community, adjusted to life as laws were made against sexual “deviance”, gay bars arose, LGBTQ+ focused magazines were circulated, gay students were purged from the University of Wisconsin - Madison, McCarthyism targeted homosexuals and how towns across Wisconsin welcomed gays and lesbians into their neighborhood.

As a Wisconsinite, and a bisexual man, I was aware of some of Wisconsin’s LGBTQ+ history but not all. I’m glad that I picked up this book; I learned more about myself, my state and my community. I’m excited to read Wagner’s second volume - Coming Out, Moving Forward: Wisconsin’s Recent Gay History.

[Brian Hutzell · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a thoroughly researched and well written history of gay Wisconsonites from the end of the 19th Century up to the eve of Stonewall. Though focused primarily on gay men, there are nods to the lesbian, bisexual, and trans populations as well. (Those are three subjects that would benefit from their own histories.) This is the first of a 2-volume set, the second covering the post-Stonewall era. The Wisconsin Historical Society is to be commended for this project. I wish every state could boast of similar books.

[della · Rating 3 out of 5]

wi has a pretty impressive history not gonna lie. i do understand the author is a gay man but would have appreciated more lesbian representation in the history

[Richard Harris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an extremely informative and interesting book. There were many places and names that I recognized and had no idea had any bit of gay history tied to them. Very well-written book.

[Jill Farber · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of information that I didn’t know. Some parts were more interesting than others but overall really glad I read the book. Hope to read the second volume too.

[Fred Vaughn · Rating 4 out of 5]

How the gays of one place started towards NOW... A colorful, informative, presentation of a regional history.