Get Your Detroit Queer History Straight: LGBTQ History in Detroit

Preservation Detroit's 50th Anniversary Lecture Series
Join local historian and tour guide Michael Boettcher for "Get Your Detroit Queer History Straight," a lecture exploring Detroit's rich and largely untold LGBTQ history. From the groundbreaking Club Frontenac, which opened in 1936 as the city's first gay bar, to the vibrant Palmer Park "gayborhood" of the 1960s, Boettcher traces the evolution of Detroit's queer community through decades of triumph and adversity. The lecture examines how Detroit once boasted dozens of gay bars and a thriving LGBTQ district. Boettcher's presentation not only celebrates the city's pioneering LGBTQ heritage but also connects this history to contemporary efforts to revitalize Detroit's queer community.
About the venue:
Gigi's is Detroit's oldest gay-owned and operated bar, it recently celebrated its 50th anniversary after opening in 1973, just four years after the Stonewall uprising. Located on Warren Avenue, the bar serves as a community haven and safe space for Detroit's LGBTQ+ community, welcoming anyone regardless of who they are or who they love. The establishment is home to Michigan's oldest drag pageant, the Miss Gigi's contest, which has been running for 50 years and holds the distinction of being the oldest gay bar drag competition title in the country. Throughout its history, Gigi's has played a pivotal role in LGBTQ+ advocacy, from supporting the community during the AIDS epidemic to providing refuge for young people who have been rejected by their families. Co-owner Luis Mandujano, who purchased the bar in 2020 after being a regular for over 20 years, is working to have Gigi's designated as a historical site, recognizing its significant contribution to Michigan's LGBTQ+ history and culture.

The bar will be open for drink purchases during the event. Join us, and make an evening of it!

Know what’s Happening Next — before everyone else does.

Get App

Host or Publisher Preservation Detroit