Wisconsin’s LGBTQ+ Community Welcomes Adore Delano with Open Arms

Lucas Muellenbach drove from Oshkosh, Wis. Valentine’s Day to see his favorite drag queen perform in Milwaukee. 

However, there was one problem. 18-year-old Muellenbach’s car was in turmoil during the hour-and-a-half drive and ultimately broke down in a no-parking zone on Milwaukee’s East Side. 

“I don’t know how I’m getting home,” Muellenbach said. “I’m not worried about that right now. I wouldn’t miss this for the world.” 

RuPaul’s Drag Race and American Idol contestant Adore Delano brought her “Party Your World Tour” to The Back Room @ Colectivo on Feb. 14. As a queer icon, Delano’s visit was meaningful for many members of Wisconsin’s LGBTQ+ community. The Drag Race Season 6 finalist performed a plethora of her greatest hits, like “I Can’t Love You” and “Dirty Laundry,” as well as covers, like Britney Spears’ “Toxic.” 

“How many of you guys like Britney Spears?” Delano asked the crowd, consisting of Milwaukee drag favorites like Anya Knees and Adore Sanchez. “I’m so glad she’s free and singing in her own voice, bitch. I love her.” 

Delano followed the statement with an impression of Spears’ singing in a now-deleted Instagram post. She referenced Spears as an inspiration in her youth. MIAD student Emma Travitz said she felt the same about Delano. 

“I remember when I first watched Adore on (RuPaul’s Drag Race) Season 6,” Travitz said. “I wasn’t allowed to watch the show, so in middle school, I would lock the door and stream it on Amazon Prime. Now that I’m an adult in Milwaukee, I am able to come to events like this.”

Following the performance of “Toxic,” Delano sang her heart out to “27 Club” and Radiohead’s “Creep.” During the song, she flaunted a “limp wrist,” which got a chuckle from fans. After a rendition of impressive vocal control and mind-blowing runs, Delano encouraged concertgoers to join her in singing the 90s classic chorus: “I’m a creep. / I’m a weirdo.”

“Thank you for helping me out on that,” Delano said, over top of a long-winded cheer. “We’re stronger together; remember that!” 

Being in a room full of other LGBTQ+ people is a relatively new experience for UWM students Ben Stevens and Kris Kennedy. They are grateful that artists like Delano create spaces to celebrate queerness. 

“I originally lived in a small, conservative town where there were only straight entertainers and no exposure to anything gay,” said Stevens. “Coming here, it has been very eye-opening.” 

Most Queer artists are showcased heavily in Milwaukee’s gay bars, like LaCage NiteClub, DIX Milwaukee and This Is It. Besides occasional 18+ nights, there are few opportunities for younger audiences to see drag performers.  

“I like how there are different types of venues that are starting to host queer artists,” Kennedy said. “It’s not just nightclubs or a random basement. They’re coming to the back of coffee shops and big theaters.”

The Pabst Theater Group, which partners with Colectivo for The Back Room, has booked a handful of drag performers to their venues in recent years. In 2022, RuPaul’s Drag Race contestants Trixie Mattel and Katya Zamolodchikova stopped by The Riverside Theater. Bob the Drag Queen and Monet X Change also brought their “Sibling Rivalry” tour to The Pabst Theater. 

Colectivo has a history of supporting the LGBTQ+ community, donating $1 from every bag of their Pride Blend to the Midwest Institute for Sexuality and Gender Diversity, as well as 10% off of special Pride cafe menu items during Pride Month. 

Delano continued the show with fan favorites, like “D T F” and “I Adore You.” She reinvented the tracks’ sound to fit her contemporary rock ‘n’ roll aesthetic, serving long black hair and a dark, flowy, Stevie-Nicks-esque ensemble. 

“There are so many beautiful people here,” Delano said. “I wish I could crowd surf, but I can’t. I’d snag you on these tights.” 

The set came to a close with “My Address Is Hollywood,” the final track off her 2014 album, Till Death Do Us Party. She promised she would come back to Milwaukee before giving the audience one last message. 

“Be nice to each other,” Delano said. “Remember, we’re stronger together than apart… and VOTE!”

After singing and dancing along to the high-energy gig, Jackson Wheeland and his friends walked to Ian’s Pizza to enjoy a local slice. ​​He shared that it was heartwarming to see Delano exude confidence on stage following an anxiety-ridden time on RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars Season 2.  

“Adore’s an outstanding performer,” Wheeland said. “I think her struggle is something a lot of queer people can relate to. She leads a great example of how to be your authentic self and bring the community together.”