MILWAUKEE POLICE WITH WISCONSIN’S LGBTQ COMMUNITY MOURNING THE LOSS OF AN ICONIC PERFORMER AND MENTOR, DRAG QUEEN TEMPEST HEAT PASSED AWAY EARLIER THIS WEEK. SHE REALLY WAS THAT RARE PERSON THAT BROUGHT EVERYONE TO THE TABLE WITH EVERY PERFORMANCE. TEMPEST HEAT, ALSO KNOWN AS JONATHAN HEWLETT, WAS LOVED BY MANY AND KNOWN FOR BEING A SELFLESS ADVOCATE FOR LGBTQ YOUTH. SHE PERFORMED DRAG IN MILWAUKEE FOR MORE THAN 20 YEARS. FRIENDS SAY TEMPEST BATTLED KIDNEY DISEASE. TEMPEST ALSO SPENT TIME WORKING WITH MILWAUKEE LGBTQ NONPROFITS LIKE COURAGE MK. THE GROUP HOUSES LGBTQ YOUTH AND OFFERS SCHOLARSHIPS IN OTHER RESOURCE. HIS TEMPEST WAS A DEFINITION OF MAKING SURE IT WAS EQUITABLE FOR EVERYONE, WHETHER IT WAS PERFORMING OR AN ESTABLISHMENT OR OR JUST IN THE LGBT COMMUNITY. THAT’S WHAT SHE WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT. TEMPEST FAMILY STARTED A
Milwaukee drag queen remembered for being mentor and advocate
Friends say Tempest Heat died from kidney disease this week
People in Wisconsin’s LGBTQ community are mourning the loss of an iconic performer and mentor. Drag queen Tempest Heat died earlier this week from complications with kidney disease.”Tempest was somebody who was really what you would call a natural,” said BJ Daniels, who worked with Tempest at the Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project. “She really was that rare person that brought everyone to the table with every performance.”Tempest Heat, also known as Jonathan Hughlett, was loved by many and known for being a selfless advocate for LGBTQ youth. Friends say she performed drag in Milwaukee for more than 20 years. Tempest also spent time working with Milwaukee LGBTQ nonprofits like the History Project and Courage MKE. Courage MKE houses LGBTQ youth and offers scholarships and other resources.”Tempest was the definition of making sure it was equitable for everyone. Whether it was performing, or an establishment, or just in the LGBTQ community. That’s what she was passionate about,” said Brad Schlaikowski, executive director of Courage MKE.Friends said she was especially knowledgeable about Milwaukee’s LGBTQ and Black history, and enjoyed teaching others.”I know that performing and mentoring younger queens was always something she was interested in,” said Bill Wardlow, owner of Fluid Bar, where Tempest used to perform.Tempest’s family started a GoFundMe for funeral expenses.
People in Wisconsin’s LGBTQ community are mourning the loss of an iconic performer and mentor. Drag queen Tempest Heat died earlier this week from complications with kidney disease.
“Tempest was somebody who was really what you would call a natural,” said BJ Daniels, who worked with Tempest at the Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project. “She really was that rare person that brought everyone to the table with every performance.”
Tempest Heat, also known as Jonathan Hughlett, was loved by many and known for being a selfless advocate for LGBTQ youth. Friends say she performed drag in Milwaukee for more than 20 years.
Tempest also spent time working with Milwaukee LGBTQ nonprofits like the History Project and Courage MKE. Courage MKE houses LGBTQ youth and offers scholarships and other resources.
“Tempest was the definition of making sure it was equitable for everyone. Whether it was performing, or an establishment, or just in the LGBTQ community. That’s what she was passionate about,” said Brad Schlaikowski, executive director of Courage MKE.
Friends said she was especially knowledgeable about Milwaukee’s LGBTQ and Black history, and enjoyed teaching others.
“I know that performing and mentoring younger queens was always something she was interested in,” said Bill Wardlow, owner of Fluid Bar, where Tempest used to perform.
Tempest’s family started a GoFundMe for funeral expenses.
