For over four decades, Jo’Dee’s International stood as a cornerstone of Racine, Wisconsin’s LGBTQ+ nightlife. Opening in 1972, it became one of the longest-running gay bars in the Midwest—a gathering place where generations of queer people came for music, dancing, friendship, and community in a city where such spaces were few and deeply valued.
Jo’Dee’s wasn’t about trends; it was about continuity. Through changing cultural climates and shifting neighborhood landscapes, it remained a dependable room where regulars saw familiar faces, newcomers felt welcomed, and celebrations of identity happened week after week. Drag shows, theme nights, birthday dances, fundraisers, and ordinary weekend crowds all found a home here, helping anchor Racine’s queer culture long before wider visibility was assumed.
Closing its doors in 2014, Jo’Dee’s left behind a legacy remembered not just for its longevity, but for the connections it forged—chosen family built over decades of nights, laughter, and shared history.
