Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project

Thank you, Governor Tony Evers, for honoring our community today. #BeSeen 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

One year ago today, we achieved what was once impossible:

a State Historic Marker honoring the first LGBTQ uprising in Wisconsin history -- eight years before Stonewall -- and one of only THREE in the U.S.A. to honor a Black trans woman.

Today, on Black Nite Remembrance Day, BE SEEN. 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

The first LGBTQ historic landmark in Wisconsin, dedicated August 5, 2024, honors the bravery of these bold pioneers. The monument is one of only three in the United States that honors a Black trans elder.

Without them, there would be no us. #BeSeen 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

Josie Carter, the woman who inspired the uprising, never saw herself as an activist or hero.

But her choice to take a stand, when others wanted to run -- eight years before Stonewall -- sparked queer awareness, activism, and empowerment for decades to come. (2/3)

The right choices, made at the right moment in time, can change the course of history.

Today is Black Nite Remembrance Day, honoring the first LGBTQ uprising in Wisconsin history. On August 5, 1961, four servicemen invaded the Black Nite and learned a hard lesson about toxic masculinity. (1/3)

“The act of being visible is always free; the act of being respected is always hated. Trans people are here and cannot be erased. Respect me and treat me like the human I am.”

“It’s time to reclaim trans rights and celebrate trans history. We will always be the glitter that shines.” #BeSeen 🏳️‍⚧️

Lori Cannon, LGBTQ+ community icon who supported thousands living with HIV, dies at 74 - Windy City Times Lori Cannon, a longtime HIV/AIDS activist and driving force behind Chicago’s response to the AIDS crisis, has died at 74. Cannon died at home Sunday evening. More information, including a full obituar...

“I am just one of the many, many people who find it hard to imagine the future without Lori around and in our lives.”

Farewell to Lori Cannon, a relentless force for good whose impact on LGBTQ Chicago (and the entire Midwest) cannot and will never be overstated. #BeSeen🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Start seeing rainbows, Walker's Point!

Because the City of Milwaukee has approved our rainbow crosswalks proposal for 2nd and National, honoring over eight decades of local queer visibility.

MORE: bit.ly/wprainbows

Remembering Tampa Bay's classic gay bars that no longer exist St. Petersburg poet and author Tyler Gillespie once noted how he struggled with his outlawed sexuality in the day, then spent the night dancing away the fiery damnation at gay bars.

We love to see NEW local LGBTQ history projects taking their cities by storm.

Bravo to TAMPA BAY! #BeSeen 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Pride in Color: Hall of Fame To honor Wisconsin’s queer & trans people of color whose lives, work, and legacies have been pivotal to the development and growth of our LGBTQ+ community, we have started to [...]

Be seen.
Like these folks were SEEN.
#PrideInColor 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

INFO: facebook.com/events/s/4th...

And the next stop on our Summer to be Seen Tour is… the 4th Annual Washington County Pride, in beautiful Newburg, Wisconsin!

Join us in three weeks for a day of peace, belonging, and togetherness. #BeSeen 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

This weekend, we honor the 57th anniversary of This Is It -- by sharing the stories of this sacred space.

Visit our Facebook page to view three generations of memories of Wisconsin’s longest-running queer space.

Because stories never truly end, as long as they can #BeSeen. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

The ReMixx, an LGBTQ club in Clayton, will close its doors in September | The Buzz The club is known for being one of the only places in the Fox Cities to consistently put on drag shows and events.

We didn’t see this coming — and we don’t want to see it go. #BeSeen 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Gender-expansive people have lived on Wisconsin soil — and been part of our shared history — since long before there was a Wisconsin.

Throughout August, we celebrate and honor trans elders, pioneers, and changemakers, to inspire a more compassionate and equitable future for all. #BeSeen🏳️‍⚧️

Why The Closing of Wisconsin’s Oldest Gay Bar Matters More Than Ever The closing of This is It! was an unimaginable loss for Milwaukee’s queer community.

Today, we honor her vision, which is more important now than ever.

Although the bar may be gone, this story will never truly end. #BeSeen 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️ (3/3)

They told June she was making a mistake. They told her she would get herself in trouble. They told her she was crazy.

And she told them to mind their own GD business.

For nearly 57 years, This Is It operated with June’s vision of unapologetic acceptance for all people. (2/3)

Fifty-seven years ago today, a new kind of tavern opened on Wells Street.

A space that didn’t just “tolerate” gay customers, but a space that put gay customers first. A space as good (if not better) than any other, where gay men didn’t have to settle for second best. (1/3)

EXCITING NEWS!

Start seeing rainbows, Walker’s Point! Our new rainbow crosswalks, designed by artist Jeremy Novy, have been approved by the City of Milwaukee and will be installed at 2nd & National by October 1.

INFO: tinyurl.com/rainbows25

Hamburger Mary’s, The Iconic Drag Diner, Returns With Edgewater Location The beloved restaurant known for its drag performances and diner fare closed in Andersonville in 2020. It’s celebrating its reopening with special dinners and shows Thursday through Sunday.

WELCOME BACK to Chicago, Hamburger Mary's......

Hopefully we'll see you back in Milwaukee again soon?
#BeSeen 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Building Community in Sheboygan- Love Wisconsin stories Kate Krause is the founder of Paradigm Coffee & Music and the Sheboygan Queer Potluck. She strengthens community through shared experiences.

We sure LOVE Kate Krause of Paradigm Coffee, the Sheboygan LGBTQ Alliance, and the Sheboygan Pride Picnic.

It's changemakers like Kate who are helping our community #BeSeen statewide -- not just at big-city venues and festivals, but in the streets of our hometowns. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

“Given the national consequences of erasing and silencing our community, these small symbols carry a big impact.”

Amaad Rivera-Wagner, board member, recently spoke with journalist Will Fries about the Jeremy Novy Rainbow Crosswalks we've proposed for Walker's Point.

READ: tinyurl.com/novywalks25

#BeSeen
like Josie and Wayne were SEEN
🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

Milwaukee LGBT Community Center fundraising after federal funding cuts The Milwaukee LGBT Community Center is turning to the community for support.

What will Milwaukee lose if it loses the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center?

More than we can even measure. #BeSeen 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

INFO: www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/ne...

For the first time in 60 years, something amazing will live at St. Paul and Plankinton - in addition to our State Historic Marker, of course!

#BeSeen 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

LinkedIn exposes transgender users to targeted harassment after company quietly changes hate speech policy The changes involve edits to LinkedIn’s Professional Community Policies, specifically the “Hateful and Derogatory Content” and “Harassment and Abusive Content” sections.

What was @linkedin.com thinking? 🤬

Cuban, Libre Cardinal Bar’s founder and longtime owner Ricardo Gonzalez recounts his experiences with revolutionary Cuba during his childhood, and his journey toward self-sufficiency and acceptance throughout some...

Learn more about his lifetime of community service in this Our Lives Magazine feature story. #BeSeen 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Save Saturday, August 16 — for our BeSeen Awards Reception: Honoring Ricardo Gonzalez at Wisconsin’s longest-running queer space, The Cardinal Bar!

For over 50 years, Ricardo has been shaping the social, cultural, and political health of LGBTQ Wisconsin. (1/2)