Michail is a historian, author, reporter and communications professional. Since earning his masters in communications and history at UW, Michail has worked in the History Project for the past 15 years, writing numerous articles for various outlets, two books on LGBT history, "LGBT Milwaukee" and "A History of Milwaukee Drag: Seven Generations of Glamour" (working on a third), and for ten years was communications director for Milwaukee Pride (Pridefest).
Don has held leadership roles or other roles in numerous Milwaukee LGBT organizations, notably as president of CCF, president of GAMMA, first vice president of ARCW, and roles in Milw LGBT Community Center, BESTD Clinic, and others. He is also a building preservationist. Don founded the History Project in 1997 as a personal hobby, and has embraced collaboration and working with others to preserve and disseminate factual information about Wisconsin’s LGBTQ community.
B.J. Daniels has a long history with the LGBTQ community. For over 40 years their name has been synonymous with the best in drag entertainment in Wisconsin. The winner of numerous citations, as well as civic awards over the years, they are also the co/author of "A History of Milwaukee Drag: Seven Generations of Glamour" available wherever books are sold.
B.J. is proud to be a board member of the nationally recognized Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project as they dedicate themselves to preserving and recording the stories from our state wide community.
Diane, known by many simply as 'Legs', was a pioneering and popular member of Milwaukee's women's community: as a stage performer, as a bartender, as a sports team member, as an activist and fundraiser, from the 1970s to the 2020's. She was involved with some of the most well known LGBT bars of that 50-plus-year period, including The original Factory, D.K.'s and Kathy's Nut Hut.
A native of SE Wisconsin, her passion areas include: LGBTQIA2S+ community outreach, programming and history. She enjoys volunteering, presenting on LGBTQIA2S+ topics and building community partnerships. She has a Master’s Degree in Student Personnel Administration, and a Bachelor’s Degree in Graphic Design/Illustration. Nicole and her wife have a lot of animals that they lovingly call: “the zoo.” There are 8 animals in total - four cats and four dogs.
We envision ourselves to be an open project and a central repository for the findings of any LGBTQ historians interested in sharing their knowledge. As such we are forming an Advisory Panel of people from around the state and beyond who would help promote and provide information on Wisconsin’s LGBTQ history. We are actively looking for people to broaden our exposure and share more stories and experiences.
Members of this Panel would be welcome to post information on any aspect of people, places, events, or organizations that are part of the LGBTQ tapestry in the state, with full credit going to participants on those pages to which they contribute.
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