More Articles | WI LGBTQ History Project

News Articles:

April 01, 2025

Milwaukee celebrates living legend Sharon Dixon

"Old Timers" cabaret show raises $2,600 to support a community elder's next chapter in life

April 01, 2025

What can you do to support inclusive education in Wisconsin?

Join Origins Workshop with Fair Wisconsin and the History Project on Saturday, May 17

August 12, 2024

Don Schwamb retires from History Project leadership

After three decades of service, our founder passes the torch to the next generation.

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Blog Articles:

March 29, 2025

Erv Uecker & Ross Walker: love is the message

Together for nearly 67 years, Ross and Erv were partners in life, love, and building a better world for us all.

February 26, 2025

Ritchie T. Martin Jr: learning to trust the journey

As a gay Black youth, he found himself at the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center. Today, he's leading the center's future.

February 23, 2025

Aaleh Hughes: don't be scared to be yourself

As a performing artist, showrunner, and emerging leader, Aaleh is inspiring and uplifting Wisconsin's next generation.

February 20, 2025

DJ Femme Noir: trust your track record

From choir to Motown to the Milwaukee Bucks, music has always been in Tempestt's DNA.

February 17, 2025

Tyrone Creech: we will not be quiet

As a fifth-generation Madison leader, taking care of the community is part of Tyrone's family legacy.

November 30, 2024

Del Slowik: celebrating the Golden Age of Club 219

A chance encounter on a Milwaukee beach ignited the romance of a lifetime -- and launched a legendary gay nightspot's 25-year reign.

November 16, 2024

Goldie Adams: never take freedom for granted

After forty plus years of drag performances, Goldie shares her colorful story for the first time.

November 15, 2024

David Clarenbach: grinding the gears of the Gay Rights State

After five decades as an LGBTQ freedom fighter, David shares how our past victories can inspire our resistance ahead.

October 10, 2024

Marlo Rhodes: being seen for six decades

Trans youth of the 1960s weren't welcome at home or safe on the streets. Now 80, Marlo Rhodes shares her stories of survival.

October 09, 2024

Barbara Hayden: the nights belonged to us

Nearly seventy years after taking a summer job that changed her life forever, Barbara reflects on what the LGBTQ community has gained -- and lost -- since 1956.

October 08, 2024

Liberace: the spark that made Milwaukee spectacular

One can only imagine what the most visible and vocal gay man of the 20th century could have achieved – if only he had been allowed to be himself.

October 06, 2024

Frank Blunt: legendary boss of the Bad Lands

He smoked, drank, gambled, hustled, and womanized like no other man in Milwaukee. And, one fateful day in 1893, Milwaukee learned why.

October 05, 2024

Francis Dubois / Frances Outcault: a queer second chance at life

This “female husband” found a way to still be Frank -- even after they were outed and made to live as a woman.

October 04, 2024

Chef Gregory Leon: serving life's greatest moments

Chef Gregory León, nationally recognized owner of Milwaukee’s Amilinda restaurant, serves flavors from Spain and Portugal with a side of social responsibility.

October 03, 2024

Evanna Breedlove: a lifetime of love and magic

Over thirty years after moving to New York City, Evanna reflects on growing up Black and trans in the dance clubs and drag cabarets of Wisconsin.

October 02, 2024

Georgia Henry: conquering fear and hate with love

For twenty-five years, Georgia has helped countless LGBTQ people and their families feel safe and supported through PFLAG Wisconsin.

October 01, 2024

George Schneider: we are not going backwards

From teenage runaway to beverage boss, George has lived a lifetime of community service and action.

September 28, 2024

Blaise Keller: there's no right or wrong way to be who you are

For a long time, Blaise knew he was bisexual, but he lacked the language and the confidence to express himself.

September 27, 2024

Michelle Guzman: never shy away from who you are

For years, Michelle struggled with impostor syndrome. How could she be bisexual if she was married to a man?

September 23, 2024

Mark Neufang: let yourself be you

The first time Mark came out, he came out as bisexual. Decades later, he realized he was right the first time.

September 19, 2024

Victor Raymond: show the world who we are

After five decades of bisexual activism, Victor still has miles to go before he sleeps.

September 17, 2024

Sarah Wallisch: restoring the B in LGBT

Sarah couldn't find the bisexual community she was looking for, so she decided to create it.

September 17, 2024

JoCasta Zamarippa: the world needs bisexual heroes

She was told a bisexual could never win an election. Now, she's leading change at City Hall.

September 16, 2024

Grace Moone: my life as a bi beacon

For years, Grace struggled to fully claim her identity, due to the erasure she witnessed -- even within LGBTQ spaces.

September 16, 2024

Melissa Faliveno: piecing together the puzzle

Melissa didn't really perceive herself as being queer, but looking back, she could see the puzzle pieces were always there.

September 06, 2024

JoAnna Bautch: committed to leading change

As a proud bisexual woman, JoAnna has seen exclusion and erasure. Learn how she's challenging the community to be better.

September 06, 2024

Liza Kessler: a lifetime of ambitious activism

Liza's journey inspired her to create, protect, and grow the community she needed when she was younger.

September 05, 2024

Katie Dahl: unapologetically own who you are

Growing up Evangelical Baptist, Katie came out twice as bisexual: once privately, and once publicly and professionally.

August 28, 2024

Dave Wolz: from first-time customer to legacy owner

"Big Gay Dave" was a fixture of the Milwaukee gay scene, but it took him a while to actually come out.

August 13, 2024

Satya Rhodes-Conway: "now is the time to come together"

Madison's second female mayor made history in 2019 as Wisconsin's first out lesbian mayor.

August 07, 2024

Peter Burgelis: seizing his seat at the table

“LGBTQ is a big umbrella. As a cis white male, I have a lot of privilege that others under that umbrella don’t.”

July 25, 2024

Jack Feria: a champion for queer cinema

Helping LGBTQ people feel seen on the silver screen for over a decade.

July 01, 2024

Janice Toy: living her truth

Growing up in 70s and 80s Milwaukee, Janice triumphed over the challenges in her journey. Now, she wants to pass along what she has learned to others.