More Articles | WI LGBTQ History Project

News Articles:

February 07, 2026

Winter Thaw Auction supports Lesbian Visibility Week 2026

We're proud to partner with the LVW Milwaukee Committee to celebrate the heritage of LGBTQ women and nonbinary people April 20-26.

July 08, 2025

Honoring Jewel-Thais Williams (1939-2025)

Today, we celebrate the Mother of Gay Los Angeles for a lifetime of service.

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

March 01, 2025

Pride organizers: complete our Wisconsin Proud Survey

We've set a goal to document, preserve, elevate and celebrate your stories of community activation throughout summer 2025.

February 28, 2025

Celebrating Sharon Dixon: a warrior of women’s history

Join us Sunday, March 30 for an afternoon of sisterhood -- as we proudly celebrate a living legend!

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Blog Articles:

January 10, 2026

Kate Krause: moving Sheboygan forward, one day at a time

For over 20 years, Paradigm Coffee & Music has been a beacon of safety, acceptance and hope, proving that fostering authentic community is the strongest response to bigotry.

December 17, 2025

In memoriam: Francis "Frank" Ford (1945-2025)

Throughout his colorful life, counterculture connections, and uniquely creative lens, Ford trained his watchful eye on modern Milwaukee.

December 16, 2025

Pat Cummings: forging a relentless path to progress

Driven by bigger-than-life dreams, Pat Cummings became a relentless activist and accidental historian who blazed a trail from Milwaukee's gayborhood to the front lines of Chicago's AIDS crisis.

November 24, 2025

Debbie McCarty: creating a sanctuary in the shadows

Defying the homophobic hostility of her hometown, she created a legacy of courage that long outlasted her critics.

October 01, 2025

Lecia Sams: from "Cherry Bomb" to chosen family

Soaring above the challenges of her youth with resilience and strength, Lecia became a champion for her community.

April 27, 2025

Ruby Peterson: a story of secret love, courage, and sacrifice

Decades after her grandmother's death, Gayla discovered that her grandfather was neither Ruby's first love -- nor her first spouse.

April 26, 2025

DeShanda Williams-Clark: living life without ceilings

Coming out at 15, DeShanda learned first-hand why inclusive and supportive resources matter for queer youth of color.

April 24, 2025

Caryn Moczynski: authentic, amplified and living out loud

Inspired by legendary female musicians, Caryn has become a long-running voice for women's music on Milwaukee airwaves.

April 22, 2025

Annie Hindle: America's first celebrity drag king

When actresses could be seen but not heard, Annie Hindle conquered the American stage not as a woman -- but as a man.

October 30, 2024

Barb Coyle: a lifetime of music, community and love

For nearly 20 years, Barb's weekly radio show broke local barriers for women's music.

October 16, 2024

Eldon Murray: the father of gay liberation

Gay people were not supposed to be seen or heard -- until Eldon Murray broke all the rules.

October 15, 2024

Patrick Bergen: aces for the win

Misunderstood and misrepresented no more: Patrick Bergen and Fluently Aspec are empowering Wisconsin's ace community to be seen.

October 14, 2024

Lucia Nunez: a relentless voice for the voiceless

Lucia was one of Madison’s most influential changemakers, giving voice and power to newly arrived Wisconsin citizens who felt they had none.

July 19, 2024

Francesca Wilson: bringing innovation to nightlife

A world traveler returns to her hometown with a mission to bring an inclusive, international sensibility to queer Milwaukee nightlife.

June 17, 2024

Pam Mehnert and Lisa Malmarowski: consciously coupled

"Never date someone you work with" is fairly common advice. Meet two women who've defied it.

June 14, 2024

Sandy Brown: saying 'we're here' since 1976

Even after five decades of award-winning activism, Sandy doesn't feel she's done anything significant. "I'm just persistent -- like a splinter in your shoe."