Honoring an unforgettable chapter of Wisconsin history

December 1 is World AIDS Day 2025. As we move towards a world without AIDS, we must pause to remember the price we paid.

In 1982, AIDS was first diagnosed in a Wisconsin visitor. Within a decade, over 1,000 Wisconsin residents had died, another 1,000 were living with HIV/AIDS in Wisconsin, and the virus had become the #1 killer of men aged 25-44 nationwide. It was a time before rapid testing, before protease inhibitors, before any hope at all. In 1996, medical advancements led to new AIDS cases declining for the first time. But over a half million people in the United States already had AIDS – including over 3,000 in Wisconsin – and over 2/3 of those people had already died.

Today, it’s almost impossible to imagine the world that our lost loved ones could have built together. For those who survived this dark era, the experience was as unforgettable as the people lost to HIV/AIDS.

This year, the Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project is partnering with Vivent Health to collect, elevate, and celebrate the stories of the lives lost to HIV/AIDS since 1982. On Monday, December 1, the History Project will be devoting our social media to our lost generation.

Who do you want remembered? Honor your loved one by sharing their story and photo at wislgbtqhistory@gmail.com. All submissions must be received by November 30 to be included in our memorial tribute.

Because no one is truly gone – as long as their story is still being told.

Questions? Contact us!