Lavender Salon

In March 1993, six people gathered at an Appleton home for a potluck meal and a film. During the evening, they discussed forming a book discussion group. The Lavender Salon was born.

In 2023, the Appleton Post-Crescent reported that Michael Nitz, Appleton Public Library collections coordinator, and Dick Winslow, Lawrence University professor, founded the Lavender Salon in 1993 as a safe social space for gay men and lesbians. According to Nitz, the group gave members -- whether openly gay or not -- an opportunity to socialize and meet others in the LGBTQ community. Over time, participation grew from about seven members to more than 60, with people attending from communities including Marinette and Sheboygan.

During the third meeting, members chose the name Lavender Salon and decided to publish a newsletter documenting the group’s activities. The publication was called the Lavender Salon Reader.

Lavender Salon continued meeting regularly for dinner, films, and book discussions. The Lavender Salon Reader became an important record of the group’s activities and interests. During its four years of publication, more than 36 contributors wrote reviews for the newsletter. The final issue was published in December 1998.

Although the newsletter ended in 1998, Lavender Salon continued meeting for another decade. The group ultimately disbanded in 2008.

At one time, issues of Lavender Salon Reader were archived on the group’s website, but that site is no longer active.