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Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project @wislgbtqhistory.bsky.social · 4m

When The Pride Society launched in 1983 as the Ten Percent Society, only 22% of Americans actually knew a gay person.

Today, on National Coming Out Day, we celebrate four young men who took a stand to #BeSeen -- and changed Madison forever. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

The Pride Society: celebrating the ten percent since 1983

At a critical moment in Wisconsin history, four determined students stepped up to be seen -- and dared to change the world.

www.wislgbthistory.com

Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project @wislgbtqhistory.bsky.social · 2h

Shooo. Who you telling?
#BeSeen 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

School resources for LGBTQ+ youth have gotten a lot better since the 1980s - LGBTQ Nation

School counselors and her therapist didn't help her when she was young. But now things are different.

www.lgbtqnation.com

Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project @wislgbtqhistory.bsky.social · 2h

Congratulations Ohio History Connection — and thank you for helping our history #BeSeen! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

STORY: www.nbc4i.com/news/local-n...

Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project @wislgbtqhistory.bsky.social · 2h

We applaud Nathan Marsak and Esotouric for separating the facts from the folklore of LGBTQ history.

With so much hidden history left to explore, we don’t need to diminish our heritage with manufactured events. #BeSeen🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

How the Mythical Cooper's Donuts Riot Led to a Real LAPD Apology... and one last chance to keep real estate lobbyists off the L.A. Planning Commission

Gentle reader,

esotouric.substack.com

Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project @wislgbtqhistory.bsky.social · 3h

Tell us again how we’re the dangerous ones. 🤷🏼‍♂️

Unhinged passenger forces plane to land after ranting about LGBTQ+ people giving him cancer - LGBTQ Nation

The man also said queer people are causing him to develop cancer and announced (more than once), "Trump is here!"

www.lgbtqnation.com

Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project @wislgbtqhistory.bsky.social · 3h

Some people say this is just “pointless political theater.”

We’ll wager a bet that those people’s marriages (and their right to be married) aren’t at risk of being erased.

Now is the time to codify the freedom to marry in Wisconsin for ALL residents. #BeSeen 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

David Crowley to prioritize repealing Wisconsin's defunct same-sex marriage ban if elected

Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley, a Democrat, pledged to prioritize repealing Wisconsin's same-sex marriage ban if elected governor.

www.jsonline.com

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Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project @wislgbtqhistory.bsky.social · 3h

We’ve said it before -
We’ll say it again -

Be thankful for your Governor, Wisconsin — and get ready to vote for the next one who will support our right to #BeSeen🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Gov. Abbott threatens to withhold funding over rainbow crosswalks, other ‘political’ road markings

The order appears to target rainbow crosswalks specifically, in cities like Dallas, Austin, San Antonio and Houston, which have installed them in recent years.

www.keranews.org

Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project @wislgbtqhistory.bsky.social · 22h

We've met survivors of conversion therapy.
We've listened to their stories.
We've seen what it did to their long-term health.
We've heard how destructive their experience was.

And we've seen and heard ENOUGH. #BeSeen🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

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Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project @wislgbtqhistory.bsky.social · 22h

ICYMI: we're proud to celebrate our 2025 BeSeen Award winners for their LEGENDARY LGBTQ advocacy!

These five individuals have committed over TWO HUNDRED YEARS of combined service to our community -- and we can't thank them enough. #BeSeen🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

MORE: tinyurl.com/beseen25

Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project @wislgbtqhistory.bsky.social · 23h

Since 1994, we've been powered by passion -- not profit!

We’re especially proud of our Community Advisors, a statewide legion of LGBTQ superheroes, who volunteer their strength, time, talent, and insights to ensure we are connected and accountable to the communities we serve. #BeSeen 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

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Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project @wislgbtqhistory.bsky.social · 2d

When NEW Pride Alive cancelled their 2025 event, Green Bay leaders -- including some of our board members and community advisors -- took immediate action so that local LGBTQ people could STILL #BeSeen. 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Bravo Green Bay Pride!

Community members unite for Green Bay Pop-Up Pride rally, block party

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WFRV) – Community members around Green Bay gathered for a rally at the CityDeck with a walk to the We Will Still Be Seen: Pop-Up Pride block party on Saturday afternoon. The …

www.wearegreenbay.com

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Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project @wislgbtqhistory.bsky.social · 2d

Thank you Urban Milwaukee for the coverage -- and thank you to Michael Horne for attending the Rainbow Crosswalk Celebration! #BeSeen 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

@urbanmilwaukee.com

New Rainbow Crosswalks Mark Milwaukee’s LGBTQ+ History

Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project leads installation.

urbanmilwaukee.com

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Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project @wislgbtqhistory.bsky.social · 3d

Congratulations to our 2025 BeSeen Award winners -- who are leading change with over 200 years of collective community service throughout Wisconsin! #BeSeen 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

STORY: www.wislgbthistory.com/news/beseen-...

Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project @wislgbtqhistory.bsky.social · 3d

You can't cancel pride!

Thank you to the local leaders -- including two History Project board members -- who stepped up to make Green Bay Pride possible. #BeSeen 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

People rally in solidarity for LGBTQIA+ community at Green Bay Pride event

Supporters of the LGBTQIA+ community walked all the way from City Deck, over the Walnut Street Bridge, and to the Tarlton Theatre for a block party.

www.wbay.com

Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project @wislgbtqhistory.bsky.social · 3d

Walker's Point is a place where EVERYONE belongs. And together, we are truly unstoppable!

Thank you to @gaycities.com for sharing our story worldwide! #BeSeen 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍

Wisconsin unveils a beautiful set of rainbow crosswalks as other states backtrack - GayCities

"To anyone who sees these rainbows as a 'divisive' or 'political' symbol, we ask 'who made them political — and WHY?'”

www.gaycities.com

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Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project @wislgbtqhistory.bsky.social · 3d

TODAY AT NOON!

The iconic Candi Stratton joins Trans Northland for a Facebook LIVE interview celebrating National LGBTQ History Month.

Thank you Candi for representing Wisconsin LGBTQ history -- and helping us all BE SEEN! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

LINK: www.facebook.com/events/14298...

Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project @wislgbtqhistory.bsky.social · 5d

Explore over 550 historic LGBTQ sites throughout Wisconsin — from any screen, at any hour, anywhere in the world — with our new PLACES site! #BeSeen🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

onmilwaukee.com/articles/wis...

Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project unveils new Places website

The Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project has launched a massive upgrade to its online Places experience, which catalogs nearly 500 historic LGBTQ sites throughout the state.

onmilwaukee.com

Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project @wislgbtqhistory.bsky.social · 5d

It's American Archives Month -- and we are celebrating the power of collaboration!

Meet our new Archives Committee, a statewide community of experts who will guide the future of our acquisitions, collections, and exhibits as our project grows. #BeSeen 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

STORY: tinyurl.com/archives2025

Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project @wislgbtqhistory.bsky.social · 6d

TOMORROW: www.facebook.com/share/1B9HGp...

Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project @wislgbtqhistory.bsky.social · 6d

It all comes down to TONIGHT at NEW Dancing with Our Stars 2025….

Cant make it to Green Bay? You can STREAM tonight’s show at tinyurl.com/streamdwos

GO DAN GO! #BeSeen 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

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Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project @wislgbtqhistory.bsky.social · 8d

Explore over 550 historic LGBTQ sites in Wisconsin -- from anywhere in the world!

Today, we've launched a whole new Places experience -- including a new look, filtering capabilities, and mapping -- to make our history more accessible and inclusive than ever.

VISIT: tinyurl.com/queerplaces25

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Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project @wislgbtqhistory.bsky.social · 9d

In the latest Our Lives Magazine, learn how a series of unlikely connections led investigators on a path back to Milwaukee, Ladysmith, Eau Claire, and ultimately, to justice for Billy. #BeSeen 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Forgotten No More: The Life and Death of Billy Newton

In October of 1990, the remains of Billy Newton were found in a dumpster outside a gay bar in Los Angeles. The case went unsolved for more than 30 years, [...]

ourliveswisconsin.com

Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project @wislgbtqhistory.bsky.social · 9d

Billy Newton came to West Hollywood in 1985 to make it big.

Instead, his unspeakably violent murder became an American horror story -- a hate crime so horrific that it couldn't even be spoken about -- and an unsolved cold case that haunted Los Angeles for over three decades. (1/2)

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Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project @wislgbtqhistory.bsky.social · 9d

Six months of training, fundraising, and competition comes down to Saturday night at NEW Dancing with Our Stars 2025!

Help propel Dan to the #1 spot -- while investing in our research, programs, and services -- with a tax-deductible gift today.

DONATE: tinyurl.com/godango25

Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project @wislgbtqhistory.bsky.social · 9d

PLACES ARE HERE!

Since 1994, we've documented over 550 historic LGBTQ sites throughout Wisconsin. Visit our NEW Places site and explore over a century of bars, restaurants, stores, and more!

LINK: tinyurl.com/places25