Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project

Thank you to The Pride Society (formerly the Ten Percent Society) for welcoming us to Madison for an LGBTQ History Month presentation!

There wasn’t an empty seat in the house during our History Talk — and these Society members stayed “after class” for a Q&A and photos.

We’re proud to see the 44-year legacy of the Ten Percent Society alive and well in 21st century Madison! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

We are honored to know Martha Marvel, one of our Beacons of the Bay — and we are so thankful for the Bay Area Council on Gender Diversity! 🏳️‍⚧️

Nine years ago, Martha Marvel invited three other trans women to meet in the back room at Naps. Tonight, we’re celebrating nine years of First Thursdays. ❤️

More than 300 trans adults have been part of these gatherings over the years! For conversation, support, and a chance to meet people who get it.

Martha, thank you for being a pillar of our community, and continuing to welcome people every month. We’re proud to be your gathering place! 🏳️‍⚧️🏳️‍🌈

Long before athletes could be open and honest about their identities, George Coleman Poage was breaking barriers in Wisconsin.

Born in 1880, Poage was destined for greatness from the start. He was the first African American graduate of La Crosse High School, the first African American member of the University of Wisconsin track team, the first African American athlete to win a Big Ten track championship.

And in 1904, George Poage was the first African American to EVER win an Olympic medal.

So why isn't his name more well-known, even in Wisconsin?

George Poage was forced to live under the weight of social expectations, racism, discrimination, and the fear of being truly seen for who he was. After the Olympics, he struggled to find a space where he could thrive without fear.

After building an impressive career as an educator in St. Louis, his life changed dramatically in 1914 when rumors and accusations about his “moral character” emerged. Poage resigned from the school and relocated to Chicago, where he worked the backrooms of the U.S. Postal Service and Sears. He died in 1962 and was buried in an unmarked grave.

For years, the extraordinary accomplishments of one of Wisconsin’s greatest athletes were forgotten. And then, another part of his story emerged.

In 2016, Reverend Lawrence Jenkins revealed to historian Dr. Bruce Mouser that his great-uncle George Poage was gay. With this knowledge, historians were finally able to understand why someone who had achieved such tremendous historic goals spent the second half of his life in anonymous seclusion. The trauma of being "found out" haunted him for nearly five decades -- and he went to his grave never healing from the experience.

Today, George Poage is being remembered for not only what he did, but the whole person he was. In 2016, the City of La Crosse dedicated George C. Poage Park in his memory. His story was celebrated in PBS Wisconsin’s Wisconsin Pride documentary. And his grave site finally bears a headstone honoring his legacy.

Remembering George Poage means remembering more than the medals. It means recognizing the complicated reality of LGBTQ history. Sometimes the people who changed history could not safely tell their own stories. Sometimes their achievements survived while their identities disappeared. Sometimes it takes generations for the historical record to catch up with the truth.

That is why LGBTQ history matters.

George Poage changed Wisconsin history. He created national visibility, recognition, and respect for Black athletes. He created inclusion for Black athletes who were previously excluded from "white sports." And despite his reluctance to be known and seen, he demonstrated what any athlete, regardless of race or sexual identity, can achieve if they commit to personal excellence.

During LGBTQ History Month, George Poage reminds us how many stories remain waiting to be rediscovered—and how important it is to preserve and elevate them as soon as they are found so that our ancestors can always BE SEEN.

🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Today, we kick off our LGBTQ History Month series with a salute to two women who fought for marriage equality decades ahead of their time.

On October 1, 1971 -- 55 years ago TODAY -- Donna Burkett and Manonia Evans walked into the Milwaukee County Courthouse and requested an application for a marriage license. After being denied by the Milwaukee County Clerk, they filed a federal lawsuit claiming their Constitutional rights to equal protection and due process had been violated.

"We knew what we wanted to do" said Donna. "We really didn't care what the law said. I did not believe the government had any right to tell me who I could and could not marry."

This was a groundbreaking lawsuit that earned national attention. Legal experts called their case "unstoppable" as no law actually prohibited a same-sex marriage. They were only the second marriage equality lawsuit in the nation, following a May 1970 case in Minnesota. The couple was invited to the Phil Donahue Show, as well as several magazine photo shoots, and their case made headlines for months.

The system might have dismised them as two gay Black women, but the gay liberation movement saw them as national heroes. All eyes were suddenly on Wisconsin.

While their legal case simmered, Donna and Manonia moved their wedding plans forward. On Christmas Day, 1971, they were wed by Father Joe Feldhausen at St. Nicholas Orthodox Parish with 250 guests attending. Their reception, at the Castaways (196 S. 2nd St.,) was preceded by a press conference with local papers, news channels, and national reporters.

"Everything got blurry," said Donna. "The media was hounding us, day and night, we couldn't get away from them. They wouldn't leave us alone."

Sadly, the story did not have a happy ending. First, their "unstoppable" case was dismissed on January 11, 1972 due to a paperwork error, putting an end to their legal argument.

Manonia's father, a faith leader, tried everything possible to break up the relationship. He went "berserk" (according to Donna) after Manonia's photo appeared in local papers, saying he'd rather see her married to a wife-beater, a drug-dealer, a murderer..... anything but another woman. He stole her car, got her fired from her job, kidnapped her and locked her in a room for a week, and actually threatened to kill her.

Donna was kicked out of school. The couple found themselves unhoused for awhile and had to live with friends. The pressure kept building, until finally, the couple ended their relationship. Manonia's father sent her to Alaska, where she was married to one of his friends. Her current whereabouts are unknown.

Donna Burkett is still living in Wisconsin today. We salute her for standing up, being seen, and making LGBTQ history. The same arguments Donna and Manonia made for Constitutional equality in 1971 were heard again at the U.S. Supreme Court in 2015. And this time, love won the argument.

Thank you, Donna, for everything! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

LGBT History Month is here!

Throughout October, we'll be celebrating 30 moments that changed Wisconsin LGBTQ history forever.

Join us on a trip through over a century of historical happenings that shaped the world we live in today -- and continue to inspire a more equitable and inclusive world for tomorrow.

Follow us on Facebook for daily updates -- and SHARE these history lessons with your networks! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

October is LGBTQ History Month! Since 1994, the event has been observed in America and is now observed in over a dozen countries worldwide.

Nobody gave us our own history month. Someone had to make it happen -- and that person was Rodney Wilson.

Rodney was a Missouri high school history teacher who felt that the LGBTQ community deserved to be recognized for our historic contributions. He knew that greater awareness would inspire greater understanding, empathy, advocacy, and acceptance. October was chosen to commemorate the landmark March on Washington for Gay & Le***an Rights (1979,) as well as National Coming Out Day.

And so, LGBTQ History Month was born!

Anyone, making the right decision at the right moment in time, can change the course of history. And while Rodney made his own dream a reality, he recognizes that his work has only just begun.

“LGBT history gave me self-confidence as a gay person and strengthened my resolve to live, as best I could, an honest, open and integrated life," said Rodney. “History is our defense,” he said. “It’s our record. And it’s our warning. We haven’t learned our history, and that’s why History Months matter."

Thank you, Rodney, for helping our history ! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️

Today, on the last day of Bisexual Awareness Month 2026, we salute everyone who stepped up to be seen, be heard, and remind the world that the B in LGBTQ is NEVER silent.

Thank you for creating awareness, fostering understanding, and making history every day in Wisconsin! 🩷💜💙

We've traveled 4,736 miles from Ashland to Kenosha, from Door County to La Crosse, and our summer tour isn't over yet!

See you SATURDAY at the world-famous Whitewater Pride Rally, on the sunny shores of Cravath Lake, for our third annual visit to this inspiring event. Whitewater Pride is FREE, open to the public, family-friendly, and incredibly chill.

(And whatever you do, don't miss the 2026 Pet Fashion Show!)

National LGBT History Month is almost here!

Join us Thursday, Oct. 8 in Port Washington, where we'll be celebrating Wisconsin's gender-expansive history -- which began long before there was a Wisconsin -- at a special PW Pride presentation. Michail Takach and Candi Stratton will share lessons in trans history, heritage, identity, and experience across the centuries.

This presentation is FREE and open to the public. Be there! 🏳️‍🌈🏳️‍⚧️