Mainstream television news coverage of LGBT issues in Wisconsin were primarily negative or negative-leaning for many years, with "special report" titles such as "Flirting with Danger" appearing as recently as 1991. This began to change as events such as Pride celebrations became more common. We shopw below just a few examples of news segments presented by Milwaukee based TV channels in the 1980s and 1990s.

News Coverage

July 1983: Gay in Milwaukee (Channel 12's Eleanor Hayes cover gay life in Milwaukee in 1983 in a 4-part series) (This video clip included in UWM Archives Dept., Milwaukee LGBT History Collection.)

July 1983: Inside Milwaukee's Gay Community (Channel 6's Roseanne St. Aubin reports during Pride week of gay life in Milwaukee in 1983) (This video clip included in UWM Archives Dept., Milwaukee LGBT History Collection.)

1984: Governor's Council on Gay and Lesbian Issues (public conference and interviews) (This video clip included in UWM Archives Dept., Milwaukee LGBT History Collection.)

April 1985: Governor Tony Earl attends a CCBA meeting (Cream City Business Association) (This video clip included in UWM Archives Dept., Milwaukee LGBT History Collection.)

Nov. 1987: Growing Up Gay (Channel 12 examines gay self-awareness in a series of programs) (This video clip included in UWM Archives Dept., Milwaukee LGBT History Collection.)

June 1989: MECCA Rally to recall Gay Rights Proclamation (Channel 12 news coverage of a really to recall the city's gay rights proclamation) (This video clip included in UWM Archives Dept., Milwaukee LGBT History Collection.)

July 1989: Focus 4- Gay Life in Milwaukee (3 part series on gay and lesbian life and social life) (This video clip included in UWM Archives Dept., Milwaukee LGBT History Collection.)

March 1991: Raid on Club 219 (Channel 12 news coverage of a strip show/ hot buns contest at Club 219 raided by police) (This video clip included in UWM Archives Dept., Milwaukee LGBT History Collection.)

Nov. 1991: Flirting with Danger (Channel 12 news 4-part series examines gays who pursue anonymous sex) (This video clip included in UWM Archives Dept., Milwaukee LGBT History Collection.)

April 1997: Ellen DeGeneres Coming-Out Party at Triangle (Channel 12 news coverage of the coming-out party)

Many of the media clips referenced here are available to researchers in the UWM Archives Dept., Milwaukee LGBT History Collection. Reference that web site for more information, hours of access, etc.