This Month in the History of Gay and Lesbian life in Wisconsin--
Month by Month, Year by Year

This Month in Wisconsin LGBT History: May 2007

35 years ago-- 1972-- 30 people meet in Church For All People to plan a Gay Pride week for Milwaukee. Madison Gay Liberation Front files brief in defense of Paul Safransky, the first litigation in the history of Wisoncin raising the question of a homosexual's right to hold public employment. James Rusk and Nick Gagalaino hold a marriage ceremony by a Catholic priest at a private home in Green Bay. Businesses popular at this time: Your Place, Factory, Ten Hundred East bars, Rhubarb Books and Ramie's adult bookstore, all in Milwaukee; and the Back Door in Madison.

30 years ago-- 1977-- Patrick Batt, chairperson of the GPU, is fired for being gay (his case is appealed all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court- Patrick now lives in San Francisco). The Down Under Bar in La Crosse, less than a year old, is gutted by fire- arson is suspected. Sugar Shack lesbian bar holds 1-year anniversary, while other popular businesses include "On Broadway" (in the Factory), Beer Garden, Your Place, the Circus, Paradise Books, and Le Club Finlandia baths.

25 years ago-- 1982-- Amazon, the feminist/ lesbian news magazine at various times called "A Feminist Journal" and "The Midwest Journal for Women", celebrates it 10th anniversary.
    35 years ago
    1972
    GPU News, May-June 1972
     
    30 years ago
    1977
    GPU News, May 1977
     
    25 years ago
    1982
    (no resources available from May 1982)
    20 years ago
    1987
    In Step, vol. 4 no. 7
    (May 14-27, 1987)
     
    15 years ago
    1992
    In Step, vol. 9 no. 9
    (May 7-20, 1992)
     
    15 years ago
    1992
    Wisconsin Light, vol. 5 no. 10
    (May 14-27, 1992)
     
    10 years ago
    1997
    In Step, vol. 14 no. 10
    (May 14-29, 1997)
     
    10 years ago
    1997
    Wisconsin Light, vol. 10 no. 10
    (May 8-21, 1997)
     
    10 years ago
    1997
    Quest, vol. 4 no. 7
    (May 15-28, 1997)
     

Note: The issues appearing above are some of those dated in the featured month. However, relevant news may appear in issues previous to or after that pictured and linked above: earlier issues may have ads or announcements of upcoming events, and later issues may carry actual photos or more extensive coverage of events that occurred after publication deadlines.

 

Credits: "This Month in History" concept by Kate Sherry of Q-Life, and Don Schwamb;
Page design and arrangement by Don Schwamb.
Last updated: July-2007.