The GPU (Gay People's Union) was at the forefront of Pride celebrations in Milwaukee beginning in the late 1970's until about 1981, when a subgroup of the GPU, the Milwaukee Pride Week Committee, began coordinating activities of various organizations and also organized a parade and rally.

A schedule of events for 1980 lists activities beginning the week prior to the parade and rally. Milwaukee did not yet have a true "festival", just a collection of activities leading up to a parade and rally.

Milwaukee at this time was celebrating the same weekend as Chicago, so after the Milwaukee parade and rally on Saturday, they organized a chartered bus to Chicago for their parade on Sunday.

• Monday June 23-- Gay Visual Arts Show at UWM Art Gallery
• Tuesday June 24-- Gay Town Meeting, open forum at the Farwell Center
• Wednesday June 25-- Gay/Lesbian Film Festival at the Factory
• Thursday June 26-- Gay/Lesbian Film Festival at the Factory
• Friday June 27-- Gay Performing Arts Show UWM Union
• Saturday June 28-- Parade from Juneau Park to MacArther Square for a rally there
• Sunday June 29-- Charter bus trip to Chicago for Chicago Gay/Lesbian Pride Parade