History of Gay and Lesbian Life in Wisconsin - People - Bios

 
Don Schwamb-
2022 Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors Commendation

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In June 2022, Schwamb received recognition from the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors for his work in the LGBT community. The full text of the citation reads as follows:

    MILWAUKEE COUNTY BOARD OF SUPERVISORS

    WHEREAS, Don Schwamb began participating with LGBT organizations in 1972, with his most notable early involvement including, but not limited to, being an active member of the Gay People's Union (GPU), former President of the Cream City Foundation (CCF), former President of Milwaukee Gamma, co-founder of Milwaukee Guerilla Gay Bar, and founding Vice-President of the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin (ARCW); and

    WHEREAS, during the last 20 years, Don Schwamb directed his attention to documenting and preserving the history of Milwaukee's LGBT community, to ensure that future generations would know of Milwaukee's strong LGBT roots; and

    WHEREAS, in 2003, Don Schwamb began the Milwaukee LGBT History Project, which documented both his personal experiences and clippings from various Wisconsin LGBT periodicals, and transformed his passion project into a vast interne database and resource; and

    WHEREAS, Don Schwamb felt it imperative to work with CCF, Milwaukee Gamma, and ARCW to ensure the permanent preservation of their archival records to the UW-Milwaukee LGBT archives collection; and

    WHEREAS, Don Schwamb remains the sole programmer for the website, with Michael Takach providing necessary mainstream and historical research, they rebirthed the archives into the Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project and procured funding from Cream City Foundation to aid in its longevity; and

    WHEREAS, Don Schwamb has been regarded as a Milwaukee LGBT Historian by countless news outlets including, but not limited to, WTMJ, WITI, Milwaukee PBS, and Shepherd Express; and

    WHEREAS, Don Schwamb will continue to voluntarily provide individuals across the country with a deeper understanding of Milwaukee's LGBT history through his website Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project; now, therefore,

    BE IT RESOLVED, the members of the Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors, on the motion of Supervisor Peter Burgelis, along with Supervisors Ryan Clancy, Priscilla E. Coggs-Jones, Willie Johnson, Jr., Patti Logsdon, Felesia A. Martin, Juan Miguel Martinez, Shawn Rolland, Steven Shea, Anthony Staskunas, Liz Sumner, Sequanna Taylor, Steve Taylor, Kathleen Vincent, Sheldon A. Wasserman, and Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson, do hereby commend Don Schwamb for his many dedicated contributions to preserving Milwaukee's LGBT history, and wish him future filled with health, happiness, and continued prosperity in all his personal and professional endeavors.

            Marcelia Nicholson, Chairwoman
            Milwaukee County Board of Supervisors
            June 23, 2022

            Peter Burgelis, Supervisor
            Milwaukee County Board, District 15
            June 23, 2022

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Presentation of commendation by
Supervisor Peter Burgelis, June 2022:

 
County Board Supervisors at presentation, June 2022:
(Group photo, L to R: Supervisors Patti Logsdon (9th District), Kathleen Vincent (11th), Steve F. Taylor (17th), Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson (10th); Don Schwamb; Supervisors Peter Burgelis (15th, sponsor), Shawn Rolland (6th), and Felesia A. Martin (7th)
 
 


2022 Citation from Milw County
Board of Supervisors

Credits: Web site concept, creation, design and format by Don Schwamb.
Last updated: July-2022.

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