ABOUT THE WISCONSIN LGBTQ HISTORY PROJECT

Independent. Inspired. Relentless. 

Founded by Don Schwamb, the Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project seeks to reconnect Wisconsin with its lost history and heritage. Since 1994, the Project has become the state’s largest digital collection of historical LGBTQ media.

Our mission is to reconnect Wisconsin with its long-hidden history and heritage to inspire a more colorful and inclusive future.  We are committed to researching, documenting, preserving, celebrating and elevating our local LGBTQ history.

The project provides inclusive education, guided tours, presentations, articles, publications, podcasts, media support, research services, and consulting services.

We are independently funded, not-for-profit, all-volunteer, and community-driven. 

We honor Louis Stimac (1941-1994,) gay rights activist and founding member of Gay People's Union, who is considered to be Wisconsin's first true LGBTQ historian. 

The Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project Inc. is a sponsored project of the Cream City Foundation Inc., and accepts tax-exempt donations through the Foundation as our 501c3 fiscal agent.  We are a member of the LGBTQ History Association and a partner organization of History UnErased.