September 06, 2024 | Amy Luettgen

JoAnna Bautch: committed to leading change

As a proud bisexual woman, JoAnna has seen exclusion and erasure. Learn how she's challenging the community to be better.

JoAnna Bautch

JoAnna Bautch was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin in 1988 and has remained a lifelong resident of the city.

Meet JoAnna

JoAnna is a graduate of MPS and Alverno College, where she studied communication and marketing as a "weekend student" - a program designed to support working adults in completing their undergraduate degrees. JoAnna spoke frankly of her journey of self-discovery and how her bisexual identity has shaped her life and community involvement.

“I returned to school at 26 to obtain my bachelor’s degree. Alverno’s weekend college was really supportive of me as a returning student and I received my undergrad degree when I was 29”

Currently, JoAnna serves as the executive director of Via CDC, a community development corporation focused on supporting small businesses and neighbors in Milwaukee's near south side. This role allows her to give back to the very community in which she was raised, leveraging her passion for social justice and community empowerment.

“I feel so lucky to lead an organization in the neighborhood I grew up in and currently live in.”

Having the hard talks

JoAnna's personal journey of identity exploration and self-acceptance is a story many bi folks can relate to.

She shares that it was in her early 20s, after her older sister, JoCasta Zamarippa, publicly came out, that JoAnna began to more deeply examine and embrace her own bisexual identity. This turning point, coupled with the support of her sister and a queer-affirming employer, gave JoAnna the courage to eventually come out to her mother and aunts.

While the conversations were initially challenging, JoAnna's family ultimately responded with love and acceptance, allowing her to more fully live as her authentic self.

“My biggest credit goes to my big sister, JoCasta. She came out when she was running for public office. Her coming out kind of gave me the green light to validate my thoughts about my own bisexuality."

(Zamarippa is a former State Representative and a current alderwoman for the City of Milwaukee.)

JoAnna Bautch

Committed to making change

Beyond her professional endeavors, JoAnna has also been involved with various advocacy organizations, including the Reproductive Justice Collective, where she found an affirming community of Queer women of color who embraced her after her coming out. She also found another mentor, Sarah Noble, a lifelong Milwaukee activist for social justice and founder of the Reproductive Justice Collective.

“Sarah had been supportive of me during my rough teenage years, and again, as a young queer person who was navigating coming out to their family and friends," said JoAnna. "She also introduced me to grassroots organizing for social justice, and how it impacts us as women of color.”

Throughout the interview, JoAnna reflected on the nuances of navigating the LGBTQ community as a bisexual individual. She candidly discusses the experiences of bi-erasure and bi-antagonism she has faced, both within the broader queer community and in her personal relationships.

“I sometimes feel that there is hesitation and not full acceptance of me as a bi person when I am in LGBTQ spaces. I do think we should all be more welcoming of each other regardless of our queer identity.”

JoAnna's insights shed light on the importance of creating inclusive, welcoming spaces for all sexual identities, as well as the need for greater visibility and representation of bisexual individuals. Despite these obstacles, JoAnna finds great joy in embracing her bisexual identity, proudly displaying her bi pride colors and using the term "queer" as a unifying, empowering label.

“Whenever I can, I’m wearing my Bi Pride colors, I have my flag at PrideFest and at the parade. I make sure to have my Bi Pride colored earrings and accessories because I do love being bi and showing my pride."

JoAnna Bautch