Student protesters strategize before a May 11 meeting with Marquette University president Robert A. Wild. More than 400 people attended. – Photo: Dan Zaitz
Less than a week after news broke that Marquette University had rescinded a high-profile job offer to an out lesbian, students there delivered a message to university president Robert A. Wild: Resign immediately.
Federal health officials presented findings March 2 from an investigation into Milwaukee’s rising HIV-infection rate among young African-American men who have sex with other men.
Representatives of local HIV/AIDS service organizations who attended the presentation at the Wisconsin African American Women’s Center said they will use the information to try heading off a potential new wave of the epidemic in the city.
The AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin will present its top leadership award to Milwaukee Mayor Tom Barrett at its annual Make A Promise Dinner Gala April 17 at the Midwest Airlines Center.
“For 25 years Mayor Barrett has been a steadfast leader in the fight against AIDS,” ARCW president Doug Nelson said. “In the state Legislature he led efforts to prohibit discrimination against people with HIV, in Congress he was a leading voice to lift the ban on federal funding of needle exchange and as mayor he has protected HIV funding in the city budget even during the toughest of fiscal times.”
Diverse and Resilient is accepting nominees for its 2009 Leadership Awards, which recognize the contributions of individuals and organizations in furthering LGBT youth and adult development. Nomination forms are available through Rachel Federlin at 414-390-0444 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . The deadline for nominations is Feb. 22.
Mistress of Ceremonies Isis Jamacia set the tone for the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Drag Show: “Hello ladies, gentlemen, and gender-variant friends!” she greeted the crowd.
Jamacia, aka Warren Scherer, is program coordinator at the UW-M Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) Resource Center. Jamacia has seen the show grow during her five-year reign to become the center’s largest annual event.
Officials from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will return to Milwaukee March 2 to present findings from their investigation into the soaring rate of HIV infection among Wisconsin youth.
The presentation begins at 5:30 p.m. at the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center, and is open to the public.
UW – Milwaukee sponsors Diversity Career Day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 4.
The event is free and open to college students and professionals seeking career information and opportunities. For more information, call the UWM career development center at 414-229-4487.
Pridefest organizers are seeking volunteers to help staff this year’s event, scheduled for June 11–13 at Henry Maier Festival Park. Applications can be found online at www.pridefest.com/volunteer/index.php.
PrideFest also announced new hours of operation this year, with gates opening at 3 p.m. June 11 and noon June 12 and June 13. PrideFest is the largest LGBT event in Wisconsin and is widely considered one of the best Pride celebrations in the nation.
A recent report found that 25 percent of homeless LGBT youth had been asked to leave home, compared with 15 percent of non-LGBT homeless youth. – Photo: Dan Zaitz
Homeless LGBT youth remain homeless longer than their straight counterparts and are far more likely to live on the streets, in a vacant building, in a public facility (such as a bus station or a library) or with a stranger. They also are less likely to secure a living arrangement with a relative or legal guardian.
Lt. Gov. Barbara Lawton joins co-hosts GSA for Safe Schools and Diverse & Resilient in convening an inaugural statewide conference on LGBT youth March 5 at the University of Wisconsin – Oshkosh.
Titled “Engaged and Empowered: the Lieutenant Governor’s Conference on LGBT Youth,” the conference will equip participants with tools and training to ensure that LGBT youth in Wisconsin thrive in their schools and communities. Workshop topics address bullying in schools, resolving health disparities, building safe and inclusive classrooms, integrating LGBT issues into the curriculum and counseling and advocacy.
OutHistory.org, the MediaWiki Web site on LGBTQ history, is offering five cash prizes for the best online exhibits documenting the local LGBTQ histories of villages, towns, counties, cities, or states across the United States since June 1969.
The deadline for submission is March 31. Prizes range from $1,000 to $5,000. The top five exhibits will be announced June 28.
Photo Illustration: Dan Zaitz
As a student at Nicolet High School, Kevin never fit in. An African-American who likes to wear a little make-up, he endured constant teasing and bullying. Eventually he transferred to The Alliance School, which helps students who are not succeeding in traditional schools due to harassment.
