LGBT community news roundup

The Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce recently received the Excellence in Community Impact Award at the National Gay & Lesbian Chamber of Commerce leadership conference in Dallas.

The national group recognized the Wisconsin chamber for nurturing relationships with city chambers and business districts, as well as engaging with the Coalition for Ethnical Diverse Chambers of Commerce in Milwaukee. The Wisconsin organization also has cultivated partnerships with philanthropic and nonprofit groups.

“NGLCC affiliate chambers like the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce are leveraging every possible opportunity for businesses to grow and become strong engines that drive local economies,” said Sam McClure of NGLCC. “This new chamber came out of the gate very strong, and we are very glad to be their national partner.”

For more, visit www.wislgbtchamber.com.

In other news…

• Organizations concerned about the erosion of women’s rights under Wisconsin’s Republican leadership are staging a rally noon–1 p.m. on Aug. 26 at the Capitol. For more, go to the Facebook page Stand with Wisconsin Women. 

• GLSEN is accepting nominations for Student Advocate of the Year, the annual award created to recognize “the amazing work of students advocating for LGBT rights and safe schools across the country.” Applications are due by Aug. 29. For more, visit www.glsen.org.

• Fair Wisconsin’s Garden Party for Equality is Sept. 8 at a private residence in Milwaukee. The suggested contribution is $50 and sponsorships are available. For more, go to fairwisconsin.com.

• Food Slam on Sept. 13 raises money for WMSE Radio. The event is at 6 p.m. at MSOE Grohmann Museum with a long list of participating vendors. For more, go to www.wmse.org.

• Family Equality Council gets outdoors for Family Camp at Camp One Heartland in Willow River, Minn., Sept. 20–22. The camp is about 90 miles north of the Twin Cities. For more, go to www.familyequality.org.

• Women’s Fund of Greater Milwaukee is preparing for the 2013 Women and Public Policy Luncheon, held at noon on Oct. 23 in Milwaukee. The keynote speaker is Michelle Bernard, CEO of the Bernard Center for Women, Politics & Public Policy and a frequent political analyst for TV news. For more, visit www.womensfundmke.org.