Lambda Rights Network.

ABSTRACT: Founded in 1987, the Lambda Rights Network (LRN) was a non-profit, non-partisan corporation that advocated on behalf of lesbian and gay issues with government officials and the general public. Formed with the immediate goal of opposing state legislation that eroded the protections guaranteed to lesbians and gays under Wisconsin's Fair Employment Law, the group later dedicated itself to promoting equality in many areas:  alternative families, criminal justice, health care, housing, political participation, and public accommodations.  LRN sponsored "Community Speak Outs" that brought together public officials and members of the gay and lesbian community; held candidate forums for federal, state, and local races; met with public officials; gathered information about local hate crimes; and networked with other local gay and lesbian organizations. The organization dissolved in 1993.

ACCESS RESTRICTIONS: There are no access restrictions on the materials, and the collection is open to all members of the public in accordance with state law. However, the researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

SCOPE AND CONTENT: The collection documents the history and activities of the Lambda Rights Network (LRN). LRN activities are best documented in the agendas and minutes, correspondence, community surveys, and records relating to Community Speak Outs and candidate forums. 

Along with the history of LRN itself, the collection sheds light on the political struggles and challenges faced by Milwaukee's gay and lesbian community over a five-year period. Of particular significance are LRN's efforts to record instances of harassment, abuse, and discrimination involving sexual orientation. LRN's information-gathering activities occurred during a period of increasing national awareness of the seriousness of bias-motivated crimes. Indeed, during LRN's existence, twelve states passed hate crimes statutes that enhanced penalties for crimes motivated by the victim's sexual orientation, race, religion, color, disability, national origin or ancestry. Wisconsin's hate crime legislation passed in 1991 (Wisconsin Statute 939.645). The information gathered by LRN is contained in records of harassment complaints, surveys of hate crimes, and news clippings. The clippings relate to two prominent Wisconsin hate crimes, the Rochon and Dressler cases, and various other hate-related incidents and legislative reforms.

ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY:  Lambda Rights Network (LRN) formed in 1987 in response to the proposed Senate Bill 301/Assembly Bill 527, colloquially known as the "Rawhide Amendment" after its main proponent, the Rawhide Boys Ranch.  This proposed legislation sought to exclude religious non-profits from Wisconsin's Fair Employment Law.  Despite the efforts of LRN and other groups and individuals, the Wisconsin Legislature adopted the religious exemption in February 1988 (Assembly Bill 916).  LRN incorporated in 1989 and continued operating until 1993. During this period, the group dedicated itself to promoting equality under the law in many areas:  alternative families, criminal justice, health care, housing, political participation, and public accommodations.  LRN sponsored "Community Speak Outs" that brought together public officials and members of the gay and lesbian community; held candidate forums for federal, state, and local races; gathered information about local hate crimes; met with public officials; and networked with other local gay and lesbian organizations. Additionally, LRN initiated a hotline to report incidences of violence against gays and lesbians, and conducted surveys to assess the needs of LRN members and the community as a whole.  

COLLECTION CITATION: This collection should be cited as:

Lambda Rights Network. Records, 1987-1993. UWM Manuscript Collection 208. University Manuscript Collection. Archives. UWM Libraries. University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

RELATED COLLECTIONS:

Cream City Foundation. Records, 1982-2001. (UWM Manuscript Collection 205)

Milwaukee Gay/Lesbian Cable Network. Records, 1987-1994. (UWM Manuscript Collection 206)

ACQUISITION: Scott Gunkel donated the collection to the Archives in December 2003 (accession 2003-46). 

PROCESSING: Ryan Johnson processed the collection in summer 2004.

MARC RECORD SEARCH TERMS: The following terms were used in the online bibliographic MARC record to this collection:

• Dahmer, Jeffrey.
• Gay activists--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.
• Gay communities--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.
• Gay Information Service.
• Gays--Legal status, laws, etc.--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.
• Hate crimes--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.
• Homophobia--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.
• March on Washington for Lesbian, Gay, and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation (1993: Washington, D.C.).
• Milwaukee Lavendar Network.
• Rawhide Boys Ranch (New London, Wis.).

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URL: http://www.uwm.edu/Libraries/arch/findaids/uwmmss208.htm
Last edited on Tuesday, June 21, 2005.
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