Wisconsin. Governor's Council on Lesbian and Gay Issues.

University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives Department.

Wisconsin. Governor's Council on Lesbian and Gay Issues.

Records, 1981-1991.

UWM Manuscript Collection 216

.2 cubic ft. (1 small archives box)

ABSTRACT: In 1981 Wisconsin became the first state to ban discrimination based on sexual orientation in employment, housing, and public accommodation. Two years later, Governor Anthony S. Earl formed a Council on Lesbian and Gay Issues as an advisory group to make recommendations concerning the implementation of Chapter 112 of the Laws of Wisconsin, popularly known as the "gay rights law." This collection consists of the records of the Council and includes biennial and final reports, press releases, correspondence, brochures, fliers, surveys, and news clippings.

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 includes correspondence; press releases; educational and informational ephemera related to health issues, discrimination, and violence against the gay and lesbian community; and news clippings related to the appointment of the Council. The most significant sources of information are the Council’s biennial and final reports which document, in great detail, the efforts and accomplishments of the Council as advocates of gay rights. The reports also provide a detailed history of the Council itself, including an inclusive list of its members.

ADMINISTRATIVE HISTORY: The idea of an advisory group that would advocate for the legal and social equality of gay Wisconsinites was a priority of Governor Anthony S. Earl, who wanted to see the 1981 Chapter 112, Laws of Wisconsin, become "more than words on paper." In January 1983, Governor Earl selected two Dane County Board Supervisors, Kathleen Nichols and R. Richard Wagner, to reach out to gay organizations around the state and assess the needs sexual minority communities. In February, Nichols and Wagner reported that there was acute need for personal safety, anti-discrimination enforcement in employment and accommodations, law enforcement sensitivity training, and community visibility and acceptance. Governor Earl created the Council on March 29, 1983. The Council met monthly and had three standing committees: "Outreach, Education and Youth," "Health, Social Services and Child Custody," and "Discrimination and Legal Issues." The Council dissolved itself on January 2, 1987 in protest of incumbent Governor Tommy Thompson's promise to terminate the group after taking office.

COLLECTION CITATION: This collection should be cited as:

Wisconsin. Governor's Council on Lesbian and Gay Issues. Records, 1981-1991. UWM Manuscript Collection 216. University Archives. UWM Libraries. University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

RELATED COLLECTION:

Cream City Business Association. Records. (UWM Manuscript Collection 204)

Lambda Rights Network. Records. (UWM Manuscript Collection 208)

ACQUISITION: Mark Behar donated this collection in 2003 (accession number 2003-79).

PROCESSING: Ismoon Maria Hunter-Morton processed this collection in July 2004.

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

Gay communities—Wisconsin.
Gays—Legal status, laws, etc.—Wisconsin.

UWM MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION 216	BOX	FOLDER
Correspondence, Incoming and Outgoing, 1981-1991	1	1
Miscellaneous, n.d.	1	2
Press Releases, 1984-1987	1	3
Reports, 1985, 1987	1	4