Explore Wisconsin’s hidden LGBTQ+ history and leading role in the gay rights struggle.

Watch

Preview | 1m

Part One: Hidden Histories

Wisconsin has a long, but hidden, LGBTQ+ history full of trailblazers who – when faced with intolerance – responded by creating community, living authentically, and having pride in themselves. The LGBTQ+ community’s contributions from art to athletics, brave military service abroad and fearless resistance to bigotry come to light in this two-part documentary.

Watch Full Episode

FacebookRedditGoogle ClassroomEmail

Related Clips

Timeline

Explore a digital timeline of Wisconsin LGBTQ+ history spanning the early 19th century to the present. Many selections are adapted from, “Timeline of Wisconsin LGBTQ History: A Sampling” (2008), compiled and published by R. Richard Wagner and GSAFE.

“We define ourselves as a society by the stories we tell. If we don’t tell the stories of LGBT history, then we’re basically erasing them as if they didn’t exist.”

– Dick Wagner

From the Blog

06/29/23

Learn more about ‘Wisconsin Pride’ subject Lou Sullivan – read a Q&A with biographer Brice Smith

The all-new documentary, Wisconsin Pride is a groundbreaking collaboration between PBS Wisconsin and the Wisconsin Historical Society that reveals our...

06/29/23

Celebrate Pride with LGBTQ+ archives in Wisconsin

Unless we are history buffs or historical researchers, we don’t regularly think about archives, though many of us encounter them...

06/26/23

Read a Q&A with ‘Wisconsin Pride’ producer Andy Soth

The new PBS Wisconsin documentary, Wisconsin Pride, brings hidden LGBTQ+ stories forward and reconsiders our state’s history in that light....

06/14/23

What is a zine? Zines and the LGBTQ+ community

This is a zine. They come in many sizes and shapes and in any combination of text and images. Originally,...

06/07/23

PBS Wisconsin “Voices” adds LGBTQ+ collection

To celebrate Pride and uplift LGBTQ+ communities every day, PBS Wisconsin has added a brand new LGBTQ+ Stories collection to...

06/05/23

You’re invited: experience ‘Wisconsin Pride’ at community events this summer

PBS Wisconsin, in collaboration with local community partners, is bringing the new Wisconsin Pride documentary around the state this summer...

06/01/23

Celebrate 30 days of Pride and watch the all-new ‘Wisconsin Pride’ documentary

Wisconsin Pride is now available to stream for free on the PBS App on all streaming devices and at pbswisconsin.org/pride....

05/23/23

A look inside the upcoming LGBTQ+ history documentary ‘Wisconsin Pride’ – read a group Q&A!

The all-new PBS Wisconsin documentary, Wisconsin Pride, brings hidden LGBTQ+ stories forward and reconsiders our state’s history in that light....

03/15/23

‘Wisconsin Pride’ brings our state’s LGBTQ+ history forward, June 2023

See Wisconsin history through a new lens in the all-new PBS Wisconsin documentary, Wisconsin Pride. The film brings hidden LGBTQ+...

Funding for Wisconsin Pride is provided by Park Bank, SC Johnson, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation, the Evjue Foundation, the charitable arm of the Capital Times, TruStage, the New Harvest Foundation, the Ruth St. John and John Dunham West Foundation, inc, Paula Bonner and Ann Schaffer, the La Crosse Community Foundation, the MGE Foundation, Rogers Behavioral Health, David E. Bedri and Jon E. Sorenson, the Cream City Foundation, Tom DeChant and Paul Gibler, the Frautschi Family Foundation, the Wisconsin LGBT Chamber of Commerce, Michael Gerdes in memory of Henry S. Lufler, Jr., the Greater Milwaukee Foundation Eldon Murray Fund, Madison College, Mike and Sally Miley, the Roth-Wheeler Family, the Susan M. Schaffer and Joan M. Hinckley Fund, Mary Strickland and Marie Barroquillo, UnityPoint Health – Meriter, the U.S. Bank Foundation, UW Health, The Valentine Fund within the Cream City Foundation, Susan M. Zaeske, Karen Gerdes, in memory of R. Richard Wagner, the Greater Milwaukee Foundation Pegi Christiansen Fund, Gary A. Brown and Paul M. Hayes, Julie Underwood, Michael Verveer, Jill Wheeler and Margaret Close, the Focus Fund for Wisconsin Programs, and Friends of PBS Wisconsin.