Milwaukee County and the City of Milwaukee formally launched Pride Month on June 1 with a joint raising of the Intersex Progress Pride flag outside the Milwaukee County Courthouse, presenting the ceremony as a celebration of civic values centered on inclusion, visibility, and belonging.
The event brought together elected officials, government employees, advocates, and community members in what organizers described as the first annual joint Pride Month kickoff between the two local governments. Throughout the ceremony, speakers emphasized that the flag raising represented more than symbolism, framing it as part of a broader effort to communicate institutional commitments to LGBTQIA+ residents.
Connor Goggins, senior real estate project manager for Milwaukee County Housing Services and co-chair of the county’s LGBTQIA+ employee resource group PRISM, opened the event by placing the ceremony within a larger public context.
“Today is special because it represents something larger than a flag raising,” said Goggins. “It is a visible reminder that Milwaukee County and the city of Milwaukee are committed to building communities where LGBTQIA+ people are not merely tolerated, but they’re encouraged to thrive, contribute, and build community as our authentic selves.”
In defiance of discriminatory policies implemented by the Trump administration, Milwaukee has led the nation in setting precedents for demonstrating the legal recognition of historically marginalized groups. The June 1 ceremony reflected that evolution, with speakers treating Pride as an expression of public policy values rather than solely a commemorative observance.
Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley echoed that theme, describing the flag raising as a statement about the county’s identity and responsibilities.
“We are raising more than a flag. We’re raising a visible reminder that Milwaukee County is a place where everyone deserves to belong. Everyone deserves to be seen. And, everyone deserves the freedom to live their lives as their authentic selves,” said County Executive Crowley. “One of my favorite things about Pride Month is that it reminds us that being you, being you is something worth celebrating. For far too many people, being themselves has required extraordinary courage. We celebrate the beautiful truth that our differences make our community not only more colorful but stronger.”
Employee resource groups also played a visible part in shaping the event’s message. Speakers highlighted collaboration between PRISM and Hive, the City of Milwaukee’s LGBTQ+ employee resource group, suggesting that workplace culture has become an increasingly important influence on how public institutions define themselves.
Goggins pointed to the partnership between the two organizations as evidence of how employee-led initiatives can extend beyond internal workplace concerns and influence broader community engagement.
“This first annual joint Pride Month kickoff and flag raising reflects a strong partnership between our two governments and our shared commitment to inclusion, belonging, and equity for all of our residents,” he said. “It also speaks to the value of LGBTQIA+ employee resource groups, collaboration among them, and what they can deliver for employees in the community.”
Sarah Wallace, chair of Hive and a 14-year City of Milwaukee employee, described workplace visibility as a critical measure of inclusion. Reflecting on her own experience, she said the city was the first workplace where she felt comfortable being openly LGBTQ+.
“Being able to be your full self every day at work is a privilege that shouldn’t be a privilege. It should be an expectation,” said Wallace. “And as more of our leadership internalizes that and gets on board with that, Milwaukee only gets better.
Milwaukee County Board Chairwoman Marcelia Nicholson-Bovell connected the flag raising to broader questions of civic inclusion.
“We are raising more than a flag,” Chairwoman Nicholson-Bovell said. “We’re raising a visible reminder that Milwaukee County is a place where everyone deserves to belong. Everyone deserves to be seen, and everyone deserves the freedom to live their lives as their authentic selves.”
She described the flag itself as a symbol of progress and recognition, saying, “The colors of this flag tell a story. A story of visibility, a story of progress, a story that continues to be written by people who choose hope over fear, community over division, and love over hate. And Milwaukee has shown us that when we come together, we shine brighter.”
Milwaukee Mayor Cavalier Johnson emphasized authenticity and acceptance as fundamental expectations rather than privileges.
“It doesn’t matter who you are, it doesn’t matter who you love,” Mayor Johnson said. “You should be able to be your true, authentic self, no matter where you are, whether it’s at work, whether it’s at home, and any third space or anything like that.”
Johnson also proclaimed June 2026 as Pride Month throughout the City of Milwaukee, extending the city’s formal recognition of the observance.
Ceremony organizers chose to raise the Intersex Progress Pride flag rather than the traditional rainbow flag. Speakers described that distinction as important because it reflects an expanded understanding of representation within LGBTQ+ communities.
County Executive Crowley noted that the flag serves as a reminder that Pride should include those whose experiences are frequently overlooked.
“The Intersex Progress Pride flag reminds us that Pride must include and uplift every member of the LGBTQ+ community, especially those whose voices and experiences have too often been overlooked,” he said.
Alderman Peter Burgelis, who helped advance legislation supporting use of the flag on both county and city properties, described the decision as an effort to adopt the most inclusive symbol possible.
“Milwaukee County raised the Intersex Progress Pride flag, which is the most inclusive pride flag,” Alderman Burgelis said. “And when I joined the city council, we passed the same exact resolution so city buildings would also raise the Intersex Progress Pride flag.”
Alderman Burgelis provided a personal example of how symbolic government actions can affect individuals. After legislation authorizing the flag received public attention, he said he received a letter from an intersex resident in Wausau.
“After we passed that resolution, it got some press,” said Alderman Burgelis. “I got a letter from Wausau, in the middle of the state. And that person said, ‘Thank you. Thank you for acknowledging me. I’m an intersex person. I’ve lived in the shadows my entire life. And Milwaukee County is the first place that showed that I’m part of a community and that I matter.’ That’s why this is so important.”
Long before Pride flags flew above government buildings, many LGBTQ+ Milwaukeeans lived largely out of public view. In the early 1960s, being openly gay, lesbian, or transgender could carry serious personal consequences. Discrimination was common, legal protections were virtually nonexistent, and many people concealed their identities to avoid harassment, job loss, or violence.
One of the few places where LGBTQ+ people could gather openly was the Black Nite, a tavern on North Plankinton Avenue in downtown Milwaukee. On August 5, 1961, patrons were confronted by a group of men who entered the bar intending to intimidate those inside. Rather than retreat, the patrons fought back.
The confrontation became known as the Black Nite Uprising, one of the earliest documented acts of collective LGBTQ+ resistance in American history. Occurring nearly a decade before the Stonewall riots in New York, the event challenged assumptions that LGBTQ+ people would quietly accept discrimination and abuse.
For decades, the story remained largely unknown outside Milwaukee’s LGBTQ+ community. Yet historians now recognize the uprising as an important chapter in both local and national LGBTQ+ history.
“While we celebrate today, we also recognize that there is still more work for all of us to be done,” County Executive Crowley added. “We must keep fighting for equality, protecting our LGBTQ+ youth, supporting inclusive spaces, and ensuring that every single person can live openly and safely throughout Milwaukee County.”
© Photo
Lee Matz
