Pride, Visibility, and Community in Northeast Wisconsin

DEI Committee Report for June 2026 – Terri Gulyas, Chair

June is Pride Month — a time to celebrate the LGBTQ+ community, honor the long struggle for equality, and recommit ourselves to protecting the civil rights of all people. Here in Northeast Wisconsin, Pride events continue to grow in visibility and community support. Green Bay Pride is planning a family-friendly downtown celebration in June, while Door County’s Open Door Pride Festival in Sturgeon Bay will feature music, art, community resources, and activities that welcome both LGBTQ+ individuals and allies. These events remind us that inclusion is not just a national conversation — it is local, personal, and woven into the fabric of our own communities.

At the same time, Pride Month arrives during a period of intense legislative debate surrounding LGBTQ+ rights, particularly related to transgender youth, healthcare access, education, and public accommodations. Across the country, hundreds of bills affecting LGBTQ+ people have been introduced in recent years, prompting organizations such as the Human Rights Campaign to increase advocacy efforts. The Human Rights Campaign (HRC), the nation’s largest LGBTQ+ civil rights organization, works to advance equality through public education, workplace inclusion, healthcare advocacy, and legislative action. Their work reflects a simple but powerful belief: democracy functions best when every person is treated with dignity, fairness, and equal protection under the law.

Ways to Engage This Month

·       Attend a local Pride event in Green Bay, Appleton, or Door County as an ally and supporter.

·       Learn more about LGBTQ+ equality issues through the Human Rights Campaign.

·       Contact local and state representatives regarding legislation impacting civil rights and equal protection.

·       Encourage respectful community conversations that promote listening, empathy, and factual information.

·       Book Recommendation: Tomorrow Will Be Different by Sarah McBride — an engaging and hopeful memoir about identity, public service, resilience, and the continuing fight for equality.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee

League of Women Voters of Greater Green Bay • June 2026 Newsletter