Make Plans for the Progress Awards

HERE ARE THIS YEAR’S WINNERS

LGBTQ PROGRESS IN BUSINESS: THE TOOL SHED Business Award sponsored by: Diverse & Resilient Founded in 2004, the Tool Shed Erotic Boutique is a nationally recognized sex toy store known both for its mission of celebrating healthy sexuality and as a gender-positive educational resource. Located on the city’s upper East Side, it has long served as a safe and welcoming space for anyone exploring their sexuality.

LGBTQ PROGRESS IN HEALTH AND HIV AWARENESS: COMMONGROUND MINISTRY ELENA’S HOUSE Health and HIV Awareness Award sponsored by: Vivent Health In March of 2001, CommonGround Ministry opened Elena’s House, a transitional and end-of-life home for people living with HIV/AIDS. Its faith-based range of supportive services offers physical, familial, social and spiritual care in a non-judgmental and dignified environment. Its peer-based programs, ACAL (Another Chance at Life) and WOW (Women of Worth) provide motivating support for those with HIV/AIDS living independently in the community.

LGBTQ PROGRESS IN THE STRUGGLE FOR EQUALITY: MILWAUKEE PFLAG Struggle for Equality sponsored by: UW Credit Union For over two decades, Milwaukee PFLAG (Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays) has provided support for LGBTQ individuals and their families. It promotes the respect of diversity within our community through education and advocacy in order to end discrimination and to secure equal civil rights.

LGBTQ PROGRESS IN ARTS AND CULTURE: ANTLER Arts and Culter sponsored by Marcus Performing Arts Center Born in 1946, Antler is recognized as Wisconsin’s greatest gay poet. Antler composed free verse spanning realms of wonder and exploring the emotional arch of male-male love most would find too intimate to express. Poet Allen Ginsberg called him “one of Whitman’s poets.” Not surprisingly, Antler received the WaltWhitman Association Prize. He was also Milwaukee Poet Laureate for 2003-2004. PROGRESS IN LGBTQ ACTIVISM: ELLEN KOZEL Activism Award sponsored by Dr. Stephanie Murphy, DDS Ellen Kozel served in the U.S. Navy from 1966 to 1972 and in the U.S. Army from 1976 to 1987. To help veterans access Veterans Administration services, she created the organization Veterans Do Ask Do Tell. It would later become Veterans for Diversity. She has since founded No Veteran Left Behind. Kozel has also dedicated over 12 years working to help veterans with PTSD and Military Sexual Trauma (MST) through the Healing Warrior Hearts program.

LGBTQ PROGRESS IN YOUTH ACTIVISM: DIVERSE & RESILIENT Youth Activism Award sponsored by: Courage MKE Over its quarter-century-long history, Diverse & Resilient has focused on addressing the physical and mental health needs of LGBTQ youth and inspiring youth to activism. Beginning with a LGBT Youth Conference in 1996, D&R continues to expand the empowerment of youth through its LGBT Youth Leadership Advisory Council and numerous other programs.

LGBTQ PROGRESS IN PHILANTHROPY: MILMAIDS BOWLING TOURNAMENT Philanthropy Award sponsored by: Planned Parenthood Celebrating 35 years of fundraising, Milmaids is a grassroots, volunteer, annual charity bowling tournament that alternates between Madison and Milwaukee. It benefits organizations serving those with HIV/AIDS. Since its founding in 1985, Milmaids has raised over $250,000.

PIONEER OF LGBTQ PROGRESS: MISS B.J. DANIELS Pioneer Award sponsored by: Milwaukee Gay Sports Network In the pantheon of Milwaukee drag, Miss B.J. Daniels (aka Bjorn Nasett) ranks in the highest tier. Beginning in the early 1980s at Club 219, B.J. Daniels has pursued her career as an iconic star of the Milwaukee drag stage and tireless advocate for LGBTQ rights. Today, after nearly 40 years, she continues to perform in both roles.

Paul Masterson is an LGBTQ activist and writer and has served on the boards of the Milwaukee Gay Arts Center, Milwaukee Pride, GAMMA and other organizations.