Earlier this year, the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center announced that due to changes in federal funding policies, their organization had lost nearly one million dollars in funding. The huge loss has many worried about the future of the center, which provides vital health, safety, and community resources for southeastern Wisconsin’s LGBTQ+ community.

Since 2021, the organization has relied on federal funds from the Office on Violence Against Women grant, which has traditionally been disbursed through the U.S. Attorney General’s office. Those funds have helped them serve LGBTQ+ survivors of violence in particular.

However, due to recent federal eligibility language changes, many organizations like the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center that promote or practice “illegal DEI,” give preferential treatment to, or target their services and treatment to any specific demographics based on race, gender, sexual orientation, or any other identity can now be considered discriminatory, and may be flagged as potential civil rights violations. The name “Milwaukee LGBT Community Center” could potentially be a red flag alone.

This includes initiatives like identity-based safe space programming, BIPOC programs, trans wellness, sex-specific programs, trans inclusion, and so much more.

In addition to not being able eligible to apply for the OVW grant, the center has also lost access to funds from the Victims of Crime Act funding, which has historically been supported by criminal penalties and not tax dollars. In 2024, Wisconsin’s federal VOCA allocation shrank from $40 million to just $13 million, and unfortunately, the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center was unable to retain the qualification necessary to reapply on time.

So What’s At Stake?

According to Ritchie T. Martin, Jr., Executive Director of the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center, this significant setback to the Center’s operations raises a critical concern: “How can we continue to deliver programs designed specifically for historically marginalized communities and maintain safe, affirming spaces when those same spaces may now be required to welcome individuals who do not share those identities, and who may potentially undermine their intended purpose?”

He continued, “When we’re facing the loss of this level of funding, it’s imperative that we closely examine what’s truly at stake. Without closing this financial gap, thousands of individuals, particularly LGBTQ+ youth and people of color, stand to lose access to affirming mental health care. We risk losing trusted, community-centered spaces like Project Q, one of our longest-standing and most impactful programs. Survivors of violence may no longer have access to culturally competent, trauma-informed support. And Southeast Wisconsin could lose one of its last remaining dedicated resources for LGBTQ+ health and wellness.

This news follows the abrupt closure of the LGBT Center of Southeast Wisconsin in Racine this past May. “After their closure, we experienced a significant increase in individuals from Racine and Kenosha seeking services through our Center, particularly transgender and nonbinary people, who already face disproportionate levels of discrimination and marginalization within mainstream systems,” Martin noted.

What does the future of the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center look like?

“We are not standing still,” said Martin. “We have launched a new campaign called ‘Sustain. Stabilize. Thrive., is our new fundraising effort. Our goal is to sustain critical services, stabilize operations, and build long-term resilience through private foundation support, community partnerships, and individual donations.”

“Our community has always stood tall for us. It would be remiss of me if I did not acknowledge that, through our 28 years, they have advocated for us and shown up for us in so many ways. We launched our campaign just two weeks ago, and we have already raised $25,904.28 from 135 different individual donors.”

The Milwaukee LGBT Community Center has the ultimate goal of raising $540,000 within 12 months, with its main fundraising event coming up on Saturday, November 15. The annual ‘Big Night Out’ event has traditionally been a grand ball gala raising funds, though to maximize net profits this year, they will be throwing a more intimate affair, during which attendees will certainly be in a more intimate setting with more focus on community and less on the attire.

In Martin’s words, “We are looking to bring everyone closer together for one night of empowerment, of celebration of who we are as an organization, and in celebration of who we are as people.”

For that reason, the theme of this year’s big event will be ‘Unapologetically Us: Honoring Legacy. Empowering Tomorrow.”

More information about the event will be announced in the coming weeks. In the meantime, those interested in donating to the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center can visit this link.