MADISON, Wis. — With the start of Pride Month just a few days away, the Wisconsin Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus has introduced its 2025 Equality Agenda.

In total, there are seven bills, as well as five joint resolutions, which serve as formal recognitions of days significant to the community.

What You Need To Know

  • The Wisconsin Legislative LGBTQ+ Caucus introduced its 2025 Equality Agenda on Thursday, ahead of June Pride Month

  • In total, there are seven bills, as well as five joint resolutions, which serve as formal recognitions of days significant to the community
  • Among the proposals in the legislative package are prohibiting discrimination based on a person’s gender identity, updating the state’s constitution to recognize marriage equality, recognizing legal parentage for same-sex couples in specific cases and banning conversion therapy

“Scapegoating and marginalizing a specific group of people is nothing new in politics,” State Rep. Christian Phelps, D-Eau Claire, explained.

Phelps said he wishes more Wisconsinites would take a few seconds to ask themselves a few questions.

“Do you know any LGBTQ people, and do you care about them? Do you want the best for them?” Phelps said.

Phelps, who serves on the Assembly’s Committee on Education, also said many of the policies the Republican majority has focused on don’t match what people want.

“We spent multiple days on pronouns and locker rooms, and we haven’t spent a single day in that committee discussing the fact that we are only funding 30% of special education or the fact that rural residents of western Wisconsin are paying private schools through voucher programs,” Phelps added.

The legislative package of seven bills covers a range of issues, from prohibiting discrimination based on a person’s gender identity to updating the state’s constitution to recognize marriage equality.

There is also a push to recognize legal parentage for same-sex couples under certain circumstances and ban conversion therapy.

“Research shows that conversion therapy can lead to depression, anxiety, drug use, homelessness and suicide, especially in our youth,” State Rep. Lee Snodgrass, D-Appleton, told reporters during a press conference Thursday. “Some of my colleagues across the aisle like to talk about how important mental health is, particularly for young people, and I hope that they are listening today.”

Five joint resolutions have also been put forth to recognize the following days:

  • June 2025 as Pride Month
  • Bisexuality Day as Sept. 23, 2025
  • Intersex Awareness Day as Oct. 26, 2025
  • Transgender Day of Visibility as March 31, 2025
  • Transgender Day of Remembrance as Nov. 20, 2025

“Two-thirds of folks support gay marriage. It’s not like the 1950s or 60s,” State Sen. Tim Carpenter, D-Milwaukee, said.

When asked about support for the measures from Republicans, Democrats said there has been bipartisan backing for marriage equality in the past. Some Republican representatives have also expressed an openness, though in private conversations, to banning conversion therapy, according to Democratic legislators.

Spectrum News reached out to Republican Assembly Speaker Robin Vos’ office for comment on the Equality Agenda but did not receive a response.

Related Stories