Wisconsin Historical Society won’t raise pride flag, after years of flying it

After years of flying the rainbow pride flag, the Wisconsin Historical Society won’t raise it this year for Pride Month.

The decision comes as President Donald Trump’s administration has targeted gender-affirming health care and other LGBTQ+ issues.

Asked about the decision, WHS spokesperson Colleen Lies said the organization remains committed to sharing LGTBQ+ stories. 

“This was a complex and difficult decision that was made with consideration of many perspectives and a need to establish a consistent approach,” she told WPR in an email. 

“Ultimately, the decision was guided by the Society’s mission of connecting people to history by collecting, preserving and sharing stories,” Lies added. “We remain committed to sharing stories of Wisconsinites from all backgrounds, cultures, and perspectives—including the LGTBQ+ and other communities.”

Lies told the website Madison365 that the pride flag has flown at the WHS since 2019. She said the decision not to raise the flag this year is in keeping with the agency’s mission.

“As a nonpartisan agency, the Society does not participate in advocacy outside of that mission. With that in mind, we have chosen not to raise any flags on our agency’s flagpoles that can be perceived as an act of advocacy,” she told Madison365.

Community advocate Christopher Peguero of Fitchburg, who called attention to the WHS decision before it was publicly announced, said as a queer person of color and parent of a queer child, he notices when institutions make decisions like these. 

“When I heard the news, it was incredibly shocking, especially right now, with the federal administration really pushing against families like ours,” he added. 

He said the pride flag is not meant to be a political statement, but a symbol of inclusion. 

“As the Wisconsin Historical Society is looking at building a brand new building, my questions are: Will families like mine, and our stories — will they be welcome in that space?” Peguero said.

Kristen Whitson is the co-author of a book published by the Wisconsin Historical Society Press called “We Will Always Be Here: A Guide to Exploring and Understanding the History of LGBTQ+ Activism in Wisconsin.”

She’s married to a woman and said as a member of the LGBTQ+ community, she’s disappointed and hurt to hear about the decision not to raise the flag this year. 

“I don’t think that WHS is trying to say that they don’t see us. I don’t think they’re trying to say that the stories don’t matter,” Whitson said. “But when they make the decision, in June 2025, not to fly that flag, the message to me is that their reasons for taking the flag down are more important than making LGBTQ+ Wisconsinites feel safe and welcome.”

WHS decision comes as pride flag again raised over Wisconsin Capitol

Down the street, Gov. Tony Evers again raised the pride flag over the Wisconsin Capitol, a step he’s taken each year since taking office in 2019.

Evers noted that 2025 marked the 10-year anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court declaring same-sex marriage legal.

“We celebrate pride because we also know what’s at stake,” Evers said. “We know that there are those who want to revisit these victories, they want to revise this important history so that they can write a new story for our state and a new story for our country.” 

Dozens gathered outside the state Capitol building to witness the flag raising. Speakers applauded the governor’s decision. 

“Some people wonder if raising a flag really makes a difference. Well, I’m here to tell you that it does,” said Madison Mayor Satya Rhodes-Conway. “When I see the rainbow flag, it tells me that someone cares enough to make it clear that I, as an out lesbian, am welcome here.”

While the decision has become common at the state Capitol, it has not been universally supported there.

Some GOP lawmakers have introduced a bill that would prohibit flags, other than the U.S. flag, to be flown on government buildings.