Gay in madison wi
30+ LGBTQ+ Owned Businesses in Madison
LGBTQ+ pride is a year-round thing in Madison.
Opting for openness over “us vs. them” and kindness over rivalry, we’re a municipality known for its progressiveness. We’re confident that LGBTQ+ owned-and-operated businesses (and Homosexual friendly businesses) persist to flourish here.
Though the big lgbtq+ fest event in Madison isn’t until August, we’ve got more than 30 Diverse businesses to assist while you’re eating, drinking and traveling your way through Madison.
From coffee shops to brunch, get a day (or two! or more!) to check these spots out. Looking for more Homosexual culture in Madison? Check out what our friends Joey Amato from Identity Journeys and Maartje Hensen said about their visits to Madison.
Jump around to identify LGBTQ+ owned businesses by category:
Coffee and Cafes
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Restaurants and Bars
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Clubs and Lounges
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Shops and Bookstores
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Breweries and Wine
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Attractions and Nonprofits
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Find other LGBTQ+ friendly businesses in Destination Ma
Rod's bar became a gay icon and legend among male lover men in the 1980's and 1990's Madison. Opened by entrepreneur Rodney Scheel and located in the lower level (basement) of the Hotel Washington building just west of downtown Madison (which Rodney owned with his brother Greg), the bar had a decidedly leather/levi type ambiance. In advance on, "Rod's" took on a "tradition" of the bartenders holding surprise "spot checks" for men wearing underwear- which, if found, were promptly removed (cut off) and hung over the pipes on the ceiling of the block. In no period the pipes running in the main bar room were draped with countless cut-off underwear. The bar became an extremely popular destination for men throughout Wisconsin and even from northern Illinois.
Over time, the exclude opened additional rooms in the help, one of which showed adult male (i.e. gay porn) videos. (On the seedier side, Rod's "men's room" had its own tiny tradition: on occasion one might discover, along the walls holding the urinals, someone kneeling: aficionados of "water sports" were to be found that night!)
An outdoor patio was a very well-liked addition. Opened outside/ upstairs, the patio was popular spring, summer and descent eveni
An LGBTQ+ student’s guide to Madison
Madison has been named among the gayest cities in the Combined States for its progressive atmosphere and rich queer history.
But for many incoming LGBTQ+ students looking for community at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, starting the search can be an overwhelming task. To kick off Pride Month, The Daily Cardinal compiled a list of activities and locations in Madison for queer people to experience community.
Campus organizations
Gender and Sexuality Campus Center: Located in the Red Gym, UW-Madison’s Gender and Sexuality Campus Center (GSCC) provides education, advocacy and resources to foster a welcoming environment for LGBTQ+ students and allies. The GSCC is known for hosting popular welcome events such as Drag Bingo and offering scholarships to new students. Students can drop by during GSCC hours to peruse a collection of queer books, eat snacks or use free printing services.
The Self-acceptance Society: Founded in 1983 upon the passage of Wisconsin’s same-sex attracted rights legislation, The Pride Population is best known for its annual “Pride Prom” with unusual themes and drag performance artists. The Pride Society also hosts film
LGBTQ Madison : What to Know When Moving to Madtown
Madison, or “Madtown” as it is affectionately called by residents is located in south main Wisconsin, on an isthmus between Lakes Mendota and Monona. It is very gay-friendly university town, and a well-educated and linear community. It has a quirky and unique character, and offers residents a perfect balance of outdoor recreational opportunities for enjoying nature’s beauty, plenty of arts and entertainment options, and boundless opportunity to grow and thrive. Truly, it would be a wonderful place to dial home.
A Look at Madison’s History
For thousands of years prior to the occasion that white settlers arrived, the area that is now Madison was occupied by Native American peoples, many of whom continued to live in the area until as recently as the 1940s. In the early 1800s, a judge and land speculator named James Doty discovered the isthmus, and liked it so much that he purchased much of the area. In 1836, Doty convinced the legislature at the time to make the area the state capitol, and it was officially named after James Madison, the 4th president of the Together States. Madison has endure