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History

Homosexual activity in Wisconsin

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Homosexual activity in Wisconsin is legal.

Current status
Since May 5, 1983
Legal
Wisconsin repealed its laws against sodomy in 1983.

In order to secure enough votes to pass the legislation that repealed the ban on sodomy, legislators agreed to add to the bill that “the state does not condone or encourage any form of sexual conduct outside the institution of marriage.”
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Same-sex marriage in Wisconsin

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Same-sex marriage in Wisconsin is legal.

Current status
Since Oct 6, 2014
Legal
Same sex marriage in Wisconsin returned when the Supreme Court decision came through.
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Aug 3, 2009–Oct 5, 2014
Other type of partnership
In 2009, a law was passed in Wisconsin providing for a domestic partnership for same-sex couples with limited rights compared to married couples.
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Until Aug 2, 2009
Unrecognized
Until 2009, there was no legal recognition provided to same-sex couples in Wisconsin, however there was also no law explicitly banning marriage. Attempts to do so were vetoed in 2003.
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Censorship of LGBT issues in Wisconsin

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Censorship of LGBT issues in Wisconsin is no censorship.

Current status
No censorship
There are no laws censoring LGBT topics in Wisconsin.
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Right to change legal gender in Wisconsin

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Right to change legal gender in Wisconsin is legal, but requires surgery.

Current status
Since 1985
Legal, but requires surgery
Wisconsin provides legal gender recognition on the condition of surgery having been performed.

Gender-affirming care in Wisconsin

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Gender-affirming care in Wisconsin is legal.

Current status
Legal
In 2023, Wisconsin's republican controlled state legislature passed a bill to ban gender affirming care for minors, but democratic governor Tony Evers ultimately vetoed it.

Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Wisconsin

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Legal recognition of non-binary gender in Wisconsin is not legally recognized.

Current status
Not legally recognized
While Wisconsin allows some progress for non-binary recognition, like allowing parents to not be classified as mother or father on their child's birth certificate, it is not currently possible to request an X gender marker on any type of ID.

LGBT discrimination in Wisconsin

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LGBT discrimination in Wisconsin is illegal in some contexts.

Current status
Illegal in some contexts
Discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation is illegal, but gender identification is not included in these protections.
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LGBT employment discrimination in Wisconsin

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LGBT employment discrimination in Wisconsin is sexual orientation and gender identity.

Current status
Since Jun 15, 2020
Sexual orientation and gender identity
On June 15th, 2020, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled that discrimination in employment based on sexual orientation or gender identity is illegal under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, classified as sex discrimination.
Oct 5, 2017–Jun 14, 2020
Sexual orientation only
President Trump's Department of Justice and the EEOC revoked protections for gender identity in employment discrimination.
Apr 20, 2012–Oct 4, 2017
Sexual orientation and gender identity
In a landmark decision, Democratic President Obama's EEOC ruled that gender identity was included under Title VII protections from the Civil Rights Act (originally written to protect people based on sex discrimination).
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Mar 5, 1982–Apr 19, 2012
Sexual orientation only
In 1982, Republican Governor Dreyfus signed a bill giving LGB people employment discrimination protections, making Wisconsin the first state in the union to do so.

LGBT housing discrimination in Wisconsin

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LGBT housing discrimination in Wisconsin is sexual orientation only.

Current status
Sexual orientation only
This state explicitly bans housing discrimination based upon sexual orientation only.

Additionally, the Human Rights Campaign states, "The Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires grantees and participants of HUD programs to comply with local and state non-discrimination laws that include sexual orientation and gender identity.
HUD also prohibits inquiries regarding the sexual orientation or gender identity of a prospective tenant or applicant for assisted
housing in every state (March 2012)."
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Same-sex adoption in Wisconsin

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Same-sex adoption in Wisconsin is legal.

Current status
Since Oct 6, 2014
Legal
Same sex marriage is now legal, allowing same sex couples to adopt children
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1994–Oct 6, 2014
Illegal
Same-sex couples are not permitted joint or second parent adoption.
Sources:
Interest of Angel Lace M., 516 N.W.2d 678 (Wis. 1994)
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Intersex infant surgery in Wisconsin

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Intersex infant surgery in Wisconsin is not banned.

Current status
Not banned
Wisconsin’s proposed ban on gender-affirming care for minors specifically permits surgery on intersex infants.
Sources:
legiscan.com/WI/text/AB465/… - pages 2 and 3
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Serving openly in military in Wisconsin

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Serving openly in military in Wisconsin is legal.

Current status
Since Mar 18, 2025
Legal under federal United States law
On the evening of March 18th, U.S. District Judge Ana Reyes blocked the implementation of Trump's executive order banning transgender people from the military. The judge said that not only was the order unconstitutional but “a solution in search of a problem.”.
Feb 7, 2025–Mar 17, 2025
Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned under federal United States law
Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth filed in court a memo on February 10th, 2025 relating to President Trump’s executive order from the previous month.

From now on, The U.S. military will prohibit transgender individuals from enlisting, and will cease providing or supporting gender transition procedures for service members.
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Apr 30, 2021–Feb 6, 2025
Legal under federal United States law
President Joe Biden removed former President Donald Trump’s ban on transgender people serving in the military, and transgender people are still allowed to serve as of 2025.

In January of 2025, President Trump signed an executive order that bans transgender people from serving in the military. However, before his executive order can take effect, Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth needs to submit a plan on how the military will implement the order.
Apr 11, 2019–Apr 29, 2021
Lesbians, gays, bisexuals permitted, transgender people banned under federal United States law
The Trump administration enacted a new policy barring individuals with a "condition" known as "gender dysphoria." from serving in the military.
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Sep 20, 2011–Apr 11, 2019
Legal under federal United States law
In 2011, "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" was repealed by the Obama Administration. Former President Obama allowed members who were dishonorably discharged under DADT, to receive an honorable discharge.
Dec 21, 1993–Sep 19, 2011
Don't Ask, Don't Tell under federal United States law
Don't Ask, Don't Tell was the historic compromise signed by President Bill Clinton authorizing people who are LGBT to serve in the military provided they didn't disclose sexuality. The law also removed the ability for others in the military from asking for a service member's orientation.
Sources:
www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/PLAW-…
catalog.archives.gov/id/122244870 *official document for DADT signed by Former President Clinton*
gao.gov/assets/nsiad-92-98.pdf *study from 1992 to 1998*
www.history.com/news/dont-a…
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Blood donations by MSMs in Wisconsin

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Blood donations by MSMs in Wisconsin is legal.

Current status
Since May 11, 2023
Legal under federal United States law
The new FDA policy on blood donation eliminates deferrals and screening questions specific to men who have sex with men (MSM). Prospective donors will be asked the same set of questions regardless of their sex or sexual orientation.
Apr 2, 2020–May 11, 2023
Banned (less than 6-month deferral) under federal United States law
The FDA announced changes to the blood donor eligibility policy in April 2020, reducing the MSM deferral period from 12 months to 3 months. The change came amid the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, where blood was needed urgently.
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Dec 21, 2015–Apr 1, 2020
Banned (1-year deferral) under federal United States law
After a series of recommendations, the FDA has moved to a 12 months deferral.
1983–Dec 20, 2015
Banned (indefinite deferral) under federal United States law
Starting in 1983, the United States implemented a full ban on blood donations from gay men. The primary justification for the ban was the perceived high risk of HIV transmission, with health regulators identifying men who have sex with men (MSM) as a significant risk to the safety of the blood supply.
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Conversion therapy in Wisconsin

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Conversion therapy in Wisconsin is varies by region.

Current status
Since Jun 1, 2021
Varies by Region
An extensive list of jurisdictions passing ordinances and measures which prohibit the practice of conversion therapy have passed in Wisconsin. In brief this list includes the 14 communities of: Appleton, Cudahy, Eau Claire, Glendale, Kenosha, La Crosse, Madison, Milwaukee, Racine, Sheboygan, Shorewood, Sun Prairie, Superior and West Allis. Each jurisdiction maintains different variations in fines and applicability to minors and licensed professionals.

On June 1, 2021, Wisconsin governor signed an executive order prohibiting state and federal funds being used for conversion therapy which aims to change a minor's sexual orientation or gender identity.

State law supersedes local laws and the ban is at risk of being rendered defunct if state legislatures were to nullify the legitimacy of the scope of these laws.

A battle against conversion therapy is currently pending in the Supreme Court and it is likely to be ruled on this term with Wisconsin being the origin state of the challenge.

Equal age of consent in Wisconsin

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Equal age of consent in Wisconsin is equal.

Current status
Since May 5, 1983
Equal
Wisconsin's age of consent for same-sex and different-sex couple is 18. State Statute provides an exemption for people who are married between the ages of 16 and 17.
Sources:
Wisconsin State Statute 948.09
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