Formed in 1993, the Sherman Park Rainbow Association (SPRA) was the first LGBT neighborhood
organization in Wisconsin. It existed primarily to provide a social network for gays and
lesbians living in this West Side Milwaukee neighborhood, although it occasionally became
involved in civil rights issues. SPRA held monthly meetings and social events such as
picnics, potlucks, and holiday parties. The group worked with other local LGBT
organizations, including PrideFest, the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin, and the Domestic
Partnership Task Force. SPRA also collaborated with its mainstream counterpart, the Sherman
Park Community Association (SPCA). SPRA members sat on the SPCA Board of Directors, provided
leadership for the Neighborhood Watch and the Neighborhood Housing Survey, and volunteered
for ShermanFest. The group dissolved in 2002 due to declining membership participation.
