Equality Wisconsin was a nonprofit, social welfare organization dedicated to securing
equal rights under the law for Wisconsin's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
(LGBT) community. The organization was founded in 2001 as LGBT Center Advocates,
consolidating elements of the Domestic Partnership Task Force, the Human Rights
League, and the LGBT Alliance for Equality. During the first years of its existence,
Center Advocates was affiliated with the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center. From 2004
to 2006, it partnered with Action Wisconsin to oppose the state constitutional ban
on same-sex marriage and civil unions. The constitutional ban passed in November
2006 by a margin of 59.4% to 40.6%. Following the campaign, Center Advocates worked
to establish domestic partner benefits for Milwaukee city employees and
non-discrimination protections for transgender people. Center Advocates became an
independent organization in 2008, and in June 2009 its members voted to change the
agency's name to Equality Wisconsin. A charitable arm, Equality Wisconsin Fund, was
established in 2008. Equality Wisconsin waged campaigns for LGBT equality and
awareness, including educational efforts in Milwaukee's religious, African-American,
and Latino communities. On June 29, 2013 Equality Wisconsin and Fair Wisconsin
(formerly, Action Wisconsin) jointly announced a merger in order to more effectively
pool resources and increase effectiveness. This merged organization exists as Fair
Wisconsin.
