Former Governor Tommy Thompson among those to be honored at 2024 LGBTQ+ Honor Awards

 MILWAUKEE (August 2, 2024) – Former Wisconsin Governor Tommy Thompson is among the individuals being honored at the 10th Annual LGBTQ+ Honor Awards, hosted by the Shepherd Express. Thompson will be given the Special Ally award following his work in the 1980s during the midst of the AIDS epidemic. He, along with several other award recipients, will attend the 5 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8 awards show at Potawatomi Hotel & Casino’s Serenity Room.

Thompson was Wisconsin’s longest serving governor from 1987 to 2001. Prior to and during his time as Governor, Thompson supported the Milwaukee AIDS project, aiding individuals and families with the disease. He later served as Secretary of Health and Human Services under President George W. Bush, where he continued support of U.S. funding of international HIV/AIDS. He was also chairman of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and led the United States’ efforts to stem the spread of HIV/AIDS around the world.

“I served in the State Assembly for part of time Tommy was governor and he was great on this issue,” said Louis Fortis, publisher of the Shepherd Express.

Thompson is just one of eight individuals being recognized at the awards. Also being honored is Brenda Lewison, who is being given the Business award for her work representing individuals in employment discrimination and related cases. Scott Stewart will receive the Arts & Culture Award, after becoming the founding artistic director of Wisconsin Cream City Chorus (WCCC), the city’s first LGBTQ chorus (established in 1987). The Education Award is going to the UWM LGBT Archive & Special Collections, and Mona Garcia will receive the Equality Award after she discovered SSBL (Saturday Softball Beer League), Milwaukee’s LGBTQ softball league. Stephanie Sue Stein will be awarded the Health Award, as she served as director of the City Department of Aging, where she integrated LGBTQ programming. The final two awards will go to Anthony Rhodes and Lula Reams. Rhodes is being awarded the Philanthropy Award for his work as one of the early leaders of Cream City Foundation, the city’s LGBTQ philanthropic organization. Reams will receive the Pioneer Award after she co-founded Lesbians of Color (LOC), Milwaukee’s first organization for lesbians not only of color, but inclusive of all.

To learn more about the 2024 LGBTQ+ Progress Awards and recipients, visit ShepherdExpress.com.

NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.