Milwaukee LGBT Community Center Rebounds from $900K Funding Loss with Record Service Delivery

Milwaukee, WI — December 23, 2025 — Despite facing one of the most challenging years in its history, the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center delivered a record level of services to LGBTQ+ community members across Milwaukee in 2025, underscoring the power of community support, responsible stewardship, and a sustained commitment to care.

In the summer of 2025, the Center experienced the sudden loss of more than $900,000 in government funding, a setback that threatened operations and raised serious concerns about the future of Southeastern Wisconsin’s last remaining LGBTQ+ community center.

Due to an outpouring of support from private foundations, corporate partners, and concerned community members, the Center remained open and responsive during a time of heightened need.

“This year pushed us to our limits in ways we could never have imagined, yet it also revealed something undeniable, the unwavering strength, courage, and soul of this community,” said Ritchie T. Martin, Jr., Executive Director of the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center. “In a moment when our very existence was challenged, people stood with us. They showed up with fierce generosity, unshakable solidarity, and a belief in our mission that carried us through. Because of that, we did more than continue our work, we rose to meet the moment. We showed up for LGBTQ+ people across Milwaukee with record-breaking levels of support, connection, and care. And we did it at the exact time our community needed us most.”

Throughout the year, the Center sustained critical programming focused on food access, youth support, aging and disability services, and policy advocacy. Highlights from the Center’s latest Impact Report include:

• Provided 1,112 meals to community members experiencing food insecurity, increasing access to consistent, nutritious food for LGBTQ+ individuals and families.
• Welcomed more than 900 visits to Project Q, offering LGBTQ+ youth a safe and affirming environment while connecting young people experiencing homelessness or social isolation to supportive resources and peer community.
• Hosted more than 40 Aging and Disabilities drop-in sessions, creating inclusive, accessible programming for older adults and people with disabilities and reducing isolation through sustained community connection.
• Advanced bold, compassionate policy efforts to protect LGBTQ+ people locally and nationally, working to ensure every LGBTQ+ person can live safely, authentically, and with dignity.

Community support was decisive. It did not simply help the Center navigate a volatile funding landscape; it stabilized the organization at a critical juncture, safeguarding core operations and preventing the closure of Milwaukee’s last remaining LGBTQ+ community center.

That collective response shifted the organization from crisis management to long-term sustainability, positioning the Center to move forward with renewed strength and clarity heading into 2026.

“The Board’s unanimous approval of the 2026 budget marks a historic turning point for this organization,” Martin said. “For the first time in years, we are stepping into a new fiscal year not in crisis mode, but with strength, clarity, and stability. We are entering 2026 on solid footing, with a stronger operational foundation, a fortified budget that protects our staff and programs, and a long-term vision that is finally within reach. And make no mistake: this transformation was made possible because our community and stakeholders refused to let this Center fall. Their belief in our mission carried us to this moment.”

To learn more about the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center or to support its work, visit www.mkelgbt.org.

About the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center

The Milwaukee LGBT Community Center promotes the health, safety, and well-being of LGBTQ+ people and their allies through advocacy, education, and comprehensive support services. The Center provides a welcoming, inclusive space where individuals of all identities can access vital resources, build community, and find the support they need to live authentically and thrive. With a commitment to empowerment and equity, the Center works to ensure that every person, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or expression, has the opportunity to live with dignity, pride, and purpose.

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.