It would be nine more years before another state would adopt such protections, making Wisconsin an early leader in protecting the rights of LGBTQ persons. Wisconsin became the first state in the nation to enforce such a law at the state level. On FebruWisconsin governor Lee Dreyfus signed into law a bill that made it illegal for state or private businesses to discriminate based on sexual orientation in employment and housing. Left to right: Leon Rouse, Governor Dreyfus, David Clarenbach. Image from Wisconsin GLBT History Project Trostel Collection of German Theater Scripts.
