College Life
The University of Wisconsin
This is the flagship campus of the UW System, and, according to Wikipedia, “is organized into 20 schools which enrolled 29,153 undergraduate, 8,710 graduate, and 2,570 professional students and granted 6,040 bachelor’s, 3,328 graduate and professional degrees in 2008.” So there you go.
The campus is pretty darn LGBT-friendly, though life there is not without its challenges for queer-identified students. Start your time off right by visiting the LGBT Campus Center right away. You can focus your studies on all things queer (you can get a certificate in LGBT studies, major in gender and women’s studies), and attend events like the Ten Percent Society’s dances, the Reel Love Film Festival or the Trans* Monologues.
Madison’s campus is one of the largest in the nation, but it’s mostly centered in the downtown area, at the opposite end of the State Street pedestrian mall from the State Capitol. Unsurprisingly, then, State Street is usually crawling with students during the school year, and tourists during the summer, but generally always a pleasant place to be/shop/eat (except around bar time, 2 a.m., when things can get super dicey/bro-tastic).
Edgewood College
This is a private, liberal arts college founded by the Sinsinawa Dominican Sisters, situated on the Near West Side of town, on its own little cozy, beautiful campus. It’s also where I went for undergrad (2000-2004), even though I’m not Catholic. The queer community there is (naturally) much smaller, but the atmosphere for queer kids has improved dramatically over even just the last decade.
Edgewood is known for its education, nursing, and art therapy programs – as well as its continuing education school.
I’ll just summarize and say: While the administration can be fairly conservative, the nuns are almost all radical, feminist, social justice crusaders – and a bunch of the professors (and department heads, etc.) are queer. I learned a lot while I was there.
Madison College (formerly MATC)
A top-notch technical college with a great transfer program between it and the UW. There’s one main campus downtown and another on the Far East Side. All sorts of folks of all ages go there.
Sports
YOU GUYS, there are so many queer and queer-friendly sports leagues in Madison – if you’re at all inclined to get active you pretty much have no excuse.
Mad Rollin’ Dolls and Mad Wrecking Dolls roller derby leagues
Madison boasts one of the original roller derby revival leagues in MRD, which enters its ninth season this December. The travel team—the Dairyland Dolls—was ranked number 10 in the nation last year. And bouts are just super fun. Interest in derby has grown so much over the last decade that a recreational league, MWD, was begun a few years ago. Anyone can join (whereas getting into MRD involves a highly competitive try-out process during the summer) for one of the seasonal sessions, and there are different levels to suit all comers. (full disclosure: I am a member of MWD).
Madison Gay Hockey Association
This co-ed hockey league also welcomes people of all gender identities and skill levels, and is super rad.
Madison Minotaurs Gay Rugby (for the boy-identified)
Wisconsin Women’s Rugby (for the girl-identified)
Madison Blaze Women’s football!
Health Services
For students, the LGBT Campus Center is the best place to go for recommendations and help. As a student, too, you’ll have access to the excellent UW Health System.
A Woman’s Touch (600 Williamson St.)
This place is pretty much The Best. Run by two ladies with lengthy backgrounds in health and sexual wellness, and a serious commitment to people getting their safe, consensual freak on, A Woman’s Touch is a rad, feminist, sex-positive sex toy and education shop. Shopping here is one of the most pleasant experiences you can have – they give you a piece of chocolate every time you buy something – and I’ve never once felt wigged out while perusing the shelves of naughty books, toys, plush vagina puppets, underthings, etc. Have questions? They can probably answer any of ‘em. It’s a wonderland.
AIDS Network (600 Williamson St.)
A longtime provider of HIV/AIDS prevention and care services in southern Wisconsin. The annual ACT bike ride raises money to support their work.
Activism/Feminism
There are a lot of smaller, less formal groups and organizations in Madison that work toward various LGBT and/or feminist goals. You pretty much need only show up and start talking to people to find them. Some of the larger groups tackling these issues are as follows:
Fair Wisconsin is probably the largest statewide group actively fighting on behalf of LGBT rights. There’s also the Gay/Straight Alliance for Safe Schools, Alianza Latina/Latino works on behalf of Latina/o LGBT youth, and the Wisconsin Women’s Network is a coalition of area organizations and individuals that works to “advance the status of women and girls” in the state.
Family
In terms of the LGBT population, once you get out of college things get much more family focused. There are so, so many queers raising kids here (it’s adorable). But don’t let that fool you – there’s plenty going on for whatever stage of your gay life you’re in.
In terms of your rights in the fair state of Wisconsin, it’s a really mixed bag: An anti-gay marriage amendment sadly passed back in 2006, but we were also the first state in the country to pass a law that banned discrimination in employment, housing, education, etc. based on sexual orientation. Both Madison and Milwaukee also ban discrimination based on gender identity.
Wisconsin also has a domestic partner registry, which offers some (but certainly not all) of the same rights as marriage. We also ban discrimination for any reason regarding adoption rights. You can check out a full list of our checkered history and current situation regarding LGBT rights here.
Wisconsin Rainbow Families
A group dedicated to helping LGBT families make friends, communicate, discover, educate, and organize. They organize regular events for LGBT families, like a water park day and a Halloween bash.
PFLAG Madison (Friends Meeting House, 1702 Roberts Court)
Yay PFLAG! They have the most adorable Farmer’s Market table. More importantly, they’re a great, positive force in the community.
Neighborhood/Community
This is, for the most part, how the different parts of town break down: Downtown, Near East Side, Near West Side, Middle/Far East, West Side, South Side, North Side – and each has its own unique character and flavor. The South Side tends to get the worst rap, and there are food deserts and crime problems in that area, but there’s also a great community struggling to gain more recognition and assistance from city government, which can sometimes have a myopic view of what all Madison is (surprise! it’s not entirely Caucasian—we have growing Hispanic and African American populations, and a large Hmong community, among others).
Gayborhoods
Madison doesn’t have anything official – for the most part, you’re relatively safe living anywhere in the area. There is, of course, the unofficially and affectionately named “Dyke Heights” behind the Barrymore Theater just off Atwood Ave. on the near-ish east side, where an inordinately large number of lesbian families live. Also many backyard chicken coops (it’s legal to keep them within city limits), and Bad Dog Frida, a lesbian-owned-and-operated pet accessories store. Heck, pretty much the entire near east side is super gay, too. Near west is gay-friendly but much more bohemian-bourgeoisie (see: expensive). You’re going to be OK just about anywhere in the city, though there are somewhat “rougher” spots along the edges—most notably the uber rich ‘hoods on the far west side and Maple Bluff (near north).
OutReach Community Center (600 Williamson St.) is a great central resource for all things LGBT in the Madison area. The center is a place to go just to read up on your queer history, get in touch with all sorts of queer people and organizations, get involved, get referred, and more.
I’d be remiss, too, if I didn’t mention Madison’s own LGBT magazine, Our Lives – which is extremely community focused and a great resource for the people, businesses, and events that make up our cozy, queer family. You can pick up (free) copies of the lovely, full-color publication at most cafes and a few waiting rooms around town, or subscribe (also for free) by mail.
Hair/Body Mod/Tattoos
Whether you’re looking for the latest and greatest in alternative lifestyle haircuts, or the old-school barbershop experience, we’ve got you covered:
Kode (2039 Winnebago St.)
Super LGBT-friendly, also family-friendly, eco-friendly, awesome hair-friendly. Very likely to run into derby girls here, too, if that’s your thing.
Cha Cha Beauty & Barber (912 Williamson St.)
Enjoy the rockabilly vibe, attractive/talented staff, and just step upstairs to Tailor Made for a tattoo while you’re at it.
Thorps (1988 Atwood Ave.)
Hipsters, rejoice! This place is going for that warm, welcoming, old-school vibe and generally hit the nail on the head. More male-identified in their décor/focus, but completely open to all-comers.
Capitol City Tattoo (1349 Williamson St.)
Blue Lotus Tattoo & Piercing (Downtown – 458 W. Gilman St., West – 6713 Odana Rd.)
Steve’s Tattoo (1205 Williamson St.)
Books
We are a lucky, literary people: Madison still has several independent bookstores, for both new and used titles, as well as the awesome, annual, and totally free Wisconsin Book Festival.
A Room of One’s Own (315 W. Gorham St.)
Mon thru Sat 10am-8pm, Sun 12pm to 5pm
I can’t stress enough what an awesome resource this place is: They carry new, general interest fiction and non-fiction but specialize in LGBT and women’s issues books. After a recent move they’re also in a much bigger space, and share it with a local peddler of used titles, Avol’s Books. Room hosts many readings by local and touring authors, open mic nights, poetry readings, and more. It’s also the go-to for rainbow paraphernalia, queer postcards, and a wide variety of queer lady focused magazines and zines.
Rainbow Bookstore Cooperative (426 W. Gilman St.)
Mon thru Thurs 10am-7pm, Fri & Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 12pm-5pm
Because of course a town with as protest-happy and progressive a history as Madison has its own cooperatively run radical bookstore. Lots of great, off-the-beaten path works on the shelves here, as well as tons of zines, newsletters, stickers, and more. You don’t have to be a member to shop there, but it helps (your wallet and the store itself). They host plenty of author talks as well, with a very lefty/liberal bent.
Arts
StageQ
Madison’s queer theatre troupe produces a variety of LGBT-focused plays, some fun and campy, some intense and challenging. Used to be pretty male-centric but has done a good job of expanding and becoming far more inclusive over the years.
QUEERSPEAK (Dutch’s Auto, 202 Regas Rd.)
A monthly open mic night for queer-identified folks and allies. Read poetry, sing a song, do stand-up, rant, whatever. Held on the fourth Wednesday of every month at Dutch’s Auto, 202 Regas Rd.
Dairyland Cowboys and Cowgirls
Got a soft spot for shit-kickers and big ol’ hats, country music and line dancing? Totally gay? This group should be right up your alley. Good times.
Proud Theater
“Proud Theater is a youth theater program designed to foster self-expression and self-empowerment for Madison-area youth. It is open to any youth who identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or queer/questioning (LGBTQ), or who are the sons or daughters of LGBTQ parents, or allies of the LGBTQ community at large.” It’s also awesome – most of their performances are of scripts written by or contributed to by the youth participants.
Pride
Wisconsin Capitol Pride
Held every year in the mid-sized market Pride month of August, this weekend-long event tends to focus more on the family-friendly stuff: a fairly tame (but fun!) parade around the Capitol, picnics, music, etc. They’ve had some financial problems in the past, but there’s hope that new blood will help improve this event in the future.
Fruit Fest
Real talk: This event, just a few years old now, is fast becoming the unofficially official Pride shindig in Madison – it helps that it actually happens in June, and that organizers have brought in some seriously impressive entertainment. Held each summer in the parking lot next door to Plan B, there’s the daytime street fair, the “Fruit Loop 5k” (the most colorful and queer run I’ve ever seen), Camp Bingo, and lots of live music. Past performers have included Bitch, Erin McKeown, Tiffany (!), Athens Boys Choir, Cazwell, and Girl in a Coma, among others.
Pages: 1 2See entire article on one page
I fell so hard for Madison last year when my gal and I did Wisconsin during just the most beautiful week in August, and I have been waiting eagerly for this City Guide ever since. And now it is here! And so wonderful! And makes me want to relocate immediately to Wisconsin all the more!
THANK YOU EMILY!
Don’t know where you’d be moving from but a year and few months ago we moved here from Chicago. My wife went to college here. Now in her 60s, the construction is everywhere with big developers with big ideas. Housing costs are insane and therefore rent. The only thing less expensive than Chicago is gasoline. Chill “city”/town good music. Good is the same everywhere. Expensive and boring. Sorry. I had such big hopes
You are the best Emily! I learned so many things about Madison, and I’ve been living here for over 5 years. Maybe I need to get out more.
We need to get a Mad-o-straddle group kickstarted! I want all the queer friends.
I am so down with this.
And yay! I’m super glad this guide is even helpful for people who’ve been living here. I’m still discovering new things every day and I’ve been at Madison for 12 dang years. :)
we should start a madison autostraddlers facebook group. :D
HERE! http://www.facebook.com/groups/530612153626302/
I love Madison! It really is the perfect city- bike friendly, queer friendly, not too big or small, with great people, food and music scenes. I only moved here 4 months ago but I’ve become the biggest evangelist for the city- everyone should move here.
Can’t wait to hear more about your new queer dance party, Emily!
I’mma just leave this here, then: https://www.facebook.com/events/123569911140288/?fref=ts
I graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 1987 and had my coming out there hanging out at Room of One’s Own, Cardinal Bar and Emily’s – now I’m homesick after reading this!
Madison totally seduced me when I moved there 4 years ago. Also queer: the university, the snow, the lakes, the bike infrastructure, farmers market. Attracts lots of sporty dykes, farm girls, vegans, grad students. And friendly Midwesterners.
I can’t believe I forgot to mention the Dane County Farmer’s Market (probably because it’s winter right now, so I’m not in that head space?). It’s the biggest producer-only market in the country, and totally amazing: http://dcfm.org/
Also yes, so much biking/bike infrastructure in Madison.
Forequarter! It’s not necessarily queer but it’s still delicious
Looking to relocate any suggestions on where to look ? Thanks Nan
Just a small addition but Willalby’s is no longer open for late night :(
Yeah I wrote this back in, like, November I think? and just read something about them scaling back their hours the other day. Boo.
YAY! Originally from in between Madison and Milwaukee and this guide brings me all the smiles. I used to hang out at Lazy Jane’s when I would visit my sister when she went to UW-Madison. awwwwwww this brings me all the feels!
If only IQ was still around….
Yay! I live in Madison and work at Lazy Jane’s! I’m kinda lacking in the queer friend market though. Straddler meet up? Also, Loose Cannon is a queer/safespace dance party the first Friday of every month at the Dragonfly Lounge.
Did that event just start up recently? Thanks for the heads up!
yeah, in october i think. i’m trying to find the facebook page but no luck!
My mission this year is to build a queer girl posse in Madison. Let’s hang out! Let’s do things!
I’m going to create a facebook Madstraddlers group. Add me as a friend and I’ll put you in the group!
facebook.com/emma.sams.568
I am so serious about this, you guys.
Thank you for reminding me that I have books to pick up from A Room of One’s Own. (They’re so great! YOU CAN ORDER THINGS THROUGH THEM ONLINE AND HAVE THEM SHIPPED TO YOUR HOUSE FOR ALL YOU SHY-STRADDLERS OUT THERE. BE AGORAPHOBIC AND STILL SUPPORT LOCAL BOOKSTORES. Why I didn’t do that this time, I’m not sure, but that’s neither here nor there.)
Bookmarking this baby for future reference. :D
Awe I love love love Madison!!! It’s the first city that I ever held hands with a girl in and felt comfortable :) Also: go Badgers! The women’s ice hockey team is so incredible and talented, I just love them. They are a dominant force and could probably beat the men’s team.
And I totally second the recommendation about A Woman’s Touch. I would also add that they have great and very fast service if you order anything online from them (you know, just thought I’d mention that for anyone who wants to support an women-run sex shop but can’t make it in person to Madison). The last time I ordered something from them it arrived very quickly with handwritten instructions for care and maintenance AND a follow-up email to make sure that it got to me safely and to make sure that the product was satisfactory. Can’t beat service like that!
I’d like to add a plug for Community Pharmacy under Health (full disclosure: I work there. And I love my job!) A worker cooperative and Madison institution for 40 years now, our store includes a full prescription pharmacy, supplements and herbs, homeopathics, chemical-free body care, and incredibly knowledgeable staff who will go above and beyond to help you make informed choices about your health care and product options. (Please check out our mission statement on our website: http://communitypharmacy.coop/about/mission-statement/) We’re very grateful for the continued support of all our regular customers, and would like to reach out even more to students and to the queer community. Thank you!
I just want to make a comment regarding the horrendous lack of ot seems every type of doctor.I was diagnosed with COPD. Moved up here many reasons but thinking it’s a city full of hospitals,etc. Kind of like having Northwestern hospital here. What a shock to wait 5 months. Once I finally got in there with my preexisting condition and was told I need to see a Pulmonary specialist soon. Three four months later and one emergency visit I’m going next week. No one can tell me why there are no doctors. Then I get harassed at a drug store for having prescriptions from out of state. Yeah. Odd,huh? I’m curious what and why?
If your car breaks down while running around doing all these fun things, don’t forget Dutch’s Auto Service. The women there will do right by your car and they host Queerspeak Open Mike.
D’oh! Just noticed you mentioned Dutch’s. Consider them seconded.
A great post from a great ally! Though you forgot to mention Crucial Twat Night and Loose Cannon in your nightlife/dating category!!!! Loose Cannon may be the best dance event we’ve had yet. And regrettably all other venues don’t offer gender neutral bathrooms.
I have to sadly admit that I hadn’t heard of either CTN or Loose Cannon prior to writing this – are there any links/info about either of them that you can post? I’m totally curious.
I’ve lived in Madison for three years now, and unfortunatly have only been to a few of these places. I love living here though, there is always something to do!
As someone who lives between MKE and Madison, I’m very grateful for this guide! I’ve been to a few of the places you mentioned, but never quite felt “in the loop”. Two of my all time favorite places to eat are Himal Chuli on State St. (the vegetarian momocha is crazzzyyy great), and Lao Laan Xang on Willy St. (I seriously want to bathe in their curry squash, OMG); I’ve been happily surrounded by queerdos many of the times I’ve eaten in those spaces. Also, on my awkward solo venture into Plan B, I was almost immediately welcomed into a group of lovely broads so I didn’t feel alone. Madison is such a great town.
I’m taking notes for my next visit- which, thanks to you, will be much sooner than later.
Thanks again!
As a member of the Sun Prairie High School GSA and someone who lives her weekends in Madison, let me just say I LOVE THIS! I learned a lot about our capitol and need to visit some of these spots! Books here I come!!!
Moving about an an hour and a half away from downtown Madison soon and I’m super excited to check it out now!
A Woman’s Touch has moved to a new location on Livingston. The Inferno closed due to gentrification, but The Crucible will open on New Year’s Eve (same kink and LGBT friendly folks.) Boulder’s Climbing Gym now has a monthly Queer Climb.
Gentrification is the removal of buildings to conform to a more upscale status. That area is the opposite of upscale. Nothing else is conforming there. The Inferno closed due to its regulars being elitist and highly abusive to any newcomers. Madison in general has a few things it never talks about.
Madison is similar to the Seattle Freeze. You are all a part of the same core “inferno” group commenting–do not deny this.
The Inferno closed as their regulars, like you Jessica, were rude to newcomers (like myself).
You and I talked on Facebook a lot, as I did others in this thread, but when I showed up in person, you snubbed me like high schoolers. Not only did you snub me, but you snubbed any newcomer unless they were a pole dancer (like Claire).
Madison is a very elitist, exclusionary place.
Those kink folks like Pro Odaul are abusive.
They are not LGBTQ friendly. myself and others were sexually assaulted at the INferno AND at Plan B during your L and L.
Do not even comment back. Your words are meaningless. So many of us are leaving this city who moved here like myself.
We were sucked in by BS articles like this (it was right around the time this article was written I moved here).
I am a lesbian. Unless my hair is short and butch, and I am poly, I am not welcome.
You are all so full of crap.
What is even worse, is that Emily had the fecking Chutzpah to write an article about Plan B after some men could not use a dressing room. Why was that not written after many femmes lke myself were assaulted there?
Exactly.
No one wants to visit your little regular groupie STD base. Catherine Oneil spread HPV through that place.
Thank god I never touched any of you.
Madison is gross. You are closed off and elitist like the seattle freeze. Unless people are pierced, shaved, or butch and poly, you reject all.
Several people, loving, caring , honest, and open people who moved here from Milwaukee like myself and others are leaving. You , Elly Fine (inferno regular) Emily–rollerderby–you all belong to the same “core” group here.
You have pushed out ANYONE who has tried to become friends with you.
My docs have left as soon as they moved here, my friends, and soon me. You care not. The people here are rude. You friend people on Facebook, you share your secrets with them, you confide in them, and then in person you snub them, and you act like high school.
You have done this to SOO many.
This place is rotten.
When I went to the inferno, I was talking to so many of you on FB after your “ringerleader” friended me from a dating site. You did this to others too. In person you told us to leave the inferno, that we were not goth enough.
You are not accepting people.
Most of the people commenting here are highly elitist, judgmental, and arrogant, not to mention antagonistic. You use people.
You all use people for drinks, sex, rides–whatever you can get.
This place is so polarized. NOtice how all of the new UW docs left in the last two years who just moved here? They couldn’t stand how they were treated here.
So many regret moving here.
What a bunch of hypocrites.