Most of us have seen the annual human-interest stories each February about the crews behind Mardi gras celebrations and parades. It seems that every float, mummer, band, and dance troupe has 100 or more people planning, executing, and monitoring every bead or bauble that we see in the annual march to Lent. These unsung heroes bring excitement to millions, holding to a tradition they can trace to seminal events in their communities hundreds of years ago.

This year PrideFest Milwaukee launches its health and wellness area: Exercising Pride. And, just like Mardi gras, there are many people behind the scenes who are making it happen. Volunteers from SAGE, Lesbian Alliance, and FORGE will be among the 30 or so LGBT community organizations that will strut their stuff about the health of our community on June 7 and 8. This year all the participating LGBT groups are changing their looks and approaches for the annual pride event with significant financial support from six groups which have stepped up to fund Exercising Pride: ARCW, BESTD Clinic, Cream City Foundation, Diverse and Resilient, the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center, and the Wisconsin Division of Public Health, Department of Health and Family Services.

For the past six months, Brenda Coley and Mark O’Neil (Diverse and Resilient), Andy Petroll and Jenny Gryniewicz (BESTD), Sarah Morgan (Cream City), Julie Bock (Milwaukee LGBT Community Center), and Scott Gunkel (PrideFest) have been meeting to plan, execute, and monitor the event activities. Pride goers will get bottled water, backpacks, t-shirts, safety kits, and free chances to win bicycles or pedometers. Interactive games, opinion polls, and brief stage events on topics from cooking health meals to Pilates are included in the festivities.

Unlike Mardi gras, however, Exercising Pride promises to move as to health and improved quality of life – definitely not Lent.

The community members and community allies who have put together Exercising Pride constitute an important part of our community’s fledgling public health workforce. They are forging a new tradition in our community that we can be proud of for years to come.

Another Hero

This month, the Division of Public Health loses its administrator, Sheri Johnson, Ph.D., Wisconsin’s Chief Public Health Officer. During her tenure, Dr. Johnson has repeatedly shown her interest and concern for the health disparities that plague LGBT people. She has opened doors for our increased involvement in the resolution of health issues; she has made the necessary introductions and clearly expressed her expectations. She has counted on LGBT organizations and leaders to step up our game. Dr. Johnson’s quiet but assertive support for equity and justice in public health speaks volumes about her humanity, commitment to making the world right for us all, and what it means to be an ally.

Best wishes to Sheri and her two sons in her next big ventures.

We must encourage Governor Jim Doyle and Secretary Karen Timberlake to seek in the next administrator of public health the same qualities that Sheri commands.