Wisconsin Gay News From Quest

Quest Newsroom Updated February 5, 2007 Compiled & written by Mike Fitzpatrick
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Double Whammy: Death Claims Veteran Gay Leaders Tom Boll & Terry Boughner Wisconsin Light Co-Founder Passes Just Days After Milwaukee AIDS Project Co-Founder Milwaukee - The Cream City’s LGBT community is mourning the loss of two prominent figures in less than a week. Milwaukee AIDS Project (MAP) and “Make A Promise” dinner co-founder Tom Boll died January 27 at age 59 at St. Luke’s Hospital following a nearly decade-long battle with kidney disease. Four days later 66-year-old Wisconsin Light co-founder and editor Terry Boughner succumbed at St. Joseph’s Hospital of unspecified causes. Boughner had been in visibly poor health for several years. Boll stepped forward in MAP’s early years in the mid-1980’s to raise the funds critical to keep the fledgling AIDS service organization afloat prior to the inception of significant state and federal funding for care and support for those living with HIV which began around 1988. When the coalition of Milwaukee groups that made up the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin (ARCW) coalesced, Boll served as chair of the first fundraising committee. In 1990 Boll was a key figure in the establishment of ARCW’s signature fundraiser, the “Make A Promise” dinner, auction and dance. Boll also served for a time on the organizing committee of the legendary Lavender Hill Party, the lavish gay, invitation-only MAP fundraiser which annually ran in the city’s Riverwest neighborhood from 1984 to 1993. Boll’s fundraising efforts, helped allow ARCW to grow, along with mergers and expansion of services, into a statewide organization and the fifth largest AIDS service organization in the nation. Longtime ARCW President and CEO Doug Nelson remembered Boll fondly. “Tom had a heart of gold, Nelson told Quest. “(He) always found unique ways to help people in need. When AIDS struck the gay community, he helped create the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin.” “Then he joined with his many friends to start the Make A Promise Dinner to raise funds to fight AIDS - an annual tradition that continues today,” Nelson continued. “Tom touched many people with his kindness and led an exemplary life.” Boll was also involved in the Fest City Singers, a gay men’s choral group that was originally created to provide entertainment for the 1985 Gay World Series, the national gay softball competition held in Milwaukee that year. For many years during its decade-long existence Boll served as the group’s treasurer. Among its many concerts, the Fest City Singers also held benefits for MAP and ARCW. More recently Boll was involved with SAGE/Milwaukee, serving as treasurer for the group in the early 2000’s. Nearly a thousand Milwaukee gay seniors attended SAGE events in the last year. Boll also was co-owner of T.T. Tulip Floral. A flower-filled visitation and service was held January 31 at the Hartson Funeral Home in Hales Corners. Boll was survived by his sisters, Barbara and Patricia, and by numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends in the LGBT community. Earlier on the day of Boll’s funeral, historian, author, playwright and Wisconsin Light co-founder Terry Boughner passed away at St. Joseph's hospital, where he had been admitted in grave condition earlier in the week. Wisconsin Light first appeared in November 1987 edited by Boughner, with life partner and Light co-founder Jerry Johnson listed as publisher. The paper's motto and mission appeared on every issue under the couple's tutelage: “Give the People Light and they will find their own way.” For the next decade Boughner and Johnson's Wisconsin Light mixed thorough coverage of state and national LGBT news and commentary with Boughner's historic pieces and creative efforts. Boughner's short stories were a regular fixture of the Light's holiday issues for many years. The paper's investigative coverage of the Jeffrey Dahmer case brought Boughner and co-investigating reporter Jamakaya national recognition in the early 1990's. The Light published an “Extra” edition on August1, 1991 to provide timely information on many aspects of the mass murder, which had a dramatic impact on the city’s gay and lesbian community. The Light later scooped the mainstream media with information on some of Dahmer’s victims and past evidence of Milwaukee police officers’ harassment and insensitivity to gays. The Light’s coverage of the Dahmer case subsequently won awards from the National Gay and Lesbian Press Association. Though Wisconsin’s Light’s political writing, largely done by writer and subsequent Light editor Bill Meunier, was extremely liberal, the paper's overall reportage of statewide events - despite sometimes tabloid-esque headlines - was more even handed. “Even though many times the Republican leadership gave him plenty to rail about, Terry was very fair in his handling of the news, long-time Wisconsin Log Cabin Republican Pat Prudlow told Quest. Jamakaya and Meunier were offered opportunities to talk about their experiences with Wisconsin Light and Boughner. Though neither returned Quest’s phone calls or emails in time for the print edition's deadline, both recalled their time with the editor. “In many ways, Terry fit the grand old stereotype of editors,” Jamakaya said. “He was rumpled and irascible. He did not suffer fools gladly. And he was absolutely fierce in demanding full rights for gays and lesbians.” Jamakaya believes the paper played a pivotal role at critical time in the state´s LGBT history. “The Wisconsin Light covered some very crucial years of the gay and lesbian community's development in Wisconsin,” she added. “I'm grateful to Terry and Jerry for giving me free rein all those years, both as a reporter and columnist.” Jamakaya also recalled the dark months of 1991 when new revelations of Jeffrey Dahmer's gruesome killings became a daily diet. “The Light was able to expose some aspects of the Dahmer case the mainstream media was unaware of, like the background of some of the victims, who had attended the Gay Youth Milwaukee group, and the long history of the Milwaukee Police Department's abuse and neglect of gay and lesbian citizens,” she noted. Several of Jamakaya's Dahmer pieces remain available online at www.jamakaya.com. Meunier told Quest that he knew the “secret” behind Boughner's sometimes abrasive behavior toward some of those he encountered. “It was a defense mechanism,” he said. “Deep down there was actually a very sweet, caring person.” Meunier then shared a story of a time when he and Boughner were distributing the Light to local venues around Milwaukee. Meunier shared with the editor his “sweet personality” theory to which Boughner allegedly replied “If you know the person who is spreading that absolutely outrageous, insidious rumor about me, you need to find them and kill them immediately!” “I told him that it was my theory,” Meunier continued. “He replied that he would never talk to me ever again and actually kept that promise - for the next two hours at least!” Long-time associate Doug Nelson of ARCW recalled both Boughner’s personality and accomplishments. “Terry was a brilliant man, a feisty advocate and a wonderful friend,” he told Quest. “Through his tireless work and powerful editorials at the Wisconsin Light he provided wise and effective leadership for the LGBT community. Terry led a life of high purpose for which we are all deeply grateful.” Boughner and Johnson transferred ownership of the Wisconsin Light in 1987 to Greg Quindell. The paper later ran for about a year as a weekly, under the successive editorial helms of Meunier and former Wisconsin INStep publisher and editor Ron Geiman. The paper’s late March 1989 swan-song was in part an April Fool’s Day spoof of the National Enquirer with a lead story that claimed anti-gay “pastor” Ralph Ovadal had come out of the closet. Boughner and Johnson were instrumental in a brief resurrection the paper a year and a half later. The paper folded for good in early 2001. In 1999 Terry was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the PrideFest Awards committee for his volunteer work and in the running of the Wisconsin Light. “Out Of All Time,” Boughner's collection of fifty short pieces of gay and lesbian historical figures, was published by Alyson Publications in 1988. Boughner also contributed the popular "GayStory" segments to the Milwaukee Public Access gay and lesbian TV program Tri-Cable Tonight from 1987-89. Veteran Milwaukee gay producer-director Dale Gutzman directed the Off The Wall Theater production of Boughner's play "All Loves Excelling" at the New Circlestage Theatre in July, 2000. Born Daniel Terry Spence Boughner, Terry is survived by his life partner of 20 years, Jerry Johnson and a brother in Philadelphia. A memorial service for Boughner will be held on February 17 at 11 AM at the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center, 315 W. Court Street. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Terry Boughner Interment Fund are suggested. Quest Home QNU Home

Double Whammy: Death Claims Veteran Gay
Leaders Tom Boll & Terry Boughner
Wisconsin Light Co-Founder Passes Just Days After Milwaukee AIDS Project Co-Founder
Milwaukee - The Cream City’s LGBT community is mourning the loss of two prominent figures in less than a week. Milwaukee AIDS Project

(MAP) and “Make A Promise” dinner co-founder Tom Boll died January 27 at age 59 at St. Luke’s Hospital following a nearly decade-long battle with kidney disease. Four days later 66-year-old Wisconsin Light co-founder and editor Terry Boughner succumbed at St. Joseph’s Hospital of unspecified causes. Boughner had been in visibly poor health for several years.
Boll stepped forward in MAP’s early years in the mid-1980’s to raise the funds critical to keep the fledgling AIDS service organization afloat prior to the inception of significant state and federal funding for care and support for those living with HIV which began around 1988. When the coalition of Milwaukee groups that made up the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin (ARCW) coalesced, Boll served as chair of the first fundraising committee. In 1990 Boll was a key figure in the establishment of ARCW’s signature fundraiser, the “Make A Promise” dinner, auction and dance.
Boll also served for a time on the organizing committee of the legendary Lavender Hill Party, the lavish gay, invitation-only MAP fundraiser which annually ran in the city’s Riverwest neighborhood from 1984 to 1993. Boll’s fundraising efforts, helped allow ARCW to grow, along with mergers and expansion of services, into a statewide organization and the fifth largest AIDS service organization in the nation.
Lavender Hill

Longtime ARCW President and CEO Doug Nelson remembered Boll fondly. “Tom had a heart of gold, Nelson told Quest. “(He) always found unique ways to help people in need. When AIDS struck the gay community, he helped create the AIDS Resource Center of Wisconsin.”
“Then he joined with his many friends to start the Make A Promise Dinner to raise funds to fight AIDS - an annual tradition that continues today,” Nelson continued. “Tom touched many people with his kindness and led an exemplary life.”
Boll was also involved in the Fest City Singers, a gay men’s choral group that was originally created to provide entertainment for the 1985 Gay World Series, the national gay softball competition held in Milwaukee that year. For many years during its decade-long existence Boll served as the group’s treasurer. Among its many concerts, the Fest City Singers also held benefits for MAP and ARCW.
More recently Boll was involved with SAGE/Milwaukee, serving as treasurer for the group in the early 2000’s. Nearly a thousand Milwaukee gay seniors attended SAGE events in the last year.
Boll also was co-owner of T.T. Tulip Floral. A flower-filled visitation and service was held January 31 at the Hartson Funeral Home in Hales Corners. Boll was survived by his sisters, Barbara and Patricia, and by numerous nieces, nephews, other relatives and many friends in the LGBT community.
Earlier on the day of Boll’s funeral, historian, author, playwright and Wisconsin Light co-founder Terry Boughner passed away at St. Joseph's hospital, where he had been admitted in grave condition earlier in the week.
Wisconsin Light first appeared in November 1987 edited by Boughner, with life partner and Light co-founder Jerry Johnson listed as publisher. Geiman and Boughner

The paper's motto and mission appeared on every issue under the couple's tutelage: “Give the People Light and they will find their own way.” For the next decade Boughner and Johnson's Wisconsin Light mixed thorough coverage of state and national LGBT news and commentary with Boughner's historic pieces and creative efforts. Boughner's short stories were a regular fixture of the Light's holiday issues for many years.
The paper's investigative coverage of the Jeffrey Dahmer case brought Boughner and co-investigating reporter Jamakaya national recognition in the early 1990's. The Light published an “Extra” edition on August1, 1991 to provide timely information on many aspects of the mass murder, which had a dramatic impact on the city’s gay and lesbian community. The Light later scooped the mainstream media with information on some of Dahmer’s victims and past evidence of Milwaukee police officers’ harassment and insensitivity to gays. The Light’s coverage of the Dahmer case subsequently won awards from the National Gay and Lesbian Press Association.
Though Wisconsin’s Light’s political writing, largely done by writer and subsequent Light editor Bill Meunier, was extremely liberal, the paper's overall reportage of statewide events - despite sometimes tabloid-esque headlines - was more even handed. “Even though many times the Republican leadership gave him plenty to rail about, Terry was very fair in his handling of the news, long-time Wisconsin Log Cabin Republican Pat Prudlow told Quest.
Jamakaya and Meunier were offered opportunities to talk about their experiences with Wisconsin Light and Boughner. Though neither returned Quest’s phone calls or emails in time for the print edition's deadline, both recalled their time with the editor.
“In many ways, Terry fit the grand old stereotype of editors,” Jamakaya said. “He was rumpled and irascible. He did not suffer fools gladly. And he was absolutely fierce in demanding full rights for gays and lesbians.”

Jamakaya believes the paper played a pivotal role at critical time in the state´s LGBT history. “The Wisconsin Light covered some very crucial years of the gay and lesbian community's development in Wisconsin,” she added. “I'm grateful to Terry and Jerry for giving me free rein all those years, both as a reporter and columnist.”

Jamakaya also recalled the dark months of 1991 when new revelations of Jeffrey Dahmer's gruesome killings became a daily diet. “The Light was able to expose some aspects of the Dahmer case the mainstream media was unaware of, like the background of some of the victims, who had attended the Gay Youth Milwaukee group, and the long history of the Milwaukee Police Department's abuse and neglect of gay and lesbian citizens,” she noted. Several of Jamakaya's Dahmer pieces remain available online at www.jamakaya.com.
Meunier told Quest that he knew the “secret” behind Boughner's sometimes abrasive behavior toward some of those he encountered. “It was a defense mechanism,” he said. “Deep down there was actually a very sweet, caring person.”
Meunier then shared a story of a time when he and Boughner were distributing the Light to local venues around Milwaukee. Meunier shared with the editor his “sweet personality” theory to which Boughner allegedly replied “If you know the person who is spreading that absolutely outrageous, insidious rumor about me, you need to find them and kill them immediately!”
“I told him that it was my theory,” Meunier continued. “He replied that he would never talk to me ever again and actually kept that promise - for the next two hours at least!”

Long-time associate Doug Nelson of ARCW recalled both Boughner’s personality and accomplishments. “Terry was a brilliant man, a feisty advocate and a wonderful friend,” he told Quest. “Through his tireless work and powerful editorials at the Wisconsin Light he provided wise and effective leadership for the LGBT community. Terry led a life of high purpose for which we are all deeply grateful.”
Boughner and Johnson transferred ownership of the Wisconsin Light in 1987 to Greg Quindell. The paper later ran for about a year as a weekly, under the successive editorial helms of Meunier and former Wisconsin INStep publisher and editor Ron Geiman. The paper’s late March 1989 swan-song was in part an April Fool’s Day spoof of the National Enquirer with a lead story that claimed anti-gay “pastor” Ralph Ovadal had come out of the closet. Boughner and Johnson were instrumental in a brief resurrection the paper a year and a half later. The paper folded for good in early 2001.
In 1999 Terry was given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the PrideFest Awards committee for his volunteer work and in the running of the Wisconsin Light.
“Out Of All Time,” Boughner's collection of fifty short pieces of gay and lesbian historical figures, was published by Alyson Publications in 1988. Boughner also contributed the popular "GayStory" segments to the Milwaukee Public Access gay and lesbian TV program Tri-Cable Tonight from 1987-89. Veteran Milwaukee gay producer-director Dale Gutzman directed the Off The Wall Theater production of Boughner's play "All Loves Excelling" at the New Circlestage Theatre in July, 2000.
Born Daniel Terry Spence Boughner, Terry is survived by his life partner of 20 years, Jerry Johnson and a brother in Philadelphia. A memorial service for Boughner will be held on February 17 at 11 AM at the Milwaukee LGBT Community Center, 315 W. Court Street. In lieu of flowers, donations to the Terry Boughner Interment Fund are suggested.