Madison Pride and MAGIC Picnic

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Madison Pride and MAGIC Picnic is an amalgamation of two major Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer/Questioning events that were originally separate in Madison, Wisconsin's history. The Pride March and Rally were originally organized by the now defunct GALVanize organization and the MAGIC Picnic was started by Rodney Scheel (b. 1951 d. 07/12/1990) who was owner of the Hotel Washington complex of night clubs (The Club DeWash, The NewBar, Rods, The Barbers Closet, etc.)

Founding of GALVanize - In October of 1987 Pam Jacobson and Tim O'Brien were separately attending the March on Washington. Upon returning to Madison Pam explored the possibility of having a local march and began searching for other's to help organize the event. At the same time, Tim spoke with his Richard Kilmer about the problem of homophobia, and his wish to organize a march.

In 1989 at the birthday party of a mutual friend, Richard Kilmer heard Pam asking for opinions about a Madison March, he mentioned his friend, Tim O'Brien and this started the founding of the Madison Pride March Committee. It was during the first committee meeting that the name GALVanize (Gay and Lesbian Visibility Alliance) was selected.

During the time that GALVanize existed it expanded it's mission to to increase awareness about the number and diversity of lesbians, gays, and bisexuals, to work for their civil rights and to form coalitions with other groups that are oppressed.