MILWAUKEE — The past few years have been busy for Peter Burgelis.

First, he was elected as the first openly LGBTQ+ Milwaukee County board supervisor in 2022. Then, in 2024, Burgelis became one of the first openly LGBTQ+ alderpersons in the City of Milwaukee.

Ald. Burgelis represents Milwaukee’s southwest side. He said having LGBTQ+ representation in Milwaukee politics is important.

“Your voice gets heard; you get a platform. It is not just about having a voice but having a seat at the table and having a conversation,” Burgelis said.

Burgelis said he is pleased that the number of LGBTQ+ elected officials statewide has grown in recent years. However, he said there is still a long way to go.  

“We certainly don’t have a representative number of people in office, but we are getting there. There are a lot of national organizations that are working to get LGBT people elected,” Burgelis said.

As an LGBTQ+ politician, there is a unique balance to strike. Burgelis is vocal about causes important to the community, yet he said he does not let it fully define him.

“I ran to be the best candidate, the best County Supervisor, best aldermanic candidate, not the gay one. It is an honor to be the first out member of the Milwaukee County Board and second out member of the Common Council. That is part of who I am but not all of who I am,” said Burgelis.

Burgelis knows firsthand that the LGBTQ+ community faces hate speech and even violence.

In 2023, Burgelis was at Mayfair Mall in Wauwatosa when he was called a homophobic slur and punched. That caused an injury that required jaw surgery.

Now, Burgelis said he works to make sure others realize the realities LGBTQ+ people face in 2024.

“You can go to my Facebook and see there are pretty much daily comments that I used to edit out just to keep it professional or clean, but I have left those comments in. I haven’t deleted anything there because it is important for people to see the vocalization and nastiness people still harbor against the LGBT community,” said Burgelis.