The story behind the blue rubber gloves framed in Rep. Mark Pocan's office

MADISON – Rep. Mark Pocan of Wisconsin has what some may consider a very strange office decoration hanging on his office wall in D.C.: a pair of blue rubber gloves.

The gloves are ensconced in glass, flanked on each side by letters on official White House letterhead.

The letters and gloves are nearly 30 years old now, but tell a story that Pocan, a Democrat, thinks is especially important.

On the left is a letter inviting openly gay office holders to a celebration of their service at the White House in 1995. The letter never mentions the word "gay," Pocan said, but he knew the event was meant to honor politicians like him, who were open about their sexuality with their constituents. At the time, he was serving as a supervisor on the Dane County Board.

On the right is another letter, which is an apology to the attendees of the event for how they were treated by security, who wore blue rubber gloves to search belongings. The attendees later found out that the guards were worried about contracting AIDS and believed the gloves would protect them.

He shared the unusual wall hanging and the story behind it in a series of posts on X this week, in honor of LGBTQ+ History Month.

"I look at them and remember how much progress we’ve made and the work we still have to do," he said in his post. "Whether it’s a pair of gloves, or a slew of educational gag orders seeking to ban conversations on sexual orientation and gender identities, our work to protect LGBTQI+ individuals will not be done until equality is finally and fully realized."

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Pocan reflected on the visit to the White House in an interview with the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel:

What were you thinking when you found out why the security personnel were wearing gloves?

"It was 1995, that's a pretty odd time period for anyone to be thinking like that," he said. "People knew how you got (AIDS), and it certainly wasn't from shaking everyone's hand."

What happened after the attendees found out?

"Right before the reception we had learned about the blue gloves, and then we were told that the vice president at the time, Al Gore, was going to stop by," he said. "And he made a show of shaking every single person's hands so that we understood that this was absolutely not the policy of the administration."

Why did you decide to display the gloves so prominently in your office?

"If you don't know your history, it's hard to make sure you don't repeat it. I think it's important to know the context of where we've been on this, and make sure we don't repeat it," he said. "We have moved so far on LGBTQI+ equality, and yet, I'm facing the same ignorant arguments.

"It's my way of remembering a little history I was involved in, and that I'm living through right now."

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How did you come into possession of the gloves from that day?

"The gloves are literally from Capitol Center Foods in Madison. We literally found blue gloves that looked very much like the ones they were wearing," he said with a laugh.

"But the letters were the actual letters. I had it all framed as a reminder."

We're seeing legislation regarding LGBTQI+ people in many states right now. What has it been like to witness that?

"It's kind of an outward push back against the very diversity that has made this country as unique as it is, by some who don't want to give up that power. And I think you know, it's just a, unfortunately an ugly point of current history that we're in," he said.

"Some people govern based on fear, because it is a powerful emotion. But I think many of us would rather govern around love and compassion and caring for your neighbor. At least that way you can go home and sleep at night."

Laura Schulte can be reached at leschulte@jrn.com and on X at @SchulteLaura.

This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: The story behind the blue rubber gloves framed in Mark Pocan's office