Ricardo Gonzalez
Madison
Biography
Ricardo Gonzalez opened the Cardinal Bar in Madison, Wisconsin in 1974 and operated it for most of its history until its closure in 2017. He developed the venue into one of the city's leading dance clubs and a hub for political fundraisers and community events. In 1989 he was elected alderman of Madison's 4th District, becoming one of the first openly gay Latino men to hold elected office in the United States.