Person

Dean Dayton

Sheboygan

Biography

Bar owner LGBTQ Activist, ROW/ Rainbow Over Wis. Dean Dayton was best known to many as owner and operator of the Blue Lite gay bar in downtown Sheboygan. To others he was best known for his work with Rainbow Over Wisconsin (ROW), the LGBTQ activist organization in northeast Wisconsin.

Images

Article: ROW Picnic a success / Dayton receives Community Service award / (Quest vol. 6-12, July 1997) / / — Article: ROW Picnic a success / Dayton receives Community Service award / (Quest vol. 6-12, July 1997) / / Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project

Article: ROW seeking Parade co-sponsors / Dayton elected ROW vice president / (Quest vol. 11-01, Jan. 2004) / / — Article: ROW seeking Parade co-sponsors / Dayton elected ROW vice president / (Quest vol. 11-01, Jan. 2004) / / Quest

Facts

Born: 1952
Died: October 2, 2014
Associated City: Sheboygan
Roles: Business owner, Activist

Tags

Sheboygan

Sources

Research adapted from the Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project. Archive page links below point to archive.wislgbthistory.com; for current news and community events, visit wislgbthistory.com.

Wisconsin LGBTQ History Project — Dean Dayton (retrieved 2026-06-01)

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