Barbara Jean (B. J.) Metzger was a GLBT and Democratic-Farmer-Labor Party (DFL) activist in St. Paul. She earned a bachelor's degree in political science from Metropolitan State University, St. Paul (1988), and master's degrees in theology from Wartburg Theological Seminary, Dubuque, Iowa (1990), and in religious studies from the University of Minnesota (1993). She also studied for a doctorate at Luther Seminary, St. Paul.
Metzger worked as a community organizer for several local organizations, and as a campaign manager with B. J. Metzger and Associates (1980-1998), where she worked on several issue-based campaigns, including Yes for Human Rights and Campaign 90s. She also served on the St. Paul Police Priorities Task Force, the St. Paul Human Rights Commission, the St. Paul Tax Assessment Task Force, and the St. Paul Housing Task Force. She was involved with the Minnesota DFL Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender Feminist (LGBTF) Caucus, and held several positions within the DFL Party.
Metzger received several awards and honors for her contributions to human rights, feminism, and GLBT organizations in Minnesota, including the Brian Coyle Award (1997), the Human Rights Campaign (1997), the Ramsey County Women's Political Caucus Founding Feminist Award (1992), the Minnesota Women's Press Newsmaker of the Year Award (1991), and the Best Investigative Article award from the Neighborhood Press Association (1982). She was Grand Marshal of the Twin Cities Gay Lesbian Pride Celebration in 1992.
From the guide to the B. J. Metzger papers., 1965-1998., (Minnesota Historical Society)
