Thu. January 9, 2014
By Sukie de la Croix
Gay life in Chicago this week, back in ...
1987
From Gay Chicago:
"Now from Mexico, the land of the margaritas, hurrache and macho men, comes a delightful movie about a gay man and his mother. 'Dona Herlinda and Her Son' has received rave reviews throughout the country. New York Magazine called it 'The ultimate gay homage to mom.' The film screens at the Music Box Theatre, 3733 N. Southport."
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Image: Cheeks – Gay Chicago November 1, 1984
The Hyde Park Lesbian Support Group hosts a discussion on the topic, "Being Female in a Homophobic Society" at 5540 S. Woodlawn.
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This week's Top Ten Dance Tracks courtesy of Tom Parks: 1) "Bizarre Love Triangle" – New Order; 2) "Musique Non-Stop" – Kraftwerk; 3) "C'mon Every Beat Box" – Big Audio Dynamite; 4) "Brand New Lover" – Dead Or Alive; 5) "Cry for Love" – Iggy Pop; 6) "Don't Leave Me This Way" – Communards; 7) "Galbi" – Ofra Haza; 8) "Too Much of Nothing" – General Public; 9) "Drugs" – This Mortal Coil; 10) "Panic/Draize Train/Ask" – The Smiths.
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Three Bette Davis quotes in this week's Gay Chicago:
"After you kissed me, I always used to wipe my mouth." – Betty Davis as Mildred Rogers in "Of Human Bondage."
"I hope you die. I hope you die soon. I'll be waiting for you to die." – Betty Davis as Regina in "The Little Foxes."
"I hate you. I hate the day I married you. I hate everything about you." – Betty Davis as Stanley Timberlake in "In This Our Life."
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From Gay Chicago:
"'The Layman's Guide to Safe Sex,' an instructional and entertaining play for everyone living in the '80s, will run on Mondays at 7.15 p.m. at Sheffield's, 3258 N. Sheffield. The comedy, written and directed by Jeff Hagedorn, dramatizes how to minimize the risk of acquiring sexually transmitted diseases–everything from simply saying no, to how to use and choose a condom, to how to clean up afterwards."
1996
In the bars and clubs this week, "Teasers," Roddy, Fernando, and Kristen, strip down to very little at Temptations, 10235 W. Grand Ave, Franklin Park; there's a "Weekend of Sin" with a Lights Out Party at Manhole, 3458 N. Halsted; it's Girth and Mirth Club Night at North End, 3733 N. Halsted; join the cast of "Vampire Lesbians of Sodom" & the Entire Audience as they celebrate their 100th performance at Spin, Halsted and Belmont.
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Image: Opal Station – Gay Chicago October 13, 1983
Michael James performs at the Station House, 2415 N. Rush St., in an AIDS benefit for Lake County AIDS Task Force and the Aliveness Project.
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Extended to January 14 only, is "Playing By the Rules," a play by Rod Dungate, a part of the Bailiwick Pride Series, at 1229 W. Belmont.
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Gay and Lesbian Physicians of Chicago hold a meeting at Ann Sather's. Cocktails are served at 6.60 p.m. and dinner at 7.00 p.m. Featured speakers include State Reps. Sara Feigenholtz (D-12th) and Rod Blagojevich (D-33rd), candidates for the congressional seat currently held by Michael Flanagan (R-5th). The topic is lesbian and gay health issues.
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African-American lesbians and gays gather at a Unity breakfast in memory of Dr. Luther King Jr. The program includes readings from Dr. Kings' writings and personal reflections by Chicagoans on the strength to survive in America today, which can be derived from his messages of courage. The breakfast is held at the Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 1218 W. Addison.
2000
LaShonda K. Barnett, author of "Callaloo & Other Lesbian Love Tales" reads and signs her book at Women & Children First, 5233 N. Clark St.
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Image: Charlie's – October 26, 1995
Barry Frauman reads from his new poems and plays at Unabridged Books, 3251 N. Broadway.
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Front page of Outlines reads:
"FAMILY VALUES: Julie Cypher and Melissa Etheridge are coming out big time (Rolling Stone cover story this week) with the father of their kids–David Crosby, who, at the urging of his wife Jan, was the donor."
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Article in this week's Outlines by Tracy Baim, reads:
"Mary Morten, Mayor Daley's liaison to the gay community since August, 1997, announced last week that she is stepping down from the post to take a higher position at the Chicago Department of Public Health. In February, Morten will become director of the Office of Violence Prevention."
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Boy George quotes from Outlines:
"Sometimes I know I look ridiculous, but the more ridiculous I feel the more confident I am; the more outrageous the outfit the less I care whether people laugh at me."
And:
"I feel like I'm in a sexual no man's land. I'm too poofy for the poofs and too scary for the straights."
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Women in the Directors Chair, "Heartland Homos–A Showcase of Queer Midwestern Film and Video," is at 941 W. Lawrence. From meat fetishists to vamps, Trekkies to professional assassins, this is a potluck in film. This compilation is making its way around the world–and this is its only Chicago stop.
Homework
Whatever happened to Rod Blagojevich? (Just kidding)
Whatever happened to Michael James, he used to be everywhere?
Is Girth and Mirth still around?
Gay Chicago Photo Rewind
A young Rick Garcia in Windy City Times December 23, 1993
Arlene Halka of Piggen's Pub is surrounded by the women's volleyball team. Photographed by Tracy Baim for Outlines December 3, 1987. Is that Spike King in the picture below?
Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund Midwest benefit photographed by Marty Grochala in Nightlines December 3, 1997
Queer Nation protest Cracker Barrel in Gay Chicago December 2, 1993
Thanks go to publishers Michael Bergeron for Chicago Gay Crusader, Ralph and Craig Gernhardt for Gay Chicago, Grant Ford and Chuck Renslow for Gay Life, Malone Sizelove for Babble/Gab, David Costanza and others for Chicago Free Press, Jeff McCourt for Windy City Times, Stacy Bridges and Mark Nagel for GRAB, and Tracy Baim for all the publications at the Windy City Media Group, which aided the above research. St. Sukie de la Croix is an internationally published reporter, playwright, photographer and historian. He is also the author of Chicago Whispers: A History of LGBT Chicago Before Stonewall published by the University of Wisconsin Press.
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