Thu. February 27, 2014
By Sukie de la Croix
Gay life in Chicago this week, back in ...
1978
G.R.A.N.D./Chicago (Gay Rights Alumni of Notre Dame) host a benefit at O'Bannion's Pub, 661 N. Clark St. The guest of honor is recently-out-of-the-closet author and football player Dave Kopay. Proceeds from the evening go to supporting the scholarship efforts and gay studies programs proposed by G.R.A.N.D.
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Touche – Gay Chicago March 6, 1980
There's a benefit dinner for Gary Nepon, gay Independent Democratic Candidate for State Representative in the 13th District, at the Water Tower Hyatt House, 800 N. Michigan Ave. Special guest is Harvey Milk, the openly gay member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors. Singer Karen Burns performs, and there's also Disco music and dancing until midnight. In his remarks, Nepon noted that a number of gay leaders were not present, indicating their opposition to his candidacy as being premature. These included Bill Kelley, Renee Hanover, Chuck Renslow, Cathy Howard, and Grant Ford.
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The International Women's Day Coalition presents "An Afternoon for Women's Rights" at the Loop center YWCA, 37 S. Wabash, 3rd Floor. There are speakers and workshops, including one on gay rights.
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"Gay USA" has its premiere at Northwestern University's McCormick Auditorium, 1999 Sheridan Road, in Evanston. The documentary is sponsored by Northwestern's Gay Union and Lesbian Alliance.
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The Chris Clason Collaboration begins a five-day engagement in the cabaret at Chuck Renslow's disco, Center Stage, 3730 N. Clark St.
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As part of the International Women's Day celebrations, Holly Near and Bernice Reagon (of Sweet Honey in the Rock), entertain at the People's Church, 941 W. Lawrence.
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Michelle Faith performs at the womyn-only Mountain Moving Coffee House, 1655 W. School St.
1993
Top Ten Playlist courtesy of Ed Janett, the DJ at Numbers: 1) "Phorever People" – The Shamen; 2) "Give It to You" – Martha Wash; 3) "So Much Love" – Malika; 4) "Supermodel (Tribal Mix)" – RuPaul; 5) "Generate Power" – Photon; 6) "Just a Dream" – 4th Measure Men; 7) "Can You Feel It? (Remix)" – CLS; 8) "It's Gonne Be a Lovely Day" – The S.O.U.L. System; 9) "I Got My Education" – Uncanny Alliance; 10) "Some Lovin'" – Liberty City.
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Studs and Black Leather – Gay Chicago July 27, 1989
In this week's Gay Chicago:
"John Hammell, an attorney with the ACLU of Illinois and director of the ACLU's AIDS and Civil Liberties Project, is named by Senators Carol Mosley-Braun and Paul Simon to their judiciary committee which nominates persons to fill vacant federal judgeships in the Northern District of Illinois."
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In the bars and clubs, Sunday nights are Hot Male Strippers nights at Bistro Too, 5015 N. Clark St.; there's a Mardi Gras party at North End, 3733 N. Halsted, with a Best Costume contest at midnight; the She-Devils are at Charlie's, 405 W. Ontario; Paula Sinclaire's "Circus of the Bizarre" is at Berlin, 954 W. Belmont; Mardi Gras with Daisy Mae and Miss Gay Illinois Anastasia Tres Donni, light up the stage at Nutbush, 7201 Franklin, Forest Park; Zona Rosa, a night of Latin rhythms, along with DJ Carlos Valderama, appear at Vortex, 3631 N. Halsted; back by popular demand, the "Wet Jockey Shorts" contest at the L.A. Connection, 3700 N. Halsted; David Wilshire, "Mr. Windy City" presents "Fun House Dance Party," a benefit for the Rodde Center, with magical performances by Mimi Marks, Byrd Bardot, and a special fashion show featuring the Total Trash Boys, at Roscoe's, 3354-56 N. Halsted; and Joe Ziolkowski's "Walking the Line" book signing and visual extravaganza with DJ Ralphi Rosario at Foxy's, 800 W. Belmont.
2008
Headline on front page of this week's Chicago Free Press: "Transgender Teen Slain in Florida – On Average One Gay or Trans Person is Killed Every 8 Days."
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New Year's Eve – Gay Chicago December 26, 1996
Gary Barlow writes in Chicago Free Press:
"It may be a cliché, but 'it plays in Peoria' took on a new meaning this month in the Illinois Senate when Sen. David Koehler (D-Peoria/Pekin) signed on as the chief Senate sponsor of legislation to allow civil unions for gay and lesbian couples in the Land of Lincoln."
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DykeDiva presents a reading at Women and Children Bookstore, 5233 N. Clark St., featuring Pulitzer Prize-winning author Achy Obejas, Montreal-based writer Nairne Holtz and local author Kathie Bergquist.
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Chicago's legendary porn theater and sex club, the Bijou, 1349 N. Wells, hosts a new queer dance party "Wayward Sisters" with hot DJ's and the finest in vintage porn.
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Hubris Productions presents "Girls Will Be Girls," a world premiere of the film by Richard Day, at the Center on Halsted, 3625 N. Halsted St.
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Local gay artist Jason Messinger talks about his new artwork at the Chicago Cultural Center, 2ndFloor, 77 E. Randolph.
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Chicago Razors Meet & Greet mimosa brunch for Chicago's all-inclusive gay triathlon group, is at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St.
Homework
What happened to Michelle Faith?
Who remembers Foxy's?
Did anyone see the magical performance by Byrd Bardot?
Gay Chicago Photo Rewind
Terry Gaskins photos for Gay Chicago December 11, 1997
Terry Gaskins photographs Gentry for Gay Chicago December 14, 1995
Frank Failing at Male Image photographs the gang at Cornelia's for Gay Chicago January 19, 2006
Ralph Paul photographs the bars, Our Way and the Manhandler for Gay Chicago November 8, 1984
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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