Gay life in Chicago this week, back in...

1978

The third open forum in response to attacks against gays and others in the Lakeview/New Town area, is held at the Lakeview Branch Library, 644 W. Belmont.

Gay Horizons, a non-profit community service organization, receives its Internal Revenue Service 501-C(3) tax-exempt status.

Article in Gay Life begins: "Anti-gay violence has increased in Chicago, particularly in the New Town area, over the past few months. In response to that situation gay people have been encouraged to report such attacks to the police and to follow through with prosecution of the attackers if they are caught. The gay community is cooperating with other neighborhood groups in WhistleSTOP and CRIMESTOP programs designed to cut down on street crime."

The Northwestern Gay Union/Lesbian Alliance sponsor a second summer social at Brentano Hall, 1830 Sheridan Rd, Evanston. Cost is $1 for Northwestern University students and $2 for non-NU students.

There's a general meeting for the Lesbian Community Center at Mama Peaches restaurant, 3059 N. Sheffield.

Rev. Jay Deacon is welcomed at Good Shepherd Parish MCC with an evening of cocktails and dinner at 615 W. Wellington.

Rev. Troy D. Perry, founder of the Metropolitan Community Church and national co-chair for the drive to stop the Briggs Initiative, visits Chicago to speak at an open forum cocktail reception in the Cabaret at Center Stage, 3730 N. Clark St.

1988

Chicago For AIDS Rights (C-FAR) holds a meeting at the Wellington Avenue Church, 615 W. Wellington. The meeting focuses on plans for a future action against LyphoMed, the pharmaceutical manufacturer, and preparations for a national civil disobedience in Washington DC on October 11.

(Image: Northalsted Market Days – Gay Chicago July 16, 1987)

"The Cows: The Comedy of Women," women comediennes and performance artists showcase new material at Suzy B's, 1829 W. Montrose.

Windy City Times reports that a grant from the Chicago Resource Center is enabling Jezebel Productions to make available its new book "Before Stonewall: The Making of a Gay and Lesbian Community," to community groups for only the cost of shipping and handling. The book is an illustrated historical guide to the award-winning film, "Before Stonewall," and provides an overview of 20th century gay/lesbian American history.

Chi-Town Squares hold its "First Annual Cowboy Cookout" at Helen's log cabin in Mundelein.

"Sunset Boulevard" and "Double Indemnity" are showing at the Music Box, 3733 N. Southport.

1999

In the bars and clubs this week, Charles Cermele is live in the Cabaret at Davenport's piano bar, 1383 N. Milwaukee; come dance every Friday and Saturday in the salon at Big Chicks, 5024 N. Sheridan; swing dance exhibition, lessons and competition at Girlbar, 2625 N. Halsted; the 12th annual Miss Windy City Continental Pageant starring Vanessa Kelly, Michelle Dupree, Chanel Dupree, the Lady Darchavia, hosted by Flame Monroe, takes place at the Baton Show Lounge, 436 N. Clark St.; and Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted, celebrates the release of "Timbre" the new album by Sophie B. Hawkins.

CORP pagans hold a Lammas ritual at 2nd Unitarian Church, 656 W. Barry.

"Hilarious! It's a gay ‘American Pie'" writes Brandon Judell, Bay Area Reporter. "Trick" starring Christian Campbell, J.P. Pitoc, and Tori Spelling is showing at the Loews Complex, Pipers Alley, 1608 N. Wells St.

In Quotelines in Outlines Larry Kramer says: "Anybody with half a brain would be out of his or her mind to be a leader of this community. You get nothing but shit, and in the end you cannot take it anymore. If you give your opinion and it happens to be a strong opinion, you get letters from the Advocate, or shit sent to you. When you're young you can take it. But after a while you can't, and I don't know any gay leader who wouldn't say the same thing."

Gioia Diliberto discusses her book "A Useful Woman: The Early Life of Jane Addams" at Women and Children First Bookstore, 5233 N. Clark St.

Steamworks, 3246 N. Halsted, hosts the 4th International Chest Man Convention.

"Croquet X," the 10th annual benefit for Open Hand Chicago takes place at the Clock Tower, between Irving Park and Waveland: "Join us in the heart of the community for an afternoon of croquet play in 30 team round robin, for a bountiful summer grill, Absolut-ly generous libations, fabulous music by DJ Bobby Marley, wicked costumes, huge silent auction, raffle, emcee WGN Radio personality Dean Richards, and the Chicago Reader's Neal Pollack ... "

Thanks go to publishers Michael Bergeron for Chicago Gay Crusader, Ralph Gernhardt for Gay Chicago, Grant Ford and Chuck Renslow for Gay Life 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 the book Chicago Whispers: A History of LGBT Chicago Before Stonewall published by the University of Wisconsin Press.

Homework:

Homework

Vanessa Kelly, Michelle Dupree, Chanel Dupree, the Lady Darchavia, and Flame Monroe. Are any of these girls still around?

Anyone remember Mama Peaches?

Is the Rev. Jay Deacon still around?