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

1979

Lou DiVito, DJ at Dugan's Bistro, 420 N. Dearborn, spent a week in New York City at Billboard's Disco Forum Five. He lists some of the winners at the awards ceremony:

Best Female Artist: Donna Summer
Best Male Artist: Sylvester
Best DJ of the Year in Chicago: Lou DiVito
Best DJ of the Year, National: Jim Burgess, Infinity Disco
Best Sound System: Paradise Garage, New York
Best Record Label: Casablanca Records
Best Disco-style Rendition of 1978: "McArthur's Park"
"Most Promising New artist: Dan Hartman
Best Disco Group (tie): Chic and the Village People
Best Disco Orchestra (Tie): Alec R. Costandinos and the Symphonic Orchestra and Jon Davis and the Monster Orchestra
Best Single of the Year (Tie): "Le Freak" by Chic and "Boogie Oogie Oogie" by A Taste of Honey
Best Album of the Year: "Live and More" by Donna Summer
Best Disco Promoter of the Year (Tie): Michele Hart and Ken Friedman of Casablanca Records and Dan Joseph and Ray Caviano of TK Records
Disc Jockey's Favorite 12 inch Single: "Dance (Disco Heat)" by Sylvester.

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(Image: Gay Chicago Magazine – Gay Chicago April 2, 1987)

Headline on the cover of Gay Life reads: "Frisco couple may be first gays allowed to adopt child,"

"In what is believed to be the first instance of its kind, an openly gay male couple have been granted the right to legally adopt a two year old boy.

"The adoption of Robert David Dykes by pediatrician Dr. Albert Lanny Dykes and his lover, San Francisco Metropolitan Community Church pastor Reverend Jim Dykes, was approved by a Los Angeles Superior Court judge on January 12."

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The Gay and Lesbian Pride Week Planning Committee announces changes in the route for this year's June 24 Parade. The line-up is set for 1 p.m. on the east side of Halsted, just south of Addison. The new ending point will be on Stockton Drive, south of North Avenue, directly west of the Lincoln Park Free Forum. A rally will be held in the grassy tree-lined area south of the farm in the park.

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A new gay group called the Lambda Social Club is established in Chicago. The first brunch and mixer is at the Courtyard Inn, 1531 N. Wells.

1988

In the bars and clubs this week, Laurel Masse, Chicago's favorite songstress, is appearing at Ruggles Cabaret Bar, 1633 N. Halsted; "Blast From the Past" movies are shown every Saturday afternoon at the New Windy City, 3127 N. Clark St.; All drinks are $1 on Thursdays at Bistro Too, 5015 N. Clark St; Michael K presents "South of the Border" at Cheeks, 2730 N. Clark St.

(Image: Kris Francis – Gay Chicago September 28, 1995)

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Headline on the cover of this week's Gay Life reads: "Sawyer Pledges Support for Ordinance."

"In an unexpected reversal of his previous stand, Acting Mayor Eugene Sawyer told members of the Mayor's Committee on Gay and Lesbian Issues (COGLI) last Thursday that he will support passage of the Human Rights Ordinance. The ordinance, which is to be a revision of a draft submitted by the Gay and Lesbian Town Meeting at the time of Mayor Washington's death last November, is currently under review by the Corporation Counsel's office (the city law department). According to COGLI, the ordinance will be ready to be voted on by the City Council as early as late April or early May."

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It's the Chicago premiere of "Exposed to Love," an all-female dance group from Dayton, Ohio, at the "Gay Suburban Entertainment Complex, Rivers Edge, 3548 N. River Road, Franklin Park.

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STOP AIDS Chicago holds a benefit at Second City, 1616 N. Wells St. A light buffet is followed by a Second City Company's performance of its current comedy revue "Catch 27."

2003

Popular restaurants for gay couples include: Marysol, tapas bar and lounge, 812-816 W. Randolph; Kit Kat lounge and supper club, 3700 N. Halsted; and Dinotto, 215 N. Ave., for late-night dining and cocktails.

(Image: Nightlines – Nightlines December 20, 2000)

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From the creator of "Making Porn," "10 Naked Men," the hit off-Broadway comedy about Hustlers and Hollywood, written by Ronnie Larsen, has a limited engagement at the Theatre Building, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.

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An article in this week's Gay Chicago reads: "Lakeside Pride, Chicago's gay and lesbian community band, is seeking members for the summer marching unit. Under the direction of returning director Nathan Voges, the Lakeside Pride Freedom Band boasts 50 members performing in LGBT pride and mainstream parades in Chicago and across the Midwest. The band welcomes musicians, auxiliary and volunteers of all backgrounds. The band's color guard, known as Spinning Out! invites interested members to open house rehearsals on Fridays at 7 p.m. at the Preston Bradley Center, 941 W. Lawrence."

Photo Rewind

I took this photograph in Berlin at a Vintage Clothing Sale.

Happy Birthday Pat McCombs ... in 1999.

Girls, Girls, Girls at Jackhammer in Nightspots 2003. Who are they?

She Devils in Man-Drag. Sidetrack ...

Homework

Did anyone see "10 Naked Men" and did it live up to its title?

When did Disco really die?

Ruggles, straight or gay?

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 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.