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

1983

The Greater Chicago Gay and Lesbian Democrats vote to endorse Democratic candidate Harold Washington for mayor.

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The gay herpes support group meets at 615 W. Wellington Ave.

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It's the first Chicago appearance of Les Ballets Trockadero De Monte Carlo, the famous drag ballet, at the Auditorium Theatre. The complete Corps de Ballet includes Lavrenti "Biff" Stroganoff, Tatiana Youbetyabootskaya, Ludmilla Beaulemova, Tamara Boumdiyava, Nadia Doumiafevya and Igor Teupleze.

1986

Headline in the Chicago Sun-Times reads: "After 15 yrs., New York OKs gay rights bill."

"NEW YORK: The City Council approved a gay rights bill yesterday, 15 years after a measure like it first was introduced in the city with the nation's largest homosexual population.

"The bill, passed 21-14, would prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation in housing, employment or public accommodations."

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(Image: Man's Country – Gay Chicago March 2, 2000)

Top 5 Music Playlist courtesy of DJ Mark Vallese of Trianon, Showcase One, and Carol's Speakeasy: 1) "Seclusion" – Shawn Benson; 2) "Mandrill" – Patrick Colby; 3) "Living in the City" – Sylvester; 4) "Electricity" – Rori; and 5) "Fire Me Up" – Astaire.

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The Windy City Gay Chorus presents its Spring Concert, "We're Singing Your Song!" at People's Church, 941 W. Lawrence. Richard Garrin, the chorus' musical director, also serves as principal assistant conductor of the Chicago Symphony Chorus under Margaret Hillis.

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The Gay/Lesbian Union of Northern Illinois University hosts events as part of their Lesbian/Gay Awareness Week. Films shown include "Domestic Bliss," a lesbian comedy, and "Buddies," a drama about AIDS. Other events include a performance by gay singing duo, Romanovsky and Phillips, and a discussion on "The Bible and Homosexuality."

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Two headlines on the front page of Windy City Times this week: "Anti-gay extremists win spots on Dem's ticket: La Rouche followers defeat Regulars" and "Hurt wins Oscar for gay portrayal." The latter is William Hurt who won Best Actor for his portrayal of a gay prisoner in "Kiss of the Spider Woman."

2000

The Artemis Singers, Chicago's lesbian feminist choir, performs for Women's History Month at Sulzer Regional Library, 4455 N. Lincoln.

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Quotes in Outlines' Quotelines include:

"I joined the military when I was 18 to escape a lot of things, and because I wanted to be somebody. And I honestly thought that in the military, I'd go straight. It didn't quite work out that way. I found more gay people in the military than I'd ever known." – Dan Stewart, the openly gay mayor of Pittsburgh, N.Y.

And:

"Gay marriage should be legal if just to raise the standard of dancing at receptions." – Liz Langley in the Miami Herald.

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(Image: Eagle Leathers – Gay Chicago February 24, 2000)

Article in this week's Gay Chicago reads: "Tom Tunney, owner of Ann Sather Restaurants, has been elected chairman of the Illinois Restaurant Association for 2000. The Illinois Restaurant Association is a not for profit trade association representing 6,000 foodservice outlets throughout Illinois and a variety of education, research, communications and government affairs representation."

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Ubaka Hill returns for a weekend of drumming workshops at the womyn-only Mountain Moving Coffeehouse, 1650 W. Foster.

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Lincoln Park Lagooners host "Candlelight Bowl 2000" at Marigold Bowl, 828 W. Grace. A $30 ticket includes buffet, bowling and the chance of door prizes.

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As part of a fundraising benefit for the NAMES Memorial Quilt, a live telecast of the Academy Awards is shown at Circuit, 3641 N. Halsted. "The evening will be filled with tremendous spirit and friendship," predicts NAMES Project's Tico Valle. The proceeds help support the AIDS Memorial Quilt's outreach programs and the New Visitor Center. Sponsors for the evening include Absolut Mandrin, Circuit, Chicago Free Press, United Airlines and Budweiser.

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The Fairy Gardener's Guild host a slide show on "Wildflowers and Native Perennials" with Dr. Denny Schrock, at 6600 N. Sheridan.

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Oh my goodness, what's happening at Circuit? I took this in 2002.

This is from Gay Chicago February 23, 1995. Photos by the brilliant Terry Gaskin.

I took this at the 15th anniversary of Inn Exile in 2002. Name that bar owner. Published in Nightspots.

I took this photograph at Jackhammer for the Chicago Free Press.

Homework

Did anyone go to the Spice Tree bar?

... or the Mineshaft in Lyons?

What happened to the Chicago NAMES Memorial quilt panels?

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.