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

1979

For three years the lives of French poets Arthur Rimbaud and Paul Verlaine were in a... "Total Eclipse," a play by Christopher Hampton is at the Theater Building, 1225 W. Belmont.

+++

Dr. James Steakley of the University of Wisconsin speaks at Northern Illinois University (DeKalb) on "Homosexual Emancipation and Gay Rights: The Middle Ages to the Present." Steakley has previously delivered this lecture/slide presentation to the GAU, the Canadian Gay Rights Association, and the Conference on the History of Sexuality and Power.

+++

"Watching Hangers and Other Closet Pastimes," a play by Michael B of the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Illini, is performed in Room 509-510 of Chicago Circle Center, 750 S. Halsted.

(Image: Get Ripped at Cell Block – Gay Chicago February 1, 1996)

+++

Ever wanted to try out drag but were too shy? Come to a supportive drag party Saturday April 28 at the Rogers Park/Edgewater Gay Alliance, 5823 N. Ridge.

+++

A program of film comedy shorts is shown at the Gold Coast leather bar, 501 N. Clark St., featuring a Mickey Mouse retrospective, the Marx Brothers, and W.C. Fields.

+++

Gay Horizons and the Northwestern University Gay and Lesbian Alliance sponsor "Developing a Positive Gay Identity," a series of workshops for gay men and women, held on the NU campus.

1985

(Image: Michelle Malone – Nightlines September 15, 1999)

In the clubs and bars this week, "join us for a cocktail or 2 after work or shopping" at 2nd Story bar, upstairs at 157 E. Ohio; Bulldog Road, 2916 N. Broadway, is open every day at 7 a.m.; "Fire and Ice" to heat you up and melt you down with DJ Steve Williams, the Saint, New York City, at the Trianon/Chicago, 3150 N. Halsted: Divine performs her hits "Love Reaction," "Born to be Cheap," and "Native Love" at Medusa's 3257 N. Sheffield; Chickie Ford is at Gentry, 712 N. Rush St.; and the Blue Parrot, 1128 W. Granville, presents the Mr. Blue Parrot contest '85.

+++

Music Playlist courtesy of DJ Dick Guenther at Touché: 1) "Pleasuredome (Remix)" – Frankie Goes to Hollywood; 2) "One Night in Bangkok" – Murray Head; 3) "Dancing in the Dark (Remix)" – Mike Maureen; 4) "Don't You Forget About Me" – Simple Minds; 5) "Waiting for My Angel" – Jamie Principal; 6) "We Close Our Eyes" – Go West; "Vicious Games" – Yello; 8) "You're Just the Right Size" – Salsoul Orchestra; 9) "Never Ending Story" – Limahl; 10) "I Feel Love (Remix)" – Bronski Beat; 11) "Some Like it Hot" – Power Station; 12) "Carry On-Turn Me On" – Space; 13) "Fuzz Dance EP" – All Cuts; 14) "Axil F Theme" – H. Faltimeyer; and 15) "Say It Again" – Santana.

+++

"Ulane continues fight." On the cover of Gay Life Tracy Baim begins:

"Karen Ulane's struggles are not over. As a woman who was once a man, Ulane is caught in a Justice system that doesn't know how to categorize her and in a job dispute stubbornly awaiting appeal.

"Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal by Ulane, who was fired from her pilot's job with Eastern Airlines after her sex change operation. The refusal let stand a 7th Circuit Court opinion that federal sex discrimination laws do not cover those who change their sex."

+++

Headlines in this week's Gay Life include: "'Don't give up on GOP' says congressman," "Paralyzed lesbian' father fights to ban her lover's visits with court injunction," and "Ritual homosexuality documented among New Guinea natives."

+++

Catch "Spring Fever" with Gay Chicago's week-end-get-a-way fling! Only $125–includes transportation-food-lodging to Douglas Dunes.

"Leave Chicago from the Gay Chicago Magazine offices on our ‘party bus' Friday evening ... etc."

1998

Chicago Gay Men's Chorus present their 1998 Spring Concert, "Forbidden Halsted Street" at the Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport.

"In the tradition of ‘Sidetrack: The Musical' CGMC now takes on the whole strip! Boystown's abuzz as our characters travel from the North End to the south end of world famous Halsted Street, encountering nightlife, fun and adventure (and a few scary moments!) Join us as we toast the bars, the bookstores and the boys of Forbidden Halsted!"

+++

The Metropolitan Community Church of the Incarnation sponsors a workshop on spiritual direction presented by Rev. Dr. Robert Goss at 460 Lake Street, Oak Park. Goss, a former Jesuit priest, teaches comparative religion at Webster University in St. Louis, and is MCC clergy on the staff at MCC/Greater St. Louis, and also co-editor of "Our Families, Our Values: Snapshots of Queer Kinship."

+++

The Chicago chapter of the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network and Chicago's Gay and Lesbian Professional Networking Association give out youth scholarships and other awards at the Conrad Sulzer Library, 4455 N. Lincoln. A panel of Chicago and suburban high school students talk about the work they've done in their schools to promote LGBT equality and visibility. Two $1,000 GLSEN Scholarships are awarded to Trinity Dean, Marshall High School, Chicago and Nina Schwartz, Niles West High School, Skokie.

+++

Men of All Colors Together meet at Ann Sather, 929 W. Belmont. The topic is "Our Story Too: Black and White Gay Men in Scripture," with guest speaker, Rev. Gordon McCoy.

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Jack Sitar's photos in Gay Chicago April 28, 1988. Big Red, the gal in the bottom picture, was a bar owner, now passed. I met her on several occasions, but who are these other guys?

Gay Chicago April 18, 1985. That's a very young David Boyer. I know the other guy but I can't remember his name.

Gay Chicago April 28, 1979 Look at these two babes. Steve Piechash at Darche's, a bar where Charlie's is located now. And Lewis A. Diaz, Mr. Eldorado. Where are they now?

Tracy Baim's photo of the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus in the February 28, 1996 issue of Nightlines. Where are these boys now?

Homework

What would "Forbidden Halsted" look like now?

I've never heard of the Blue Parrot, have you?

Is GLSEN still around?

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.