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

1977

Published in Gay Chicago News, these are excerpts form a Florida speech given by the Imperial Wizard Robert Shelton of the Ku Klux Klan, pertaining to the gay community: 1) The three faces of Communism are socialism, Judaism and homosexualism. 2) Homosexuals have made the most substantive effects in the Communist conspiracy. 3) Homosexuals have "strong feelings of comradeship. It takes on a conspiratorial degree. Some religious groups have never recruited homosexuals, but the Communists and left wing have made a special effort to recruit homosexuals. They are used as agent provocateurs. 4) Jews and homosexuals are often the same.

(Image: New Windy City Bar ­– Gay Chicago March 23, 1989)
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"I want you ... again!" says Nurse Wanda for the third annual mobile VD testing van. Look for her and the van parked in front of any one of the sponsoring gay bars and businesses on the north side. This year the Chicago Gay Health Project, the organizers of the free mobile testing van, has secured a more spacious van and can offer culturing for gonorrhea detection along with the blood test for syphilis. The results of each night's testing will be available five days later by calling the Howard Brown Memorial Clinic ... "

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(Image: World AIDS Day – Windy City Times November 30, 1995)

In this week's Gay Life: "At the new Park West Theatre (322 W. Armitage). Gloria Gaynor opens for a three-day stay. She'll be doing two shows each day at 8 p.m. and 11 p.m. Admission is $10. Drinks are $2.25."

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Cover of Gay Life reads: "House says ‘No!' to gay rights bill"

"On Saturday, May 21, the Illinois state House of Representatives voted on a gay rights bill for the first time in its history. That bill, HB575, which would have banned discrimination in employment at public colleges and universities, was defeated by a vote of 114 nays to 38 ayes with 5 members voting present and another 20 absent. At the same time, HB 577 which concerns ending discrimination in general employment was referred back to committee for interim study, a move which will keep it alive for the rest of this legislative session."

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The spectacular Orange Ball is held at the Aragon Ballroom, 1106 W. Lawrence, to raise funds for the Dade County (FL) Coalition of Human Rights in its fight to keep the county's gay rights law. The law is under attack from arch-homophobe Anita Bryant. The event raised $12,000, was attended by 4000 people, and Wayland Flowers and Madame performed.

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It's the first celebrity charity pie toss, held at the Butterfly, 1437 N. Wells, to benefit the Gay/Lesbian Pride Week Committee.

1989

In the clubs and bars this week, there's an Alcala Western Wear fashion show at Carol's Speakeasy, 1355 N. Wells; the Rockets present "Sleazy (K) Night" with Maya Douglas at Cheeks, 2730 N. Clark St.; "This five-foot-four blonde will knock your socks off with her great vocals and famous impersonations!" Cissy Conner is at Gentry, 712 N. Rush St.; and Shante presents "Ya Gotta Have Friends," a benefit for Miss Florida Contest, at the Baton Show Lounge, 436 N. Clark St.

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The current issue of Pyramid Periodical, the provocative quarterly magazine for gay people of color, is on the newsstands and features poetry by Craig G. Harris, short fiction by Lebanese writer Maha Ofeish and commentary by Guy-Mark Foster III.

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"Jerker, or The Helping Hand" by Robert Chesley, directed by Christopher Moore, featuring Ric Roe and Daren Stephens, is extended until June 11 at the Bailiwick Repertory, 3212 N. Broadway.

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(Image: Cover – Gay Chicago January 6, 1994>, March 5, 1976)

Isabel Miller, a ground-breaker in lesbian fiction, is in Chicago for readings and book signings at People Like Us, 3321 N. Clark St. and at Women and Children First, 1967 N. Halsted.

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Between 1983 and 1989, there were 271 cases of AIDS reported in residents of suburban Cook County, of which 76 are from southern and southwestern Cook County. The Cook County Department of Health co-sponsors a conference entitled "Preventative Measures and AIDS Education for the 1990s" at South Suburban College, 15800 S. State St, in South Holland.

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Ten AIDS activists are arrested during a demonstration against the CTA for refusing to hang ads carrying explicitly sexual wording and positive illustrations of lesbians and gay men, on its buses and trains. ACT UP organized the demonstration at the intersection of Broadway, Clark and Diversey. The event is dedicated to David Bell. ACT UP/Chicago are joined by Kupona Network, the Hispanic AIDS Network, and VIDA SIDA. Those arrested for "mob action" were Frank Michaels, Daniel Sotomayer, Carol Jonas, Ferd Eggan, T.J. Rice, Jeff Brown, Ortez Alderson, Jack Michelson, Arthur Gursch, and Billy McMillan. Over 200 people attended the protest.

2002

The Lesbian and Gay Studies Project and the Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture at the University of Chicago sponsors a one-day symposium in conjunction with the release of a groundbreaking report on Black GLBT communities and their politics.

The report "Say It Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud," is the result of a two-year study conducted by Dr. Cathy Cohen, recently appointed as the director of the Center and a visiting professor in Political Science at the University of Chicago, along with lead researcher, Juan Battle, Ph.D., Dorian Warren, Suzette Audam and Gerald Ferguson, Ph.D."

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(Image: All Gay Skating Party – Gay Chicago January 12, 1995)

No Exit Café Grinder, Scott Free's weekly showcase of queer words and music, features words by Beth Tanner and music by Rachael Sage, at 6970 N. Glenwood.

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The Center for Gender Studies welcomes members of Drag Attack Cabaret for a workshop on drag, followed by the Chicago premiere of their film "Third Antenna: Documentary About the Radical Nature of Drag,' at the University of Chicago, Harper Hall, rooms 125 and 130, 1116 E. E. 59th Street.

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Mr. Chicago Leather 1989 in Gay Chicago, photos by Spike King. Glen Foley was the winner. Is he still around?

Amigas Latinas Lesbianas/Bisexuales in Nightlines april 10 1996. Photo by David Rosenberg.

Nightlines May 29, 1993. Photo by Rex Wockner. Illinois Gay and Lesbian Task Force Annual Awards.

Homework

Who were the celebrities at the first pie toss in 1977?

Do they still have the pie toss?

Does anyone know anything about the Drag Attack Cabaret?

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.