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

1980

The Source Bookshop, 2936 N. Clark St., hosts an informal party with Edmund White, author of "States of Desire," "Nocturnes for the King of Naples," and "The Joy of Gay Sex." The author also gives a reading from his new fiction at the University of Chicago in the Ida Noyes Library, 1212 59th St.

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The Shepherd Players, a gay theater group, present "Coming Out," by Jonathan Katz, at 615 W. Wellington. Tickets are $3.

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One of Chicago's annual banquet honors William B. Kelley, Co-chair of the Illinois Gay Rights Task Force, with the Paul R. Goldman award. Special speaker is Charles F. Brydon, Co-Executive Director of the National Gay Rights Task Force, at the Como Inn, 536 N. Milwaukee Ave.

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(Image: Temptations – Nightlines March 16, 1994)

Ellen Rosner appears at the Mountain Moving Coffeehouse, 1655 W. School St.

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The Illinois Gay Rights Task Force approved a proposal to assist gay people who may be among the current wave of Cuban refugees that Fidel Castro has allowed to leave Cuba from Mirabel. A linkup with similar proposed action by MCC was contemplated. The Castro government considers gays to be "scum."

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One of the world's greatest jazz and blues singers, Alberta Hunter, comes to Chicago for the first time in thirty years to play at George's, 230 W. Kinzie.

1987

A new group of lesbians, Common Ground, meets at the Rodde Center, 3225 N. Sheffield. "If you're an independent thinker who has transcended psychotherapy groups and bowling alleys, or even if you're not, join us," says an announcement from the group. This week's topic is "The Life of a Dyke: Sex, Celibacy, and Masturbation."

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(Image: Babble Cover ­– Babble May 1995)

The North Suburban Mothers of Gays sponsor a benefit for Horizons social services agency at a private home in Northbrook. Call [phone number] for details.

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"Sunday Bloody Sunday" and "Women in Love" are showing at the Music Box, 3733 N. Southport.

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(Image: Charlie's – Babble May 1995)

Congregation Or Chadash sponsors a class taught by Rabbi Roy Furman on "Gays and the Holocaust" in the Party Room at 3150 N. Sheridan Rd. The class is an examination of existing information on the subject, taking into account the various difficulties of Jews and other minorities persecuted at that time in giving gays equal representation among the victims.

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In the bars and clubs, it's the "Mr. Latino" contest at the Normandy, 3400 N. Sheffield; $300 in cash prizes in the "Calendar Boy" contest at LA Connection, 3700 N. Halsted; Gwen and Ellen's Razmataz, 4174 N. Elston, the party bar for women, has a Grand Opening Party with complimentary champagne, surprise entertainment, and a buffet.

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Top 10 Music Playlist courtesy of Frank Lipomi of the Loading Dock: 1) "I Wanna Dance With Somebody" – Whitney Houston; 2) "Lay It on the Line" – Elaine Charles; 3) "Why Should I Cry?" – Nona Hendrix; 4) "Each Time You Break My Heart" – Nick Kamen; 5) "Diamonds" – Herb Alpert; 6) "Big Love" – Fleetwood Mac; 7) "Sometime" – Erasure; 8) "In Love With Love (Rx Rx)" – Debbie Harry; 9) "I Can't Get Enough" – Liz Torres; 10) "Living In a Box" – Living in a Box.

1998

The Lesbian Avengers meet on Tuesdays at Horizons, 961 W. Montana.

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This week the Design Industries Foundation Fighting AIDS (DIFFA)-Chicago enlivens the Grand Ballroom at Navy Pier with an exciting party of cocktails, gourmet dining and an incredible anniversary raffle prize of 10K of diamonds. Only 1,000 tickets available at $100 dollars each.

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Gay writer David Sedaris is at Barbara's Bookstore, as part of Gerber/Hart Library's Glenlivet Writer's Series.

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It's Time, Illinois! celebrates transgender pride with a dinner dance, featuring A Real Read African-American ensemble and singer/radio diva Valerie James in performance. Takes place at Ann Sather's, 929 W. Belmont.

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(Image: Chicago Eagle – Gay Chicago February 16, 1995)

Pride Agenda Oak Park author David Schallenberger signs "Reclaiming the Spirit" at 1109 Westgate, Oak Park, Illinois.

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Armistead Maupin's "More Tales of the City" airs on Showtime.

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Quotes from this week's Outlines include:

"It was never easy being a homosexual. Everybody knew the theater was full of homosexuals, but nobody admitted to being so. ... I was sexually very late-blooming. ... I think people tried to make passes at me, and I didn't know what they were doing." – Broadway composer and lyricist Steven Sondheim, in a new biography to be published this summer.

And:

"Now everyone's decided that all lesbians wear lipstick! And they're sweeping us butches under the carpet like we're some dirty secret. I'm over that! Every time I read someone saying something about me like I perpetuate the stereotype of lesbians being butch, I just want to smack ‘em. Excuse me, some lesbians ARE butch." – Comic Lea DeLaria in the Los Angles Lesbian News May Issue.

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"The Castro," an award-winning documentary about the famous gay area in San Francisco, airs on PBS-WTTW-Channel 11.

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Horizons Community Services hold a Spring Rummage Sale at 961 W. Montana.

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

I took this photo in Jackhammer a few years back. So cute!!

Photos by the brilliant Terry Gaskins in Gay Chicago Feb. 16, 1995

The amazing Spike King took these photos for Gay Chicago May 16, 1991

I took this at a Hearts Party event at Sothebys. May have been published in Windy City Times.

Homework

What's Valerie James up to these days?

Was Rabbi Roy Furman a bear, or is Fur Man just his name?

I think the Source Book Store was connected to a gay bar, but which one?

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.