January 23 - January 29, 2014

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

1985

Video Playlist courtesy of Chuck Hyde of Sidetrack: 1) "Smalltown Boy/Why" – Bronski Beat; 2) "Method of Modern Love" –Hall & Oates; 3) "Sex Crime" – Eurythmics; 4) "Boys of Summer" – Don Henley; 5) "Obsession" – Animation; 6) "All the Day/Everyday is Halloween" – Ministry; 7) "Night in Bangkok" – Murray Head; 8) "Big in Japan" – Alphaville; 9) "Solid" – Ashford & Simpson; 10) "In the Evening" – Sheryl Lee Ralph; 11) "Private Dancer" – Tina Turner; 12) "SOS Fire in the Sky"– Deodato; 13) "Lover Boy" – Billy Ocean; 14) "Dumped On" – Triana; 15) "Born in the USA" – Bruce Springsteen.

Image: Badlands – Gay Chicago September 13, 1990

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On the cover of this week's Gay Life, Albert Williams writes:

"Meanwhile, at Victory Gardens Theater on Lincoln Avenue, there's 'Levitation,' a gentle comedy-drama about 'coming to terms with life and love.' The play, by Timothy Mason, opening its Midwest premiere, features Bill Applebaum as young Joe, Fern Parsons and Edgar Meyer as the ageing mom and dad, and James Glossman as his lover. Joe's homosexuality is treated as a given, an integral-and unremarkable-part of his personality. Is not making an issue of it, the issue?"

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Gay Life writes that Ms. magazine named lesbian/feminist singer Holly Near one of its 12 Women of the Year, "for creativity as a composer, performer, and lyricist; as a 'cultural worker' for peace and justice; and as a woman who lives the message she teaches."

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Allen Ginsberg, founding father of the beat movement, reads from his works at Barbara's Bookstore, 1434 N. Wells.

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A headline on the cover of this week's Gay Life reads: "Reagan Cutbacks Will Have 'Direct Impact' on AIDS Research Funds."

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Black and White Men Together join a list of endorsers of the January 21 demonstration in Washington D.C. against President Reagan's inauguration. The demonstration, initiated by the People's Anti-War Mobilization and the All People's Congress, will focus particularly on U.S. support for South Africa and right wing Central American dictatorships."

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In Gay Life, Tracy Baim writes:

"Henry Hendershot, who charges he was fired from the University of Illinois in Champaign-Urbana because he is gay has been reinstated with full back pay by the Administrative Court of Illinois. Hendershot, fired Dec. 4, is still awaiting final details of the judge's ruling, including his re-entry level–Library Clerk III or Clerk II."

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Rabbi Alan Bregman, regional director of the Union of American Hebrew Congregations, leads a service of Congregation Or Chadash, Chicago's lesbian and gay Jewish group. This is the first time an ordained rabbi has honored the synagogue with such a function.

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Sylvester performs at the 2nd anniversary of the Paradise Disco, 2848 N. Broadway.

1996

The Gay and Lesbian Building and Trade Professionals host the first of its 1996 series of dinner/program presentations on topics important to people in the building industry. "Building Long-Term Business Relationships: Essential Client Relations Skills for Growing a Healthy Business" takes place on January 25, 1996 at Ann Sather, 929 W. Belmont.

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Image: Ryan Idol – Gay Chicago November 23, 1995

Team Chicago presents its first event of the year, Unity '94 and Friendship '98 Gay Games V Celebration party from 8:00 p.m. – midnight on Saturday, January 27 at the South Shore Cultural Center, 7059 S. Shore Drive. Tickets are a suggested donation of $10.

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January 27, 1996, is the Grand Opening party for the New Wet Area of the Unicorn Club, 3246 N. Halsted St. A percentage of the evening's proceeds are donated to the Reimer Foundation Condom Distribution Program.

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Article in Outlines begins:

"HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death among Chicagoans aged 25 to 34, according to a report from the Chicago Department of Public Health. It is also the second leading cause of death among all Chicagoans aged 15 to 24­–exceeded only by homicide–and the second leading cause of death among men aged 35 to 44."

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April Sinclair, author of "Aint Gonna Be the Same Fool Twice," signs copies of her book at Women and Children First Bookstore, 5233 N. Clark St.

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Vince Rockland, adult video star, is the finest in nude entertainment at Man's Country, 5017 N. Clark St.

2003

Billy Masters writes in his "Filth" column in Gay Chicago:

"While in London, I met up with Boy George, who told me that he turned down 'oodles of dollars' for Burger King to use the song "Karma Chameon" in television commercials because he's a vegetarian."

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Image: Inn Exile ­– Gay Chicago July 20, 1989

In Gay Chicago:

"Equality Illinois and major Illinois corporations have joined together to discuss gay and lesbian issues in the workplace. Harris Bank, Motorola and Sears Roebuck and company, along with Equality Illinois are sponsoring a free, one-day symposium on "Diversity in the Workplace" at the Chicago Sheraton Hilton and Towers."

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In the bars and clubs, it's Indigo Girls fan night with raffles and CD giveaways at Temptations, 10235 Grand Ave., Franklin Park; Alysha Stone is the "Young Enchantress" at Inn Exile, 5758 W. 65thStreet; there's a Superbowl Party with complimentary hotdogs and chili at Star Gaze, 5419 N. Clark St.; and come celebrate Demanda's Birthday Blowout Bash Fundraiser for Meals on Wheels at Cocktail, 3359 N. Halsted. Featuring Monique Green, Vanity Fair, Ambrosia, Teriyaki and Lady Ashley.

Homework

Did anybody see Ginsberg at Barbara's Bookstore?

Is Black and White Men Together still around?

What happened to Vince Rockland?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

RJ Chaffin as Santa at Bulldog Road, photographed by Spike King for Gay Chicago December 24, 1987

Cowboys at Charlies (?) in Gay Chicago December 9, 1993

Chicago Black Lesbians and gays and Horizons Community Services in Nightlines December 18, 1996

Tracy Baim photographs Lori Cannon, Tom Tunney and volunteers preparing Thanksgiving dinner at Vital Bridges/Open Hand in Windy City Times December 3, 2003

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, Malone Sizelove for Babble/Gab, David Costanza and others for Chicago Free Press, Jeff McCourt for Windy City Times, Stacy Bridges and Mark Nagel for GRAB, 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 Chicago Whispers: A History of LGBT Chicago Before Stonewall published by the University of Wisconsin Press.