February 13 – February 19, 2014

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

1985

The Artemis Singers, Windy City Gay Chorus, and Chicago Gay Men's Chorus give a joint performance at Park West in a benefit concert for AIDS patients.

+++

In the bars and clubs this week, David Boyer and Terry Hunter welcome Men in Leather to Trianon, 3150 N. Halsted, every Tuesday; Take One, 2570 N. Clark St., celebrates its 2nd Valentine's Day in Hawaii theme party; the Lip Synch finals with Andrea and Co. and a $200 cash prize, is at Normandy, 3400 N. Clark St.; Alan Lozito is performing at Club Victoria, 3153 N. Broadway; "Join us in celebrating eight years of memories" at Big Red's, 3019 N. Clark St.; drag your ass down to Carol's Speakeasy, 1355 N. Wells, for a Valentine's Day Best Drag Contest; the Blue Parrot has its Grand Opening at 1128 W. Granville; it's also the Grand Opening of Showcase One, 959 W. Belmont, with female impersonators, strippers and a "exciting and talented DJ"; and also it's the Grand Opening of Teddies, 3160 N. Clark St.

+++

On the front page of Gay Life:

"Lesbian activist Virginia Apuzzo is stepping down as executive director of the National Gay Task Force, it was announced last week.

"Apuzzo will leave NGTF in mid-April to take a job with the state of New York as deputy director of the Consumer Protection Board. She was appointed to the position by Gov. Mario Cuomo."

"Jeffrey Levi, who has been NGTF's Washington D.C. representative since last March, will serve as acting director until a permanent successor is chosen."

+++

1995

Live On Stage at Glee, 1543 N. Kingsbury, MCA recording artist Livin' Joy perform their club hit "I'm a Dreamer." The opening act is Chicago Strictly Hype recording artist Willie Crispo singing his hit "Where Have You Gone To." House mixes by Teri Bristol, Earl Pleasure and Ralphi Rosario. In the Mezz DJ Freddie Bain. Hosted by Byron Dorsey & Paolo.

+++

Boy's Life, the #1 Gay Film in America! Three stories of love, lust and liberation, is at the Music Box, 3733 N. Southport. +++ In this month's Quotelines in Outlines: "Race is the first thing people recognize about you. My race is the one thing that I've always had pride in, even as a little kid. My sexuality is something I'm becoming more comfortable with everyday." – African-American gay author E. Lynn Harris. "Most blacks are homophobic because Black gays and lesbians have been so closeted and invisible that Black people really believe that this is not a part of the community." – E. Lynn Harris.

+++

In Gay Chicago: "Surrounded by smiling gay and lesbian rights activists and representatives of elected officials, Illinois State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka signed an executive order establishing a pro-gay, non-discrimination policy for the treasurer's office. Topinka is the first Republican state official to issue such an executive order. The order covers 12 categories, including race, religion, gender, and sexual orientation. The order also prohibits any type of sexual harassment."

+++

The Top Ten Music Playlist courtesy of Donnie Warner, DJ at Roscoe's, Manhole, Vortex: 1) "Your Lovin' Arms" – Billy Ray Martin; 2) "I Need Somebody" – Loveland: 3) "Paul's Pain" – Nightman; 4) "Sun Children" – Cop N Chan; 5) "I Need a Man" – Li Kwan; 6) "These Sounds Fall Into My Mind" – The Bucketheads; 7) "Keep Giving Me Your Love" – Ce Ce Peniston; 8) "Yeke Yeke" – Mory Kante; 9) "Melody of Love" – Donna Summer; 10) "The Anthem" – Black Shells.

2001

It's the Chicago Anti-Bashing Network's Freedom to Marry Day and events include a Protest for Gay Marriage at the City-County Building, 118 N. Clark St.

+++

On the front page of this week's Windy City Times, Karen Hawkins writes: "United by their belief in marriage rights for same-sex couples, a diverse group of clergy, officials and activists observed Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund's Freedom to Marry Day with a press conference Monday afternoon. "'Equality in civil marriage is a right whose time has come,' said Matthew Roberts, director of Lambda's Midwest office, as he introduced the day's lineup. "Organizers said Freedom to Marry Day has been held February 12 for the last four years to tie Lincoln's Birthday-celebrated as a day of equality–and Valentine's Day–celebrated as a time of love–together. Aside from Chicago, events were held in Minneapolis, San Jose, Philadelphia and Seattle."

+++

In Gay Chicago this week: "Season of Concern, the Chicagoland theatre community's fund-raising effort in the fight against AIDS, distributed over $176,500 in direct-care grants for individuals living with HIV/AIDS in 2000–over $6,500 more than the grants awarded in 1999."

+++

Windy City Performing Arts' new CD, "WCPA Live! Shared Applause,' is released and includes live recordings from Festival 2000, held in San Jose, CA., and the last WCPA performance conducted by Welborn Young."

+++

The Black Bra Party takes place at Drink Nightclub, and features live performances by Valerie James, C.C. Carter, female go-go dancers, and is hosted by Amy Metheny.

+++

"Fireball: Hearts on Fire" weekend includes events at the House of Blues with DJ David Knapp, the Aragon Ballroom with DJ Manny Lehman, and Excalibur with DJ Mark Vallese.

+++

The Suburban Gay and Lesbian Business Expo 2001 takes place at Harper College, Palatine, Roselle Road and Route 62.

Homework

Does anyone remember the Blue Parrot on Granville? What happened to the annual Freedom to Marry Day? Where did Karen Hawkins go? 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.