June 12-18, 2014

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

1979

IMAGE: Little Bits – Chicago Gay News May 27, 1977

Article on front page of Gay Life begins:

"For the fifth time in less than a decade, Alderman Clifford P. Kelley (20th) will introduce a gay civil rights ordinance in the Chicago City Council. The bill adds the phrase "sexual orientation" to already enacted legislation protecting racial and ethnic minorities and women in such areas as public accommodations, housing and employment. The only area in which gays and lesbians are currently protected against discrimination is with regard to the sale of condominiums. Kelly's legislation would be far reaching, allowing the city's Human Relations Commission to expedite cases involving sexual orientation discrimination for the first time."

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Article in Gay Life begins:

"Holy Covenant Community Church is now affiliated as a study group with the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Churches (MCC). On Sunday May 27, the Board of Home Missions of the Great Lakes District of MCC voted unanimously to accept Holy Covenant into the Fellowship. An interim Worship Coordinator was appointed until a permanent worship coordinator is found by the Board of Home Missions."

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Schedule of this week's Pride Events:

June 16 Saturday 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. Gala 1 ...a celebration (gays and lesbians in the arts) located in the Broadway Limited, anyone wishing to exhibit or perform contact committee at least one week in advance.

June 17 Sunday 2 p.m. until ...: Annual Picnic–with volleyball matches, games etc. Located east of lagoon in Lincoln Park, south of Diversey at Cannon Drive.

June 18 Monday 7:30 p.m.: Parade Prep Meeting–615 W. Wellington will discuss route, guidelines, marshal duties.

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In Gay Life's "Diversions and Delights."

"Maturity, a group of gay men with just a sprinkling of women, is embarking on a program to attract women over 40 who desire to meet with women of like interests. The group meets on the third Friday of each month at the Germania Club at 7:30 p.m. This week's speaker is Gay Life News Director George S. Buse. A social hour will follow."

1997

In the bars and clubs, the Biggest, Hardest, Hottest WET BOXER CONTEST is at Roscoe's 3354-56 N. Halsted, with DJ Jungle Jorge, Lights by Timmie; it's Stud Puppy Tuesdays at Temptations, 10235 W. Grand Ave., Franklin Park; W.T.F Wednesdays at Spin, Halsted and Belmont, with DJ Earl Pleasure, VJ Shawn Warren, Hostess, Daisy Mae; it's the "Patio Opening BBQ" party at Numbers, 6406 N. Clark St.; Kokoe and Kulov's Faerie Frolic at the baths takes place at the Unicorn Club, 3246 N. Halsted; and a Beer Bust BBQ for Gay, Lesbian & Bisexual Veterans of America, at Buck's Saloon, 3439 N. Halsted.

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IMAGE: Dyke March ­– Nightlines June 19, 1996

Judy Tenuta is interviewed in Gay Chicago about her movie "Butch Camp."

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"The Boys in the Band," by Mart Crowley, is presented by About Face Theatre at the Theatre Building, 1225 W. Belmont.

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A profile in Gay Chicago reads:

"Those looking to unwind after work with a little libation can add a twist of music during the early evening hours, courtesy of adorable Freddy Allen. He's at the keyboards at Gentry on Halsted. Tuesday thru Friday, 7:30 p.m-9:30 p.m.Eager to take requests–mostly of the musical kind – Allen makes even the most awful of days in the outside world slip away with his winning combination of boyish charm and lilting melodies. Order up a cool one and settle back for fanciful, if sometimes naughty, escape."

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Windy City Gay Chorus & Unison (Welborn Young, Music Director) and Windy City Slickers & Aria, Windy City's Women's Ensemble (Eric Lane Barnes, Music Director), present "Debutante Ball: The Great Coming Out, on June 13-14 at the Thorne Auditorium, 375 E. Chicago Ave.

2002

On the front page of Windy City Times:

"'On Fire With Harvey.' Harvey Fierstein talks about his new book, his concern for homeless gay teens, and his turn as Edna Turnblad in the new musical version of 'Hairspray.'"

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IMAGE: Testosterone Tuesday – Nightspots, May 14, 2003

The Oak Park Area Lesbian and Gay Association Coffee House Soiree features Tim Cain and Lucy Pabst at 903 S. Lombard.

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Article in Windy City Times:

"In a development that GLBT activists are calling a 'bittersweet victory,' the Cook County Board of Commissioners has approved a $65,000 settlement for a gay man allegedly beaten by sheriff's deputies while in custody in October 1999. Terry Phalen, 41, was awaiting a bond hearing on auto theft charges at a Cook County Jail when he has alleged that the three deputies attacked him, yelling anti-gay slurs as they threw him to the floor and stomped on him."

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IMAGE: Gay Chicago cover – Gay Chicago May 24, 2001

Gay Chicago magazine sponsors Gay Day in Great America in Gurnee, with buses leaving from locations in the city and suburbs. $39.75 includes tickets, bus ride and a donation to the Center on Halsted.

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It's Alternative Skate Gay at the Rainbo Rink, 4836 N. Clark St. with Sarabia and DJ Mario. $7 donation benefits the Leather Archives and Museum.

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About Face Theatre's "The Wonka Ball '02: Return to the Chocolate Factory," a benefit for the theatre and its youth educational programs. Raffle, silent auction, open bar hosted by Sidetrack, and an award presentation to GLSEN. $125-$250 tickets. Takes place at the Museum of Contemporary Art Warehouse, 1747 W. Hubbard.

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Release party for a new book, "Black Like Us: A Century of Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual African-Americans," co-authored by UIC African-American Studies professor Dwight A. McBride, is at Unabridged Books, 3251 N. Broadway.

Homework

What happened to Welborn Young?

What happened to Daisy Mae?

Do you remember the Gay Skate Nights?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Terry Gaskins photographs IML events for Gay Chicago June 6, 1996

Photo by Tom Coughlin for Gay Chicago News May 15, 1977

Drag Kings photographed by Sukie de la Croix for Nightlines May 16, 2001

Sukie photographs Cinco de Mayo at Bobby Love's for Windy City Times May 16, 2001

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.