June 26-July 2, 2014

1977

An article in Gay Chicago News reads:

"Thirty-six men ranging from 19 to 30 years old competed for the title of Mr. Windy City 1977 at the Grand Ballroom of the Sheraton-Chicago Hotel. The Thursday evening affair, June 23, drew an almost capacity crowd of 850 persons. Entrants from throughout the city were joined by representatives from Michigan, Milwaukee, Indianapolis, Joliet, Fox Valley and Aurora. The top honor went to 26 year old Kent Bell representing the Hunt/Chase in Indianapolis, Indiana. The 170 pound 5 foot 11 Urban Planner not only walked away with the winning trophy but was awarded $500 in cash prize money, round trip air fare and accommodations at the Marlin Beach Hotel in Ft. Lauderdale and other prizes including a vacation at the Saugatuck in Michigan and free admittance to both Man's Country and the Steamworks Ltd."

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Bar gossip from Dem in Gay Chicago News:

"The new Argiris (618) bros. bar at 114 W. Hubbard is almost finished and an opening is expected soon. ... Precious has joined Chris at the Chatterbox, so besides a really attractive bar we have two of Chicago's finest personalities. It makes for a fun-filled evening. ... Looking for the longest wienie in town (if not the plumpest)? You will find it July 4th weekend on the deck at the Bushes. ...Mary is attracting the crowds at the Greenleaf both behind the bar and on her nights off when she is there to get drunk with the rest of us."

1986

Tom Brune in the Chicago Sun-Times wrote "'Homosexuals ' parade hailed - Klan jeered":

"Crowds of flag-waving onlookers lined Broadway and Clark to cheer the Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade yesterday, while a few miles away only hecklers showed up at the Ku Klux Klan's anti- homosexual rally.

"Under sunny skies, some 35,000 to 40,000 people watched 26 floats and nearly 100 other entries show pride in being homosexuals and U.S. citizens, as they wore colors that tended - among others - toward red, white and blue.

"Barbara Regan, who watched the parade with a group of friends from a curb on Clark, explained the parade's patriotic emphasis.

"Because we love America, we just want America to like us," she said.

"Patriotism is part of a general trend in America. And since we're Americans, we're part of that trend, too."

"Her friend Linda Barsaloux also said she appreciated that homosexual men and women have the freedom to express themselves in this country.

"'This is a celebration of the dignity of being gay,' she said.

"The patriotic pace of the parade, which started at Addison and Broadway and headed south, was set by Marc Rodriguez, 38, who rode one of the first floats, dressed as the Statue of Liberty, complete with silver cape, torch and silver-painted hair and skin.

"The flag-waving also was a way to show support for the Howard Brown Memorial Clinic. About two dozen people sold small U.S. flags for $1 each to benefit the clinic's AIDS task force for combatting deadly acquired immune deficiency syndrome.

"By the end of the parade, nearly all of the flags had been sold, said Scott Musgrove, a flag-seller. He said the goal of $14,000 easily had been reached because many people had made larger donations.

"Chris Cothran, a parade organizer, said the parade will send a signal to City Council to pass a proposed ordinance outlawing housing and employment discrimination against homosexuals.

"Mayor Washington, the featured speaker at the parade's rally in Lincoln Park, invited the crowd to attend the July 9 Council meeting, at which the anti-discrimination ordinance will be voted on. He also outlined how the city intends to try to deal with AIDS.

"Parade organizers said they were not concerned by the Klan's rally before the parade began. The Klan gathered at the 'free speech' area of Lincoln Park, just north of softball fields near North Avenue.

"Cothran said the parade used 17 marshals, though many marching groups had their own. One person was arrested for disorderly conduct during the parade, police said.

"As the parade began, three men were arrested at the 'free speech' area, where 30 Klan members shouted anti-homosexual epithets and rhetoric.

"Their demands for outlawing homosexuality were met by boos and jeers from a group of anti-Klan demonstrators, who were separated from Klan members by 120 foot patrolmen and 11 mounted police officers. Few if any Klan supporters made their presence known during the 45-minute rally.

"It was the second Klan rally in two days. At a rally in Marquette Park on Saturday, 17 people were arrested. Three of them were charged yesterday with aggravated battery.

"Police identified them as Mary Devlin, 24, of 8012 S. Troy, charged with throwing a bottle that struck the head of Lt. Thomas Ferry of the police neighborhood-relations unit; John Voelter, 44, of 10754 S. Wood, and Adam Lessuck, 23, of 2628 N. Whipple."

1997

From Quotelines in Outlines:

"I'm not in the least bit gay – but my girlfriend is" ­ Dolly Parton

And:

"I am not in the closet. I am not coming out of the closet. I am not gay" – Oprah Winfrey

And:

"Others march in the name of battle, revolution and religion. We march in the name of love" – Kathy Najimy upon being selected grand marshal of the June 22 Los Angeles gay-pride parade.

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Editor Lisa Moore discusses "Does Your Mama Know? An anthology of Black Lesbian Coming Out Stories" at 1301-57th St. Hyde Park.

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"Ten-Hut: A Salute to TPAN's First 10 years" has food and entertainment and music at 1258 W. Belmont. It features a special performance by ROTC (Righteously Outrageous Twirling Corps)

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In the bars and clubs, Amy Armstrong is singing at Gentry, 3320 N. Halsted; there's a special appearance by "party boy" Thom Collins at Fusion, 3651 N. Halsted; After Parade and Rally Party Cook-Out & Buffet at Inn Exile, 5758 W. 65th St.; the Cathy Richardson Band is performing at Temptations, 10235 W. Grand, Franklin Park; and Gay Pride '97 Jeffrey Sanker presents House of Boys with special guest star Lonnie Gordon at the House of Blues, 329 N. Dearborn; there's a Lights Out Underwear Party at Ultimate Oz, 7301 W. Roosevelt Road, Forest Park.

Homework

I wonder what happened to Kent Ball, Mr. Windy City 1977?

The Ultimate Oz?

What happened to "Party Boy" Thom Collins?

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.