February 5-February 11, 2015

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

1981

Gay Chicago writes about this week's cover:

"L'Erin Edwards of Calumet City is seen on our cover with the trophy marking her selection as Miss Snowflake 1981. The eighth annual winter event was held recently at the Pour House in Calumet City."

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IMAGE: T&J Leatherman – Gay Chicago News, May 27, 1977

In Don Eric's Countersport column in Gay Chicago:

"Martin Sherman's 'Bent' is playing at Wisdom Bridge Theatre through February 22. ...The theater is located at 1559 W. Howard St. near the El and bus (No 22) station. ...'Bent' has themes of survival, betrayal, affection, learning affection, and the human cruelty faced by those suddenly singled out for it, without reason and expectedly."

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The two major candidates in the race for 44th Ward alderman appear at a gay-sponsored forum at Good Shepherd Parish Metropolitan Church at 615 W. Wellington Avenue. Michael J. Harrington, a former reporter, is the standard-bearer of political independents in the election and is endorsed by major independent leaders and alderman and by the Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization. John Merlo has been the 44thWard Democratic central committeeman since 1969 and recently retired state senator from the 12th District.

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Girth & Mirth of Chicago, the society for big men and their admirers, meets at the Heartland Café, 7000 N. Glenwood.

1988

"The New Sodomy Laws: Criminal Justice and AIDS" is the subject of a talk at the University of Chicago Law School. Urvashi Vaid, the public information director of the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, discusses recent legislative efforts around the country to criminalize or otherwise limit sexual relations involving people with AIDS or those who have tested positive for HIV antibodies.

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IMAGE: Different Strokes – Windy City Times, November 1, 1990

Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's hit musical "Evita" is playing at Marriott's Lincolnshire Theatre, Route 21 in Lincolnshire; Tennessee Williams' "The Glass Menagerie" is at the Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis; and "La Cage Aux Folles," the musical by Jerry Herman and Harvey Fierstein, is at the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse, 5620 S. Harlem, in Summit, the nation's oldest dinner theater.

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The Top 5 Gay Fiction Bestsellers from Unabridged Bookstore, 3251 N. Broadway, are: 1) "Buddies" by Ethan Mordden; 2) "Lost Language of Cranes" by David Leavitt; 3) "The Little Dog Laughed" by Joseph Hansen; 4) "Lucky In Love" by Don Sackers; and 5) "The Broiled Frog Syndrome" by Marty Ruben.



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IMAGE: "It's In the Water" – Windy City Times, July 1, 1998

Article in Windy City Times begins:

"The beleaguered pitch for gay and lesbian rights in the city of Chicago, defeated in the City Council in the summer of 1986, is expected to bloom again with the introduction of a new Human Rights Ordinance in the Chicago City Council after the March 15 primary.

"It was announced on Sunday, Feb. 7, at a Town Meeting and other groups, the Human Rights Ordinance could be up for a vote in the City Council as early as mid-or late April."

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Article in Windy City Times begins:

"Two organizations, Chicago for AIDS Rights (C-FAR) and the John Brown Anti-Klan committee, held a preannounced demonstration to paint over anti-gay and Nazi graffiti at the Club Las Vegas on north Clark Street last Saturday. Scrawled in black paint on the bar's wall were the epithets "All Fags Must Die" and "AIDS Will Kill All Fags," along with several swastika's."

1999

In the bars and clubs, Outlines and Virgin Megastore co-host a release party for Ani DiFranco's new CD at Girlbar, 2625 N. Halsted; Spin the Wheel of Fortune at Chicago Eagle, 505 N. Clark St.; drag show with the Hoosier Honeys, at the Edge, 13126 S. Western Ave.; DJ Angel Moraes is at Fusion, 3631 N. Halsted; it's the Great Lakes Bears Party Night at Touche, 6412 N. Clark St.; the Mashed Potato Club, 316 W. Erie, presents "Cher the Fantasy" with Vanessa Kelly, Regina Upright, Tina Stefano, Angelique Munro, and Sassy Trade; and it's Pineapple Paradise with Hot Male Dancers at Temptations, 10235 W. Grand Ave., Franklin Park.

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IMAGE: Congratulations Mark Hunter of Hunters Dance Club – Chicago Pride magazine Summer 1997

Professionals Over 30 hold their monthly social at Anne Sather's, featuring Chicago Police Officer Craig Foran.

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The Red Lion Pub, 2446 N. Lincoln Ave., hosts their annual Red Light Night, featuring the erotic fantasies of Yvonne Navarro, Bill Breedlove, Dick Minto, Rick Reed and Sukie de la Croix.

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Article by P.J. Engelbrecht in Outlines begins:

"State Rep. Larry McKeon, D-34th, reintroduced state House legislation to ban discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation Feb. 2. Now, in his second term, McKeon has been the sponsor of similar bills in the past.

"'This legislation is a matter of fundamental justness and fairness,' said McKeon, himself openly gay and HIV+. 'I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Illinois General Assembly to insure justice and fairness for all Illinois citizens.'"

Homework

What's Sassy Trade up to these days?

Did anyone see "La Cage Aux Folles" at the Candlelight Dinner Playhouse?

What happened to P.J. Engelbrecht?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Brian McGee took these photos of Buddies partygoers for Nightlines July 22, 1998

Eli Burick took these photos at International Mr. Leather for Nightlines June 6, 1996

Sukie de la Croix took these photos of Cinco de Mayo at Bobbie Love's for Nightlines May 16, 2001

Lee Newell got these shots of police removing protestors from City Hall in Windy City Times November 30, 1989

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.