February 12-February 18, 2015

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

1980

A Gay Life article by Stephen Kulieke begins:

"Gay rights activists marched on movie theaters across the country onFebruary 15 protesting the release of William Friedkin's highly controversial film 'Cruising.' 'Hey hey! Ho-ho! The movie 'Cruising's got to go!' chanted fifty demonstrators in Chicago at the first of three weekend rallies. In San Francisco a crowd of 250 braved inclement weather for a protest that remained peaceful, despite worries of violence. Eleven demonstrators were charged with disorderly conduct in Orange, Connecticut when they defied a police order to stage their picket line at a parking lot entrance and marched to the theater. At New York's City's National Theatre in Times Square, 400 protestors leafleted, blew whistles and carried signs and banners in a manner reminiscent of the original protests during on-location shooting there last summer."

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IMAGE: Cover – Gay Chicago March 26, 1987

A Gay Life article begins:

"Lambda Resource Center for the Blind (LRCB) serves legally and totally blind, vision-challenged readers by providing them with books and periodicals on lesbian and gay lifestyles. Materials are distributed at cost on a request-by-user basis to persons throughout the United States and Canada. At present, materials are available on quarter-track C-90 cassettes at 15/16ths L.P.s by U.S. Mail."

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The movie "The Children's Hour," is shown at Northwestern University's Stanley Hall, 2031 N. Sheridan Road in Evanston, sponsored by the Gay and Lesbian Alliance of Northwestern. Admission is $1.50.

1993

In the bars and clubs, Cissy Conner sings at Gentry, 712 N. Rush St. everyFriday; it's the Peep Show at Trade at Roscoe's, 3356 N. Halsted; it's Mardi Gras, a costume ball at Vortex, 3631 N. Halsted; Under Party at the Manhole, 3458 N. Halsted; Marna, the "Last Lady of Song" sings at Legacy 21, 3042 W. Irving Park; there's a "Cowboy Sweetheart Ball" at Charlie's, 405 W. Ontario; "Be Our Valentine" with Junie Moon and Ginger Snaps at North End, 3733 N. Halsted; Tuesdays are Country & Western Night at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted; Deeks, 3401 N. Sheffield, welcomes novices to the leather scene for a special evening featuring Gay Chicago columnist Jack Rinella; it's Cruise and Numbers night with free pizza at L.A. Connection, 3700 N. Halsted St.

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IMAGE: Man's Country – Gay Chicago March 26, 1987

The Have-A-Heart for friends with AIDS Fund holds its 7th annual fundraising dance at the Broadway Armory, 5917 N. Broadway. There's a DJ, music, dancing, door prizes, a raffle, and a cash bar.

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Sue Deaunym writes in Gay Chicago:

"AIDS has hit the black community hard. In 1989, 25% of all persons in the United States living with AIDS were of African-American descent. In 1993, nearly 50% of all persons living with AIDS in the United States are of African-American descent."

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Top 10 Music Playlist courtesy of Donnie (Bam) Warner, DJ/VJ at Hunters: 1) "No Way Out" ­– Francesco Zappala; 2) "Love U More" – Sunscreem; 3) "U Got Me" – Intruder; 4) "Some Lovin'" Linerty City; 5) "Fever" – Madonna; 6) "Love Me the Right Way" – Kim Mazelle; 7) "What You Gonna Do For Me?" – Linda Clifford; 8) "Give It To You" – Martha Wash; 9) "I Need You" – Spacemaster; 10) "Sunshine & Love" – Happy Mondays.

2000

Of interest to lesbians this week is the "If These Walls Could Talk 2" pre-release party at Star Gaze, 5419 N. Clark St.; "Xena Live! Episode 1: Double Your Pleasure" written by Claudia Allen at About Face Theatre, 3212 N. Broadway; Kathleen Thompson and Hilary Mac Austen Present "The Face of Our Past: Images of Black Women from Colonial America to the Present," a slide show and talk at Women and Children First, 5233 N. Clark St.

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IMAGE: Sidetrack – Gay Chicago January 23, 1992

Hell, 1117 N. Northbranch, is a new nightclub featuring Thunderpuss 2000, the guys behind dance hits by Whitney Houston, Pet Shop Boys, and Donna Summer.

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Leather Archives & Museum hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony at its new location at 6418 N. Greenview. Bruce Chopnik, Mr. International Leather 1999, appears at several events over the opening weekend.

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The 13th National Black Lesbian & Gay Leadership Conference "Healing and Rebuilding for the New Millennium" takes place at the Westin Hotel at 909 N. Michigan Ave.

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The Hearts Foundation "Fireball 2000" circuit party weekend of events starts with a kick-off party at the House of Blues with DJ St. Peter. Proceeds go to TPAN, AIDS Legal Council and Howard Brown.

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IMAGE: Deeks – Gay Chicago January 23, 1992

In Outlines Quotelines:

"I don't care whether a person is gay. I judge people based on their capability, honesty, and merit. Being in the entertainment business–that is, owning casinos and ...several large beauty pageants–I've worked with many gay people. I have met some tough, talented, capable, terrific people. Their lifestyle is of no interest to me." – Likely Reform Party presidential candidate Donald Trump to the Advocate.

And:

"Shut down GLAAD. You started out as a group fighting for accurate media portrayals of gay people, but you turned into a sanctimonious band of free speech censors. Local media constantly misrepresents or ignores us and where do you spend your time? Complaining that 27 gay characters on TV isn't enough. I say resign, but not before you refund our donations." – Atlanta columnist Michael Alvear, writing in Outward magazine.

Homework

What's Claudia Allen up to these days?

Who remembers Deeks?

Where's Jack Rinella these days?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Dave Guano photographs for Chicago Free Press February 26, 2009

Joan Jett Blakk in Gay Chicago November 12, 1992

Rory Tanksley takes photographs of Chuck Renslow's White Party for Nightlines September 9, 1998

Steve Alter photographs at Gentry for Windy City Times March 12, 1987

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.