May 7-May 13, 2015

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

1983

Chris Williamson and Meg Christian, two of the leading artists in women's music, appear together in concert Thursday and Friday, May 19 and 20, at the People's Church, 941 W. Lawrence.

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IMAGE: Wacker Drive at Darche's – Gay Chicago April 6, 1979

Article in Gay Life reads:

"His n' Hers, a popular nightclub at 944 W. Addison St., was robbed in the early morning hours on Wednesday, May 4, by someone who entered the club through heating vents in the back of the building, owner Marge Summit reported. Summit declined to specify how much was lost in the robbery, but said it was 'quite a bit.' She reported the robbery to police around 11 a.m., May 4. Police spokesman said no suspects have been found."

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Another article in Gay Life begins:

"A Texan with a Western sounding name and the 'total leather image' emerged from 44 contestants to become the 1983 International Mr. Leather Saturday May 7, at Park West night club.

"He is Coulter 'Colt' Thomas, Mr. Texas, a medical student from Houston, and the choice of the seven judges to be the epitome of gay men in leather around the world."

1989

"Jerker, or the Helping Hand" by Robert Chesley, directed by Christopher Moore, featuring Ric Roe and Daren Stephens, is extended until June 11 at the Bailiwick Repertory, 3212 N. Broadway.

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IMAGE: Friends Like That at Broadway Limited – Gay Chicago October 2, 1980

The current issue of Pyramid Periodical, the provocative quarterly magazine for gay people of color, is on the newsstands and features poetry by Craig G. Harris, short fiction by Lebanese writer Maha Ofeish and commentary by Guy-Mark Foster III.

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"Why Every Lesbian Should Be Concerned." Explore how racism, sexism, and homophobia are related forms of oppression, led by Mary Jo Osterman, at Kinheart, 2214 N. Ridge, Evanston.

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Chicago House hosts an auction of artworks and collectibles at Mont Clare restaurant, 4343 N. Clarendon.

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IMAGE: Buddies – Gay Chicago April 23, 1992

Lavender Bouquet, a lesbian social and potluck group, meets at Euclid Methodist Church (corner of Euclid and Washington in Oak Park).

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In the bars and clubs the "Mr. Touche Leatherman" contest takes place at Touche, 2825 N. Lincoln; Flossie's Bingo Emporium is at Bedrock, 2856 N. Broadway; there's a Soft Ball Benefit raffle at Rick's Retreat, 3445 N. Halsted, with entertainment by Alana Russell; Double RR Lounge, 200 State Street, Calumet City, celebrates its 2nd anniversary with the Rockets male dancers; and the Pump Boys and Dragettes are at Bistro Too, 5015 N. Clark St.

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"The Wizard of AIDS," a safe-sex musical comedy, is performed at Ann Sather, 929 W. Belmont.

1999

The AIDS Foundation of Chicago hosts "Not Just Song & Dance: La Noche Caliente," a hot black tie gala with cocktails, dinner celebrity entertainment, raffle, silent auction, lots of music and dancing, all to benefit AIDS care, prevention, education and advocacy in Chicago.

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IMAGE: Man's Country – Nightspots April 30, 2003

Horizons Prom '99 Turn of the Century, for ages 14-23 takes place at Ann Sather.

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"Sing Out!" a celebration of art and activism with the Artemis Singers, Babes With Blades, Kat Eggleston and more, takes place at Loyola University, Crown Center Auditorium, 6550 N. Sheridan.

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The Mountain Moving Coffeehouse for Womyn and Children presents women's music legends Chris Williamson and Tret Fure at the Ebenezer Lutheran Church, 1650 W. Foster.

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WTTW-Channel 11 airs another episode of "In the Life," a quarterly lesbigay show. It features: Gay cruise ships being turned away; travel to Bali; airlines controversy; Condega Homemakers project; women making a difference; a new documentary "Rock the Boat"; and deaf and outspoken gays.

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Quotelines in this week's Outlines:

"In this era of political and religious attacks on the gay and lesbian community, their lives are an excellent, a perfect example of true, genuine family values. Love is love, it's a constant, it's the speed of light, cannot be changed, cannot be slowed down." – Actor Tom Hanks at the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Media Awards in Los Angeles.

"The notion that laws against bathhouses protects us from further seroconversions is infantilizing and disempowering. These regulations keep us in diapers. We know how to have safe sex by now. If someone has chosen to have unprotected sex, no health department regulations will stop them." – syndicated columnist Kirk Reed in Atlanta's Southern Voice.

"My one hope for the world is that gays will be running the entire world, and I mean overtly, not behind their respective closets but out in the open. There would be no war, I believe that, just a greater emphasis on military apparel. And lesbians will perpetually be organizing the proverbial and infinite counterpoints, and the political counterattack–along with increasing their upper-body strength and working to develop auto-fertility. The military code would change for the better, I believe, as well as the country and the world. Please ask and do tell." – Roseanne at the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation Media Awards.

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Bailiwick Repertory presents "A Diva, a Diver, and a Dissident," a community celebration of three people who have left their mark on the world. Sponsored by Bella Vista restaurant and Absolut Citron Vodka. The production celebrates the achievements of Larry Kramer, Greg Louganis and Alexandra Billings. The event features an array of food from area restaurants, and entertainment of all kinds theatrical. All proceeds for the evening benefit Bailiwick's PRIDE '99. The MC is Bill Zwecker.

Homework

What happened to Women's Music?

Does anyone know anything about "The Wizard of AIDS?"

Babes With Blades?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Erin Cross photographs an AIDS protest for Gay Life May 5, 1983

Steve Piechash wins the Mr. Darche contest in Gay Chicago April 26, 1979

David Rosenberg photographs Taste for Every Palate for Nightlines June 19, 1996

Grassing photographs Cherish at Berlin for Nightspots April 30, 2003

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.