May 14-May 20, 2015

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

1986

Article in this week's Gay Life, headlined, "'Strike Against AIDS' HBMC benefit here," begins:

"After three and a half months of raffle parties and preparation for this year's 'Strike Against AIDS' weekend to benefit Howard Brown Memorial Clinic and its Support Services events are set to take placethis Saturday and Sunday, May 17 and 18.

"On Saturday at 2 p.m. 56 Celebrity Bowlers will gather at Marigold Arcade, 828 W. Grace, to bowl for pledges made to them in this year's Celebrity Bowl. Bowlers in this event are sponsored by businesses and organizations and have received pledges per pin on their game. Those bowling include State Sen. William Marovitz, State Rep. Ellis Levin, Cook County Treasurer Edward Rosewall, Ald. Jerome Orbach (46th), Michael Quigley of Ald. Bernard Hansen's office (44th) and a member of the cast from 'Pump Boys and Dinettes.'"

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IMAGE: Black, Gay, Lesbian and Proud – Thing Summer 1993

Article in Gay Life begins:

"The Illinois Gay and Lesbian Task Force has asked the wardens of all the major correctional institutions in Illinois to review a rape prevention protocol developed by Donald J. Cotton, Ph.D.

"Contrary to popular conceptions about sexual assault in prisons, gay men are almost invariably the victims of sexual assault. IGLTF stated: 'They are seldom the perpetrators. Prison rape is invariably a tool to control the weak or those perceived to be weak. Like rape of women, sexual assault in prisons seldom has a sexual motivation. It is an act of domination and aggressive violence,' they state."

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Augie & CK's, a lesbian bar at 3726 N. Broadway, proudly presents FANATICS Streetwear Spring and Summer Fashion Show.

1994

Lucie Blue Tremblay performs for women and children at Mountain Moving Coffeehouse, 1545 W. Morse.

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AXIOS!, the organization for gays, lesbians, and bisexuals of Greek or Eastern Orthodox background, spotlight the 25th anniversary of the Stonewall Rebellion at its annual Pascha/Easter Brunch at the Wild Onion restaurant. Mel Merry, the Illinois co-chair and a delegate to the national committee, presents a program about this year's upcoming historic celebration in New York City.

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IMAGE: Manhole – Babble July 12, 1995

In the bars and clubs the Jeffrey Pub, 7041 S. Jeffrey, is the sight of a meeting of activists to confront anti-gay violence in the African-American community; there's a party weekend with a dance party and Grand BBQ at Big Chicks, 5024 N. Sheridan; singer/pianist Michael Thompson performs at North End, 3733 N. Halsted; Mr. B's, 606 Stateline, Calumet City, hosts an AIDS benefit and Star Studded Extravaganza Benefit with Honey West; Michael James, and the cast of "Party"; celebrate the 5th anniversary of the Lucky Horseshoe Lounge, 3169 N. Halsted; the Mr. Redoubt contest takes place at Redoubt, 1315 W. North Ave.

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An article in Windy City Times begins:

"More than four months after the battered body of Suzanne Olds was found in her Wilmette garage–and after months of media speculation–Helmut 'Carsten' Hofer, an openly gay man who was a business associate and friend of Olds' husband Dean, has been arrested and charged with first degree murder."

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IMAGE: Bad Boys Chicago – Gay Chicago May 24, 2001

In Windy City Times:

"Eight bands with diverse musical flavors will join May 20-21 for 'Cardigan Festival,' a benefit to support the efforts of Howard Brown Health Center.

"The bands will play Lounge Ax, 2438 N. Lincoln, starting at 10:30 p.m. each night. Cover charge for each night is $10 and all proceeds go to Howard Brown. The line-up is as follows: Tortoise, BedHead and Seam on May 20, and Weedy. David Grubb, Mint Audrey, Number One Cup and Red Meat on May 21."

2002

Article in Windy City Times reads:

"The Lesbian and Gay Studies Project and the Center for the Study of Race, Politics and Culture at the University of Chicago, sponsors a one-day symposium in conjunction with the release of a groundbreaking report on Black GLBT communities and their politics.

"The report 'Say It Loud, I'm Black and I'm Proud,' is the result of a two-year study conducted by Dr. Cathy Cohen, recently appointed as the director of the Center and a visiting professor in Political Science at the University of Chicago, along with lead researcher, Juan Battle, Ph.D., Dorian Warren, Suzette Audam and Gerald Ferguson, Ph.D."

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IMAGE: Tom of Finland Dance Party – Gay Chicago May 24, 2001

No Exit Café Grinder, Scott Free's weekly showcase of queer words and music, features words by Beth Tanner and music by Rachael Sage, at 6970 N. Glenwood.

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The Center for Gender Studies welcomes members of Drag Attack Cabaret for a workshop on drag, followed by the Chicago premiere of their film "Third Antenna: Documentary About the Radical Nature of Drag," at the University of Chicago, Harper Hall, rooms 125 and 130, 1116 E. E. 59th Street.

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Article in Windy City Times begins:

"By a two-thirds margin, the 600 delegates who represent Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) members in the House of Delegates recently voted for the entire union to boycott payroll donations to the Chicago United Way in protest against that agency's support of the anti-gay Boy Scouts of America (BSA). This important action is due primarily to the activism of the union's Lesbian and Gay Caucus, which succeeded in putting the 30,000 strong public employee union behind the campaign to rid the Scouts of discrimination."

Homework

What's Scott Free up to these days?

Is Mr. B's still there?

Is Axios! still around?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Frank Failing of Male Image took these pictures at Cell Block for Gay Chicago April 21 2005

Pride Parade in Gay Chicago July 2, 1998

Charles Hancock took this picture of a protest against Anita Bryant in Gay Life March 24, 1978

Grayson took these photographs 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.