June 25-July 1, 2015

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

1982

Stephen Kulieke writes in Gay Life:

"Stating that it is the 'policy of the City of Chicago to extend protection to all groups and persons who are victims of discrimination,' Mayor Jayne M. Byrne, on June 18, issued an executive order banning anti-gay discrimination in city employment, housing and services."

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IMAGE: Roscoe's – Gay Chicago June 27, 1991

George S. Buse writes in Gay Life:

"Chicago climaxed its Gay and Lesbian Pride Week 1982 on June 27 by assembling 30,000 people for the largest parade and rally in the 13 years that Gay Liberation has been so celebrated.

"Fifty parade units, more than ever before, formed a mile-long procession and from the stepoff point at Halsted and Addison streets to the rally in Lincoln Park no serious incidents marred their common assertion that 'Love, Pride, Rights' were the reasons they were marching. Crowds of spectators lined the parade route, were generally approving, and were often as festive as the marchers themselves.

"At the head of the procession were members of Gay Horizons Youth Group, the color guard, and the Gay/Lesbian Community Band. They were followed by contingents representing the wide spectrum of organizations making up the Chicago gay community.

"One of the contingents, formed exclusively for the parade, called itself the 'March of the Pink Triangle' to recall extermination of gay people as well as Jews at Auschwitz and other concentration camps in Germany during the Nazi era. Theirs was a peaceful, non confronting response to the rally held by the American Nazi Party in Lincoln Park simultaneously with the gay march. They were made up of native-born or first-generation Germans and Jewish people uniting to recall the Nazi depredations in Germany and protesting hostility against minorities in America today.

"As the American Nazi Party rallied in Lincoln Park, the Stonewall Committee and the June 27 Committee Against the Nazis gathered there for their counterdemonstration, intending to join the parade later."

1994

In the bars and clubs, Chicago Gay Men's Chorus celebrate the Gay Games with drag races, shackle relay and mud slinging at North End, 3733 N. Halsted; XXX Film star, Jason Andrews, performs live on stage at Man's Country, 5017 N. Clark St.; it's the Miss L.A. Connection Contest at 3700 N. Halsted; and Mr. Charlie's Man of the Month contest takes place at Charlie's, 3726 N. Broadway.

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IMAGE: Adam Adult Movie Arcade – Chicago Gay Life March 19, 1976

Showing at the Bijou Theatre, 1349 N. Wells St.:

"FULTON STREET. Tall, dark, and handsome Grant Larson seems to have it all: a promising career, an art-filled loft, raunchy, fun-filled sex with the blond god Kip Harting, and even a faithful dog. What he doesn't know is that he doesn't have much time with Kip; in a tragic turn of events, his man is gay-bashed and Grant suffers the erotic nightmares of love gone by."

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"A Stonewall Cabaret," featuring John Herrera and Beckie Menzie, is at the Bailiwick Theatre, 1255 W. Belmont.

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Rick Dean, former senior vice president of Overlooked Opinions, Inc., the nation's first marketing research firm specializing in the lesbian and gay market, is named as the new assistant to the City Treasurer, Miriam Santos.

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TOP 10 MUSIC PLAYLIST courtesy of Tom E., DJ at Roscoe's, CroBar, Clubhouse: 1) "Movin' On Up" – M. People. 2) "I Want It, I Need It" – Sandra Williams; 3) "Ordinary Folk" – First World; 4) "Closer" – Sand Sharks; 5) "Feel What You Want" – Kristine W. 6) "All I'm Askin' You" – Axxis; 7) "All Over My Face" – Dajae; 8) "That Sound" – Ralph Falcon; 9) "Nite Life" – Kim English; 10) "Da Change" – Romanthony.

2001

A Chicago Gay Men's Chorus free concert is presented by the Department of Cultural Affairs at the Daley Civic Center, 50 W. Washington.

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IMAGE: Touche – Gay Chicago May 22, 1986

Chicago Black Pride celebrates "Expressions of Pride" at the Palmer Hilton hotel.

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The Lesbian Community Cancer Project world premiere screening of LCCP's 10thanniversary video takes place at the High Risk Gallery, 1115 W. Belmont.

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In honor of Pride month the Sundance Channel screens the film "Beautiful Thing."

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Chicago Gay Tours visit the South Side, a bus tour of gay history, hosted by Sukiede la Croix and Sandra Nichols. The bus leaves from the Chicago Cultural Center, Washington Ave. at Michigan.

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IMAGE: Male Hide Leathers – Gay Chicago March 28, 1996

Karen Hawkins in Windy City Times writes:

"Up to 375,000 people turned out to watch 255 entries march, float, twirl and 'Time Warp' through Sunday's 32nd annual Pride Parade, the largest in the city's history.

"'We were pleased,' said Pride Chicago's Richard Pfeiffer. 'It was the 32nd year we didn't get rained out.'

"Both those who marched in the parade and spectators agreed with the estimates that this year's event was the biggest, with hardly any spots along the route not swarming with people. Pfeiffer said that even the areas that his office usually tells people to set up if they're looking to avoid crowds were heavily populated.

"Depending on whom you ask, the number of spectators at this year's event was anywhere from 325,000 to 375,000. There were 255 entries–up from 248 last year–and 67 floats. Of the entries, 29 represented corporations, including GLBT employee groups within companies."

Homework

Who remembers the L.A. Connection?

What happened to DJ Tom E?

Does Charlie's still do its Man of the Month contest?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Erin Cross photographs John Shattuck who works at the Second Story Emporium for Gay Chicago April 23, 1981

Erin Cross photographs grew Bonnets and Baskets Easter Party at BJ's bar for Gay Chicago April 23, 1981

Terry Gaskins photographs Legacy 21 for Gay Chicago May 19, 1994

Mark DeSanto and Dan Di Leo photograph parties at the Swan Club and a private house for Gay Chicago April 21, 1983

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.