Aug 13-19, 2015

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

1983

"One" by Jeff Haggedorn premieres at Company, 2683 N. Halsted, bar, and is the first play about AIDS ever produced in the world.

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IMAGE: Cover – Chicago Pride Magazine Summer 1997

Article in Gay Life this week reads:

"As Gay Life went to press on Tuesday, the Chicago Area AIDS Task Force released the latest statistics for local reported AIDS cases. There are 34 known cases of AIDS, according to Dr. Bernard Turnock, acting commissioner of the Chicago Health Department, as well as three suspected cases. Of the 34 cases, 19 are dead. Thirty-two of the 34 are male, two are female; 19 are Caucasian, seven are non-Haitian black, four are non-Haitian Hispanic, three are Haitian, and one is Asian. Twenty-six of the 34 cases were homosexual or bisexual males, three are intravenous drug users, and two are hemophiliacs, Turnock said."

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In this week's Gay Life column Street Talk:

"Those who attended the Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade and Rally this June will remember the wonderful, crowd-pleasing sound of Good Shepherd Parish's Contemporary Gospel Choir Singers. The group ­which brought the crowd to its feet with a medley of 'Bridge Over Troubled Water,' 'Aquarius,' and 'Let the Sunshine In,' is having a major concert Saturday August 27, at 8 p.m.at 615 W. Wellington Ave. Cost for the concert is $2."

1995

In the bars and clubs, Silky Jumbo presents "Burp the Baby! A totally infantile experience!" upstairs at Vortex, 3631 N. Halsted. In the nursery are Silky Jumbo, Jeff Free and Jo Jo. There's a wet diaper contest. $50 to the baby with the biggest load in his Pampers! Diapers are provided; Minority Outreach Intervention Project heats it up for a benefit party se llama Noche de Infierno, 1579 N. Milwaukee; (sweatin' in skivvies) At 3458 N. Halsted, Manhole's SIN WEEKEND keeps on goin' with "The Underparty" featuring guest DJ Mark Vallese; Visions, 3432 W. Irving, hosts Chicago Leatherwomen Night every Monday; Honey West sings at Gentry, 3320 N. Halsted St. on Sundayafternoon; ATTENTION ALL MEN! Report to Temptations, 10235 W. Grand, Franklin Park, on Tuesday, August 15 for Florida's all male performers DV8 featuring porn star, David Burrill; it's Bear Night at Cell Block, 3701 N. Halsted; "All That Glitters," with hosts Boa Boa and Deluxe, is at Berlin, 954 W. Belmont; there's a "Chest & Arms" contest takes place at North End, 3733 N. Halsted; a caliente party with caliente music is at Noche de Infierno, 1579 N. Milwaukee. This is a fundraising event for Minority Outreach Intervention Project (MOIP).

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IMAGE: The Loading Zone – Gay Chicago May 24, 1978

Julie Andrews stars in "Victor/Victoria" at the Shubert Theatre, 22 W. Monroe St.

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Crosstalk With Ernie Manouse, Sundays at noon on WLUW 88.7 FM, features an interview with Jill Pollack who talks about gay and lesbian parenting, and a chat with disco sensation the Village People.

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IMAGE: Broadway Limited – Gay Chicago April 10, 1980

The Northside HIV Treatment Center, 4753 N. Broadway, hosts guest speaker and author Arthur Shattuck who speaks about the benefits of holistic treatments, particularly medicine, for HIV positive people.

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The AIDS Foundation of Chicago host a benefit screening of "Jeffrey," the new Orion classic release based on Paul Rudnick's award-winning off Broadway play. The screening takes place at Vinyl Restaurant, 1615 N. Clybourn.

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Chicago author Ron Abraytis signs copies of his book "Are You Clumping Trub?," a romantic gay comedy, at Pride Agenda Bookstore, 1109 Westgate in Oak Park.

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"Dance for Life," a gala evening of dance performances, takes place at the Skyline Stage on Navy Pier, 600 E. Grand.

2001

Tracy Baim writes in Windy City Times:

"African-American gays and lesbians of all ages for years have gathered in Jackson park and at Promontory Point on Chicago's South Side during the warm summer months. But recently, park visitors have accused the Chicago Police Department's Lakefront Mobile Unit of harassment.

"On Monday night, 5th Ward Ald. Leslie Hairston sponsored a forum to address allegations that police are targeting minorities and gays in the park, located just south of Hyde Park and the Museum of Science and Industry.

"'Older gays from ages 30-50, are particularly vulnerable,' said Michael O'Connor, a gay activist and legislative aide to state Rep. Constance Howard. 'Police are calling gays names, and ticketing them for misdemeanors such as drinking, or parking problems.'

"O'Connor said these cases do not involve any solicitation claims by police–they appear to be misdemeanors, and an attempt to increase revenues for the police department. He said the police seem to be selectively enforcing laws, and that other parks, including where white gays gather at Belmont Harbor, do not receive such police scrutiny."

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IMAGE: Sidetrack – Gay Chicago February 9, 1995

The Association of Latin Men for Action's Noche de Gala X fundraiser, a night of Latin food and dance, takes place at Nacional 27, 325 W. Huron. Their 2001 Leadership Awards are presented at the event.

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Hearts Foundation presents Hearts in Transit 2, a tea dance with DJ's Mark Vallese and Neil Lewis with proceeds to benefit Hearts Foundation's Take Pride in Yourself program for AIDS prevention and personal health responsibility. Takes place at Transit, 1431 W. Lake St.

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Windy City Radio debuts Sunday, Aug. 19, 10:30 p.m.-midnight, WCKG, 105.9 FM with Amy Matheny, David Cottrell, Mary Morten, Gregg Shapiro and many more.

Homework

Does anyone remember Visions bar?

What happened to Pride Agenda Bookstore?

Is Jeff Haggedorn still around?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Genyphur Novak photographs Danny Sotomayor and friends for Windy City Times August 15, 1991

Women's sports in Nightlines July 18, 2001

Spike King photographs in Gay Chicago August 1, 1991

Erin Nestor photographs Crystal Waters signing her CD at Ka-Boom! in Windy City Times July 18, 1991.

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.