October 1-7, 2015

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

1981

Article by Stephen Kulieke in Gay Life reads:

"A 30-year-old man who was charged Sept. 30 with soliciting for prostitution on the premises of Bughaus, a popular bar at 2570 N. Clark St., received a six-month court-ordered period of supervision earlier this week.

"A Bughaus bartender who was charged at the same time with keeping a house of prostitution had his case dismissed Wednesday under a provision that allows the case to be reinstated within 160 days if evidence to prosecute him becomes available. If no evidence is brought forth during that period, charges are permanently dismissed.

"According to police reports of the incident, the man charged with soliciting had approached a plainclothes Vice Control Section officer and offered to fellate him for $100. Police maintained that the bartender 'overheard' the alleged transaction and later was directly apprised of it by the plainclothes officer.

"Both cases were heard Sept. 30 in Branch 26 of Cook County Circuit Court, 1121 S. State St."

+++

IMAGE: The Frog Pond – Gay Life March 24, 1978

This week sees the opening of Joe's Juice Joint, a new non-alcoholic bar and game room at 2628 N. Halsted St.

+++

"Spin Cycle" by Rick Karlin and Frank DePaul, is presented at the Theater Building, 1225 W. Belmont.

+++

Tennessee feminist folk singer Dorothy Gwinn appears at the Mountain Moving Coffee House for Women and Children, 1655 W. School St.

1991

Troi and New Concepts perform at Puszh Studios, 3829 N. Broadway.

+++

IMAGE: Christopher Street – Gay Chicago August 18, 1983

The 7th annual Lesbian Art Movement Show opens at the Rodde Center, 4753 N. Broadway.

+++

In Windy City Times, an article by David Olson begins:

"Although lesbian and gay activists are praising Gov. James Edgar for his recent action on several bills, some are growing impatient with him on the issue of an executive order prohibiting anti-gay discrimination. An executive order would ban discrimination against lesbians and gays who work in the governor's office.

"IMPACT, Illinois' gay and lesbian political action committee, wrote Edgar a letter reminding him of his campaign promise in his IMPACT election questionnaire to 'support efforts that assure non-discrimination in the areas of employment and housing.' The private, personal lifestyle of individuals should not be used as a basis for denying or abridging job or housing opportunities."

+++

IMAGE: Mr. Mid-America Leather Contest – Gay Chicago May 11, 1989

In Gay Chicago, David Murray writes:

"Picture Shirley MacLaine and the dancers from the movie, 'Can-Can.' Add facial hair (lots of it), about a ton of eye make-up, slightly larger biceps, and you have: the She Devils of the Chi-Town Squares. Nine hussies who have been referred to scurrilously as cheap dance-hall girls with hearts of gold, though I think we'd need a stethoscope to confirm the latter.

"Spawned as the product of a rowdy night's drinking and laughter at a local Broadway pub in 1988, the She Devils have-quite literally-taken the town by storm. And what began as a lark at the 1988 Chi-Town Squares Halloween Party has become an award-winning, even money-making, act that has captured the hearts of urban cowboys on both sides of the gender fence."

+++

In David O'Connor's News Digest in Windy City Times:

"To curb violence against gays and lesbians in Chicago, Mr. Windy City, Alyn Toler, is organizing a citizen's watch group that will make weekend patrols near local gars. The Pink Angels will have its first organizational meeting Oct. 15 and Toler already has the support from the Chicago Police Department Beat Patrol Program."

+++

In the Obituaries in Windy City Times:

"Dom Orejudos, Etienne.

"Erotic artist, choreographer and dancer, Dom Orejudos, yielding to a long battle with AIDS, passed from this world on Sept. 24, at his home in Boulder, Colorado. He was 58 years old."

+++

STOP AIDS Chicago's benefit garage sale takes place Oct. 4-5 at 606 W. Aldine.

+++

The Rev. Chilton Knudsen speaks on the theme: "The World Became Flesh: the Church Grapples with Sexuality" at Integrity/Chicago's fall dinner Oct. 5 at 6 p.m. at Ann Sather, 929 W. Belmont.

+++

The Wives of Gay Men support group meets Oct. 7 at 7:30 p.m. at Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, 611 Randolph in Oak Park.

2000

The "In the Life" 9th season premiere airs on Sunday Oct. 1. The one-hour program assesses the millennium march and talks to E. Lynn Harris, Edmund White and the Rev. Margarita Sanchez.

+++

IMAGE: What the Butler Saw – Windy City Times May 19, 1994

Women and Children First Bookstore, 5233 N. Clark St., hosts Eve Ensler in excerpts from her "The Vagina Monologues," a show she is performing at the Apollo Theater, 2540 N. Lincoln Ave. thru October 29.

+++

In the bars and clubs, the Stonewall Democrats meet for a presidential debate party at Cocktail, 3359 N. Halsted; direct from New York, Paul Marinaro entertains at Gentry, 3320 N. Halsted; and Davenport's, 1383 N. Milwaukee, presents Tommy Femia as Judy Garland.

+++

Quotelines in Outlines:

"I know this will come as a shock to people all over the world, but not all gay men are thin and good looking. Some of them are slightly beefy, but adorable men, who look a lot like me." – Actor John Goodman who plays the gay lead in the new Fox TV series "Normal, Ohio."

+++

The Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Veterans of America-Chicago Chapter monthly meeting takes place at Ann Sather on Belmont.

+++

The Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network conference is in Arlington Heights between October 6-8 at the Sheraton-Arlington Park Hotel. The theme is "Teaching Respect for All, Ending Hate, Beginning in School."

+++

The 2nd Annual March Against Anti-Gay Hate begins at Halsted and Roscoe Streets on Saturday October 7 at 8 p.m.

Homework

Is there a Wives of Gay Men support group now?

Does anyone know what happened to Troi?

Anyone out there who knew Etienne?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Spike King takes photographs at Sidetrack, Rage and a GLAAD benefit for Gay Chicago October 5, 1989

Dan Di Leo and Mark DeSanto take photographs at BJ'a and Annex 2 for Gay Chicago October 7, 1982

Tracy Baim takes photographs Carol's Speakeasy for Nightlines October 24, 1990

Israel Wright at Charlie's and Cell Block for Nightlines October 24, 2000

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.