November 19-25, 2015

1989

Letter to the Editor of Windy City Times from Victor Salvo:

"I am writing to express my personal appreciation to ACT UP/Chicago and specifically to Daniel Sotomayor for consistently sticking their necks out to draw attention to the desperate needs of Chicago's AIDS community.

"Daniel deserves special commendation for taking the city to task over its ill-conceived ad campaign recently unveiled at a Daley press conference:

"Few of our self-proclaimed community leaders would have had the guts to confront the mayor directly–face to face–to expose this latest waste of scarce taxpayer money for what it is: too little, too late. It's not a 'start'–it is a bad start.

"We only get what we deserve when we make politicians earn and work for our support. We must never let this mayor (or any other) believe that beautifully-scripted rhetoric is an acceptable substitute for solid, sensible action and promises kept.

"We won't be fooled again."

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IMAGE: Bistro Too – Gay Chicago October 22, 1987

Article in Windy City Times reads:

"Open Hand/Chicago, the non-profit organization dedicated to providing meals for disabled persons with AIDS, hopes to raise $50,000 to continue its 'meals on wheels' service. The 'Help Light the Tree' fundraiser will get underway on Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 24, beginning at 7 p.m. The 22-foot tree atop Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted, will be outlined in white with four sections of lights and will be topped by a star. Donation boxes placed at various community bars and businesses will be tallied weekly with more lights turned on at the conclusion of each week. At a final event scheduled for December 28, Open Hand volunteers hope to be able to reach the $50,000 mark and turn on the remaining light–the star at the top of the tree."

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Video Playlist courtesy of VJ Michael Serafini of Inn Exile: 1) "Pump Up the Jam" – Technotronic; 2) "Love Shack" – B52s; 3) "Lullaby" – The Cure; 4) "Something Jumping in Your Shirt" – Malcolm McLaren; 5) "Don't Ask Me Why" – Eurythmics; 6) "Personal Jesus" – Depeche Mode; 7) "All Saints Day" – Severed Heads; 8) "Love on Top of Love" – Grace Jones; 9) "Machineries of Joy" – Die Krupps/Nitzer Ebb; 10) "Eat for Two" – 10,000 Maniacs.

1996

Claudia Allen's "Xena Live!" starring Alexander Billings is playing at About Face Theatre, 3212 N. Broadway.

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IMAGE: Grand Opening of the Rodde Center – Windy City Times October 18, 1990

In the bars and clubs, it's Water Sports Fetish Night at Cell Block, 3702 N. Halsted, with DJ Earl Pleasure; Southern Comfort dancers are at Madrigals, 53167 N. Clark St.; Honey & Cher's Divas of Desire Tour is at North End, 3733 N. Halsted; Glen Mlaker, Mr. D.C. Eagle 99 is at the Chicago Eagle, 5015 N. Clark St.; come to the afternoon Zodiac party for all Scorpions at the Manhandler, 1948 N. Halsted; Jour De Fete Films, in association with Circuit Nightclub, 3641 N. Halsted, present an evening of debauchery in anticipation of Jour De Fete's new film "Hard." The door diva and host is Byrd Bardot.

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The South Side Coalition Task Force on AIDS Prevention hosts its "Celebrating Our Community" awards at Club Escape, 1530 E. 75th St. Honorees include BLACKlines, Chicago Dept. of Public Health, South Side Help Center, UIC-CITY Project, Unity Parenting and Counseling Center, Club Escape, and Chicago Black Lesbians and Gays.

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IMAGE: Black Party II at Vortex – Gay Chicago April 23, 1992

Associate Judge Nancy J. Katz, of the Circuit Court of Cook County, is honored at a reception sponsored by the Lesbian and Gay Bar Association of Chicago and GAYLAW, the lesbigay bar association of the Chicago-Kent College of Law. The reception is held at 565 W. Adams, 10th Floor.

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The Older Adult Program of Horizons Community Services begins a yearlong seminar series, "HIV Prevention and Treatment Update in the Older Gay and Lesbian Community." The seminar takes place every Saturday at 961 W. Montana.

2011

"Aging and the LGBT Community." Phil Keithley of the SAGE program at the Center on Halsted talks about its programs for older people in the LGBT population. He answers questions on health, housing, transportation, household upkeep, and assistance with bills. Takes place at Third Unitarian Church, 301 N. Mayfield.

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The Transgender Day of Remembrance Reconciling Committee hold a workshop and worship service at Euclid Avenue United Methodist Church, 405 S. Euclid, Oak Park. Violet Fenn, a student and transgender person at Garrett Theological Seminary, makes a presentation.

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IMAGE: Underwear Party at Manhole – Gay Chicago February 24, 2000

Article by Kate Sosin in Windy City Times begins:

"Lois Bates, a longtime transgender activist and community leader passed away Nov. 17, just three days before Transgender Day of Remembrance. She was 41 years old.

"'She was a lover, a fighter, an activist, an advocate, and an inspiration to many including myself,' said Owen Daniel-McCarter of the Transformative Justice Law Project of Illinois. 'She will be missed.'

"Bates was transgender health manager at Howard Brown Health Center and was an active advocate for the HIV community.

Bates had a long history of activism within the LGBT community.

She was an active member of Lakeview Action Coalition and was a co-founder of the Chicago Transgender Coalition. She also served as program director of the Minority Outreach Intervention Project and as vice president of Chicago Windy City Black Pride. She was also on the HIV Prevention Planning Group as well as the Chicago Area Ryan White Services Planning Council.

"In addition, Bates was a minister and a member of the Pillar of Love Fellowship United Church of Christ."

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In Pop Making Sense in Windy City Times, David Byrne and Tony Peregrin write:

"On the cover of Lady Gaga's DVD The Monster Ball Tour at Madison Square Garden, her bra sparks while firing bullets, not too differently than how Katy Perry launched fireworks from her top in one of her hit videos. Here, the outspoken blonde entertains her hometown crowd with her string of smashes, including my favorites 'Born This Way' and 'LoveGame.' It is clear that Lady Gaga is well-versed in Michael Jackson's and Madonna's showmanship.

The 'Paparazzi' singer also is issuing 'Born This Way the Remix', a collection of new versions of material from her chart-topping album. Mixes come courtesy of today's hottest acts, like Foster the People, Hurts and Goldfrapp. The holidays may never be the same as 'A Very Gaga Thanksgiving' airs on ABC onThursday, Nov. 24."

Homework

Who, what and where is Jour De Fete?

Who remembers Gay Horizons on W. Montana?

Where is VJ Michael Serafini now?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Sherman Heinrich photographs Ed Dugan in the Coke shirt and Mike Shimandle for Gay Chicago August 29, 1985

Jack Sitar photographs a Mr. contest and a Strike Against AIDS benefit for Gay Chicago March 27, 1986

Ed Lund photographs the Chicago Gay Men's Chorus at Manhandler for Gay Chicago September 21, 1985

Ed Lund and Dan Di Leo photograph the strip contest at the Normandy for Gay Chicago September 26, 1985

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.