December 31, 2015-January 6, 2016

1980-1981

WTTW Channel 11 Chicago presents "Gerty Stein is Back" starring Pat Bond who recreates the warm, witty and sometimes controversial character of writer Gertrude Stein.

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IMAGE: Cole Porter's No Regrets – Gay Chicago October 27, 1994

Personals in Gay Chicago:

"White male, 58, 5'5", 145lbs, would like to hear from males any age who like to read and talk and wear drag clothes and who are looking for a true friendship. Call George ––––––

And:

"White male who collects contemporary prints seeks young art student and soft spoken older collectors for exhibits, art talk. Wholesome types only! Male lib modern film Spiritualism other interests. Asian lover. No blacks ...

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In Catalyst, Thelma Norris writes:

"Do you think nothing is funny lately? You say you just broke up with your lover, Reagan got elected and your cat is mad at you? Does your boss still think ERA is better as a detergent?

"If you haven't had a good laugh lately, don't miss Robin Tyler at Stages Music Hall. Tickets are $5 from Women in Music and the show starts at 8 p.m.

"Robin Tyler is one of the few women making a living as a stand up comic today. She does true 'women's humor.' Not self-effacing fat, ugly or mother-in-law jokes, but up front humor about being a lesbian woman in the world. ...In her breezy Hollywood style, Robin describes herself as a 'born-again-butch-Jewish dyke from Canada who was once arrested for female impersonation.'"

1991-1992

In the bars and clubs, Little Jim's, 3501 N. Halsted, presents Bimbo Bingo with Blayne every Wednesday from 9 p.m. to11 p.m.; the Toddlin' Town Twirlers, a square dance group for women, meets from 7:30 p.m.-9:00 p.m. every Tuesday at Lost and Found, 3058 W. Irving Park; and Norm's Third Annual Hangover Party is at the L.A. Connection, 3700 N. Halsted.

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IMAGE: Free Dog Tags – Hotspots December 4, 2000

On the front page of Windy City Times, an article by Louis Weisberg begins:

"On Dec. 13, Lake Superior Court in Gary, Ind., awarded a temporary injunction against Queer Nation/Chicago prohibiting the group from maintaining more than two pickets at any entrance to Cracker Barrel's Hobart, Ind., restaurant. Cracker Barrel Old Country Store Inc. had sought the restraining order in response to Queer Nation's Dec. 8 demonstration at the restaurant. The company also has filed a civil suit seeking $5,000 in 'injunctive relief and damages.'

"Cracker Barrel's counter-offensive moves against Queer Nation/Chicago reflect what has become a national strategy against activists protesting the company's discriminatory policy toward gay and lesbian employees. The company has fired 11 workers this year because of their sexual orientation. A separation notice given to a cook at a Douglasville, Ga. Cracker Barrel stated: 'This employee is being terminated due to violation of company policy. The employee is gay."

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IMAGE: Sweeney Todd – Windy City Times April 2, 2008

The Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, 1431 N. Park Ave., sponsors a monthly prayer service for people with HIV, their family and friends, on the first Sunday of every month.

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Lesbian Chicago holds its Lesbian Socials on the first Monday of each month, starting in January 1992. The first social is January 6 and features a game night with cards, Pictionary, Monopoly, Trivial Pursuit, Clue and more. Takes place at the Rodde Center, 4753 N. Broadway, Suite 1200.

2010-2011

There's a New Year's Day pajama party at Scot's, 1829 W. Montrose, so wear your PJ's, visit the Omelet Bar, drink a Bloody Mary and try one of Houlihan's famous sausage rings!

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IMAGE: Wax Trax Showcase – Nightspots April 14, 2010

Urban Village Church welcomes LGBT's to their services at the Spertus Institute, 610 S. Michigan.

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Article in Windy City Times reads:

"The Chicago Black Gay Men's Caucus (CBG- MC) is holding its first 'Conversations' series at the DePaul Center, 1 E. Jackson, 11th Floor, on Saturday, Jan. 8, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. The day will consist of workshops and sessions. CBGMC will use what is said to inform its future work.

"Breakfast and lunch will be served at this event."

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An article by Joseph Erbentraut in Windy City Times begins:

"Following the sudden exit of its executive director and questions surrounding its funding, the HIV/AIDS organization Better Existence with HIV (BEHIV) has seemingly found itself in a state of limbo heading into the new year.

"The group's now-former executive director, Eric Nelson, resigned from his position Dec. 20, replaced in his absence by acting Interim Executive Director Julie Supple. Though BEHIV Board President Matthew Gibbs said Nelson is 'on good terms' and 'still has a good relationship' with the organization, his departure has caused the board to 'take pause' before looking to the organization's future in 2011."

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This week's Windy City Times Theater Critics' Picks:

"'Cats' – Theo Ubique at No Exit Cafe, extended through Feb. 20. Oooh, I taw a puddy tat—the furry felines dancing on little cat feet all but curl up in our laps, but where else in this tiny room can playgoers see every whisker-twitch and hear every fragile meow of Andrew Lloyd Webber's popular musical score?

"'Liberace' – Milwaukee Repertory at the Stackner Cabaret in Milwaukee, through Jan. 16. In a closeted age, pianoman Wladziu Valentino Liberace—that's Liber-AH- chee, kids— flaunted it and made them love it, his flamboyant escapades re-created in this solo musical salute to Milwaukee's favorite homeboy.

"'The Importance of Being Earnest' – Remy Bumppo, through Jan. 9. Non-campy and low-key, this is a self-assured production of Wilde's witty play, which both honors and sends up 19th-century society and the 19th-century well-made play.

"'Peter Pan (a Play)' – Lookingglass Theatre, through Jan. 23. Before the super high-tech British tent version arrives in Chicago later this year, catch this revisionist homegrown adaptation of J.M. Barrie's classic tale of the boy who wouldn't grow up. Yes, you can see all the ropes and harnesses for the flying effects, but it's still theatrically magical."

Homework

Who remembers the Rodde Center, 4753 N. Broadway, Suite 1200?

Whatever happened to Joseph Erbentraut?

Who was Norm at the L.A. Connection?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

A page of photographs from Hotspots magazine December 4, 2000

Kirk Williamson photographs Crew and Touche for Nightspots October 31, 2007

Ann Christopherson and Linda Bubon from Women and Children First in Windy City Times May 8, 1986

The Illinois Gay and Lesbian Task Force celebrate 16 years in Windy City Times November 29, 1990

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.