January 21-January 27, 2016

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

1979

The Committee for Chicago Gay Rights Legislation holds a meeting at 2nd Unitarian Church, 656 W. Barry.

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IMAGE: Cover – Gay Chicago December 26, 1985

Chuck Whitman, chairperson of the National Gay Academic Union's Chicago chapter, announces that a gay lending library will open at the Rogers Park Edgewater Gay Alliance Center at 5823 N. Ridge Ave.

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The Fox Valley Gay Association holds its 4th Anniversary Party at the Hideaway Lodge Valley View, with dancing, snacks and a cash bar. The event is free to members and $1 to non-members.

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An article written by Tom Peters in Gay Life begins:

"Helen Shiller, 31, has amassed 7,000 signatures for a second race for 46th ward alderman against incumbent Ralph Axelrod, who is also the Democratic ward committeeman. Ms. Shiller fared well in last spring's hastily put together special aldermanic election and now sees the possibility of victory in her political future, particularly since she has been endorsed by the Independent Voters of Illinois-Independent Precinct Organization."

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IMAGE: Murphy's Manor – January 20, 1983

There's an ass-painting contest to benefit the Frank M. Rodde III Memorial Building Fund at the Iron Butterfly, a gay bar at 1437 N. Wells St.

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Paula Walowitz and friends appear at Mountain Moving Coffeehouse for women only, 1655 W. School St.

1995

In the bars and clubs, Charlie's, 3727 N. Broadway, that Lil Ole Bitty Pissant Country Place, celebrates its 2nd anniversary; the Men of Body Sweat perform at North End, 3733 N. Halsted; Larry Goodman's Windy City Boys are performing at Temptations, 10235 W. Grand Ave., Franklin Park; Basement Bondage Contest at the Chicago Eagle, 5015 N. Clark St.; and there's a Disco Party at Berlin, 954 W. Belmont, with DJs Gary Link and Bobby Marley.

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IMAGE: Cover – Nightspots December 5, 2007

Top Five Dance Picks from DJ Psychobitch: 1) "I Get Lifted" – Barbara Tucker; 2) "Keep On Luvin'" – Maydee Myles; 3) "Swamp Fever" – Delta Lady; 4) "Wild Luv/Happy Bizz Ness" – Roach Motel; and 5) "Satisfied" – H20.

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Article in Gay Chicago reads:

"The Anti-Violence Project at Horizons Community Services received reports concerning 12 victims during the month of December, with some cases involving multiple offenses. Some of the offenses included: physical assault–1, sexual assault–1, verbal harassment–3, verbal threats–2, discrimination–1, police misconduct–1, homicide–1, domestic violence–2, chased/followed–1."

2009

Quotelines in Windy City Times:

""WE'RE GOING TO DO THREE THINGS IN CONGRESS. First, a hate-crimes bill—that shouldn't be too hard. Next, employment discrimination. We almost got that through before, but now we can win even if we add transgender protections, which we are going to do. And finally, after the troops get home from Iraq, gays in the military. The time has come" — Gay U.S. Rep. Barney Frank, D-Mass.

And:

"NO ONE WANTS TO IMMEDIATELY HAVE 80 PERCENT OF the world hate you—that don't understand that subject. It's a very hard decision when you're actually gay (to come out), because you know what you're about to face." — Out singer Lance Bass

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IMAGE: Kathy Griffin – Windy City Times August 6, 2008

Article in Windy City Times by Emmanuel Garcia begins:

"The art of female impersonation can be as difficult to learn as walking in five-inch heels; then, try dancing in them. On Jan. 16, the Hoover-Leppen Theatre inside the Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted, featured an all-youth gender queer cabaret. The revue, entitled 'Showtime at the Apollo,' featured performances by four entertainers imitating legendary African-American singers like Patti Labelle, Whitney Houston and the late Etta James; but songs by newcomers Fantasia and Jennifer Hudson were also included in the set list.

"The Center on Halsted's youth program invited veteran entertainer Dion Walton to facilitate 'diva' workshops for youth who wanted to learn the art of drag performance. 'The very first person I taught was Alexandra Billings. She is the first person I originally dressed up and pushed out on stage,' said Walton, who taught work- shops on developing performance skills, walking and make-up application."

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The Leather Archives & Museum, 6418 N. Greenview, exhibits a themed retrospective of watercolor figures by Chicago fetish artist Kate Tastrophe. "Beauties Service" shows women who have taken control over their own external sexuality. The curator for the show is S.I.R.

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Local gay rugby team, the Chicago Dragons, hold its 3rd Annual Ms. Ruck & Maul Contest Saturday, Jan. 24, at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted, 5-8 p.m.Tickets for the event—which features team members in drag—are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. The money raised is used for club expenses such as field costs, travel and equipment.

Homework

Chicago Dragons, still around?

Who remembers the Iron Butterfly?

Is the Fox Valley Gay Association still in existence?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Chuck Kramer and Kirk Williamson photograph Sidetrack and Crew for Nightspots December 19, 2007

Kat Fitzgerald photographs the Vital Bridges' brunch in Windy City Times December 8, 2010

The guys and gals at Chicago House in Windy City Times December 26, 1985

Roman Kalinin at Sidetrack 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.