June 9-15, 2016

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

1982

IMAGE: Hollywood Video – Gay Chicago March 22, 1979

In the clubs and bars, plenty of free weenies and other specials thru Sunday at the Loading Zone, 46 E. Oak; cookout with hot dogs and hamburgers hot off the grille every Sunday at the Glory Hole, 1343 N. Wells; it's BJ's, 3231 N. Clark St., 2nd anniversary party with DJ Tom Parks every night; there's a Mr. Baskets Contest at Baskets, 2917 N. Sheffield. 1st prize $100 cash; the 1st Illinois Entertainer of the Year Contest takes place at the Baton, 436 N. Clark St.

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An article in Gay Life reads:

"National gay PAC forming local chapter.

"Chicago has been added to the list of cities where local support groups for a national gay political action committee, the Human Rights Campaign Fund, are being established.

"A kick-off reception is planned for Monday evening, June 14, in a private Lake View apartment, at which national gay Democratic Party activist Jim Foster of San Francisco and Atlanta gay business leader Tom Drumm, formerly of Chicago, will speak on plans for a gay political impact in selected 1982 election races.

"Invitations to the 8 p.m. reception available from Chuck Barrow at [phone number]

IMAGE: Manhole – Gay Chicago March 27, 1997

"The political action committee (PAC) concept has been used successfully by a large number of New Right and other anti-gay groups to advance their agendas. The Human Rights Campaign Fund, which is non-partisan and closely tied to the Gay Rights National Lobby, is the first and only national gay PAC.

"It has already conducted a major direct-mail fundraising drive with the help of a letter signed by playwright Tennessee Williams. Local support committees have been set up in Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Dallas, Denver, Houston, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, New York, San Francisco, and Washington, said treasurer Steve Endean, who is also GRNL's executive director.

"The Chicago committee hopes to raise funds 'in five figures' between now and the November elections, said Barrow."

1988

An article by Keith Dorwick in Windy City Times begins:

"Dignity Chapter Splits; Members Attend Separate Masses.

"On Sunday evening, May 29, a majority of Dignity's membership voted to leave the Archdiocese of Chicago and not to worship under the auspices of the Archdiocese's officially-sanctioned mass for the gay and lesbian community. Many Dignity members felt that Cardinal Joseph Bernadin had created the mass as an attempt to co-opt their ministry to the gay/lesbian community, and that the formation of an independent structure for Catholic lesbians and gays outside the framework of the institutional Church was now necessary.

"Accordingly ...a new home was found for the Dignity mass at Resurrection Lutheran Church, 3309 N. Seminary. Approximately 150 people showed up at Dignity's new site; about 75 attended mass at the old site–Saint Sebastian's Church at 824 W. Wellington–to worship under the new Archdiocesan sponsorship."

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IMAGE: Chicago Outlines – Gay Chicago May 28, 1987

The highly-acclaimed Sinfonia Orchestra (composed of members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra) present a benefit concert for STOP AIDS Chicago on Sunday, June 12 at the Winnetka Church of Faith, Hope and Charity, located at the corner of Winnetka and Linden Avenues. The orchestra is conducted by Barry Foldner and features guest piano soloist Tibor Szasz.

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The Chicago chapter of the NAMES Project host an evening of entertainment and dancing at the Limelight, 632 N. Dearborn. Proceeds from the benefit are used to underwrite expenses of displaying the memorial quilt in Chicago this coming July. Monies raised above those expenses is donated to local AIDS service organizations in Chicago. Entertainers at the event include cast members from "Pump Boys and Dinettes," the Fusion theatre group, "Stardust" with Jeff Maish and Trish Alexander. Tickets available at the door for $12.

2010

From the Windy City Times calendar:

"Patti LaBelle at The Venue. Whether she's singing full out on a love ballad or telling it like it is on one of her soaring songs she has become known for, Patti LaBelle will continue to deliver as only she can – with pure heart and soul. Purchase tickets on- line. 7:30 p.m., (219) 473-6060, The Venue at Horseshoe Casino, 777 Casino Center.

And:

"Kathy Grififn opens at Milwaukee Pride-Fest. Funny, frequently controversial, and unashamedly self-promoting Kathy Griffin in a one-night exclusive tour stop in the midwest region. Pre-sale tickets March 9, 10 am, with password PF2010. All tickets on sale March 12, 10 a.m. 8:15 p.m. The Summerfest grounds.

And:

"Hannah Free film. Multi-award winning actress Sharon Gless (Burn Notice, Queer as Folk, Cagney & Lacey) stars in the passionate lesbian drama Hannah Free, which was filmed in the Chicago area, and members of the cast and crew will attend the screening for a post-show discussion. $10. Three Oaks is about 75 miles from Chicago. 3pm, 269-756-3879, Acorn Theater, 107 Generations Dr., Three Oaks, Mich.,

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Quotelines in Windy City Times:

""MY PRACTICE IN MY ENTIRE POLITICAL CAREER WHEN IT CAME TO GAY ISSUES was to prevent any kind of spotlight from being shined my way, because I was in hiding. So casting any kind of vote might, could in some way lead to my secret being revealed. That was terrifying to me. It was paralyzing. So I cast some votes that have denied gay people of their basic, equal treatment under the law, and I'm not proud of it. I'm not going to do that again." — Outed California state Sen. Roy Ashburn, R-Bakersfield

And:

"THE MOVEMENT HAS TOO MANY ORGANIZATIONS, LEADERS AND EGOS chasing the same limited pool of donors. The LGBT movement is in desperate need of consolidation, something I've advocated for several years. Unfortunately, it's an idea that is anathema to those in power." — Washington Blade Editor Kevin Naff.

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Better Existence with HIV (BEHIV) hosts its "Queen of the Night' drag revue at Circuit Nightclub, 3641 N. Halsted. BEHIV board and staff members perform and Miss Gay America 2005 Raquel Chevalier is the hostess.

Homework

Any readers out there enter a Mr. Contest?

Whatever happened to Trish Alexander?

What was BJ's like?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Tracy Baim and Israel Wright photograph the Chicago Black Lesbian and Gay conference for Blacklines May 1999

Erin Cross at the Mr. Gay Great Lakes Contest for Gay Chicago July 15, 1982

Robbie Hungerford and Michael A. Williams photograph nightlife in Gay Chicago November 5, 1992

Puberty at Cocktail for Nightspots April 16, 2008

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.