June 23-29, 2016

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

1981

An article in Gay Life begins:

"Parade to roll June 28.

"Chicago's 12th annual Gay and Lesbian Pride Parade, with the theme, 'If you've nothing to hide, you've nothing to lose,' is set for Sunday, June 28.

"The theme is taken from a song written by composer and musician Jeff Jones. The day has already been proclaimed 'Gay Pride Parade Day in Chicago' by Mayor Jane Byrne in a June 5 proclamation.

"Parade line-up is at 1 p.m. at Halsted and Addison streets. Stepoff will begin at 2 p.m. with the lead banner, color guard, and the Parade Committee's car leading the way, followed by individuals, organization contingents, cars, and floats representing businesses, organizations, and individual community members.

" ... Parade entry fee is $20."

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IMAGE: Eagle – Gay Chicago April 6, 2000

In the column Ron's Town in Gay Life:

"Saturday evening in Old Town: At 1429 N. Wells St., Rodney Radki presents (with co-operations from Man of War Productions) 'Hot and Heavy Equipment' (or 'There Goes My Heart) from 9 p.m. to 2 a.m. with Frankie Knuckles, Chicago's tops Panama, a belly dancer, salsa band, and a disco van. Free bar, snacks, wine and popcorn are just the beginning at this dance party benefit for Cinema/Chicago and the Gay and Lesbian Pride Week Committee. Donation is $10."

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The Illinois Gay Rights Task Force changes its name to the Illinois Gay and Lesbian Task Force. According to Helen Hillegrass, Task Force co-chairperson, the new name is more sensitive to the co-sexual structure of the organization."

1984

In the bars and clubs, Saturdays and Sundays, it's cocktail hour with Gabriel at Kitty Sheon's, 906 N. Ernst Court; Monday nights are Man to Man nights at Smart Bar, 3730 N. Clark St. with DJ Frank Sells; Gay Pride Party is at Dan's on Clark, 6341 N. Clark St.; Spike is the guest bartender at Sam's, 2540 N. Clark St.; there's a Muscle Contest at JJ 's, 6406 N. Clark St.; a Gay Pride Tea Dance in the Paradise Ballroom, 2848 N. Broadway, with a special performance by Paul Parker and Pamela Stanley.

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IMAGE: Barracks – Gay Life May 20, 1977

"Gay Pride '84" with the Windy City Gay Chorus featuring Karen Mason and Brian Lasser, takes place at the People's Church, 941 W. Lawrence.

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TOP 15 Dance Hits courtesy of DJ Mark Stephens of the Loading Dock and Medusa's: 1) "When Doves Cry" – Prince; 2) "Rhythm of the Streets" – Patti Austen; 3) "Crash Goes Love" – Loleatta Holloway; 4) "Watch Yourself" – Akabu; 5) "Funk U Up" – Jesse Saunders; 6) "Heartbeat" – Psychedelic Furs; 7) "Don't Take Your Love Away" – Pushe; 8) "Billy Hyena" – Wide Boy Awake; 9) "Boys Do Fall in Love" – Robin Gibb; 10) "Tell Me I'm Not Dreaming" – Germaine Jackson; 11) "Darling Don't Leave Me/A Ist Wieder Da" – Gori; 12) "Don't Go Lose It Baby" – Hugh Masekela; 13) "Black Stations/White Stations" – M&M; 14) "10-9-8" – Face to Face; 15) "Hurt" (U.K. Mix) – Reflex.

2003

Article in Gay Chicago reads:

"Gerber/Hart Library will celebrate Henry Gerber's 111th birthday from noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday June 28, with cake, punch and other sweet treats. A drawing for a free membership to Gerber/Hart will be held to conclude the festivities. Members of the Gerber/Hart contingent participating in that afternoon's Dyke March will cut the cake before leaving for the march as a group at 1 p.m. Henry Gerber was born on June 29, 1892 in Bavaria, Germany He immigrated to this country in 1913 and, in 1924, formed the Society for Human Rights, the first documented homosexual emancipation organization in the United States. In 2001, the city of Chicago declared the home in which Gerber resided when he formed the Society, 1710 N. Crilly Court, a landmark. A plaque embedded in the sidewalk in front of the home was unveiled in June 2002. A short segment on Gerber from the 1997 video 'Out of the Past: The Struggle for Gay and Lesbian Rights in America' will be screened throughout the day."

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IMAGE: Unicorn – Gay Chicago April 16, 1987

Quote from Billy Masters' Filth column in Gay Chicago:

"I have a lot of things in my life, but one thing I don't have is a gay child – and I'd fucking love one!" – Sharon Osborne after donating $230,000 at a recent GLAAD and GLSEN fundraiser in Los Angeles.

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An article in Gay Chicago reads:

"In celebration of Chicago's Pride Month, Fox News Chicago has collaborated with CAN-TV to premiere the documentary "The Experiment: Gay and Straight" from 10-11.30 p.m. on Friday, June 27 and from 7:30 to 9 p.m.on Sunday, June 29, on Chicago Cable channel 21. "The Experiment" chronicles the lives of 10 Chicago area strangers of varied ages, background, ethnicities and prejudices during a weeklong period in which they're sequestered inside a Chicago home. Five are gay, and five are straight. They agreed to leave behind their jobs and their families, and to cut themselves off from the outside world as they work toward one intended goal: To help bridge the gap and forge a better understanding between America's gay and straight communities."

Homework

Who remembers Kitty Sheon, Dan's or Sam's bars?

What's Medusa up to these days?

Where is Helen Hillegrass now?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Israel Wright photographs the Color Triangle Jam for Blacklines October 2001

Chris Johnson photographs the Jane Addams Feminist Bookstore for Catalyst February 15, 1981

Terry Gaskins at Charlie's and Roscoe's for May 29 1997 Gay Chicago

Annie Lee photographs women breaking the chains of oppression in Sister Source June 18 1982

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.