September 8-14, 2016

1982

In the bars and clubs, it's "Neon Weekend" at the Bughaus saloon, 2570 N. Clark St., with new works by Chicago neon artist, Tom Gaddy; Diggers Pub, 2503 N. Clark St., where everyone is welcome from 7:00am-4:00am; Sylvester in person appears at Ozone, 112-114 W. Hubbard.

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IMAGE: Circuit Breaker – Gay Chicago May 22, 1997

Broadway Limited DJ Mark Vallese picks his TOP 20 Dance Hits: 1) "In the Name of Love/Beat the Street" – Sharon Redd; 2) "Situation/Don't Go" – Yazoo; 3) "Love is in Control" – Donna Summer; 4) "Wake Dream/Come & Get/Babe We're Gonna Love" – Lime; 5) "Do You Wanna Funk" – Sylvester/Cowley; 6) "Face to Face (All Cuts)" – Gino Soccio; 7) "My Heart's Not In It" – Brenda Jones; 8) "Dancing in Heaven" – Q Feel; 9) "Kickin' the Habit/Ask Me" – Carol Jiani; 10) "Gloria" – Laura Branigan; 11) "Jump To It" – Aretha Franklin; 12) "I'm So Hot for You" – Bobby O; 13) "Abracadabra" – Steve Miller; 14) "Right on Target" – Paul Parker; 15) "Can't Believe" – Nancy Martin; 16) "Do it to the Music" – Raw Silk; 17) "Can He Find Another One" – Double Discovery; 18) "Do I Do" – Stevie Wonder; 19) "TUGB" – Tyler Von Jeebe; 20) "Love's Got a Hold on Me" – Kelly Marie.

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IMAGE: We Love You Sandra at Berlin – Gay Chicago July 16, 1992

An article in Gay Chicago reads:

"The Greater Chicago Unified Command of the Salvation Army has refused to accept a $1400 donation from the Chicago Knight Motorcycle Club, which raised about 20,000 last year during its Toys for Tots fund-raising drive.

"In the original letter sent to the Chicago Knight club, Earl A. Polsley, a lieutenant colonel in the Salvation Army, said 'we could not with good conscience accept this contribution.'

"However, after Sun-Times columnist Mike Royko carried an article on the subject last week and the topic was discussed on WGN Radio on the Bob Collins Show, Polsley said the whole thing was a 'misunderstanding' and that he offered his apologies to the motorcycle club.

"No decision as to what to do with the returned $1400 check had been made by the Chicago Knight group."

1994

An article in Gay Chicago begins:

"U.S. Rep. Mel Reynolds (D-Chicago) is being criticized by gay and lesbian groups for saying that a teenager with whom he's accused of having an affair is a lesbian and devil worshipper.

"But Reynolds' attorney, Edward M. Genson, said the comment about the teenager being a lesbian 'wasn't a negative comment on her 'lifestyle choice.'

"'Instead, it's showing that what she's saying is less likely to have occurred,' Genson said recently.

"Reynolds, who represents Chicago's south side and some suburbs, was hit with a 20-count criminal indictment. It alleges that he had sex with the woman when she was a minor and then tried to obstruct a police investigation into the case.

"Officials at IMPACT, a gay and lesbian political action committee, and the Illinois Federation for Human Rights have written to Reynolds expressing concern about his statements. The complaints were headlined in the latest issue of Windy City Times."

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An obituary in Gay Chicago begins:

"Pertti Hyonen died at home on Friday, August 26, in the arms of his lover of 15 years, Michael Tucker, after a long and courageous fight with AIDS."

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IMAGE: Man's Country – Gay Chicago August 18, 1994

From the Gay Chicago Calendar for Wednesday, September 7, 1982:

"'Priscilla, Queen of the Desert' continues its successful run at Pipers Alley Loews, Temptations hosts 'Genderthon' with amateur contest. Rudy de la Mor continues another successful week at Gentry while Dan Stetzel hosts Carr's open mic."

2011

The Gerber/Hart Library and Archives book sale takes place at 1127 W. Granville Ave. There are more than 50 categories of books on sale, including LGBT, cookbooks, fine arts and social sciences.

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Lesbian singer, songwriter, performer and author, Janis Ian, performs at Space, 1245 Chicago Ave., Evanston.

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A celebration of life for longtime community activist, volunteer and businessman RJ Chaffin takes place Saturday, September 10, at the Center on Halsted, 3656 N. Halsted. Inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame in 1997, Chaffin was involved in a wide range of causes and helped raise thousands of dollars for many AIDS and gay groups. He was a well-known business activist with the Northalhalsted Area Merchants Association (NAMA), as owner of RJ's Video and Rajin' Rae Jean's. He was NAMA president from 1998- 2004.

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LGBT-welcoming worship services at Urban Village Church are eclectic and experiential, practical and intelligent, relevant and, hopefully, inspiring. Takes place at Urban Village Church, Spertus Institute, 610 S. Michigan.

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Article by Chuck Colbert on front page of Windy City Times begins:

"Within a week's time, 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell (DADT),' the ban on openly gay military service, will officially end, closing an ugly and costly chapter of blatant governmentally sanctioned discrimination against gay Americans.

"Repeal of the nearly 18-year old federal law Sept. 20, means that gay, lesbian and bisexual troops can no longer be discharged from the armed forces solely on the basis of sexual orientation."

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An article in Windy City Times by Kate Sosin begins:

"Approximately 400 people filled the auditorium at the Chicago History Museum to honor the life of LGBT community activist Christina Santiago Sept. 10.

"Santiago's friends, family, co-workers, fellow activists and her wife, Alisha Brennon, were among those present.

"'It never ceases to amaze us how much Christina was capable of giving,' Aaron Stielstra, a close friend of Santiago's from New York, remembered. 'For a person so small in build, she truly had one of the biggest shoulders to cry on.'

"Emotions were still raw nearly a month after Santiago was killed in the Indiana State Fair stage collapse Aug. 13.

"Santiago was well-known in Chicago's LGBT community as the manager of programming for Howard Brown Health Center's Lesbian Community Care Project (LCCP). She was also the board programming chair of Amigas Latinas."

Homework

Who remembers seeing "Priscilla, Queen of the Desert" at Pipers Alley Loews?

Anybody remembers Diggers Pub?

What happened to the $1400 donation to the Salvation Army by Chicago Knight Motorcycle Club?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Jack Sitar photographs Rockwell Hunt, Robert Harvey and Kevin O'Brien celebrating the 5th anniversary of bar Pepper's in Gay Chicago April 10, 1986

Jack Sitar photographs members of AIDS Assistance Association for Gay Chicago April 10, 1986

Sherman Heinrich and Spike King photograph around town for Gay Chicago

Ald. Bernie Hansen's birthday celebration and a Vortex bartender in Windy City Times December 6, 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.