January 12-18, 2017

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

1989

Gay Chicago Top Ten Music Playlist: 1) "Don't Rush Me" – Taylor Dane; 2) "Left to My Own Devices" – Pet Shop Boys; 3) "Stand Up for Your Love Rights" – Yazz; 4) "Power of Persuasion" – Pointer Sisters; 5) "Walking Away" – Information Society; 6) "Ye Ke Ye Ke" – Mory Kante; 7) "I Beg Your Pardon" – Kon Kan; 8) "Take Me to Your Heart" – Rick Astley; 9) "A Little Respect" – Erasure; 10 "Jack 2 the Sound" – Hithouse.

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IMAGE: Gay Chicago cover – Gay Chicago May 28, 1987

An article in Gay Chicago begins:

"A memorial gathering for Burton "Burt" Gates will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday, Jan. 12 at Ann Sather Restaurant, 929 W. Belmont Ave.

"Mr. Gates, a long-time bar and restaurant figure, died Dec. 22 of complications due to AIDS."

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The AIDS Foundation of Chicago host "A Kiss is Just a Kiss" benefit at Klein Gallery, 356 W. Huron. A $30 contribution is suggested. Music provided by Fareed Haque.

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The Lambda Car Club, a social organization for gay men and lesbians interested in automobiles, hold an open membership meeting with light refreshments. Annual dues are $25 per individual.

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As part of the Brent House Lectures, author John Boswell presents research into holy unions and other ceremonies celebrating same-sex commitments at 5540 S. Woodlawn.

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Sarah Lucia Hoagland discusses her new volume of "Lesbian Ethics" at Women & Children Bookstore, 1967 N. Halsted. (This is a women-only event).

2003

Article in Windy City Times reads:

"Tom Tunney, recently appointed alderman of the 44th Ward (his Mayoral appointment must still be confirmed by the City Council Jan. 16), received key political endorsements last Sunday during a press conference at Ann Sather's.

"Those officials lending his campaign support were: U.S. Sen. Richard Durbin, U.S. Reps. Jan Schakowsky and Rahm Emanuel; State Reps. Larry McKeon, John Fritchey, Harry Osterman and Jeffrey Schoenberg; Cook County Treasurer Maria Pappas; former state Comptroller Dawn Clark Netsch; and Alderman William Ocasio, Madeline Haithcock, Ed Smith, Tom Murphy, and Ted Matlak. Others, including Ald. Helen Shiller, state Rep. Sara Fiegenholtz and Cook County Commissioner Mike Quigley, have given support to Tunney's campaign,"

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IMAGE: The Pleasure Chest –Gay Chicago December 21, 1979

In the clubs and bars, Honey West sings every Sunday at Gentry on Halsted, 3320 N. Halsted; it's Late Night Explosion with DJ Jungle Jorge at Charlie's, 3726 N. Broadway; it's Drag Race 2003 at Roscoe's, 3356 N. Halsted; come celebrate three birthdays hosted by Victor, Joe and David at Bucks Saloon, 3439 N. Halsted; and Stud Puppy Tuesdays with a fake-orgasm contest at Temptations, 10235 W. Grand, Franklin Park.

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BUNGALOW, the Berwyn gay and lesbian association meets for dinner at Kals restaurant, 5734 W. Cermak Road, Cicero.

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The lesbian book group discusses "The Hours" by Michael Cunningham at the Gerber/Hart Library, 1127 W. Granville.

2013

Scott Duff hosts LGBT radio talk show "Out Chicago" on politics, entertainment, celebrity gossip 11:00am - 1:00pm WCPT 820 AM.

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IMAGE: Gold Coast – Gay Chicago January 5, 1979

"Bridegroom" is a documentary about homophobia from writer/producer/director Linda Bloodworth Thomason. The doc is screened at the Center on Halsted, 3656 N Halsted, with special guest Shane Bitney-Crone.

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Dirk Schafer, the first out gay man to be named Playgirl magazine's "Man of the Year," releases a workout DVD, the SWAPOUTWORKOUT.

"Fitness is both my passion and my career," Schafer said in a statement. "By creating this DVD, I wanted to share with a wider audience the valuable knowledge that I have accumulated over 20 years of helping people change their bodies and their lives ... step by step."

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IMAGE: Moulin Rouge at Sidetrack – Gay Chicago December 27, 2001

An article in Windy City Times reads:

"Cook County Clerk David Orr has new wallet-sized certificates for same-sex couples with a civil union; married couples with two different last names; or any couple who wants to carry proof of their union.

"The legal, embossed certificates are available for anyone married or civilly united in Cook County for the same $15 fee as a standard-size certificate. The set of two wallet-sized marriage or civil-union certificates includes names, license number, the clerk's signature and an embossed Cook County seal.

"Wallet certificates can be ordered at any of the Cook County Clerk's Bureau of Vital Records locations. Same-day service is only available at the downtown Chicago office in the lower level of the Daley Center, 50 W. Washington St. Couples can also order by mail; download a form at www. cookcountyclerk.com."

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Another article from Windy City Times reads:

"Pride Films and Plays has announced the 20th-anniversary production of Jonathan Harvey's Beautiful Thing, the story of two teenaged boys coming to grips with their sexuality. London's Bush Theatre initially produced Beautiful Thing, which was written in 1993.

The production will run Jan. 17-Feb. 17 at Athenaeum Theatre, 2936 N. Southport Ave. Tickets are $15-$25.

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Ssion, Kansas City's queer-fronted outfit shares the stage with Niki and the Dove, Onuinu, Vacationer and Moon Boots, at Lincoln Hall, 2424 N. Lincoln Ave.

Homework

Who or what was Ssion?

Is the lesbian book discussion group still going?

Who remembers Bucks?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Jack Sitar photographs Chicago House volunteers for Gay Chicago November 19, 1987

Spike King photographs the Strike Against AIDS party at Paris Dance for Gay Chicago November 19, 1987

Jack Sitar photographs Dr. Steve Rempas at the Loading Dock's 5th anniversary party for Gay Chicago November 19, 1987

Terry Gaskins at the Baton, Cell Block and Larry McKeon's Stet Rep. kick-off party for Gay Chicago November 23 1995

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.