Gay life in Chicago this week, back in... 1978, 1992 and 2006

(June 8-14, 2017)

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

1978

"Fanny's Follies," an all-women revue in tribute to Fanny Brice, is presented at Center Stage, 3730 N. Clark St.

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IMAGE: Jackie O's Birthday Party @ Broadway Ltd. – Gay Chicago June 10, 1979

An article in Gay Life begins:

"Several types of protest have occurred as a result of the dismissal of two students at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary after they made their homosexuality public. James Mason and Terry Colbert were dismissed because they were considered 'unordainable' owing to the fact that the United Methodist Church refuses to ordain homosexuals. The faculty decided on their dismissal on May 15 by a vote of 15 to 10.

"The next day many of the Evanston seminary's 325 students wore black armbands and pink triangles to show support for the 2 men. A student demonstration was also staged on Friday, June 2."

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An article in Gay Life reads:

"Dimensions '78, a television program on Channel 44, will feature discussion with Bill Kelley, co-chair of the Illinois Gay Rights Task Force, and Dr. Rufus Jones, general director of the Conservative Baptist Home Mission Society, on Sunday, June 11 at 10:30 p.m. The program may be rebroadcast at 9:30 p.m. on Monday, June 12."

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IMAGE: Star Party at Carol's – Windy City Times July 2, 1987

A Lesbian Community Center general meeting is held at Mama Peaches, 3059 N. Southport.

1992

In the bars and clubs, Beckie Menzie is performing at Gentry, 712 N. Rush St.; Chicago's Original Country Dance with David Boyer and DJ Ron Goodman is at Paris Dance, 1122 W. Montrose; Little Jim's, 3501 N. Halsted, celebrates 17 years in business; Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted St. celebrates 10 years in business; Tillie the Dirty Old Lady performs at North End, 3733 N. Halsted, with Aura Lee, Becky Sue, and Maude Memphis; Bob Zabel and Mike Zych, sixteen year owners of Nutbush, the suburbs' oldest gay bar, cordially invite you to attend an evening of fun and frolic to celebrate the completion of the renovation of their establishment at 7201 Franklin, Forest Park; and there's a Full Moon Contest at the AA Meat Market, 2933 N. Lincoln.

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IMAGE: Granville Anvil – Gay Chicago December 29, 1988

TOP FIVE women's fiction from People Like Us Bookstore, 3321 N. Clark St.: 1) "Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistlestop Café" – Fannie Flagg; 2) "Rubyfruit Jungle" by Rita Mae Brown; 3) "Women On Women" – edited by Joan Nestle; 4) "Free Ride" by Marilyn Gayle; 5) "Just Say Yes" – by Judith McDaniel.

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An article in Windy City Times begins:

"The pride parade committee has announced a preliminary list of the entertainers who will perform during the rally after the pride parade June 28.

"The performers include: the Washington sisters, who blend a capella, swing, blues, gospel and island rhythms in their songs about peace, women's rights, pride and cultural diversity; the Beat Monkeys, who combine industrial rhythm, sensuous melody and cutting edge guitar; and Joan Jett Blakk and The (Can't Keep A) Secret Band."

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IMAGE: Cruise the Nile at InnExile – Gay Chicago August 8, 1996

"A Hole Different Ballgame" is showing at the Bijou, 1363 N. Wells St.:

"Beer. Sweat. Testosterone. Male Bonding. Moans, groans and private equipment checks. It's the Monday Night Football Club!! Director Tony Easton assembles a whole different kind of interracial cast to share sexcapades and a circle jerk. Foreskin. Hairy orifices. No clones! Penetrating camera action! Sam Abdul, Randy Storm, and Rick Van star in this Adam and Company video."

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A benefit for Carol Moseley Braun is held at Hot House, 1569 N. Milwaukee with DeAundra Peek, Mona Foot, Joan Jett Blakk, and Darlene! With DJ's Burle Avant and Freddie Bain.

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A seminar "Sharing in Suffering, Sharing in Glory: The Experience of AIDS in Our Midst" is held at Ebenezer Lutheran Church, 1650 W. Foster. The seminar is co-sponsored by Grace Baptist Church in Chicago.

2006

An article in Gay Chicago begins:

"Bo Ladashevska, Mr. Leather Montreal 2006, has been named International Mr. Leather 2006, winning over a field of 51 contestants from 18 states and five countries. He is sponsored by MC Faucon Inc., Bleu Voyage and Parking Night Club.

"Residing in Montreal, Quebec Canada, Ladashevska works as an American sign language/English interpreter. He has served as a guest lecturer on diversity at Concordia University, worked on promotion and served on the national board of directors of the Association of Visual Language Interpreters of Canada, and coordinated the Ther-a-pet Program for AIDS Committee of Montreal, a program providing veterinary care and education for PWAs and their pets."

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An article in Gay Chicago begins:

"Ralph Paul Gernhardt, founder and Publisher of Gay Chicago Magazine, passed away peacefully at his home on Sunday, June 4, after a long battle with lung cancer."

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Some of the events for Pride 2006:

Friday 9th:

"'Summer spectacular' book sale by Gerber/Hart Library, 1127 W. Granville; through June 18, various days and times."

"'M.Proust' play by Mary Zimmerman, presented by About Face Theatre; Steppenwolf Upstairs Theatre, 1650 N. Halsted; 7:30 p.m., Wed.-Sun.; 3:00 p.m. Sat/Sun. matinees: $25-$40.

Homework

Is DJ Ron Goodman still around?

Whatever happened to Beckie Menzie?

Who else was in The (Can't Keep A) Secret Band?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Jay Shaff photographs at Sidetrack for Chicago Free Press June 2, 2006

Jack Sitar photographs IML for Gay Chicago May 28, 1987

Stephen Kulieke photographs politicians for Gay Life May 18, 1979

David Veltkamp captures the raid at Carol's for Gay Life May 25, 1979

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.