Gay life in Chicago this week, back in... 1975, 1984 and 2002

(October 26–November 1, 2017)

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

1975

An article in Gay Life begins:

"Nancy Davis and Toby Schneiter, two avowed Chicago lesbian activists, have been jailed as a result of their repeated attempts to receive an affidavit in lieu of a marriage license from Cook County Clerk Stanley Kusper.

"Davis and Schneiter entered the Marriage Bureau office on Monday, October 20, to request the license. When denied by the clerk of duty, they immediately began a sit-in and announced their hunger strike, which was to continue indefinitely even if jailed."

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IMAGE: Sidetrack – Gay Chicago December 29, 1983

An article in Gay Life begins:

"Gender Services, a social service and social program for transvestites in Chicago, has resumed meeting each week. Meetings are held at the home of Ronald Coleman, 546 West Brompton (corner of Pine Grove) every Wednesday at 7 p.m. Information and counseling assistance for transvestites is available from the leaders of the organization, by calling John Prowett at ______ "

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Roger Chaffin's Disco 15 in Gay Life: 1) "Fly Robin Fly" – Silver Convention; 2) "Casanova Brown, Do It Yourself, How High the Moon" – Gloria Gaynor; 3) "Love to Love You Baby" – Donna Summers; 4) "Sunny" – Yamba; 5) "You Set My Heart On Fire" – Tina Charles; 6) "Do the Latin Hustle" – Eddie Dunnon and the BBS Unlimited; 7) "That's the Way I Like It" – KC & The Sunshine Band; 8) "Undecided Love" The Cheques; 9) "Summer of '42" – Biddu Orchestra; 10) "Bad Luck" – Atlantic Disco Band; 11) "Chi-Town Theme" – Cleveland Eaton; 12) "Peace Pipe" – B.T. Express; 13) "All I Need" – Anacosta; 14) "It Only Takes a Minute" – Tavares; 15) "Brazil" – Ritchie Family.

1984

Bars that are sadly missed: Augie/C.K.'s, 3726 N. Broadway; Bushes, 2916 N. Broadway; Cheeks, 116 W. Hubbard; Dancers, 5244 N. Sheridan; Glory Hole, 1343 N. Wells; Inner Circle, 2546 N. Clark St.; Lady Bug, 3445 N. Halsted; Our Way on Wells, 1437 N. Wells; Piggen's Pub, 674 W. Diversey; Sweets, 3477 N. Clark; and Trianon, 3150 N.Halsted; $2,000 Costume contest is held at Spin, Halsted/Belmont, hosted by Xviara with DJ Jungle Jorge and VJ Nikole; and girl group, Zrazy, offer jazz/Celtic/pop from Ireland at Star Gaze, 5419 N. Clark St.

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An article by Paul Cotton in Gay Life begins:

"Police in Gary, Ind., are investigating the shooting deaths of two transvestites last weekend.

"Larry Gillespie, 28, was found bleeding from gunshot wounds in the head sand stomach at 1:15 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 27, and was pronounced dead on arrival at Gary's Methodist Hospital. On Sunday, Oct. 28, at 7:30 a.m., Indiana University police found the body of Randy Best, 26, who had been shot in the head.

"It has not been determined if Best and Gillespie were shot with the same gun, but Detective William Burns said both men were wearing women's clothes and were known to be female impersonators.

"These were not Halloween costumes,' said Burns."

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IMAGE: Cheeks – Gay Chicago October 14, 1979

Comic Judy "The Petite Flower" Tenuta makes an appearance at Man's Country, 5015 N. Clark St.

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Rev. Celena Duncan is installed as pastor of Good Shepherd Parish MCC at 615 W. Wellington.

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"Mondale-Ferraro or Reagan-Bush?" is the topic discussed by Mattachine Midwest at 615 W. Wellington.

2002

In the bars and clubs, SPANK, Chicago's hottest go-go boys are at Cocktail, corner of Roscoe and Halsted Sts.; it's the 25^th anniversary weekend at Touche, 6412 N. Clark St.; DJ Trini from the original Tunel entertains at Lola's, 1005 N. Western;

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IMAGE: The Bushes – Gay Chicago December 1, 1983

Asians and Friends Chicago Halloween Party has an American Idol theme. Dress as your favorite pop singer and sing live or lip-synch a tune. Also, meet the producers of "BAKLA," a gay Filipino documentary. Takes place at 4250 N. Marine Drive.

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Comedian/writer Bruce Vilanch is the MC at "Club Midnight Blue," Howard Brown's gala, for an evening of martinis and jazz at the Sheraton Chicago Hotel and Towers.

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Azone celebrates the 9th anniversary of this anarchist collective with food, bands, speakers, games and more. Takes place at 2129 N. Milwaukee.

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Article by Tracy Baim in Windy City Times begins:

"The race for governor offered up four variations of pro-gay candidates in the March primary–three Democratic and one Republican. But only one candidate who could be considered as pro-gay, Rod Blagojevich, made it through primary season. Now Blagojevich faces off against a Republican who once signed a letter backing the state gay-rights bill but who, now that he is running for governor, not only backed off that support, but also ran an anti-gay attack ads downstate.

"Democrat Rod Blagojevich has a 100% pro-gay voting record as a U.S. Congressman, while Republican Attorney General Jim Ryan has distanced himself from whatever minor support he once gave to gay civil rights."

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IMAGE: Charlie's Chicago – Cruisin' August 2000

Quotelines in Windy City Times:

"The reason you don't come out of the closet is that it has been beaten into you on a deep level that there is something wrong with who you are. And there is no other reason." – Harvey Fierstein

Homework

Where are Nancy Davis and Toby Schneiter now?

Is Lola's still open?

Is Azone still around?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Photos of Man's Country in Cruisin' August 2004

At Virgo Out gay bar in Gay Chicago October 14, 1979

The Rodeo Riders Club Night at Redoubt in Gay Chicago October 14, 1979

The Miss Windy City contest at the Germania Club in Gay Life October 29, 1975

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.