Gay life in Chicago this week, back in... 1979, 1990, and 2000

(July 19-25, 2018)

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

1979

DJ Peter Lewicki of Alfie's picks his Top Ten Disco Playlist for Gay Chicago: 1) "Here Comes That Sound" – Love Deluxe; 2) "I've Got the Next Dance" – Denise Williams; 3) "Good Times" – Chic; 4) "This Time Baby" – Jackie Moore; 5) "You Can Get Over/Put Your Body" – Stephanie Mills; 6) "Aint No Stopping Us Now" – McFadden & Simpson; 7) "Crank It Up" – Peter Brown; 8) "Get Up and Boogie" – Freddie James; 9) "Rock/When You Wake Up Tomorrow" –Candi Staton; 10) "Bad Girls LP" – Donna Summer.

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IMAGE: Blacklines cover, June 1999

In Richard Cooke's Discovery column in Gay Chicago, he writes:

"The Loading Zone is sponsoring a major promotion in conjunction with the Gold Coast Art Fair this weekend. The fair runs on July 20th, 21st and 22nd. During this always festive weekend the Loading Zone is offering $1 drinks to anyone wearing a loading Zone accessory.

"On Friday and Saturday Dr. Steve will open the doors at 7 a.m. to handle the heavy street traffic. The Loading Zone on East Oak Street is right in the heart of the fair."

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IMAGE: LCCP Cruise – Gay Chicago August 9, 2001

In Gay Life, Rhonda K. Craven writes:

"The Lesbian Community Center, 3435 N. Sheffield, invites the entire women's community to a picnic on Sunday, July 22. It will be at 1 p.m. and will take place at the Belmont Rocks (Belmont and the Lake).

"Women planning to attend should bring food and games. This activity will give lesbians an opportunity to meet and socialize with one another outside the bars."

1990

Asians and Friends hold a get-together at Annex 3, 3160 N. Clark St.

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"Art for the '90s." A silent auction to benefit the Midwest AIDS Foundation takes place at the Ludwig Drum Factory, 1728 N. Damen

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IMAGE: Gentry on State – Gay Chicago August 9, 2001

An article by Cindy Kirshman in Windy City Times begins:

"Citing the need for 'different leadership,' Bruce Koff, executive director of Horizon's Community Services, has announced his resignation after six years at the agency's helm. His resignation will go into effect as of August 31.

"Koff's decision comes at a time when the Chicago-based gay and lesbian social service agency is moving into a new office location. The multi-faceted, complex organization, which has made a quantum leap in growth during the last five years, continues to grapple with redefining the scope of its role in the gay and lesbian community."

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An article by David Olson in Windy City Times begins:

"Chicago Transit Authority Executive Director Alfred Savage will meet next Tuesday, July 24, with members of the Chicago chapter of the AIDS Coalition to Unleash Power (ACT UP) to discuss what ACT UP sees as the CTA's 'apparent unwillingness' to display an AIDS awareness advertisement featuring same-sex kissing.

"The CTA insists that the only reason the ad has not run is because of a lack of public service ad space. Authority officials say that summer is when commercial advertisers most covet outdoor bus ad space, for which the kissing poster is designed, and that once commercial demand ebbs the CTA will put up the poster."

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Bailiwick Repertory's Gay and Lesbian Play Series presents Rebecca Ranson's "Secrets," directed by L.M. Attea, at 3212 N. Broadway.

2000

In the bars and clubs this week, DJs at the Manhole, 3458 N. Halsted, include DJ Xaavier, DJ Laura B, DJ Jim Lewis, and DJ Jon Brown; at Gentry, 440 N. State St. win tickets to see Barbara Edens in "The Odd Couple"–the female version. Hosted by Rudy de la Mor; Sofonda Peters and Her Showgirls perform at Inn Exile, 5758 W. 65th St; David Hamilton tickles the ivories at Bobby Love's, 3729 N. Halsted; it's watersports night at Cell Block, 3702 N. Halsted; every Wednesday hear the best of jazz at the Closet, 3325 N. Broadway; Equality Illinois hosts its Celebrity Pie Toss at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted: every Wednesday hear Diva Katherine & the Fabulous Four at Voltaire, 3441-43.

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IMAGE: Berlin – Cruisin #12 2004

This is the final weekend to see "Raising Voices" by the About Face Youth Theatre at 3212 N. Broadway.

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Gay author E. Lynn Harris signs and discusses his new book, "Not a Day Goes By" at Borders, 2817 N. Clark.

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In Quotelines in Outlines:

"I never understood why we didn't have gay terrorists. Every other movement did and it works. ...I am not against gay riots. I think all of it works. It worked for the Black Panthers, for all minorities it has worked. Gay militants should stay angry and use humor like the yippies did to humiliate their enemies. That's the best kind of demonstration, and God knows we have a lot of bitchy queens out there who certainly should be able to come up with some very, very funny political actions that humiliate their enemies." – Filmmaker John Waters.

Homework

What happened to David Olson?

Is Richard Cooke still around?

Who remembers the Manhole?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Israel Wright takes photos at the Generator and the Chicago Black Lesbian and gay Unity Conference, Blacklines, June 1999

Photos by Terry Gaskins in Gay Chicago, June 24, 1999

Terry Gaskins photographs Northalsted Market Days for Gay Chicago, Aug 9, 2001

Terry Gaskins photographs Dance For Life 2001 for Gay Chicago, August 30, 2001

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.