Gay life in Chicago this week, back in... 1988, 1994 and 2009

(November 8-14, 2018)

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

1988

Every Sunday night get BENT with us cause boys will be girls and girls will be boys at Limelight, 632 N. Dearborn; Friday, Saturday, and Sunday every week there are male dancers at JJ's, 6406 N. Clark St.; after shopping, after work, or after hours, TJ's on Oak, 46 E. Oak St., has a daily cocktail hour starting at 4 p.m.; Heaven on Wheels, starring Laura, Nina, and Nicole, is at Hideaway II, 7301 W. Roosevelt Rd. Forrest Park; dance with DJs Maria & Nick Lewis at Charlie's Angels, 8710 Golf Road, Des Plaines; it's Uniform Night at Carol's Speakeasy, 1355 N. Wells.

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Headline on front page of Windy City Times, "George Bush Wins the Presidency."

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IMAGE: Rummage Sale – Gay Chicago July 9, 1987

An article in Windy City Times begins:

"The director of Chicago's Commission of Human Relations and prominent black minister, Reverend B. Herbert Martin, publicly denounced anti-gay hate literature that was recently distributed in the city and also criticizes the homophobic slurs used by some alderman during the floor debate two months ago on the Human Rights Ordinance.

"The hate literature took the form of a flyer containing slogans such as "HOMOSEXUALITY=SODOMY=AIDS=DEATH" and was handed out in front of Ald. Edward Burke's 14th Ward office, mostly by mothers and small children, according to a spokesperson for Burke. Among other things, the flyer says, 'Ask Alderman Burke why he wants perverted homosexuals teaching your children about their dirty lifestyle' and 'Ask him [Burke] why he voted to sodomize your son."

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IMAGE: Steamworks – Gay Chicago News April 15, 1977

An article in Windy City Times reads:

"Chicago House, the not-for-profit social service agency that provides residences as well as medical and emotional support for persons with AIDS and AIDS-related conditions, will stage its annual fundraising bash, Holiday Fare '88, this weekend–Saturday, November 12, from noon to 9 p.m. and Sunday, November 13, from noon to 6 p.m. at the Walt Disney Magnet School, 4140 N. Marine drive. The fair will feature merchandising including artwork, collectibles, gift items, clothing, and jewelry; food and beverages including home-made cakes, pies, breads, and muffins; and an array of top-notch entertainment will grace the auditorium stage. This year's raffle prizes include a weekend for two at the Claridge Hotel in Chicago, designer jewelry from Ultimo, dinner for two at Café Provencal, and a seven-day vacation in Acapulco. Raffle tickets will be available during the fair at $1 each or six for $5. Admission to Holiday Fare '88 is free."

1994

An article in Gay Chicago reads:

"Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) now has four meetings a month in the Chicago area. New chapters are currently forming on the south side of Chicago and in the northwest suburbs. All meetings are at 2 p.m. on the first through fourth Sundays of the month. Suburban meetings are held in Hinsdale on the first Sunday and Glenview on the second Sunday. Chicago meetings are held in Lakeview on the third Sunday and in the Hyde Park area on the fourth Sunday. PFLAG is open to all people, regardless of sexual orientation."

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IMAGE: Razmataz – Windy City Times Aril 20, 1989

Quotelines in Outlines:

"A number of my gay friends said ...'The gay community's going to think you're gay if you do this.' I said, 'Well, who gives a shit what anyone thinks anyway, to be honest.'" – Priscilla, Queen of the Desert costar Guy Pierce.

And:

"People ask, 'Are you afraid this will be damaging to your career?' I mean, I played Shylock for two years and tried to rip a man's beating heart out of his living body. I've played Leontes, who tried to kill one of his children. It didn't damage my career. I don't understand how people could think that playing a homosexual could be harmful. That's not an actor. That's somebody who's more concerned about his own image." – Patrick Stewart (Jean-Luc Picard from Star Trek: The Next Generation), on playing a gay designer in Jeffrey.

2009

An article in Windy City Times begins:

"The Oak Park Area Lesbian and Gay Association (OPALGA) closed the doors of its center at 947 Garfield on Oct. 1 to cut overhead costs. The 20-year-old not-for-profit LGBT support group removed two of its four employees and the remaining half expect to be let go when a grant expires near the end of the year.

"Mike Cochran, co-chair of OPALGA's board of directors, said the group is re-evaluating itself in attempt to be more financially sound.

"'We're trying to manage the organization in a fiscally prudent manner in light of this horrible economy,' Cochran said. 'Every not-for-profit I know is having a cash crunch and our organization is no different.'"

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IMAGE: Man's Country – Nightspots May 21, 2003

An obituary in Windy City Times reads:

"Robert D. Maddox, former co-founder and owner of Male Hide Leathers in Chicago, and beloved partner of the late Frank Goley, passed away.

"Maddox was the loving son of Livonia and the late Lon Maddox; dear brother of Ronald (Frieda) and Ted (Betty); fond uncle of David and Matthew Maddox and Nancy Lee Maloney. He was a member of the Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame.

"Gary Chichester told Windy City Times, 'I always respected Bob for being a great businessman. At the time, there weren't many gay businesses. [Bob and business partner Frank Goley] made some inroads. He was a great guy and I'm going to miss him. I've known him over 40 years. ...We're going to miss Bob a lot."

"Chuck Renslow—who originally approached Maddox and partner Frank Goley about opening Male Hide, according to the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame's Web site—said, 'He was a great man—a wonderful man. Bob was a man of great integrity. We were very good friends.'

"The funeral and interment took place in Pineville, Ky. According to Renslow, a memorial for Maddox will take place at the Leather Archives & Museum, 6418 N. Greenview, on Saturday, Nov. 28; call ––––––––– for more details."

Homework

Who remembers the Limelight?

Is OPALGA still around?

Did Hideaway II close?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Mystery photograph in Chicago Gay News February 11, 1977

The Bistro remodeling in Chicago Gay News February 11, 1977

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.