Gay life in Chicago this week, back in... 1986, 1994 and 2004

(January 31–February 6, 2019)

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

1986

An article in Windy City Times begins:

"About 300 posters from Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays were put on CTA buses and trains in December as part of a city and suburban outreach by PFLAG. That outreach also includes placing posters in businesses, churches, libraries and other locations in an effort to reach other parents and friends of lesbians and gays."

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IMAGE: Berlin – Gay Chicago August 19, 1993

An article in Windy City Times begins:

"About 400 recruits have been rejected by the US Army because tests of their blood indicated they have been exposed to the virus linked to AIDS, an Army officer told the Associated Press. The 400 were among 270,000 recruits tested from Oct. 15 to Jan. 17."

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IMAGE: Glory Hole – Gay Chicago June 13, 1985

In the bars and clubs, Bart, of LeEscargo, is the guest bartender at Berlin, 954 W. Belmont; it's Gender Bender night every Wednesday at Bubbles Bistro, 9046 W. Golf Rd., Niles; DJ Chipper spins at BJ's, 3231 N. Clark St.; you can watch "Dynasty" every Wednesday at Inner Circle, 2546 N. Clark St.; every Wednesday there's a Talent search with cash prizes at Jacquelyn's, 4086 N. Broadway; DJ Michael Bakunas spins at Normandy, 3400 N. Clark St.; sign up for Wrestling Mania at Carol's Speakeasy, 1355 N. Wells.

1994

An article in Gay Chicago begins:

"Bailiwick Repertory (BR) has scored quite a coup for this year's Pride Series. Within days of the New York closing of "Jeffrey," Bailiwick became the first group to obtain rights for a regional production. BR Executive Director David Zak says Paul Rudnick's comedy will be the centerpiece of this summer's Pride Series. Greg Louganis was featured in the recently closed off-Broadway production, and I think we should petition Bailiwick to bring him here so we can all admire his, umm, acting talents. Yeah, that's it.

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An obituary in Gay Chicago begins:

"Albert R. Edgecomb dies peacefully on Tuesday, January 18, at Bonaventure House, of complications due to AIDS.

"Mr. Edgecomb graduated from Seekonk High School, in Rhode Island, in 1969. He then went onto college at Barrington, majoring in music.

"After leaving Rhode Island, he moved to Los Angeles for a number of years, where he pursued his music and became a floral designer.

"Mr. Edgecomb moved to Chicago in 1983, where he continued both careers.

"Not only family does he leave behind but many friends at Queen of Angels, where he played the organ, and also the friends at Company, Marilyn, Steve, Rene, Ron and Larry."

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IMAGE: About Face Youth Theater – Gay Chicago June 10, 1999

An article in Gay Chicago reads:

"On Friday evenings, starting February 4, at 7 pm, an interfaith prayer service will be held in the chapel of the Living Circle, a new interfaith spirituality center for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered community. The service will be held at the chapel in Grant Hospital, 550 W. Webster. The service is free and open to all members of the community, their family, and friends."

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Chicago's first Gay & Lesbian Wedding Fair takes place at Ann Sather, 929 W. Belmont.

2004

Illinois Gender Advocates hold a meeting to discuss strategies for passing the statewide LGBT non-discrimination bill. Guest speaker will be Rick Garcia, Political director of Equality Illinois. Takes place at New Spirit MC Church, 542, S. Scoville Ave. Oak Park.

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IMAGE: 131 Club – Gay Life July 25, 1985

In the bars and clubs, there's a Malibu Party and Men of Adonis Dancers appearing at Hideaway, 7301 W. Roosevelt, Forest Park; drag gong show at @mosphere, 5355 N. Clark St.; Stella productions presents Regina Upright, Tajma Hall, Julia Knight, and the return of HELEN at Buddies, 3301 N. Clark St.; live nude stage-show with Sarabia, Cody-GQ and Jimmy at Man's Country, 5017 N. Clark St.

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Week in Preview events from Gay Chicago;

Wednesday, February 4: Sidetrack hosts a meetup to support Democratic Presidential candidate Gov. Howard Dean at 7 pm. Roscoe's game show night will be held with "MATCHing Game." Tonight, tomorrow, Tuesday, Tracy is the featured performer at the Kit Kat Lounge and Supper Club. Tajma Hall hosts "Hydrag Revue" at Hydrate. Amy Armstrong and Freddy Allen wow the crowd at @mosphere. The North End offers free pool all day, 10 pm karaoke and taco bar. Through Sunday, Khris Francis performs at Gentry on Halsted. Through Saturday at Gentry on State, it's Kathryn Payne.

Thursday, February 5, 2004

Hearts Foundation honors Mark Ishaug of the AIDS Foundation of Chicago with its "Biggest Hearts Award" and Ann Hilton Fisher of the AIDS Legal Council of Chicago with its "Jackson Service Award," at a reception at the Adler Planetarium. Free HIV testing will be available at the Office Niteclub in Rockford. "Gay Lotto" will be held at Hydrate with hostess Miss Foozie. Lucky Horseshoe Lounge holds its leather night. Dunes Resort in Saugatuck, Michigan, continues its weekly karaoke. Hunter's Hunks Tyler West, Devan, and Adam take it off at Hunter's in Elk Grove.

Friday, February 6, 2004

Starlight Children's Foundation's fundraiser, :Dream Date auction" will be held at Park west. In commemoration of National African-American HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, the Chicago Area HIV/AIDS Caucus will host a candlelight vigil. Followed by a tribute to Chicago community pioneers and consciousness-raising forum at the Hyatt hotel, Printer's Row. Tonight and Sunday, the Kit Kat Lounge and Super Club has the talents of Kayla for dinner entertainment.

Homework

What's Khris Francis up to now?

Is Hunter's still around?

Is Hideaway still open?

Gay Chicago Photo Rewind

Sports teams photographed by Tracy Baim for Gay Life July 4, 1985

Jason Smith photographs the AIDS Legal Council of Chicago for Windy City Times

December 16, 1993

Jason Smith photographs Rick Garcia for Windy City Times December 23, 1993

Photographers Bob Bearden and Drew Badanash photograph around town for

Windy City Times October 17, 1985

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.