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

1974

The Rev. Troy Perry, author of The Lord Is My Shepherd and He Knows I'm Gay, preaches at Good Shepherd MCC on Ash Wednesday and the First Sunday in Lent Services at 615 W. Wellington. While in Chicago, Perry also visits the South Side's First Church of Deliverance, an African-American, gay-friendly parish on Wabash.

Gay Horizons Coffeehouse is open every Wednesday 8:00 p.m. at Liberty Hall, 2440 N. Lincoln.

1990

The West Suburban Gay and Lesbian Parents Support Group holds its first meeting at the Stevenson Center, located at Lake and Taylor streets in Oak Park. The meeting is open to all gay, lesbian and bisexual men and women who are parents, or who are considering parenting.

(Image: Advertisement from Gay Chicago, July 3, 1997)

Lavender Bouquet sponsors a "Model Mugging" demonstration as the program following its monthly potluck. "Model Mugging" is a self-defense technique based on extensive research into what enables women to defend themselves successfully when they're assaulted. It emphasizes practice in realistic situations. The "mugger" is a trained stuntperson who wears a protective suit, thus freeing the student of concern over harming the model. The demonstration is presented by a female trainer and a male ‘mugger." The potluck begins at 5:30 p.m. with the program following at 6:00 p.m. Lavender Bouquet meets at Euclid Methodist Church, Washington and Euclid streets in Oak Park.

Marc Huestis Films: The director of Men in Love screens three of his earlier works at Chicago Filmmakers, 1229 W. Belmont: Unity, a short film about gays in Nazi Germany; Whatever Happened to Susan Jane, a New Wave comedy about a dissatisfied suburban housewife who discovers the San Francisco underground; and Chuck Soloman–Coming of Age, about a former Chicago theater director living with AIDS.

(Image: Advertisement for Pat Quinn from Windy City Times, March 15, 1990)

As Is, the last performance of the touching AIDS drama is at the Fine Arts Building, 410 S. Michigan, in Curtis Hall on the 10th Floor.

The first incarnation of Touché, 2825 N. Lincoln Ave., is destroyed by fire. The bar first opened in 1976. In Chicago Gay Life March 5, 1976, the Around Town column by Richard Pfeiffer reads: "Check out a new bar, Touché, on N. Lincoln. Timmy of the King's Ransom is now bartending there."

Within Our Reach, the ad hoc task force on anti-racism in the lesbian and gay community holds an open forum entitled "What I Never Want To Hear Again" at Travelers and Immigrants Aid, 327 S. LaSalle St. Suite 1500.

Tom Tunney, owner of Ann Sather, hosts a meeting at the restaurant to introduce Richard Phelan, Democratic candidate for President of the Cook County Board and Ray Smith, Democratic candidate for State's Attorney.

On March 3, 1990, 31-year-old Michael Colcord died from AIDS. He was a popular bartender at Roscoe's, 3354-56 N. Halsted, and before that Alfie's, 900 N. Rush St.

Tricia Alexander brings her folk songs and perky humor to the women-only Mountain Moving Coffeehouse, 1655 W. School.

Michael Feinstein is in concert at the Civic Center, Wacker Drive and Washington.

2001

Bill Greaves, Mayor Daley's newly appointed liaison to the lesbian and gay community, is the guest speaker at the Gay, Lesbian and Bisexual Veterans of America meeting at Ann Sather, 929 W. Belmont.

DIRECT FROM BROADWAY. Saturday Night Fever comes to the Oriental March 3-25, 2001 ONLY! You Should Be Dancing, Boogie Shoes, Night Fever, Tragedy, What Kind of Fool, How Deep Is Your Love, Disco Inferno, Stayin' Alive, Jive Talkin', and If I Can't Have You.

(Image: Advertisement from Gay Chicago, March 1, 2001)

In the bars and clubs this week, there's a Rubber Fetish Party at Cell Block, 3702 N. Halsted, with a midnight drawing for a $100 Male Hide gift certificate; Boi Magazine Card Sign-Up hosted by Dustin Tyler with complimentary Skyy vodka cocktails ‘til they're gone at Manhole, 3458 N. Halsted; Windy City Athletic Association hold a men's and women's softball sign-up at Big Chicks, 5024 N. Sheridan; It's Fruit Bar, the monthly celebration of all things Queer! at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted; and Patti Elvis works her hips and lips at Berlin, 954 W. Belmont.

The Chicago Anti-Bashing Network hold a Community Memorial Service to Celebrate the Life of Paul Adams, longtime volunteer at Open Hand Chicago and the Gerber/Hart Library, also co-founder of ACT-UP Chicago and the Chicago Anti-Bashing Network. The service takes place at Ann Sathers, 929 W. Belmont.

A Multi-Media Benefit Party and Performance for Trans/Action, a Chicago-based group of gender-queers and their allies taking an active role in their community. The evening offers gender-queer-made movies, poetry, art, a music open mic and vegan food. Takes place at 2823 W. Lyndale.

Thanks go to publishers Michael Bergeron for Chicago Gay Crusader, Ralph Gernhardt for Gay Chicago, Grant Ford and Chuck Renslow for Gay Life 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 the upcoming book Chicago Whispers: A History of LGBT Chicago Before Stonewall published by the University of Wisconsin Press.