Same-Sex Marriage Dominates 2004
2004 will undoubtedly be remembered as the year of same-sex marriage. Chicago headlines also included the Illinois Senate Race, Chicks and Circuit Victories, Lakeview Murders, and the Gay Games.
Gay Marriage: Massachusetts Legal Battleground
In Massachusetts, the state's highest court issued a landmark ruling that it was unconstitutional to prevent gays from marrying. (2/4/2004 Story) The first legal same-sex marriages in America officially began in May, 2004. (5/17/2004 Story) Opponents of gay marriage want to put stop gay nuptials in Massachusetts by amending the state constitution. An amendment could pass in 2005.
What began as a legal battle in the Massachusetts courts played out publicly in many other municipalities. Thousands of gays and lesbians exchanged vows in San Francisco, California, New Paltz, New York and several other parts of the country.
In August, the California Supreme Court ruled that the same-sex marriages performed in San Francisco were not legal.
Although the Bush-backed attempt to amend the US Constitution to ban gay marriage stalled in Congress, supporters of the ban say they will reintroduce the legislation in 2005. (7/15/2004 Story)
Gay Marriage: Chicago Mayor Shows Support
Gay marriage also made headlines in Chicago. In February, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley at a city hall news conference said he has no problem with gay and lesbian couples marrying. "They love each other, just as much as anyone else. They believe that the benefits they don't have, they should have. And so I have a very open mind on it,” said the Mayor. (2/19/2004 Story)
Gay Marriage: Chicago Protests
Later in March, the sister-in-law of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Deborah Mell, was arrested during a gay marriage protest in front of the Cook County Administration Building. Mell, the 35-year-old lesbian daughter of Alderman Richard Mell, was one of about 300 same-sex marriage advocates who were demanding that the county clerk issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. (3/5/2004 Story)
As Gay marriage became reality in Massachusetts on May 18th, 2004, supporters of same sex marriage again rallied outside the Cook County building hoping to persuade the city and state to follow Massachusetts' lead. (5/18/2004 Story) Photo: (above) Gay activists managed to drop a 70 foot banner from the Cook County Building/Chicago City Hall that read "Marriage is our Right."
In August, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich said while he supports domestic partnership agreements between gay couples, he also supports Illinois law that states a marriage is a union between a man and a woman and not between same sex couples. (8/5/2004 Story)
November Elections
Although GLBT voices were clearly heard in the political arena, the gay community took a beating on November 2nd. In November, 11 states voted to put gay marriage bans in their constitution. (11/03/2004 Story)
“In the middle of a war on terrorism, if (Bush had) stayed the course he could’ve gotten 30 to 35 percent of the gay vote. With his support for FMA, it was closer to 24 to 25 percent,” said Patrick Guerriro, executive director of Log Cabin Republicans. The Gay Republican’s withheld their endorsement from President Bush. (9/8/2004 Story)
President George W. Bush defeated Democrat John Kerry. Many Republicans claim moral values were the decisive issues and they scapegoat the gay community.
Illinois Senate Race: The Keyes Factor
The race for the US Senate made for an embarrassing year for Illinois Republicans. When released divorce court documents revealed that Republican candidate Jack Ryan allegedly tried to force his ex-wife to have public sex in adult clubs. Days after the revelations, Ryan exited the race. (6/25/2004 Story)
The Illinois Republicans then appointed Maryland conservative radio commentator Alan Keyes to run against Democrat Barack Obama. At the GOP Convention in September, Keyes made a series of inflammatory statements about gays and Mary Cheney, the lesbian daughter of Vice President Dick Cheney. The Bush-Cheney campaign, called Keyes' remarks “inappropriate" and Illinois Republican Party leaders began distancing themselves from Keyes. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said, "I think it's clear we lose Illinois." (9/1/2004 Story)
Keyes was trounced by Democrat Barack Obama, who captured 70% of the vote in November.
Chicks and Circuit Victories
In May, Michelle Fire learned her popular bar, Big Chicks, 5024 N Sheridan, will remain open with help from several state legislators. The victory follows a long fought battle to remain open after the City of Chicago tried to pull Chicks’ liquor license because it violated a 1936 state liquor law. (5/11/2004 Story)
Circuit Nightclub, 3641 N. Halsted, also received a victory in an ongoing battle against a handful of residents of the Dakota, 3631 N. Halsted. A Cook County Circuit Court judge ruled on October 19th that an initiative to ban alcohol sales in the precinct that includes Circuit wouldn’t appear on the November 2nd ballot. (10/27/2004 Story) Circuit Nightclub plans to re-open in January, 2005.
Boystown Business
Hydrate Chicago, 3458 N. Halsted, owners Mark Liberson and Rodney Becker purchased Voltaire and opened X/O Chicago, 3441 N. Halsted. Another fine addition to Halsted Street.
Cell Block, 3702 N Halsted, sold, closed for four-months and reopened July 23rd under longtime owner Roger Hickey.
2004 hasn’t always meant good news for Chicago’s gay business community. After serving the Boystown neighborhood for over 13-years, Buddies', 3301 N. Clark, closed in April. Also disappearing from the neighborhood are Felt, 3343 N. Halsted, and the vintage clothing store Flashy Trash, 3524 N. Halsted. Owner Harold Mandel says he hopes to move the store to Bucktown.
Lakeview Murders
The brutal stabbing of Kevin Clewer remained in the news and caused concern in Chicago’s gay community. (4/8/2004 Story) The body of Kevin Clewer, 31 was found March 24 in his apartment bedroom in the 3400 block of North Elaine. Clewer was found naked, stabbed in the back 30 times, according to the Medical Examiner's Office. Concern was raised because Clewer’s murder was similar to another unsolved stabbing last year in Boystown.
In August 2003, Brad Winters, 38, was found stabbed to death in his apartment in the 500 block of West Beldin. Winters was also found naked and stabbed multiple times in the back.
Chicago Police say the stabbing deaths are unrelated and both cases remain open. Police originally issued a community alert and released a composite sketch of a “person of interest” in April and later in June called the person a “prime suspect.” (6/29/2004 Story)
Chicago Wins Gay Games
In March, Chicago was named as the host city of 2006 Gay Games. This is one of the most anticipated and celebrated lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LBGT) events in the world and is expected to draw over 12,000 participants and 15,000 spectators from around the globe. The Chicago Convention and Visitors Bureau estimates the event will generate at least $25 million for the local economy. (3/2/2004 Story)
Related: Hottie 2004 Photos
Gay Marriage: Massachusetts Legal Battleground
In Massachusetts, the state's highest court issued a landmark ruling that it was unconstitutional to prevent gays from marrying. (2/4/2004 Story) The first legal same-sex marriages in America officially began in May, 2004. (5/17/2004 Story) Opponents of gay marriage want to put stop gay nuptials in Massachusetts by amending the state constitution. An amendment could pass in 2005.
What began as a legal battle in the Massachusetts courts played out publicly in many other municipalities. Thousands of gays and lesbians exchanged vows in San Francisco, California, New Paltz, New York and several other parts of the country.
In August, the California Supreme Court ruled that the same-sex marriages performed in San Francisco were not legal.
Although the Bush-backed attempt to amend the US Constitution to ban gay marriage stalled in Congress, supporters of the ban say they will reintroduce the legislation in 2005. (7/15/2004 Story)
Gay Marriage: Chicago Mayor Shows Support
Gay marriage also made headlines in Chicago. In February, Chicago Mayor Richard Daley at a city hall news conference said he has no problem with gay and lesbian couples marrying. "They love each other, just as much as anyone else. They believe that the benefits they don't have, they should have. And so I have a very open mind on it,” said the Mayor. (2/19/2004 Story)
Gay Marriage: Chicago Protests
Later in March, the sister-in-law of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Deborah Mell, was arrested during a gay marriage protest in front of the Cook County Administration Building. Mell, the 35-year-old lesbian daughter of Alderman Richard Mell, was one of about 300 same-sex marriage advocates who were demanding that the county clerk issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples. (3/5/2004 Story)
As Gay marriage became reality in Massachusetts on May 18th, 2004, supporters of same sex marriage again rallied outside the Cook County building hoping to persuade the city and state to follow Massachusetts' lead. (5/18/2004 Story) Photo: (above) Gay activists managed to drop a 70 foot banner from the Cook County Building/Chicago City Hall that read "Marriage is our Right."
In August, Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich said while he supports domestic partnership agreements between gay couples, he also supports Illinois law that states a marriage is a union between a man and a woman and not between same sex couples. (8/5/2004 Story)
November Elections
Although GLBT voices were clearly heard in the political arena, the gay community took a beating on November 2nd. In November, 11 states voted to put gay marriage bans in their constitution. (11/03/2004 Story)
“In the middle of a war on terrorism, if (Bush had) stayed the course he could’ve gotten 30 to 35 percent of the gay vote. With his support for FMA, it was closer to 24 to 25 percent,” said Patrick Guerriro, executive director of Log Cabin Republicans. The Gay Republican’s withheld their endorsement from President Bush. (9/8/2004 Story)
President George W. Bush defeated Democrat John Kerry. Many Republicans claim moral values were the decisive issues and they scapegoat the gay community.
Illinois Senate Race: The Keyes Factor
The race for the US Senate made for an embarrassing year for Illinois Republicans. When released divorce court documents revealed that Republican candidate Jack Ryan allegedly tried to force his ex-wife to have public sex in adult clubs. Days after the revelations, Ryan exited the race. (6/25/2004 Story)
The Illinois Republicans then appointed Maryland conservative radio commentator Alan Keyes to run against Democrat Barack Obama. At the GOP Convention in September, Keyes made a series of inflammatory statements about gays and Mary Cheney, the lesbian daughter of Vice President Dick Cheney. The Bush-Cheney campaign, called Keyes' remarks “inappropriate" and Illinois Republican Party leaders began distancing themselves from Keyes. Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) said, "I think it's clear we lose Illinois." (9/1/2004 Story)
Keyes was trounced by Democrat Barack Obama, who captured 70% of the vote in November.
Chicks and Circuit Victories
In May, Michelle Fire learned her popular bar, Big Chicks, 5024 N Sheridan, will remain open with help from several state legislators. The victory follows a long fought battle to remain open after the City of Chicago tried to pull Chicks’ liquor license because it violated a 1936 state liquor law. (5/11/2004 Story)
Circuit Nightclub, 3641 N. Halsted, also received a victory in an ongoing battle against a handful of residents of the Dakota, 3631 N. Halsted. A Cook County Circuit Court judge ruled on October 19th that an initiative to ban alcohol sales in the precinct that includes Circuit wouldn’t appear on the November 2nd ballot. (10/27/2004 Story) Circuit Nightclub plans to re-open in January, 2005.
Boystown Business
Hydrate Chicago, 3458 N. Halsted, owners Mark Liberson and Rodney Becker purchased Voltaire and opened X/O Chicago, 3441 N. Halsted. Another fine addition to Halsted Street.
Cell Block, 3702 N Halsted, sold, closed for four-months and reopened July 23rd under longtime owner Roger Hickey.
2004 hasn’t always meant good news for Chicago’s gay business community. After serving the Boystown neighborhood for over 13-years, Buddies', 3301 N. Clark, closed in April. Also disappearing from the neighborhood are Felt, 3343 N. Halsted, and the vintage clothing store Flashy Trash, 3524 N. Halsted. Owner Harold Mandel says he hopes to move the store to Bucktown.
Lakeview Murders
The brutal stabbing of Kevin Clewer remained in the news and caused concern in Chicago’s gay community. (4/8/2004 Story) The body of Kevin Clewer, 31 was found March 24 in his apartment bedroom in the 3400 block of North Elaine. Clewer was found naked, stabbed in the back 30 times, according to the Medical Examiner's Office. Concern was raised because Clewer’s murder was similar to another unsolved stabbing last year in Boystown.
In August 2003, Brad Winters, 38, was found stabbed to death in his apartment in the 500 block of West Beldin. Winters was also found naked and stabbed multiple times in the back.
Chicago Police say the stabbing deaths are unrelated and both cases remain open. Police originally issued a community alert and released a composite sketch of a “person of interest” in April and later in June called the person a “prime suspect.” (6/29/2004 Story)
Chicago Wins Gay Games
In March, Chicago was named as the host city of 2006 Gay Games. This is one of the most anticipated and celebrated lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LBGT) events in the world and is expected to draw over 12,000 participants and 15,000 spectators from around the globe. The Chicago Convention and Visitors Bureau estimates the event will generate at least $25 million for the local economy. (3/2/2004 Story)
Related: Hottie 2004 Photos
