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#Chicago gay bars southside series#
The following month activist Richard Gray and Henry Martin, owner of Martin’s Den, announced a series of workshops entitled “HIV and Health in the Gay Community.” Although the African American gay community of Chicago had decided to deal with the AIDS crisis, African American media turned a blind eye to their action. In 1983, Foster’s, a popular gay bar, agreed to have four workshops on HIV.
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ORAL HISTORY: Watch Activist Teresa Dobbins talk on the Early Days of the AIDS Epidemic Workshops at Foster's and Martin's Den Upon the Chicago Black Gay Christian Conference, on December 10th 1982, David Wright, president of the National Coalition for Black Gays – Chicago Chapter, began offering HIV education and prevention to Chicago’s African American gay community. In spite of their quick response to the AIDS crisis, African American gay activists were widely ignored by African American media in their efforts to prevent HIV infections. (Full-length interviews are available on Chicago Gay History Copyright Prairie Avenue Productions, LLC) The Early Response Moore, “Not for Whites Only: 62 Blacks Among Chicago AIDS Cases,” Gay Life, Thursday, August 1st 1985. Still, we made friends and can see why South Siders flock here for spoken-word poetry every Tuesday and neo-soul night every Wednesday. Cocktails were pricey-and strong as hell-and strangely, our glasses were smaller than everybody else’s. On a recent Saturday at this smallish club for LGBT people of color, it was girls’ night and many of the women were either canoodling in the corner or grooving hustle-style to R&B on the bustling dance floor. 5758 W 65th St (77).Ī frisking at the door and an inquiry about concealed weapons is either a gateway to adventure or reason to bolt (happily, here it’s the former). A bit suspicious of newcomers at first, the locals were ultimately quite friendly-so much so that we dragged them 17 miles north for a late night back in Boystown. Bump ’n’ grind on the tiny dance floor (although the light show looked as if it was being handled by a laser pointer), salivate over go-go boys on Fridays or become the house American Idol on Sunday karaoke night. Rainbow paraphernalia heralds “alternative lifestyles” (i.e., a queer crowd) at this bar serving a mostly working-class mix of Latino and white (and mostly lesbian) patrons. Still, diva-driven tunes prove this is definitely a gay bar, and if you’re looking for a hangout that serves cheap hooch and has managed to stay off the Yelp crowd’s radar, this is your place. A digital jukebox looked promising until we realized it was broken, and the bathroom door was missing (although with only six patrons on a Friday, does it even matter?). Vaguely nautical in theme-think fish netting adorned with seashells, life preservers and a fake parrot-Escapades has seen better days. This divey joint resembles Margaritaville-if a giant hurricane blew through it. One devotee informed us the club is popular with the south suburban crowd, has a core following of white dudes, and is especially popular on Friday and Sunday nights. The drinks are cheap and stiff, the genders are evenly mixed, and the live acts are off the charts. Ruff ’n’ Stuff, this club wins the blue ribbon among South Side queer bars. Thanks in part to an ebullient drag show hosted every Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday by the legendary Mz.