Pictured Illinois became the 15th state to enact comprehensive gay-rights legislation, after many years of effort. The rare victory was almost forgotten after a year that saw so many defeats in other areas. Pictured are activists and politicians at the bill's January signing by Gov. Rod Blagojevich. Photo by Andrew Davis. Meth made headlines in 2005.
Without further ado, here are some of the news items that thrilled, surprised, angered and even baffled us in 2005:
* Passage of the gay-rights bill: The year started off with a bang as the Illinois General Assembly made history by passing a measure that added 'sexual orientation' to the Illinois Human Rights Act and prohibited discrimination against LGBT individuals regarding everything from housing to getting credit.
* A matter of life and meth: The danger that crystal meth poses to users and those around them triggered a community response that engineered summits, arrests and legislative measures.
* Larry McKeon's wins: Aside from being sworn in for a fifth term as a state rep ( and announcing his run for a sixth ) , McKeon put his name behind several legislative measures that were approved and—for good measure—won a battle with rectal cancer.
* Mike Jackson's tumultuous year: Mike Jackson, a communications and policy director with the Chicago Department of Public Health's ( CDPH's ) STD/HIV/AIDS Program, probably had the most publicly chaotic year of any local individual. What allegedly started as a spat with cab driver Haroon Paryani over an $8 fare ended with the cabbie's death. The rest of the year involved hearings, a suicide attempt and an alleged assault—events that spanned two counties.
* Last dance: After an eight-year run, the Hearts Foundation decided to terminate Fireball, its annual circuit party. The organization stated that the decision was a business matter and had nothing to do with critics who insisted the gathering was all about drugs and sex.
* Lesbian custody: The Illinois Supreme Court overturned a case in which a five-year-old boy was given to grandparents who supposedly became abusive; Will County lesbian Rosemary Fontaine, the boy's foster mother, ended up receiving custody instead.
* Paradise lost: As part of an awareness-raising tour of the U.S., the co-chairs of a Jamaican LGBT-right group held a press briefing in Chicago—and revealed how omnipresent homophobia is in the Caribbean country, a fact magnified recently by the murder of gay AIDS activist Steve Harvey.
* Papa, don't preach: Maya Marcel-Keyes, the daughter of former Illinois Republican Party senate candidate Alan Keyes, publicly acknowledged that she is a lesbian—resulting in her father supposedly alienating her.
* STDs on the rise: A 2005 CDPH release revealed that the number of syphilis cases increased in Chicago, primarily among men who have sex with men.
The number of HIV cases also rose, particularly among African Americans.
* New LGBT Latino group: Members of the Chicagoland Latino LGBT community met in March to discuss the national and local Latino LGBT movements. What resulted was the formation of a new organization, Orgullo En Accion ( 'Pride in Action' ) .
* AIDSCare angst: The year was a turbulent one for AIDSCare, the HIV/AIDS housing and support agency. Not only was the organization evicted from its Lakeview location, but its founder ( James Flosi ) had to contend with a lawsuit that charged, among other things, sexual assault and battery.
* In and out: In September, Keith Waterbrook quietly stepped down as executive director of Howard Brown Health Center in a move the facility called a resignation to pursue outside interests. The following month, Interfaith House director Michael Cook took over the reins.
* Stepping away: Joanne Trapani—a 1993 inductee into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame—stepped down after a four-year term as village president of Oak Park.
* After the storm: The devastation that Hurricane Katrina left in the Gulf Coast area engendered quick responses from many different people, including the LGBT community. Local gay and lesbian individuals and businesses banded together to contribute food and funds to those affected by the storm.
* Pope and faith: Local LGBT Catholics expressed hope that Pope John Paul II's successor would usher in a more liberal era. However, that ideal was quashed when conservative Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger became Pope Benedict XVI—and even more so after the Vatican passed a document that restricted the presence of gays in the priesthood.
* Florida link: Scott Schweickert, a former Lakeview resident, was charged in connection with the disappearance of two men who police believe were drugged, raped and killed in Tampa, Fla. Schweickert's trial starts in 2006.
* Not playing games: The anti-gay American Family Association announced boycotts against various corporations that are supporting the 2006 Gay Games. Among the businesses targeted were Kraft Foods and Harris Bank. Other corporate targets included those backing other gay groups, among them Ford, which backpedaled on pulling ads from gay magazines after a pro-gay backlash.
* Center stage: The year turned out to be a banner one for Center on Halsted. Not only did the facility hold a ground-breaking ceremony that attracted top politicians, but the center announced substantial donations—including a $1 million gift from Miriam Hoover.
* Something's cookin': Dan Smith and Steve McDonagh, who head the Hearty Boys catering business and a BYOB restaurant called HB, were chosen by Food Network viewers to host their own show, which aired in September.
* Crime time: Various members of the gay community were attacked throughout the year. Actor Daniel Proctor was shot in Andersonville while activists Dean Ogren and Norm Sloan were assaulted in the Uptown area. ( Police classified Ogren's attack as a hate crime. ) On the South Side, hairdresser Antonio Wright ended up being fatally stabbed after an assailant uttered an anti-gay remark.
* Talkin' about a resolution: The Chicago City Council unanimously approved a resolution calling for repeal of the military's 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' ban on LGBT personnel.
* Dismissed: Speaking of the ban, Jeff Howe, an Elk Grove Village native, was discharged by the Army for posting a profile on Connexion.org, an online LGBT site.
* Taking names: Dr. Eric Whitaker, director of the Illinois Department of Public Health, announced at a statewide HIV/STD conference that Illinois will begin tracking HIV cases by name rather than alpha-numeric code in 2006, a development that resulted from pressure from the federal government.
Passages:
* LeRoy Whitfield, 36, a writer who focused on the battle against AIDS among Black Americans, died Oct. 9 after living 15 years with HIV while refusing to take medication. The Chicago native, who was a contributor to Vibe magazine, died in a Manhattan hospital of AIDS-related complications.
* David Edwards, 45, a president of the Northalsted Area Merchants Association and owner of the upscale piano bars Gentry on Halsted and Gentry on State, passed away Feb. 27 after a battle with lung cancer.
* Lynn Dinegar Petersen, 80, passed away Feb. 11, one day shy of the 60th anniversary of her marriage to Jurgen ( Pete ) Petersen, Jr. This ally of the LGBT community volunteered for many organizations, including Horizons and the Illinois Federation for Human Rights ( now Equality Illinois ) .
* Jack Nichols, 67, who was an influential force in the formation of the modern gay-rights movement, helped plan pre-Stonewall gay and lesbian civil-rights demonstrations in Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and New York City. He passed away May 2; the cause was leukemia.
* Pamela Lynn Clewer Hansen Cunningham and James Clewer: Cunningham, and Clewer, the mother and father of local murder victim Kevin Clewer, died within weeks of each other. Cunningham, 55, passed away April 28 due to pneumonia and complications from cancer; Clewer, 56, suffered a fatal heart attack on May 11.
* Jerry Armstrong, owner and operator of the Manhandler Saloon, passed away May 30. He had been in declining health since suffering a recent stroke.
* Carl T. Wilson, 41, a longtime activist for the LGBTQ community, including its youth, passed away June 30.
* Howard and Milly Eychaner, parents of Chicago entrepreneur and philanthropist Fred Eychaner, both died in 2005. Among other things, the Eychaners founded the Northern Illinois chapter of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays ( PFLAG ) .
Milestones:
* Book it: The unassuming ( but essential ) Lakeview LGBT bookstore known as Unabridged marked 25 years of selling items to a loyal and appreciative clientele—but will not have the official celebration until 2006.
* Revival: The local chapter of the Stonewall Democrats—a grassroots network of LGBT activists—re-established itself, having meetings with guest speakers that included gay Providence, R.I., mayor David Cicilline.
* Tougher than leather: The Leather Archives & Museum took ownership of its North Side location before a capacity crowd as Chuck Renslow, the group's founder and president, burned a facsimile of the paid-off mortgage.
* Goodbye, Charmers: The Far North Side LGBT bar closed its doors after almost two decades, making way for straight Irish pub Poitin Stil.
* Making 20: Chicago House and AIDS Foundation of Chicago celebrated 20 years of service in 2005.
* Diamond girls: Amigas Latinas, a support and advocacy organization for Latina LBQ women, and Affinity, serving African-American LBQ women, both celebrated 10th anniversaries in 2005.
* The write stuff: NewTown Writers, a gay writers' group based in Chicago and founded in Lakeview, celebrated 25 years of encouraging unknown authors.
* Marking a first: The first annual Asian & Pacific Islander HIV/AIDS Awareness Day was noted with various events, including a Banyan Tree Project-sponsored reception.
* Closing shop: After 31 seasons of welcoming 'womyn-born womyn' and girls, Mountain Moving Coffeehouse for Womyn & Children closed its doors. Among the people who visited the non-profit were Cris Williamson, Suzanne Westenhoffer, Alix Dobkin, Linda Tillery, and Kate Clinton.
* Windy City Times turns 20: Last but not least, this newspaper celebrated two decades of covering news items for the LGBT community. After going through everything from changes in personnel to a change in address, the staff looks forward to entertaining and informing its readers for another 20 years.
