Part 4 of the Chicago Gay Crusader series.
On the front page of the July 1973 issue of the Chicago Gay Crusader there's a report on the success of Gay Pride week that boasts of 2,000 people marching in the parade.
Gay Pride Dance …
On Friday, June 22, 1973, the Gay Pride Dance at 1720 N. Cleveland Ave. attracted over 350 people. For the event, members of the Gay Pride Planning Committee got together and formed an all-Chicano rock band called Just Us. To kick-off the week of celebrations, 1,000 Gay Pride balloons were released.
Downstairs at the dance, several Chicago groups held a flea market of gay items ... .
Gay Pride Picnic …
In spite of the thunder and rain, 100 people attended the picnic, where the crowd 'laughed, danced, ate Kentucky Fried Chicken, and drank bottle after bottle of wine.'
Gay Pride Parade …
The parade started on time with chants, amplified music, and singing. An S&M float called 'Being Gay is a Kick' caused some confusion among the straight onlookers. Wanda Lust, who was dressed as Carmen Miranda. danced through the streets, and one gay man marched with a snake wrapped around him.
Some of the banners read: 'Welcome Sisters and Brothers,' 'Sisterhood is Powerful,' 'Gay Unity,' and 'Lesbian Love.'
Groups in the Parade …
The Chicago Women's Liberation Union, Chicago Gay Alliance, Chicago Lesbian Liberation, Transvestite Legal Committee, Gay Social Work Association, Gay Teacher's Association, Gay People's Legal Committee, Metropolitan Community Church, Chicago Gay Crusader, and several bars, including Gold Coast, the Knight Out, Dugan's Bistro, Trip, Noche de Ronda, Up North, In Between, Wooden Barrell Pub, and the Glory Hole.
Trouble on the Parade …
The Crusader reported: 'The Parade, led by a banner reading Chicago's 4th Annual Gay Pride Parade and the Gay Pride Planning Committee's car, slowly approached Fullerton Ave. This was the point where the parade would leave the 19th Police District and enter the 18th ( Chicago Ave. ) District, notorious for gay harassment. But at Fullerton there was a blockade. Michael Bergeron, coordinator of Gay Pride Week, jumped off the committee car and got into a screaming match with the 18th District police. 'We've got the permit!' he screamed. 'You either go east or west but not directly south,' they replied, despite the permit's specifications. The blockade would not move, and the parade would not budge. With only a few blocks left of the parade route, the spectators began to move to the corner.
'Let them through,' people on the streets yelled. In moments, all the potential spectators from the untraveled parade route were at the corner of Fullerton. Negotiations began. Rather than spoil the air of festivity, it was decided the parade would move east, through Lincoln Park, past the children's playgrounds and the zoo, to the Lincoln Park Forum.'
At the Free Forum …
The first person on the stage was the Rev. Iberus Hacker, who talked about leading the first Gay Pride Parade in Chattanooga, Tenn., before strumming his guitar, accompanied by another guitar player and a banjo-player, he led the crowd in a sing-a-long of civil rights songs. Hacker was followed by a dozen speakers, including Bergeron, Richard Pfeiffer ( Chicago Gay Alliance ) , Judy Brabeck ( Chicago Lesbian Liberation ) , the Rev. William Johnson ( San Francisco gay minister and executive director of the Council on Religion and the Homosexual ) , Larry Gulian ( Illinois Gays for Legislative Action ) , Margaret ( Skeeter ) Wilson ( Feminist Lesbian Intergalactic Party [ Flippies ] and Killer Dyke Collective ) , Michael Goldberger ( Gay People's Legal Committee ) , Michael Brown ( Gay Caucus of Youth Against War and Fascism ) , Tony Johnson ( Transvestite Legal Committee ) , and reps from the Family of Women lesbian feminist musicians, the Milwaukee Gay Pride Planning Committee, and the Gay People's Union of Milwaukee.
Protest '70s style …
On the Thursday of Gay Pride Week, a demo took place at Civic Center Plaza with a rally and a kiss-in. Speakers were William Kelley ( vice president of Chicago Gay Alliance ) , the Rev. Bill Johnson, Valerie Taylor ( representing Gay Grandmothers of America ) , Richard Pfeiffer, Mary Himmel ( Chicago Lesbian Liberation ) , Ted Hays ( an Indiana teen who told of his arrest experiences ) , and Jim Bradford ( Mattachine Midwest ) .
The Killer Dyke Collective performed a mythological skit about how a Killer Dyke defeats Super Pig and his secret weapon ( an artificial penis ) .
If any women out there were members of the Feminist Lesbian Intergalactic Party ( Flippies ) , I'd like to hear from you, ( 773 ) 871-7610, sukie@windycitymediagroup.com .
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