Ralph Paul Gernhardt, an iconoclast who founded Gay Chicago magazine and also served as its publisher emeritus, passed away June 4 of lung cancer. He was 72.
Gernhardt was born June 1, 1934, on Chicago's North Side. After graduating from high school in Fox Lake, he enlisted in the U.S. Air Force and served in post-war Korea. After completing his tour of duty in Wyoming, he became a radio broadcaster for 17 years. In 1959, he married Marilyn Ridgedale; the couple had two children, Craig and Christy. In the early 1970s, he moved back to Chicago to be near his family. Here, he taught radio broadcasting before starting his LGBT career.
In 1975, Gernhardt launched a telephone information line and eventually moved to publishing in print, which led to Gay Chicago News, the first weekly publication for LGBT Chicagoans. Six months later in 1977, Gernhardt became a business partner and co-publisher of Gay Chicago Magazine, which was inducted into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame in 1989.
During that career, besides publishing, Gernhardt became an organizer of the Gay Athletic Association, which preceded the current Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association. He and Gay Chicago co-publisher Dan DiLeo also sponsored numerous bowling and softball teams. They were founding members of the Gay and Lesbian Press Association. Using Gay Chicago pages, they tirelessly promoted safer-sex practices, supported anonymous HIV testing programs and distributed free condoms in addition to publishing a safe sex calendar. With Robert Fagenholz and his son, Fred, of the recently closed Marigold Bowling Arcade, they formed 'Strike Against AIDS' a group that contributed tens of thousands of dollars to fight AIDS. Gernhardt's support of AIDS work, athletics, and community events ( such as an annual Gay Day at the Great America™ amusement park ) continued until his passing.
He aided fund-raising efforts for Center on Halsted activities and led the creation and presentation of Gay Chicago Magazine's Grabby Awards, which recognized outstanding accomplishments and entertainment in the gay erotic video field. The 16th annual Grabby Awards were presented to a packed house at the Vic Theatre during the recent Memorial Day weekend.
Gernhardt eventually joined his magazine in being honored by the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame by being inducted in 2004 for 'foster [ ing ] the development and cohesion of Chicago's sexual-minority communities by helping to provide them, for nearly three decades, with the news and information vital to any community's growth.'
On the magazine's 20th anniversary in 1996, Gernhardt said that he launched Gay Chicago in 1976 because, 'I felt there was a need for something. At that particular time, the gay community didn't have any regular periodicals supplying information about what was going on in the community.'
'He was definitely a pillar of the community and a pioneer,' Craig, an associate publisher for Gay Chicago, told Windy City Times on Monday. 'He wanted people to have fun and he gave a great deal of his life helping those with HIV. He was a father, friend and mentor.' Showing a sense of humor even in the midst of this tragedy, he then laughed as he added, 'If the community wants to lower the gay flag at half-staff for him, go ahead.'
Gernhardt is survived by Craig, of Chicago; daughter, Christy ( Paul ) Street and grandchildren, Jacob, Justin and Maggie, of Conyers, Ga.; sisters, Joy Smage and Carol Francis; and the dedicated family at Gay Chicago magazine.
Visitation will take place on June 7, 3-9 p.m., at Drake Funeral HOme, 5303 N. Western. Funeral services will take place on June 8 at 1:00 p.m. at the same address. A memorial will immediately follow at a local private residence.
