THE VOICE OF CHICAGO'S GAY, LESBIAN, BI, TRANS AND QUEER COMMUNITY SINCE 1985

The subjects of the 2006 Out at CHS initiative were formally announced at an intimate gathering at Ann Sather restaurant, 929 W. Belmont, Jan. 12. The series, in its third year, is the result of a collaboration between the Chicago Historical Society, the Center on Halsted ( COH ) and the University of Chicago Lesbian and Gay Studies Project.

The programs are as follows: 'Gertrude Stein's Lesbian Paris,' scheduled for Jan. 31 at The Museum of Contemporary Art, 220 E. Chicago; 'Gays and Gospel,' set for April 6 at the Chicago Temple, 77 W. Washington; and 'Before the Gay Games: Lesbians in the Ballpark,' which will take place June 8 at CHS, at North Ave. and Clark St. ( The first two programs are being held elsewhere because of renovations currently taking place at CHS. )

Gary Johnson, the new CHS president who said that his favorite kind of history is the type he has not yet learned about, expressed his excitement about the project and called it 'a tremendous gift' as well as 'a model for how we can do other programs.' Jennifer Brier, a historian who teaches at the University of Illinois at Chicago, described Out at CHS as an opportunity 'to talk to a wide audience about gay history.' Lastly, Robbin Burr, COH's executive director, described the initiative as 'amazing, because as we look at history, we've created history.'