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

Arlene Halko, a pioneer in the worlds of medicine and gay rights, passed away March 22 of heart failure. She was 73.

A 1996 inductee into the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame, Halko made several inroads in the LGBT community. After joining the local LGBT Catholic group Dignity/Chicago in 1975, she became its first lesbian president and served on its board for several years. Halko also, along with eight others, founded the HIV/AIDS service organization Chicago House in 1985. Her substantial efforts to help others was recognized in 1990 when she was honored at the Illinois Gay and Lesbian Task Force's annual dinner.

Halko also owned Piggens Pub, a popular gay and lesbian nightspot, from 1982 to 1989. At the bar, Halko not only welcomed individuals, but groups as well; Piggens was often used to hold special events and sponsor sports teams.

On the medical front, Halko helped make many strides. For example, an article originally published in the Journal of Nuclear Medicine cited Halko as one of the pioneers in the genre who helped find multiple uses for the medical imaging device known as a gamma camera. On the side, the multitalented Halko trained dogs for 20 years.

'Arlene was one of my bar buddies,' stated Vernita Gray, LGBT liaison for the Cook County State's Attorney's Office and a fellow Hall of Fame inductee, in an e-mail to Windy City Times. ' [ She ] was on the front line when the rest of the world was not responding to the AIDS crisis—at a time when it was considered a 'gay disease.' She put her time, love and energy to help build Chicago House and into Dignity. She had that great gravely voice and a wicked sense of humor. She is a reminder that the letters GLBT cannot divide us, and that under the rainbow umbrella we all need each other. She was lovely lady. I will miss her.'

Another Hall of Fame inductee, Bill Kelley, told Windy City Times that, even though he did not know Halko that well, 'I loved her smiling, friendly demeanor, her forthrightness, her energy and her generosity. I never heard anything but good said of her. She was dedicated to improving the lives of lesbian and gay people.'

Kelley also said that he recalls 'how civic-minded she and her staff were when she operated Piggens Pub on Diversey Parkway. She had a flourishing professional career and didn't need Piggens to earn a living. From what I could tell, she ran it simply because she enjoyed people and saw it as a way of creating almost a community center. ... Though I was never a Dignity member or involved in Chicago House, I know she gave untold amounts of time, energy and money to them, too. She was not only a Chicago community pioneer but also one of its mainstays for years. ... We should remember her generous spirit and try to emulate it.'

'She just couldn't fight it any more,' Halko's partner of 16 years, Pat Keenan, told Windy City Times. 'She was a star, though. She fought hard and tried to get well, stay well and be there for me. Oh my God— [ Halko ] was an amazing woman.'

Keenan—who said that she would miss Halko's sense of humor and capacity for caring—added that ' [ Halko ] had such a giving nature: We would go places where neither one of us knew a soul, and by the time we left everyone's waving [ and saying ] , 'Bye, Ar!'' Keenan added that Halko steadfastly admired her father, a Czech immigrant, who—despite his financial struggles—'always had something extra for someone.'

Talking about Halko's fight on the front line for the rights of gays and those affected by HIV/AIDS, Keenan said, 'She had amazing stories [ from the '60s ] . So many people were closeted because there were so many fears of job loss and bar raids. Her stories were full of her humor and strength.' Keenan added that 'Chicago House was a perfect example of [ Halko's generosity ] . She was tireless in her efforts to get the houses up and running. She even made them tear things down if they were shabby.'

'She was getting phone calls from County Hospital five years after she retired. Finally, she had to say, 'Hey, it's over. I'm not even up to date on the current laws.''

Keenan also related another story that showcased how much Halko cared for her partner: 'When they started the [ Chicago Gay and Lesbian ] Hall of Fame, she was selected for the award. ( We were already together. ) She said, 'Pat's a nurse at a place that's really homophobic, and I don't want any problems for her,' so she refused for four years running because she feared I would suffer some sort of retribution. Finally, I said 'This is crazy. Ar, just [ accept the award ] ! You deserve it.' So she finally did it.'

Halko was the daughter of the late Peter and Frances ( nee Maciejewski ) Halko; niece of Irene ( nee Halko ) , the late Steve Kubicki and Catherine ( nee Doyle ) and the late Joseph Macey; respected aunt to Rita ( nee Obirek ) , Hillard Chamerlik, Lois ( nee Obirek ) ( Robert Adochio ) and Henry ( the late Sandra, nee Enlow ) Obirek; a fond aunt to numerous nieces; and a friend to many.

There was an open-casket visitation at Drake & Son Funeral Home, 5303 N. Western, on March 25. ( Halko was cremated; therefore, there was no interment. ) A Catholic Mass was held March 26 at St. Martha's Catholic Church, 8523 Georgiana Ave., Morton Grove. Dennis O'Neill, a friend of Halko, delivered the Mass.

Donations may be made in Halko's name to The Anti-Cruelty Society; the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation; and the National Wildlife Federation.