The West Suburban Gay Association ( WSGA ) has certainly passed the test of time. It was founded in the 1970s as an outlet for the LGBT community to socialize "at a time when gay rights and culture were not as developed as they are now," said WSGA President Manny Rivera.
The WSGA is now in its fourth decade with about 200 active members, led by a volunteer board of directors which members are encouraged to join. It is open to all 21 and older from the LGBT community.
"In the 1970s, there were several other active gay social groups in the suburbs," Rivera said. "WSGA is one of the few remaining of such groups and has a broad geographic membership base, reaching as far [north] as Gurnee, [south to] Tinley Park, [west to] DeKalb and [east to] Crown Pointe, Indiana. We also have members who reside in Chicago.
"When the group started, its emphasis was to provide a safe environment for gay individuals to meet and make new friendships. This was accomplished through the offering of legendary monthly 'house parties' in which up to 150 members would congregate to have a great time.
"As society became [more] open to the LGBT community, the group changed to start including a wider variety of events, such as outings to the theater, festivals, restaurants, picnics, museums and other special events, such as domestic and international vacations."
WSGA continues its commitment to provide a welcoming and safe environment for the LGBT community—with a modern twist. WSGA events now take place throughout the Chicagoland area, not just the western suburbs. Members meet several times per month in a variety of venues. There are at least four events per month "to satisfy the varied interest of our members," Rivera said.
One of the most popular WSGA events is its long-running monthly meet-up at Phoenix Bar and Nightclub ( formerly Hunter's Nightclub ) in Elk Grove Village. The event is on the second Friday of the month and "provides an opportunity for anyone interested to learn more about the group to do so," Rivera said. "These mixers have been essential [to] bringing new members into the group that will allow it to be a viable organization for another 40 years."
WSGA holds at least 50 events annually. Its most popular events include a White Party in January, a Flannel by the Fire mixer in February, a charter 'party bus' to the Chicago Pride Parade in June, a pool party in July, a Leather, Levi & Lace Party in September and a Members Dinner Dance in the fall.
"As the LGBT community has moved from Chicago and other areas of the U.S. to the Chicago suburbs for a wide variety of reasons, including work opportunities and lifestyle changes, the group has diversified its events to accommodate the varied interests of its membership, catering to singles and couples alike and a wide range of age groups," Rivera said. "The group has remained strong thanks to the commitment of its leadership and members who truly believe that no one should be isolated.
"The best part of the WSGA is serving as a vehicle for individuals to make good and lasting friendships. Many members come to an event not knowing anyone in the group and end up forging fast friendships within the membership. Members tend to remain with the group for years."
Rivera joined the WSGA in 2000 to make new friends, he said. "I met most of my closest friends through the group. Without an organization such as this I would have never experienced meeting such a varied group of people and having them in my life."
"In the age of Social Media and the million gadgets we carry around, it's nice to be able to have face to face interaction with a friend," Rivera added. "As current president of the WSGA, my mission is to enable the group to continue to provide the type of events that allow individuals to develop such relationships while having fun at the same time."
WSGA membership is updated through a bi-monthly newsletter and weekly emails which provide detailed information on events sponsored by the group and other events of interest to the LGBT community.
"As an organization that has been in place for over 40 years, we depend on the ideas and the commitment of our members," Rivera said. "Our membership has changed through the years, and so have their interests and needs. For the future, we are looking to become more than a social event-driven organization and focus on other life enrichment opportunities for our members."
For more information on WSGA, visit the organization's website, WSGA.com . You can also email WSGA at info@wsga.com .
