The Lavender Line: Exploring lesbian social spaces in Chicago’s recent past and present

In this last episode, we’re talking about queer nightlife. We’ll explore the history of gay parties in and beyond the bars, why parties are more important than we think, and what role lesbians spaces will and won’t play in the future. Stay tuned to hear about Executive Sweet, a “traveling party” for women of color, as well as queer dance parties, bingo and open mic nights. We’ll ask ourselves: What does lesbian community look like today? How and why is that changing? What do we gain from spending time with each other? 

Sources 

Orne, J. (2017). Boystown. The University of Chicago Press. 

Web sources

https://www.lesbianbarproject.com/

http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/509.html#:~:text=After%20the%20repeal%20of%20Prohibition,on%20Clark%20Street%20near%20Division.

https://www.aidschicago.org/queer-bronzeville-a-short-history-of-black-queer-chicago-and-aids-activism-1920-1985/

https://www.jacobpieczynski.com/disappeared-chicago-s-lost-lesbian-

https://www.chicagomag.com/city-life/June-2019/For-Black-Gay-Chicagoans-Its-Always-Been-Jeffery-Pub/

https://blockclubchicago.org/2023/06/15/chicagos-lesbian-bars-vanished-for-years-but-sapphic-spaces-are-making-a-comeback/

https://www.npr.org/2023/03/02/1160484070/chicago-birth-of-house-music

https://www.chicagogayhistory.com/video_bio.php?id=633

https://chicagolgbthalloffame.org/mccombs-patricia/

https://windycitytimes.com/2013/07/14/executive-sweet-hosts-reunion/

Music 

All the Good by Jana Stanfield performed by Artemis Singers, 2024 

Kid Kodi by Blue Dot Sessions

Long Await by Blue Dot Sessions

Charcoal Lines by Blue Dot Sessions 

Lupi by Blue Dot Sessions

In this episode, we are talking about how lesbians have always found more “underground” or “informal” spaces and what actually is a lesbian potluck. We’ll look into 3 organizations started in the mid-1990s, WACT Brunch, Amigas Latinas and Alma. We’ll ask ourselves:  Why is lesbian community needed? How have those needs changed over time? What does it mean to forge a community based on sexuality and race? 

Sources 

Baim, T. (2007). Gay Games VII: Where the world meets, Chicago 2006. Published by Windy City Media Group for the Federation of Gay Games.

Rogers, S. F. (1995). Sportsdykes: Stories from on and off the field. St. Martin’s Press

Zipter, Y. (1988). Diamonds are a Dyke’s best friend: Reflections, reminiscences, and reports from the field on the Lesbian National Pastime. Firebrand Books. 

Web sources

https://chicagolgbthalloffame.org/metropolitan-sports-association-msa/

https://chicagomsa.org/aboutcmsa/

https://windycitytimes.com/2010/09/29/wct-25-sports-and-the-lgbt-community-back-in-the-80s/ 

Music 

Kid Kodi by Blue Dot Sessions

Long Await by Blue Dot Sessions

Charcoal Lines by Blue Dot Sessions 

Lupi by Blue Dot Sessions

In this episode, we are talking about how lesbians have always found more “underground” or “informal” spaces and what actually is a lesbian potluck. We’ll look into 3 organizations started in the mid-1990s, WACT Brunch, Amigas Latinas and Alma. We’ll ask ourselves: Why is lesbian community needed? How have those needs changed over time? What does it mean to forge a community based on sexuality and race? 

Web Sources 

https://www.almachicago.org/team

https://chicagolgbthalloffame.org/amigas-latinas/

https://interactive.wttw.com/firsthand/segregation/mapping-chicago-racial-segregation

https://scholar.google.com/citations?view_op=view_citation&hl=en&user=sm1y8HwAAAAJ&citation_for_view=sm1y8HwAAAAJ:2osOgNQ5qMEC

https://www.bu.edu/articles/2022/impact-of-losing-queer-spaces-in-cities-and-how-dyke-bars-commemorated/

Music 

Kid Kodi by Blue Dot Sessions

Long Await by Blue Dot Sessions

Charcoal Lines by Blue Dot Sessions 

Lupi by Blue Dot Sessions

In this first episode, we will explore the idea of lesbian community, “women’s music” and what it means to be, not just a feminist, but a lesbian feminist. This episode will feature 2 lesbian social organizations that started in the mid to late 1970s.These include Artemis Singers, the U.S.’s only lesbian feminist chorus, Mountain Moving coffeehouse, a volunteer-run space for womyn’s music performances and MichFest, a popular and controversial women-run music festival. We’ll answer the questions: What is lesbian community? What does it mean to be exclusively lesbians? And what determines if groups survive or disappear? 

Web Sources 

https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/10894160.2015.1083815?casa_token=ulO7QzWpi4MAAAAA:yPiW7vhr5Shjg14brPtoKt_GzCQBIPJTBehTzdduoh5C_KpTi1JUfDXcNbbKz4lThl3cNquuZAMkeMk

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352250X22002299

https://outhistory.org/exhibits/show/lesbians-20th-century/lesbian-feminism

Music 

I am the Expert by Martha Burrows performed by Artemis Singers, 2024 

Hymn to her by The Pretenders performed by Artemis SIngers, 1991  

Women of the World performed by Artemis Singers, 1991

Wildflowers by Paula Walowitz recorded in 1990 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soZqfOfK6m8&ab_channel=TracyBaim 

All the Good by Jana Stanfield performed by Artemis Singers, 2024 

Kid Kodi by Blue Dot Sessions

Long Await by Blue Dot Sessions

Charcoal Lines by Blue Dot Sessions 

Lupi by Blue Dot Sessions

Further reading 

The Day the Mountains Move by Yosano Akiko (1911): https://danceinexile.wordpress.com/2021/01/17/the-day-the-mountains-move-by-yosano-akiko-1911/ 

The Combahee River Collective: https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/combahee-river-collective-statement-1977/