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

4. Lesbian nightlife and beyond: Executive Sweet, SmallWorld Collective, Dyke Nite and Fruit Salad

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/ [https://www.lesbianbarproject.com/] http://www.encyclopedia.chicagohistory.org/pages/509.html#:~:text=After%20the%20repeal%20of%20Prohibition,on%20Clark%20Street%20near%20Division [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.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.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://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://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.npr.org/2023/03/02/1160484070/chicago-birth-of-house-music] https://www.chicagogayhistory.com/video_bio.php?id=633 [https://www.chicagogayhistory.com/video_bio.php?id=633] https://chicagolgbthalloffame.org/mccombs-patricia/ [https://chicagolgbthalloffame.org/mccombs-patricia/] https://windycitytimes.com/2013/07/14/executive-sweet-hosts-reunion/ [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 https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/272428 Long Await by https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/272431 Charcoal Lines by https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/272441  Lupi by https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/273496

3. Lesbian sports and queer bodies: Dykes on Bicycles, CMSA, Gay games and Butch boxing

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://chicagolgbthalloffame.org/metropolitan-sports-association-msa/] https://chicagomsa.org/aboutcmsa/ [https://chicagomsa.org/aboutcmsa/] https://windycitytimes.com/2010/09/29/wct-25-sports-and-the-lgbt-community-back-in-the-80s/ [https://windycitytimes.com/2010/09/29/wct-25-sports-and-the-lgbt-community-back-in-the-80s/]  Music  Kid Kodi by https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/272428 Long Await by https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/272431 Charcoal Lines by https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/272441  Lupi by https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/273496

2. Lesbian potlucks and affinity spaces: WACT, Amigas Latinas and ALMA

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://www.almachicago.org/team] https://chicagolgbthalloffame.org/amigas-latinas/ [https://chicagolgbthalloffame.org/amigas-latinas/] https://interactive.wttw.com/firsthand/segregation/mapping-chicago-racial-segregation [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://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/ [https://www.bu.edu/articles/2022/impact-of-losing-queer-spaces-in-cities-and-how-dyke-bars-commemorated/] Music  Kid Kodi by https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/272428 Long Await by https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/272431 Charcoal Lines by https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/272441  Lupi by https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/273496

1. Lesbian feminists: Artemis Singers and Mountain Moving Coffeehouse

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.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/10894160.2015.1083815?casa_token=ulO7QzWpi4MAAAAA:yPiW7vhr5Shjg14brPtoKt_GzCQBIPJTBehTzdduoh5C_KpTi1JUfDXcNbbKz4lThl3cNquuZAMkeMk] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352250X22002299 [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352250X22002299] https://outhistory.org/exhibits/show/lesbians-20th-century/lesbian-feminism [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 [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=soZqfOfK6m8&ab_channel=TracyBaim]  All the Good by Jana Stanfield performed by Artemis Singers, 2024  Kid Kodi by https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/272428 Long Await by https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/272431 Charcoal Lines by https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/272441  Lupi by https://app.sessions.blue/browse/track/273496 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/ [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/ [https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/combahee-river-collective-statement-1977/]