Fun
On Campus
OpenSource, the LGBTQ Mentoring Program and the Office of the Vice President and Dean of Students organize regular pub nights for grad students, coffee nights for undergrads, outings, and other social events. Check out the calendar for more details.
Student organizations across campus organize social events regularly. Check out their individual webpages, or look on our calendar to see what's coming up.
Beyond the Midway
The Center on Halsted, in addition to it's many health and support services, sponsors a variety of fun social events for LGBTQ youth (ages 14-24). Check out their calendar for details.
Chicago Gay History Project Chicago's gay community has contributed in many ways to the national and international fight for gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender rights. However, those contributions have often been overlooked in documentations of the movement, and this new Chicago Gay History Project seeks to provide a comprehensive overview of those many important people, events, and organizations who helped the Windy City become a beacon of gay progress in the latter part of the 20th Century. From the anti-gay police raids and harassment of earlier decades, Chicago has risen to become one of the most progressive cities in the world, with legal protections, a city-designated neighborhood, a major community center, the hosting of the Gay Games in 2006, and a city-sponsored Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame. Illinois was the first state to remove its sodomy law, and the first gay-rights group in the U.S. started in Chicago. While The Society of Human Rights in the 1920s was short-lived (due to police intervention), the visionary who started that group, Henry Gerber, was among the many Chicagoans who were at the vanguard of the movement for gay equality. From Jane Addams to Lorraine Hansberry, Marie J. Kuda to William Kelley, Chuck Renslow to Vernita Gray, this project takes an extensive look back, so that we may learn for a better future
Frontrunners/Frontwalkers Chicago is a club for lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transexuals and friends who are interested in running and walking together along Chicago's great open lakefront. They offer regular fun runs and walks, social events, volunteering opportunities and a monthly newsletter. Email FRFWChicag@aol.com or call 312-409-2790 for more information.
The Chicago Gay Men's Chorus has been an integral part of Chicago's cultural and gay communities since its formation in 1983. Over the years CGMC has provided its audiences with a wide variety of musical entertainment. From loving ballads to raucous bawdy tunes to delicate ballet numbers, CGMC has been known to amaze and titillate, as well as inspire and move its audience. Find out about upcoming performances or joining the chorus on their website above or by emailing auditions@cgmc.org.
Windy City Performing Arts exists to create, nurture and maintain performing arts ensembles of the highest level of artistic quality for the purposes of fostering gay and lesbian pride, promoting understanding and compassion for glbt people, and reaching out to touch the lives of glbt and mainstream audiences through musical excellence. They organize 3 different ensembles: the Windy City Gay Chorus, UNISON (Windy City Gay and Lesbian Chorus) and the Windy City Slickers. For concert information, or to audition contact them at info@windycitysings.org or 773.404.9242.
The 9 to 12 League is an LGBT bowling league in Des Plaines. Members bowl at the River/Rand Bowl on the third Saturday of the month from September to May. This is the only LGBT bowling league in the suburbs and the longest running league at River/Rand Bowl. We have recently spun off our big league and have started a second league called 9 to 12 No Tap which bowls on the first Saturday of the month from October to June, also at River/Rand Bowl in Des Plaines. Contact Richard Homa at retroactive1@comcast.net for more information.
DykeDiva.com, "the alternative lesbian site" includes all kinds of information about lesbian events all over Chicago, as well as articles and an advice column. Don't miss their calendar of upcoming events.
Chicago Metropolitan Sports Association (CMSA) is the largest not for profit, all volunteer gay and lesbian sports organizations in the Midwest. They offer recreational and competitive level play to the lesbigay community in a variety of athletic activities throughout the year, including softball, volleyball, bowling, flag football, badminton and tennis. For details about specific sports, click here.
The 2006 Gay Games were held in our very own Windy City. From 15-22 July 2006, Chicago played host to the world and welcomed thousands of athletes, spectators and cultural participants into our homes, our hearts and our city for the seventh quadrennial Gay Games Sports and Cultural Festival. The Games featured 12,000 participants, competition in 30 sports, world-class athletes and artists, band and choral performances, nightly medal ceremonies, a week-long arts festival, parties, and spectacular opening and closing ceremonies featuring entertainment, pageantry, and the parade of participants from more than 70 countries.
The boystownchicago.com calendar features a number of under-21 events, including everything from dance parties and nightclubs to movie nights and bowling.
The Chi-Town Squares, Chicago's Gay & Lesbian Square Dance Club, organize square dancing for dancers of all (and no) levels. All are welcome to dance, and there's no need to bring a partner. Check out their calendar for upcoming events.
21 and Over
Metromix.com allows you to search for bars and clubs listed as "gay" or "lesbian".
Chix Mix produces parties and events for lesbians and allies all over Chicago.
Boys Town Chicago also provides information about events, clubs and bars in.... Boys Town.
City Search has a "Gay Chicago Guide" with information on nightclubs and bars.
