Out and Proud In Chicago
Out and Proud in Chicago: An Overview of the City’s Gay Community is the first full-length history of the LGBT community in Chicago. Released this month, the book is edited by Chicago publisher and journalist Tracy Baim and features contributions from more than 20 historians and journalists and hundreds of photographs.
Among the contributors is historian and writer Marie Kuda, who is an Oak Parker and OPALGA member. Marie and Tracy will appear at Centuries & Sleuths Bookstore, 7419 Madison St., Forest Park, IL 60130 on Sunday, October 5, at 2:00 p.m. This event is free and open to the public and will include a book discussion, question and answer session, and signing. On Saturday, October 11, at 2:00 p.m., Tracy, Marie, and other contributors will be at Borders, 1144 Lake St., Oak Park, IL 60301. National Coming Out Day is the occasion for this discussion and signing.
Published as a companion to the WTTW public television documentary of the same name, and to the Web site http://www.ChicagoGayHistory.org, Out and Proud in Chicago spans Chicago LGBT history from the prairie settlement to the present. Significant local history includes the chapter “A Model Community: Oak Park Pioneers Diversity” by OPALGA cofounder Mel Wilson and includes references to many local pioneers. Don’t miss OPALGA Youth Program Volunteer Andrew Walensa, who is pictured on p. 219 with the rest of the 2007 Windy City Times “30 Under 30” award winners.
Marie has generously donated a copy of Out and Proud in Chicago to keep at The OPALGA Center. We would like to thank Marie for her ongoing contributions to The Center.
