This week in...

1976: Maturity, a new gay group for over-40s, meets at 100 N. LaSalle St. The featured speaker is Tom Lembo of the Institute for Human Relations, who speaks on the topic “Sex Begins At 40.”

Aside from the bars, bathhouses, and leather stores, here are the only other three businesses that supported the community with ads in this week’s issue of Chicago Gay Life: 1) Nancy’s Enchanted Forest, for plants, etc., 2938 N. Clark St.; 2) Vic’s Barber Salon, 4811 N. Ashland; and 3) Outfits of the Century at the Century Mall, 2828 N. Clark St.

1980: “Discrimination Within the Gay Community” is the topic of a “Gay Open Forum” at the Second Unitarian Church at 656 W. Barry—the forum is sponsored by the Gay and Lesbian Coalition of Metropolitan Chicago, which supports many of these events each year.

1996: Unison, Windy City Gay Chorus, Windy City Slickers and the About Face Theatre collective perform “Feelings…Nothing More Than Feelings” at the Thorne Auditorium, 375 E. Chicago Ave. Tickets are $16.00/$20.00.

Greg Louganis signs his bestselling memoir “Breaking the Surface” at Unabridged Bookstore, 3251 N. Broadway.

Larry McKeon wins the Democratic nomination in the 34th District to become the first openly gay Illinois state representative. Sebastian T. Patti becomes the first openly gay candidate to win a countywide election when he wins the Democratic nomination to fill the Martin Ashman judicial vacancy on the Cook County Circuit Court.

1999: “Bar Fight vs. Cancer” is a benefit for LCCP and Cancer Research taking place at the Patch in Calumet City. The featured performers are the Pulsation band.

The Chicago Theological Seminary 8th Annual National LGBT Seminarians Conference, “Common Pain, Common Hope,” takes place at 5757 S. University in Hyde Park with the Rev. Jimmy Creech as the keynote speaker. Creech was tried by a United Methodist Church court for performing a same-sex commitment ceremony in Nebraska.

Popular lesbian-owned restaurant Hoxie’s hosts a six-month anniversary “Customer Appreciation Party” with Shirley King & Chi Blues Band at 1801 W. Lawrence.

A Real Read, Chicago’s African-American LGBT performance ensemble, presents “All Out: A Festival of Black Gay & Lesbian Plays” by Dr. Shirley Holmes at the Bailiwick Arts Center, 1229 W. Belmont.

Sidetrack presents “The Ultimate Oscar Party” to benefit AIDS Alternative Health Project and NAMES Project Chicago with a live telecast of the Academy Awards in LA. Tickets are $30. There’s an open bar, appetizers and desserts, raffle prizes and surprises.

Season of Concern and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS hosts a benefit starring the cast of “Ragtime” at Davenport’s Piano Bar and Cabaret, 1383 N. Milwaukee.

2002: “Closet on a Cul-de-Sac: Clinical Work With Suburban and Rural Lesbians,” a seminar for mental health clinicians, is presented by Margot Jacquot at the Howard Brown Health Center, 4025 N. Sheridan.

Thanks to the Gerber/Hart Library at 1127 W. Granville for the use of their collection and archives.