By Sukie de la Croix

this week in...

1975 Around 400 friends of Renslow Associates “roamed the palatial halls, drank and danced, dined from a lavish buffet in the garden tent and otherwise amused themselves” at the second annual August White Party held at the Dewes Mansion, 503 W. Wrightwood.

1976 The executive board of Gay Horizons meets and votes unanimously to allow the Howard Brown Memorial Clinic to become a separate organization.

1968 “Black People and AIDS,” an informal conference aimed at Chicago’s Black community, is held at the Woodson Regional Library, 9525 S. Halsted. The conference is sponsored by the Kupona Network, an ad hoc committee of concerned men and women, in conjunction with the South Shore Community Unemployment Union.

1987 The Annex 3 Reds overpower the Christopher Street Cougars to capture the Windy City Athletic Association (WCAA) softball division crown. The Reds are now heading off to San Francisco to represent the WCAA in the Gay World Series.

North End, 3733 N. Halsted, holds a “Back to the Beach Party” with Tuna Woman and M.C. Hermann that includes a contest for the Best Buns, Legs, Wet Shorts and Best Tan Line.

1988 Sister Lois McGovern, O.P., leads Dignity/Chicago’s para-liturgical service at Resurrection Church, 3309 N. Seminary. Sister McGovern has served on the Dignity/Chicago ministry team and on the board of Chicago House and is a member of Sisters in Gay Ministry Association.

1989 Congregation Or Chadash welcomes visitors from across the world to the 11th International Conference of Gay and Lesbian Jews. The keynote speaker is Allen Spear, openly gay Minnesota state representative. The conference takes place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

1996 Several groups meet at Kindred Hearts Women’s Center, 2214 Ridge in Evanston, including: Lesbians After 40, Coming Out group, Bisexual Rap group, Breaking Up group, Coming Out of Marriage group and a Women’s Book group.

The Society of Leatherwomen United Towards Sadomasochism (SLUTS) meets every Thursday at the Chicago Eagle, 5015 N. Clark.

The Latin Program of Stop AIDS host “Fiesta y Flamenco,” an evening of fun and food highlighted by Spanish flamenco group Ensemble Espanol at Salvage One Architectural Artifacts, 1524 S. Sangamon.

Keith Boykin, the executive director of the National Black Gay and Lesbian Leadership Forum, reads from and signs his new book “One More River To Cross; Black and Gay in America” at Unabridged Books, 3251 N. Broadway.

1998 Club events this week include Hump, a gay and lesbian salsa night at K-Dron Club, 3336 N. Milwaukee, hosted by Evelyn & Adele; Secret Squirrel and the Big Man Group at Legacy, 3024 W. Irving Park; and “Girls Tuesday Nite Out @ The Millennium” with DJ Bobbie at the 7301 Club, 7301 W. Roosevelt, Forest Park.

The Indigo Girls perform on the Suffragette Sessions Tour at the Riviera Theatre. Other performers include Ann Wilson (of Heart) and Jane Siberry.

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