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 | | Sidetrack | | | Inducted 2006 | | | | Sidetrack, for 25 years not only as an innovative, nationally known, and world-class music-video bar but also as an unparalleled backer of LGBT organizations and efforts of all stripes, ranging from social to social service to sports to cultural to political.
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| In April 1982, Sidetrack opened its
doors on a stretch of North Halsted IStreet that was still being “discovered”
by gay Chicagoans. The street already had a
number of gay-owned businesses
—including Jim Gates’ pioneering bar,
Little Jim’s—but Sidetrack brought
something hitherto unseen there: a musicvideo
bar. | |
| As the video bar phenomenon took hold nationally, Sidetrack’s custom, in-house video
editing became increasingly sophisticated. Crowds grew, longer lines stretched up the
block, and the bar’s quarters themselves expanded. | |
| Meanwhile, the growth of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender (GLBT) activism
paralleled the bar’s own growth, and Sidetrack, its owners, and its staff became
indispensable parts of that activism. | |
| Now in its 25th year, Sidetrack has hosted countless activist events and made untold
donations of goods, services, and money. For example, Sidetrack helped to sustain Open
Hand Chicago’s meals-on-wheels program for persons with AIDS when it started
operations in 1988. One night a month for several years, Sidetrack’s staff and management
donated salaries and tips to Open Hand. Every Christmas and anniversary party since
1988 saw Sidetrack coordinating donations of food and personal supplies for persons with
AIDS to the Northside Grocery Center. | |
| Among groups for which Sidetrack has been the host or has sponsored events are: AIDS
Care Network; Gay Officers Action League; Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians
and Gays; Dignity/Chicago; AIDS Legal Council of Chicago; American Civil Liberties
Union of Illinois; Chicago Gay Men’s Chorus; Asians & Friends–Chicago; Chicago
Metropolitan Sports Association; Congregation Or Chadash; Equality Illinois;
Association of Latino Men for Action (ALMA); Center on Halsted; Gerber/Hart Library;
Children’s Place; Lesbian Community Cancer Project; NAMES Project/Chicago; Pride
Youth; Chicago Gender Society; Amigas Latinas; Team Chicago; About Face Theatre;
Test Positive Aware Network (TPAN); Chicago Area Gay and Lesbian Chamber of
Commerce; ACT/UP Chicago; Windy City Black Pride; and Affinity Community
Services. | |
| Sidetrack has also welcomed dozens of political figures over the years for campaign
appearances and lobbying opportunities, including Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Illinois
State Treasurer Judy Baar Topinka, Mayor Richard M. Daley, former Vermont Gov.
Howard Dean, George Stephanopoulos, former Cook County Board President John H.
Stroger, Jr., Illinois State Rep. Sara Feigenholtz, Illinois State Rep. Larry McKeon,
Illinois State Sen. Carol Ronen, U.S. Sen. Barack Obama, U.S. Rep. Rahm Emanuel, U.S.
Rep. Jan Schakowsky, U.S. Rep. Tammy Baldwin, and U.S. Rep. Barney Frank. | |
| As a business, Sidetrack has helped to lead the way in holding suppliers accountable to
support LGBT communities through donations or sponsorships. In addition, it has
received accolades for outstanding architecture and creative entertainment. Major figures
in popular music have looked to Sidetrack for help in creating nationally released remixes.
For nearly 25 years, Sidetrack has been a leading participant in the growth of Chicago’s
LGBT communities. | |
| This biography is as of the induction date. It has not been updated. |
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