And this history is becoming increasingly important for Chicagoans, who are now finally openly examining gay identity issues. Many looked at the success of the 2006 Chicago Gay Games as a stepping stone for the future of acceptance and understanding in this city. "I think that gay and lesbian people themselves are realizing that they have a past that they don't necessarily understand. It isn't the past that has been represented to them, if ever," Fenrich says.
For NU junior Jessie Kaiser, co-president of Rainbow Alliance and one of Fenrich's former students, knowing the history of LGBT people is particularly important. Although she has never been to the Out at CHM series, she says she would give it her full endorsement. For LGBT Americans, the politics of gay identity is of the utmost importance. "It's good to have programming like that," she says. "It's really heartening that it's at a place like a Chicago History Museum."
Tom Clark, 44, has been a part of Chicago's gay community for nine years. He credits Mayor Richard Daley with Chicago's progressive-leaning understanding of the gay community and its history.
"He's very supportive of gay issues and rights," he says. "I think there's a huge awareness and acceptance on his behalf." Clark adds that he feels much more comfortable being "out" in the workplace than he did 10 years ago.
Similarly, Fenrich is proud of the museum's success with its programming and looks forward to the future of the series. "One of the things that's amazing about this series at the Chicago History Museum that I continue to be amazed about, is that it's the single-most successful public programming they've ever done," Fenrich says, "Every single one of these events sell out. Every single one for four years."
The Out at CHM series begins tonight, and the following two segments for the year will occur in March and May. The March program, titled, "Queer Exclusions: Sexuality and U.S. Citizenship," addressed how questions of sexuality and race shape how the U.S. government differentiates between "citizens" and "aliens." The May program, "Screaming Queens and Lavender Panthers: A History of Transgender Activism," will discuss the movement for freedom of gender expression.
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