For any queer Chicagoan first arriving in the city, it would be difficult to understate the impact of those early signs of our community's presence, particularly for those of us who arrived in the Windy City on the heels of a small-town upbringing. Whether it be the rainbow pylons lining Halsted Street in Boystown or simply another gay or lesbian couple holding hands while crossing the street, the marked presence of “people like you” is a comforting privilege to those who call Chicago home.
And for many, the nearly ubiquitous newsstands housing the Windy City Times, Chicago's premier LGBT news publication, that are scattered about the city represent that very same feeling of belonging to something bigger - to a community, to a movement. Or, at the very least, a welcome alternative to being stuck reading the Red Eye during our El commute.
For these reasons and many more, the publication's 25th anniversary, being marked with a special issue hitting the streets Wednesday, Sept. 29, is significant. At a time where LGBT publications nationwide are bleeding revenue and shuttering, the Windy City Times has managed to survive even the bleakest of outlooks, all while tenaciously documenting both our community's highs and lows.
With her publication's silver anniversary fast approaching, Windy City Times Media Group publisher Tracy Baim spoke with ChicagoPride.com about the publication she helped co-found in 1985 and how it has continued to persevere a tumultuous industry for longer than Gaga has been alive.
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