UPTOWN — Uptown's Big Chicks is one of 16 inductees into this year's Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame.
The 2016 class includes two friends of the community, 12 individuals and the two organizations: Big Chicks, 5024 N. Sheridan Road, and Amigas Latinas, a nonprofit organization that provided support for LGBTQ Latinas from 1995 to 2015.
"For thirty years this pioneering Uptown bar has served as a diverse LGBTQ watering hole, a hub of community events and performances, and a longstanding center of LGBTQ fundraising and sponsorship," said the Chicago Pride website.
Modesto "Tico" Valle, Chief of Executive of the Center on Halsted, voted for Big Chicks to be inducted because it "moved to Uptown before it was popular and quickly became a hub of diversity" for the LGBTQ community and its allies, he said.
"It served as a community center to connect neighbors, enjoy a drink, play games, hold celebrations and memorials," said Valle. "During the AIDS crisis it was the place for many who struggled with finances to get a healthy meal on Sundays for free, and this tradition continues."
Individuals being inducted include: Robert Allerton; Tom Batchelll; Ronald E. Bogan; Roman Buenostro; David Cerda; David Csicsko; Patrick Dennis; Kim Hunt; Norma Seledon; Matrixa Vidal' and Dr. Yvonne Welbon.
The Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame, which was established in June 1991, is an event and accompanying exhibit where residents of Chicago and all over the world "are made aware of the contributions of Chicago's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities and the communities' efforts to eradicate homophobic bias and discrimination," according to its website.
Being inducted into the Hall of Fame signifies a far-reaching contribution to the quality of life for the lesbian and gay community of Chicago or a "significant long-term contribution to the well-being" of the community, the website said.
Past inductees include: Jane Addams; the AIDS Foundation of Chicago; Gay Chicago Magazine; Billie Jean King; Frankie Knuckles; Michael O'Connor; Neil Steinberg; and Kelly Cassidy.
The annual induction ceremony will begin at 5:30 p.m. on Nov. 9 at the Chicago History Museum, 1601 N. Clark St.
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