Elise Malary

Elise Malary was a transgender rights advocate who worked with and supported the Chicago Therapy Collective, the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, Equality Illinois, and the Civil Rights Bureau of the Illinois Attorney General’s Office. She identified as a black trans woman.

A vigil was held for her in the Andersonville neighborhood of Chicago.

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Honorary Elise Malary WAY

1500 Block of West Catalpa Avenue from North Clark Street to North Ashland Avenue
* Amended to Elise Malary Plaza located at Catalpa and Clark

 

Approved: January 2024

Ward: 40
Alderman: Andre Vasquez, Jr.
Neighborhood: Andersonville

d. Age 31

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Source

20236011
2022679
20221182
20249621

https://chicago.suntimes.com/lgbtq/2024/03/29/trans-activist-elise-malary-street-naming-andersonville

https://blockclubchicago.org/2024/04/01/andersonville-street-named-for-late-trans-activist-elise-malary/

https://youtu.be/7WYWq079V1Y?si=hUnjVHUJKphuW6Zc

https://youtu.be/6n7yvYx31uk?si=FJpo212EO4GZ5vQY

https://40thward.org/2024/05/introducing-elise-malary-plaza/

Ed Negron

Ed Negron was a former writer and photographer for the Windy City Times, activist, and addiction counselor in the LGBTQ community in Chicago. He had also worked in housing at the AIDS Foundation of Chicago to reduce homelessness among low-income and recovering populations.

He was an outspoken advocate who mentored for his communities facing drug addiction and trafficking, former gang membership, bisexual, Puerto Rican, and veteran causes; he was a member of all these groups and it was his mission to battle the challenges inherent in these causes.

Ed was the cofounder of Queer Alliance Chicago and he served as a volunteer for many local organizations including: Latin American Men in Action (ALMA), Chicago Task Force on LGBT Substance Use and Abuse, Equality Illinois, and International Mr. Leather (IML).

Chicago LGTB Hall of Fame inductee, 2006, at age 35

Veteran: US Army

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Honorary Ed Negron Way

North Clark Street from West Devon Avenue to West Schreiber Avenue

 

Approved: December 2021

Ward: 40
Alderman: Vasquez
Neighborhood: Edgewater/Rogers Park

d. July 23, 2021. Age 50.

International Mr. Leather
6410 North Clark Street

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Source

GoPride

Windy City Times

https://www.youtube.com/user/ednpride/videos

Chuck Renslow Way

Chuck Renslow was an icon in the LGBTQ community and a activist. He opened some of Chicago’s first openly gay businesses; he is known worldwide as the founder of International Mr. Leather competition and the Leather Archives and Museum. In the 1960s he opened one of the first leather bars in the world and published GayLife magazine. He is featured in the Chicago Boystown LGBTQ Hall of Fame and also in New York.

Alumni
Lane Technical High School

Born in Chicago, grew up in Logan Square

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Honorary Chuck Renslow Way

Northeast corner of North Clark Street and West Ainslie Avenue and the Southeast corner of North Clark Street and West Winnemac Avenue

 

Approved: May 2018

Ward:: 47
Alderman: Pawar
Neighborhood: Uptown

b. August 26, 1929. Chicago
d. June 29, 2017. Age 87

Near
The former site of Man’s Country - Bath House
5015 N. Clark Street

Dedicated: May 19, 2018
40th anniversary of IML competition

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Source

Wikipedia

Honorary Big Chicks Way

Michelle Fire is the owner of Big Chicks lounge and gallery in the Uptown neighborhood, and Tweet, the breakfast place next door. When she started, the space was an old-man’s bar frequented by the residents of nearby subsidized housing. When the artwork, entirely of women, went up the LGBTQ clientele started showing up to drink, eat, and dance. Big Chicks earned the reputation of being a very welcoming and accepting place for everyone. In recent years it has made the list of best neighborhood bars, best gay, and best lesbian bars. In 2018 it was featured in Bon Appetite.

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Honorary Big Chicks Way

5000 block of North Sheridan Road

 

Approved: October 2016

Ward: 48
Alderman: Osterman
Neighborhood: Uptown

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Source

YouTube playlist: Big Chicks. Honorary Chicago