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Chicago has long had a gay neighborhood. Beginning in the 1920s there was active homosexual nightlife in Towertown, adjacent to the Water Tower. As rents climbed, it forced gay-friendly establishments steadily northwards, moving through Old Town and Lincoln Park along Clark Street and on to Boys Town. Boys Town presently serves as the best-known Chicago gayborhood, and the center of its LGBT culture. Gentrification is pushing many gay and lesbian people to reside ever further north into Uptown and Edgewater.
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Politics
In 1961 Illinois was the first state to repeal its sodomy law. Effective LGBT political involvement began in the 1960s alongside the civil rights movement, with organizations such as Chicago Gay Liberation. As of 2002 most LGBT voters are on the North Side.
The Chicago Gay and Lesbian Democrats was the main LGBT political group of the 1980s. LGBT interest groups and the Democratic Party have facilitated LGBT political involvement in Chicago.
In 1983 Mayor of Chicago candidate Jane Byrne promised to support LGBT issues, so the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Democrats endorsed Byrne. However Harold Washington won the Democratic Party primary. At that point the LGBT voters began to support Washington, and they helped him win the general election. LGBT voters supported Washington during his reelection in 1987 because, during his previous term, he supported LGBT causes and criticized homophobia. The following year, in 1988, he signed into law an anti-discrimination ordinance for the city of Chicago.
ACT UP/Chicago was an organization dedicated to improving the lives of people with AIDS. It often criticized Mayor of Chicago Richard M. Daley. It later became a part of the Chicago LGBT Hall of Fame.
Institutions
The Center on Halsted is an LGBT community center.
Howard Brown Health Center is an LGBT health care center.
Windy City Black Pride provides LGBT-related assistance and events primarily for African-Americans.
Windy City Radio is the city's only LGBT radio station.
The Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame gives honors to LGBT individuals.
Media
The Chicago Gay Crusader and the Windy City Times are LGBT newspapers.
Recreation
The Chicago Pride Parade is the city's gay pride parade. Over 150,000 people participate in the pride festivities every June.
The Reeling LGBT International Film Festival is held in Chicago.
Chicago Gay Men's Chorus was founded in 1983.