Queer Bronzeville's Pre-History

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Text by Tristan Cabello. Copyright (©) by Tristan Cabello, 2008. All rights reserved.

Magnus Hirschfeld in Chicago

Since the end of the nineteenth century, the activities of African-American homosexuals, major characters in the neighborhood’s social and cultural life, had been discussed by sexologists, sociologists, academics, and journalists, all of whom described meticulously well-organized homosexual “communities” which were relatively well-accepted by the neighborhood’s inhabitants.

German sexologist Magnus Hirschfield was the first to discuss his encounters with African-American homosexuals in Chicago, in his numerous studies on homosexuality in American cities. In his book Homosexuality in Men and Women, the product of his research carried out in 1893, the sexologist discussed “an encounter with a Negro girl” who “turned out to be a male prostitute,” thus establishing the first proof of queer life in Chicago’s Black community. Hirschfield however does not in fact determine the sexual orientation of the young Black man on Clark Street, nor his geographical location (North or South), and gives no concrete proof of his activities (the mere fact that he was on Clark Street or that he was wearing women’s clothing does not necessarily mean he was a prostitute.)

Invitation to a Lecture given by Magnus Hirschfield at the Dill Pickle Club in 1931. Hirschfeld’s lecture at the Dill Pickle Club in 1931 was said to have drawn a record-breaking crowd of over 300. (Newberry Library: Dill Pickle Club Records). Courtesy of the Newberry Library.

Black Newspapers and Queer Subjects

The Chicago Whip often commented on homosexuals’ presence in the Stroll, the main street of Bronzeville. The column “Nosey Sees All Knows All,” written under the pen name “Nosey,” often discussed the lives of Bronzeville’s homosexuals.

As Chicago’s Black population grew at the beginning of the twentieth century, Bronzeville counted a number of Black newspapers such as The Chicago Bee, the Chicago Whip or the Chicago Defender. In order to foster a sense of community, these publications relied heavily on community gossips and entertainment reviews.

“Nosey Sees All Knows All,” Chicago Whip, November 6, 1920, 2 : "Nosey was out on Haloween Eve and what he saw would fill a book. he was one lady, the mother of sex children, out in men's clothes, switching like a bride's train with a cigarette stuck jauntily in the corner of her mouth."

The Chicago Whip often commented on homosexuals’ presence in the Stroll, the main street of Bronzeville. The column “Nosey Sees All Knows All,” written under the pen name “Nosey,” often discussed the lives of Bronzeville’s homosexuals. In November 1919, Nosey, who was “out on Halloween Eve,” had seen “the mother of six children,” who “had on a pair of men’s trousers, face covered with powder, with hair cut just like a woman.” While these descriptions attest to the visibility of queers on Chicago’s South Side, and their relative acceptance; the writer does not appear to show hostility toward the people he described. Homosexuality, in its everyday existence, rarely made the front page of the newspapers. Rarely would the Chicago Whip publish articles regarding unfortunate outings, such as this November 1920 article asking the question “Have We Had a Sex Problem Here?” This article told the story of Sherman Robinson, resident of 3521 Wabash Avenue, the “plaintiff in one of Chicago’s most unusual divorce cases.” According to the reporter, the couple had “been living happily until September 1916, when Ida [Robinson’s wife] had left [him] for a woman she had previously met in Paducah, Kentucky.”

“Have We Had A Sex Problem Here?”, Chicago Whip, November 27, 1920: Sherman Robinson, 3521 Wabash Ave, was t he complainant in one of the most peculiar divorce cases to yet be heard in Chicago, when last week he asked complete divorce from his wife, Ida May Robinson, on the grounds that she had forsaken him to run away with another woman. Robinson married at Metropolis, IL, in November 1910, and lived with his wife in marital peace and harmony until September 1916, when she left him without any cause with a girl she had formerly known in Paducah, KY. J.H. Mobley, 3007 State Street, testified that Mrs Robinson came to him and requested a room for her girl friend which she and Mrs Robinson occupied. Judge Sabbath granted the decree."

As early as 1912, The Chicago Defender encouraged its readers to attend Drag Balls. At this "Grand Masque Ball," the third prize - a leather purse - was given to the best female impersonator.

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