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Gaymart in Chicago

My other half at the time, Eric, and I were having a great time in Chicago Memorial Day weekend 2000 (his first time to Chicago).  Understandably, therefore, we were very disappointed in Boystown when we went to the "Gay Mart" that is so popular at 3457 N. Halsted Street (773-929-4272 in case you want to give them a piece of your mind).

Eric checked in our bags at the Gaymart and then Eric, who is of Puerto-Rican/Italian heritage, heard the owner, an older man behind the counter who we later found out was an owner, tell one of his employees "watch him."  The owner probably did not intend for Eric to hear it, but Eric did.  Moments later Eric realized that he was indeed being followed by this employee and came over to me.  I had been browsing in another part of the store and had intended to buy some items, but after hearing what had transpired, I was too disgusted by the owner's behavior to continue with my purchase.

When Eric asked for his bags back, he told the store owner "too bad", without any further explanation, to which the owner said "too bad what?"  We then left the store in haste and continued down Halstead to the great Bar-B-Q at Bucks, a local bar where we were to meet a bunch of guys who were there for the same gathering.  There I overheard someone who was grilling for the attendees recommend Gaymart to someone.  After he mentioned the owner's name, Shelly, he said that that the owner was very sweet.  But before missing a beat, his partner, who was helping him grill, said, "no, he's not, he's a bitch."  They both laughed.  I then asked for a hamburger and told them that my other half, Eric, had just been followed around the store at the behest of the owner and they did not seem surprised.

It really upset Eric and me that this was taking place in a gay establishment and was done with such little tact.  It's ironic that this happened to us New Yorkers, who are not unfamiliar with racism, when Chicago's own Oprah Winfrey often speaks about an incident on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan before she was known worldwide when the store closed up in the middle of the day when her black face wanted to enter.

I hope that anyone who thinks about patronizing Gay Mart on Halstead in the future keeps in mind what kind of person owns the place.  We would also like to hear from others about whether they have had any bad experiences in this establishment.

I have contacted the Illinois Human Rights Commission and plan to file a formal complaint.