There will be a celebration of the life of Rene Van Hulle—a.k.a. Fabiola the Great Buckingham Fontaine, Baroness II and Empress II—on April 12 at the nightspot 3160, 3160 N. Clark, at 8 p.m.
Van Hulle, a member of the Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame and a longtime activist, passed away Feb. 27 at the age of 53. A native Chicagoan, he worked as a bartender, owner and/or manager of several clubs, including Annex 3 (now 3160) and Little Jim’s. Since 1980, Van Hulle was also an integral part of the fundraising organization known as the Imperial Windy City Court of the Prairie State Empire.
According to a release from the empire, the April 12 event will be ‘an evening celebrating the life and honorable deeds of our beloved friend and companion.’