The Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame held its annual celebrity auction at Sidetrack, 3349 N. Halsted. Auctioneers for the Sept. 23 event included Circuit Mom and Renae Ogletree. The former began auctioneering after marching to the podium in a wedding gown, escorted by volunteer Ali Abbas, a former Windy City Times 30 Under 30 honoree. Chili Pepper was among those who kept the crowds entertained, but she was a focus of the evening for more than her talent as a performer: One of the silent-auction items was a portrait of her by Windy City Times writer Emmanuel Garcia, which fetched $300. Other raffle and auction items included various pieces of art; tickets to About Face Theatre; and a one-night stay at Hyatt Regency Chicago. David St. Martin, on the committee of the Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame, said to Windy City Times that ‘ [i] t’s a community event to bring awareness and to bring money so we can honor [people in the community], since we’re the only city with a [gay and lesbian] Hall of Fame.’ Photos and text by Yasmin Nair
Hall of Fame auction runs hot and Chili
