He was a critical contributor to a wide range of political, social, business, health and other causes. Leather, owner of Man's Country and the Gold Coast bar, publisher of the GayLife newspaper in the '80s, political activist, and much more was an out business owner since the '50s. He even helped with the Kinsey Institute's sex research. He fostered organizations and dealt with Mafia and police payoffs, the Chicago Machine, anti-gay government policies, and controversy within the gay community.īecause of his businesses, he also knew celebrities from Marlene Dietrich to Rudolf Nureyev, from Divine to Sally Rand. Renslow reigned over a seven-decade empire, starting more than two dozen businesses�bars, discos, photo studios, health clubs, bathhouses, gay magazines and newspapers, hotels, restaurants and bookstores.
Chuck Renslow, 87, a longtime pillar of the LGBTQ community in Chicago and around the world, has died after multiple long-term health issues.
