Tracy Baim
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Tracy Baim | |
|---|---|
| Born | 1963 (age 61–62) |
| Education | Drake University |
| Occupation(s) | Journalist, writer |
| Years active | 1984–present |
| Known for |
|
| Movement | LGBTQ rights |
Tracy Baim (born 1963) is a Chicago-based LGBTQ journalist, editor, author, and filmmaker. As one of the founders of Windy City Times (WCT), she is the current owner of the newspaper and Windy City Media Group. She is also a former publisher of the Chicago Reader newspaper.
In addition to her publishing career, she has also written 14 books like Out and Proud in Chicago: An Overview of the City’s Gay Movement (2008), Obama and the Gays: A Political Marriage (2010), and Gay Press, Gay Power (2012).
Baim was born in 1963 in Chicago, Illinois into a family of journalists and photographers.[1] Her mother was Joy Darrow (1934–1996)—the former Chicago Tribune reporter and grandniece of Clarence Darrow who was born in Whitefish Bay, Wisconsin.[1][2] Her father is photographer Hal Baim, who is also involved with the WCT.
Baim attained a journalism degree from Drake University in the field of news-editorialism in 1984.[2]
Career
In 1985, Baim, Drew Badanish, Bob Bearden, and Jeff MacCourt founded Windy City Times, an LGBTQ-focused newspaper. Baim also started Sentury Publications to publish the paper.[3][4] She is currently the publisher and executive editor of the paper. She also co-founded another newspaper Outlines in 1987 after leaving Sentury.
Baim joined the Chicago Reader in 2018.[5] Baim resigned in 2022.[6]
Awards and honors
- 1994: Chicago Gay and Lesbian Hall of Fame Inductee.[7]
- 1994: Chicago Torch Award winner. Given by the Human Rights Campaign Fund.
- 1995: Crain’s Chicago Business 40 Under 40 leader.[8]
- 2005: Community Media Workshop’s Studs Terkel Award.[9]
- 2012: Top 10 selection from the GLBT Round Table of the American Library Association for Gay Press, Gay Power.[10]
- 2013: Lifetime Achievement Award. From the Chicago Headline Club at the 37th annual Peter Lisagor Awards for Exemplary Journalism.[10]
- 2014: Fueling the Frontlines Awards honoree.[8]
- 2014: Association of LGBTI Journalists Hall of Fame Inductee.[10]
Baim was also nominated in 2013 for a Lambda Literary Award for LGBT Studies[10] for Gay Press, Gay Power.