Spreading the Word

Thank you to everyone who’s sharing the story of ART AND PEP. Check back here for news and updates about our filmmaking efforts.

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WBEZ Chicago

‘Carrying The Torch’: How Sidetrack Owners Paved The Way For Chicago’s Gay Community

When Art Johnston moved to Chicago to finish his graduate degree in the 1970s, he said he only planned on staying a year. Then he met the love of his life: José Pepe Peña.

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Telemundo Chicago

‘Sidetrack’: décadas de diversión, amor y activismo en la comunidad gay

Pepe y Art son los dueños de la discoteca ‘sidetrack’ y conocidos líderes de Chicago por los derechos de la comunidad LGBTQ.

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The Advocate

A Love Story That Birthed an Iconic Gay Bar and a Lifetime of Activism

Chicago activist and bar owner Art Johnston and his partner in life and business, Pepe Peña, star in the upcoming film Art and Pep.

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GoPride

'Art and Pep' spotlights the life and love of Chicago civil rights leaders

'ART AND PEP is the love story behind the long battle to love – and live – freely,' says director Mercedes Kane

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Block Club Chicago

Upcoming Film ‘Art And Pep’ Tells Decades-Long Love Story Behind LGBTQ Bar Sidetrack — And The Fight For Gay Rights In Chicago

The documentary chronicles the 40-year relationship of LGBTQ civil rights leaders Art Johnston and Pepe Peña, owners of Sidetrack in Lakeview.