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Southern urban charm
Metro living in the Carolinas
page 17
Noted . Notable . Noteworthy . LGBT News & Views
Volume 23 . Number 23
Ballroom fever
‘Burn the Floor’
comes to BPAC
page 19
March 21 . 2009
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‘Dangerously’
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Gay play on French
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page 17
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GGF hires new
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- 2 MARCH 21 . 2009 • QNotes
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MARCH 21 . 2009 • QNotes
3
P E R S P E C T I V E
Editor’s Note
by Matt Comer . Q-Notes staff
N.C.’s religious right:
Digging their own graves
doing our side a huge favor.
“I think we’ve seen moderate legislators who could go either way on
our issues really get sick and tired of
the negative attacks on our community from the religious right,” Palmquist
told me.“I actually think that some of
the rhetoric that they’ve been spouting can
work to our advantage.”
It is time for North Carolina to move into
the 21st century and forget the backward,
harmful legacy of anti-gay hatred and bigotry.
Legislators and conservative activists who
stand against the safe schools bill really only
do it for one reason: they don’t want queer
kids protected.And, there’s really only one reason to not want the LGBT kids protected —
these folks believe they shouldn’t be.
Rabid Right leaders like Tami Fitzgerald,
executive director of NC4Marriage (and the
attorney at N.C. Family Policy Council), have
said the safe schools and sex ed bills will open
the door to having children taught that gay
relationships are acceptable.Although that’s
really not the intention of the two bills, I really
don’t mind if that’s the outcome.
The current abstinence-only education is
a joke — teens are getting pregnant by the
bus load and straight and gay kids are getting infected with life-long and sometimes
In the past few weeks we’ve seen North
Carolina’s religious right (I like to refer to
them as “Rabid Righties”) praise and laud a
proposed state constitutional amendment that
would discriminate against LGBT people and
jump, scream, yell and holler over proposed
pieces of legislation that would offer safety —
physically, mentally and otherwise — to Tar
Heel youth, regardless of sexual orientation
and gender-identity.
The Rabid Righties have been steamrolling
the American Promise as they head across the
state pushing through local, municipal resolutions in support of a state constitutional
amendment banning any civil recognition of
relationships between adults other than those
of married, one man-one woman couples. In
most counties and cities, these insidious resolutions have passed unanimously. Only one
county, that I know of, has had the cajones to
defeat the resolution presented to them.
Groups like Return America, led by radically anti-gay Winston-Salem pastor Ron
Baity, the teetotaling
Christian Action League
and NC4Marriage, a coalition run by the N.C. Family
Policy Council (although
they won’t openly admit it),
are vying for their chance to
make North Carolina just
like all our other Southern
neighbors. North Carolina,
thank God, remains the
only state in the southeastern U.S. without an anti-gay
amendment.
N.C. state Rep. Rick Glazier stands with fellow members
of the N.C. General Assembly at a press conference introBut all this clamoring
ducing the School Violence Prevention Act in the House
and rabid, frothy-mouthed
insanity is beginning to have and Senate.
Photo Credit: EqualityNC
an effect opposite of what I
can only imagine Baity, the Action League and
deadly diseases because they aren’t being
NC4Marriage actually desire.
taught how to protect themselves and they
Since Q-Notes’ last print issue, two key
aren’t receiving the fair, equitable and safe
pieces of legislation were finally introduced in
acceptance and support they need from menboth houses of the General Assembly. The first,
tors and school leaders.
the School Violence Prevention Act, would proWhile the right is worrying about sin and
tect students from harassment and bullying
eternal damnation, young people in this state
regardless of sexual orientation and genderare making horrible, ignorant and preventable
identity, among other enumerated categories.
choices now — choices that will impact their
The second, the Healthy Youth Act, would
lives here on earth long before they reach
repeal the state’s miserably failed “abstinencethose pearly or fiery gates. I don’t think God’s
only” sex ed courses and replace them with a
gonna mind if we give them the tools to promuch better, more useful, instructive and edutect themselves as they grow, make mistakes
cational comprehensive curriculum.
and live to make better ones.
These bills aren’t new. Moderate and proNorth Carolina’s rabid, deceitful religious
gressive legislators have been introducing
bigots need to get their heads out of the sand
them for years. This session, though, the comand into reality. If they really cared about this
munity, state and media are paying more and
state’s children, they’d be spending more time
more attention to the safe schools and sex ed
pushing for these two bills and less time
bills. The Rabid Right is to blame.
fighting to write discrimination into a docuTheir duplicitous lies about the effects of
ment created to ensure equality and justice.
the bills are getting the media’s attention. In
Instead, they’re too busy worrying about their
turn, community members and voters (who
own agenda.
overwhelmingly support both bills) are speakOur state motto challenges us “to be, rather
ing out and turning to their elected officials,
than to seem.” I’m telling our dear religious
urging them to vote for and co-sponsor them.
right to cool it and to be real Christians —
It looks as though the right is digging their
caring and working for the outsiders and marown grave.
ginalized — rather than to only seem so
Ian Palmquist, executive director of
under their false veneer of “because the Bible
EqualityNC, agrees that the religious right is
says so” bullshit. Q
4
Anything But Straight
ideologues and the uneducated white underclass with a token perby Wayne Besen . Contributing Writer
son of color up in front
of the TV to obscure the
all-white, all reactionary,
all backward and there is
In pandering to the fanatical and the fearno global warming, rube reality.”
ful — both religion and Republicanism may
The Republicans Schaefer is referring to
have compromised their future.
have lately come out of the woodwork in Utah,
First, the Republican Party seems in an
where State Sen. Chris Buttars called LGBT
awfully big rush to implode with Rush
advocates,“the meanest buggers.” A rightLimbaugh as its mercurial mouthpiece. The
wing organization,America Forever, placed
GOP’s other savior, Michael Steele, is just a big
full-page ads in the Salt Lake dailies comparmouth who seems more suited to Limbaugh’s
ing gay men and lesbians to “druggies” and
talk show gig than chairman of the party. The
“hookers.” Of course, Utah Republicans might
GOP’s first African-American leader, Steele,
know about these things.A new study reveals
promised a “hip hop makeover” that would
that the conservative state leads the nation
attract even “one-armed midgets.” It is Steele,
with 5.47 internet pornography subscribers
however, who is the incredibly shrinking
per thousand.
chairman, with his promised “Big Tent” turnSimilar to the Republican Party, religious
ing into a circus act.
organizations have catered to the crazies for
This carnival of “conservatives” has led the
far too long. The “ex-gay” organization
once-mighty Republican Party to O.J.
Exodus International is a perfect example. It
Simpson-like popularity levels.An NBC/Wall
travels the world to proclaim its “love” for
Street Journal poll recently put Republican
homosexuals.Yet, a board member, Don
approval at just 26 percent, compared to
Schmierer, spoke at a Ugandan conference
Barack Obama’s 68 percent.
that pledged to “wipe out” gay practices.
The state of the modern GOP was best
Schmierer joined Holocaust revisionist Scott
captured on CNN’s “D.L. Hughley Show,” when
Lively to urge Uganda to continue its persecuthe host interviewed Frank Schaeffer.A former
tion of gay people, including life prison senmember of the Religious Right and author of
tences for the “crime” of homosexuality.
“Crazy For God,” Schaeffer said the GOP had
On March 8, the Vatican defended the
created a “hard-assed neo fascist kind of
excommunication of a nine-year-old Brazilian
direction in America.”
girl’s mother and doctors, who helped abort
He went on to say,“The Republican base is
the pregnant child’s twins. The procedure was
now made up of religious and neoconservative
recommended because delivering these babies
Religion and Republicanism
losing converts
might have killed the 80-pound girl. The local
archbishop, Jose Cardosa Sobrinho, justified
this despicable decision by saying,“God’s law
is above any human law.”
Such transparently vindictive versions of
“love” is why Christianity has lost followers in
Europe and is now draining them in the
United States.A new survey by researchers at
Trinity College in Hartford, Conn., documents
that the percentage of Americans identifying
as Christians has dropped to 76 percent of the
population, down from 86 percent in 1990.
Fifteen percent of Americans now say they
have no religion at all.
It may be that socially conservative
churches and their anti-gay pastors are directly responsible for much of the erosion of
Christianity. Sure, their mega-churches may be
growing. But, for every new person they
attract, they likely turn off 10 others to all religion with their vituperative sermons.
Focus on the Family’s “ex-gay”road show,
Love Won Out, is a perfect example of how the
radicals are ruining the image of Christianity.
The conference may lure a few self-loathing
dupes who briefly claim they have “prayed away
the gay.” But, for every temporary convert (it
rarely, if ever, lasts a lifetime) they turn off thousands of gay people to all religious belief. How
does Focus on the Family justify this as a “win”?
Even as the Religious Right rapidly contracts, conservatives are foolishly demanding
that Republicans veer further right. Come to
think of it, Rush Limbaugh may be the perfect
leader for a party intent on alienating the
majority while talking endlessly and aimlessly
to itself. Q
5
by Shane Windmeyer, Charlotte, N.C.
Imagine: $700,000 for local LGBT advocacy and support
It is over. Tux rentals are returned. Gowns
are at the dry cleaners. Checks are written.
Cocktails consumed. Credit cards are swiped.
Photos adorn Facebook.A collective sigh —
once again, we imagine another step taken
toward equality.
After five years in Charlotte, it is good to ask
what the return on investment has been having
the Human Rights Campaign Carolinas Dinner
in our backyard. In justifying the $700,000
raised, a conservative estimate, HRC will say
they have an active presence in the Carolinas
through tabling at Pride celebrations, lobbying
for national legislation and, of course, hosting
events that are fundraisers for HRC. The HRC
Dinner has helped our community in the eyes
of local politicians and big corporations who
realize we do exist now. Plus, there are many
wonderful talented local volunteers who work
tirelessly to plan the dinner.
This year’s dinner theme was “IMAGINE:
What do you Imagine?” So, let us for a
moment imagine if that estimated $700,000
had been spent for advocacy and support in
our local community.
Imagine if the Charlotte Lesbian & Gay
Community Center had a budget to pay for
professional staff salaries (director, assistant
director, programs coordinator) comparable
to HRC staff salaries. Or, just imagine if our
local center had a budget that would pay for
more than utilities and rent.Ask yourself:
Would HRC’s Joe Solmonese work for under
$35,000 a year as CEO? What type of quality of
a director would HRC get? Would HRC be as
effective if they ran solely on volunteer support without any staffing? Of course, not.Why
do we expect our center to do that?
Imagine if MeckPac had $50,000 to back
an openly LGBT candidate to run, for the first
time ever, on the ballot for local city office,
county commissioner, etc. Think of the hearts
and minds in Charlotte that would change by
having a local LGBT leader in our community
live and lead by example.
Imagine if the Charlotte Business Guild
could have the necessary resources to create an
LGBT economic development plan with a team
of professionals — businesses, developers,
planners and investors. The plan could support
the growth and development of LGBT and ally
owned businesses, even possibly an LGBT and
6
ally neighborhood living community.
Imagine if Time Out Youth could have more
resources to help LGBT homeless youth get off
the streets and have safe housing, education
and support with health issues — specifically
our young transgender populations.
Imagine if RAIN could have increased
monies to focus on the alarming rate of gay
men who are rapidly growing in the number
of new HIV cases or more money for health
services reaching to LGBT persons of color.
Imagine the possibilities. The list is truly
endless on what we can do locally to advocate
and support LGBT equality at home.
If anything, HRC and the dinner have
helped Charlotte realize that we can throw a
great party and raise a lot of money. But was
the $700,000 raised by the HRC Carolinas dinners a good investment to get us any closer to
achieving LGBT equality?
The decision last year by HRC (or as some
have said, the Human Rights Compromise) to
not stand united for inclusion of transgender
people in employment non-discrimination
legislation makes one wonder.What about the
fact that HRC as a national political organization still has yet to pass one single piece of
pro-LGBT legislation into law? Let us hope
that with a Democratic President and
Congress this will surely change.
What I do know is that I can now buy a
spiffy pair of underwear with an equality logo
on it and a Harvey Milk embroidered track
jacket from the HRC store. I would like to
think the $700,000 has done more — but I
am unsure, frankly.
Some may see my remarks as critical,merely
pointing blame and nothing more.After all,it
makes us feel uncomfortable to think that we
believe in an organization that has not been successful with our money.But,trust me,I am looking in the mirror myself.I was one of the first cochairs who originally brought the HRC dinner to
Charlotte.I was a HRC Board of Governor for
two years,until I resigned.I had been a volunteer
since 1992 when I was in college.I stood by HRC
and part of me still does believe,maybe naïvely,
in what HRC can do for LGBT equality nationally.But,I have also witnessed the bad side of an
organization that has actively worked to stamp
out other regional and national organizations’
efforts and take all the credit so they can raise
A C T I V I S M
more money.Whether we admit it or not,
HRC has become a political fundraising
machine — at the peril of others within our
own LGBT and ally family.
Next year the HRC dinner will move to
Raleigh. Now we have an opportunity far
greater than HRC. Charlotte must begin by
doing some soul searching.
Our LGBT and ally community is only as
good as each of us can imagine.Our local
LGBT and ally community needs to have
that $700,000 and more in order to continue
to grow over the next five years.We deserve
professionally paid staffing at our Lesbian &
Gay Community Center and other LGBT
local organizations so we can ensure quality
leadership and vision for the future.We also
need volunteers and more opportunities to
recognize their efforts.And,we need money.
If Charlotte can do it for HRC,then we
can do it for ourselves.Put what you imagine
into action today,whether that be volunteering or writing a check.Start now by investing
in something you believe in locally.Q
— Shane Windmeyer is executive director
of Campus Pride, based in Charlotte, N.C.,
the leading national organization for student leaders and campus organizations
working to create safer, more welcoming college environments for LGBT students.
For more, visit www.shanewindmeyer.com.
Q-Notes strives to provide the Carolinas LGBT
community with an open forum for discussion
and commentary. The views of guest commentators do not necessarily represent the official
views or positions of Q-Notes, its editorial staff
or publisher.
GGF hires new exec director
Luck Gambrell Davidson brings
‘wealth of experience’
by Matt Comer Q-Notes staff
GREENSBORO — The Guilford Green
Foundation (GGF), the Triad-area’s largest
LGBT charitable foundation, on March 12
announced the hiring of a new executive
director.
Luck Gambrell Davidson
replaces the group’s first
Executive Director Cecelia
Thompson, who left to take
a position with Action
Greensboro late last year.
Thompson had served as
the foundation’s first fulltime staffer.
“We are very excited
about Luck coming on
board and leading GGF to
new heights,” GGF Board CoChair Ivan Canada said in a
statement.“Her knowledge
of the Triad’s non-profit
community will prove
invaluable as she spearheads
development efforts, as well as efforts at garnering national attention for the LGBT community’s needs.”
The GGF board said Davidson brings a
“wealth on non-profit experience and
fundraising expertise.” She has previously
served in leadership roles with National
Conference of Community and Justice,
Community Foundation of Greater
Greensboro, Joseph’s House, YWCA,
Greenhill Center for NC Art and the
Greensboro Public Library Foundation. In
the political arena, Davidson has worked on
the campaigns for U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan and
former Gov. Jim Hunt.
“I have a love for my
community, which is manifested in my participation
in the civic and cultural life
of Greensboro,” Davidson
said.“My involvement in
Greensboro’s public sector
and non-profit community
has given me a wide range
of experience and has led
me to form relationships
with people from all walks
of life, backgrounds and
cultures.”
The Guilford Green
Foundation annually grants
funds to Greensboro-area
LGBT community groups.
Last year, they granted out
more than $70,000. Their endowment
includes more than $350,000 in funds. GGF
also produces the popular “Green Queen
Bingo,” held several times a year.
[Ed. Note — This writer is a former member of
the GGF Board of Directors.] Q
7
G L O B A L
International News
by Andy Harley . UK Gay News
Anti-discrimination laws
essential for Serbian
democracy
BRUSSELS — Members of the European
Parliament made calls in early March for the
Serbian government to put back on its agenda proposed anti-discrimination legislation
that would protect LGBT citizens. The draft
legislation is said to have been withdrawn
before the vote in the Serbian Parliament following pressure from the Serbian Orthodox
Church.
“In a country which aims to be a member
of the European Union it is unacceptable to let
minorities suffer discrimination including the
discrimination based on sexual orientation,”
said Michael Cashman, president of the allparty intergroup on gay and lesbian rights.
“If the Serbian government is serious
about its EU membership aspirations, they
will put the law back for the vote in the
Parliament,” he said.
“This is also a question about the democracy and rule of law,” Cashman continued. “A
country can not be considered democratic if
the government does not follow the constitution which clearly states the separation of
church and state.
“This Anti-discrimination law has been
drafted in an open and fair process where all
parties have been involved equally. To stop the
law because of the inconsequent last minute
intervention by the church is not democratic
in any way,” he concluded.
Also urging the Serbian Government to
reintroduce the anti-discrimination legislation
is the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan
Community Churches (UFMCC).
Preventing and sanctioning discrimination
is an obligation of any democratic European
state, the UFMCC said in a statement on
March 9.
“It is the top priority of the Serbian
Government to respect its international obligations, to show determination and a duty of
loyalty to all its citizens, not only to some of
them, and to resist the public pressure of the
Serbian Orthodox Church which is not serving the national interest in this case,” the
UFMCC said.
“By delaying the adoption of the anti-discrimination provisions, non-profit organizations dealing with minority rights, women’s
rights, HIV/AIDS and mental disability rights
are basically dismissed in their courageous
efforts to tackle discrimination,” the UFMCC
Bishop for Eastern Europe, Rev. Elder Diane
Fisher, said.
The UFMCC is calling on the Serbian
authorities to remain active in the creation
and building of a human rights culture in
which the anti-discrimination provisions are
an inseparable part.
“Intensifying the contacts between the
Serbian Government,the European Commission
and the European Parliament’s intergroup on
gay and lesbian rights will create a new,collaborative strategy to fight discrimination. The voice
of the Serbian civil society should be included
and taken seriously in this dialogue,and not
silenced,” the Bishop concluded.
Pols condemned for
anti-gay meeting
BRUSSELS — The attendance
of several Ugandan parliamentarians at an anti-gay conference in Kampala during the first weekend in March has been condemned by the European Parliament’s allparty “intergroup” for gay and lesbian rights.
The conference featured keynote American
speakers Scott Lively, Don Schmierer, Caleb
Lee Brundidge and Stephen Langa. Also
attending were Uganda-based groups working
to diminish human rights of gay and transgender men and women.
“It is very sad that representatives of
Ugandan parliament who should work for the
rights of every Ugandan citizen, gravely discredit themselves by meeting people who
work to spread hate and diminish rights of
other human beings,” said Michael Cashman,
president of the intergroup.“It would never be
acceptable for any member of the European
Parliament to meet, for example, representatives of Ku Klux Klan; thus I do not understand the rational of those Ugandan parliamentarians who agreed to the meeting with
anti-gay militants.”
Raúl Romeva, vice president of the intergroup for the GREENS/EFA party added: “If
these Ugandan parliamentarians are serious
about respecting the constitution of their
country and in particular Chapter 4 on
Protection and promotion of fundamental
and other human rights and freedoms, they
should instead be working towards abolishing those discriminatory laws of Uganda
which still deny full human rights to gay and
lesbian citizens.”
Officials urge religious leaders
to ignore Pride events
RIGA, Latvia — Elected officials in Riga
have urged religious groups to ignore the gay
Pride march to take place in the capital city
in May.
Andris Grinbergs, the executive director of
Riga, told a meeting of a working group of the
assembly of Christian congregations in the
city not to focus attention on the event, adding
that with little attention organizers might not
be so interested in pursuing similar events in
the future.
But the president of Latvian Christian
Radio said that Christians should not be
silent.
“We must take a categorical stand
against such marches or other types of
activities,” he said, according to Latvian
news agency LETA.
This year’s event in Riga will be the first
Baltic Gay Pride — officially Baltic Friendship
Days — which joins the LGBT communities
of the three Baltic countries, Estonia, Latvia
and Lithuania.
The Latvian LGBT advocacy group
Mozaika applied for the parade to the Riga
City Council last October. Two routes were
suggested, both starting and finishing at
Vermandarzs Park.
But an anti-gay Pride group,“Fund for the
Family,” has, in a counter move, applied for
permission to stage a Family Celebration
2009 in Vermandarzs Park on the same day
— May 16.
A final decision will be made by the
Commission on Meetings, Marches and
see next page >
8
D O M E S T I C
Demonstrations at Riga City
Council.
Janis Sicevskis, a representative of the Latvian Orthodox
Church, said that the church
“categorically objects” to the
parade, particularly if it passes
a church. He said that the
church is planning a special
prayer service to pray that people do not take part in the
event.
“We have asked the Riga
City Council to do everything
possible to ensure that the
march does not take place after
all,” he told LETA.
Representatives of the religious denominations have
agreed to write to Riga Mayor,
Janis Birks, and to Mr.
Grinbergs asking them not to
support the gay march, and to
support the rival “Fund for the
Family” event.
This year’s gay Pride in
Riga gets underway on May 15
and concludes on May 17 —
coinciding with the
International Day Against
Homophobia.
Next year, the event will be
staged in Vilnius, Lithuania. Q
— Andy Harley is the editor of
UK Gay News.
For more global news visit
www.ukgaynews.org.uk.
National News
Prop 8 challenge
goes to court
by David Stout . Q-Notes staff
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. —
Attorneys for same-sex couples, civil rights organizations and the state Attorney General’s office appeared
before the California Supreme Court on Mar. 5 to urge the court to strike down
Proposition 8.At issue in the case is whether the initiative process can be used
to take away a fundamental right only for one group of Californians based on
a trait — in this instance sexual orientation — that has no relevance to the
group’s ability to participate in or contribute to society.
The case is unprecedented because no other initiative-amendment has
successfully taken away a fundamental right only for a particular minority.
Because Proposition 8 would, for the first time, change the state constitution
in a way that strips a minority group of its right to equal treatment under the
law, California Attorney General Jerry Brown agrees that Proposition 8 should
be struck down.
Marriage has legislative support
MONTPELIER,Vt. — The Vermont House and Senate Leadership have
expressed their commitment to passing a marriage equality bill before the end
of the legislative session in May. The bill is expected to be introduced by
Senate President Peter Shumlin, Majority Leader Sen. John Campbell and the
Assistant Majority Leader Sen. Claire Ayer on Mar. 17. If passed by both chambers and signed by the governor, this would mark the first time marriage
equality has become law by the legislative process.
“We applaud Vermont’s House and Senate leaders for taking this bold step
and working to pass this legislation in this session,” said Human Rights
Campaign President Joe Solmonese.“The momentum for marriage equality is
real and tangible. For Vermont, which began this public conversation with civil
unions in 2000, to move towards marriage equality sends a powerful message
and we salute them.”
Trans Lobby Day coming up
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Transgender activists along with their families,
friends and allies will hold their annual congressional Lobby Day on April 28,
while the two days prior will be reserved for social networking (26th) and a
day of training and workshops (27th). The key issues for discussion with leg-
islators will be the need for an Employment Non-Discrimination Act that
includes gender identity, and a trans-inclusive hate crimes bill.
Registration is now open for Lobby Day. Signing up is important because
the sponsoring National Center for Transgender Equality is making appointments for registrants to visit their Congress people. For more information,
email [email protected] or call 202-903-0112.
Memorial scholarship honors teen
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Point Foundation, the nation’s largest scholarshipgranting organization for LGBT students of merit, is partnering with Jeffrey
Fashion Cares to create a scholarship in memory of Lawrence King, the 15year-old gay male student murdered at school just over a year ago in Oxnard,
Calif. The four-year Lawrence King/Jeffrey Fashion Cares Point Scholarship
will be awarded to a Point Scholar in the 2009/2010 academic year.
“It is an honor to create a scholarship in the name of a young man who,
from what I’ve read, showed so much promise and was a light for many around
him,” said Jorge Valencia, executive director and CEO of Point Foundation.
“Point is fortunate to have a wonderful friendship with Jeffrey in order to team
and create this scholarship.”
Dan Rothmann, co-chair of JFC events, added,“JFC’s involvement with the
Point Foundation stemmed directly from the senseless murder of Lawrence.
The Lawrence King/Jeffrey Fashion Cares Point Scholarship was set up to
ensure that this young man’s memory and the crime would not be forgotten.”
Adoption websites choose bigotry
NEW YORK, N.Y. — Rather than open their services to qualified same-sex
couples,Adoption.com and ParentProfiles.com have stopped doing business in
the state of New York, according to State Attorney General Andrew Cuomo. The
withdrawal stems from a July 2008 discrimination complaint filed with
Cuomo’s office on behalf of Rosario Gennaro and Alexander Gardner, a New
York City gay couple barred by the companies from posting their online adoptive-parent profile solely because they are same-sex partners.
Lambda Legal filed the discrimination complaint on the grounds that the
companies in question violated New York laws prohibiting discrimination
based on sexual orientation and marital status.Adoption Profiles was sued in
California in 2004 by the National Center for Lesbian Rights for violating that
state’s anti-discrimination law and, as a result, no longer does business there. Q
9
N O R T H
C A R O L I N A
North Carolina News Notes
Trask, will be mounted
from March 27-29 at The
by Lainey Millen & Matt Comer . Q-Notes staff Garage, 110 W. 7th St.
This Obie-winning OffCHARLOTTE Broadway musical tells the story of “internationally ignored song stylist” Hedwig Schmidt.
Still hanging out
The punk rock, hard rock, glam rock musical plays for four performances at 11 p.m. on
CHARLOTTE — LOAFERS (formerly
March 27 and 28 (21 and over); 8 p.m. on
Lesbians Over the Age of Forty, which is now
March 28 (18 and over); and 7 p.m. on March
open to all ages) is a support/discussion/social
29 (18 and over). Tickets are $10, regular, and
group that meets at 6:30 p.m. at The Lesbian
$7, student.
and Gay Community Center, 820 Hamilton St.,
Though not an official production from
Suite B11, on the second Friday of each month.
the University of North Carolina School of the
This group, which is now well into its secArts, the production is produced, designed
ond decade, is made up of a variety of women:
and performed by students and staff associatsome are out of the closet, others are in or in
ed with all five of the University’s schools
various stages in between. Some women have
(Drama, Dance, Filmmaking, Music and
partners, some are single and some are still
Design & Production).
married. The one thing they have in common
The play is directed by Joshua Morgan and
is that they like to get together to talk, eat,
stars Chris French as Hedwig Schmidt, both
have fun, laugh and learn from each other.
fourth-year actors in the School of Drama.
Informal gatherings are held throughout
the month. It is self-led, with no one serving
TRIANGLE
as its head.
A camping trip is scheduled for April and
ENC offers GLSEN report
other events were on the drawing board at
RALEIGH — Equality NC has received a
press time.
large shipment of a 117-page softcover bound
For more information, call Jeanne evenings
report from Gay, Lesbian and Straight
and weekends at 704-995-6326 or email
Education Network (GLSEN) entitled
[email protected].
“Involved, Invisible, Ignored: The Experiences
TRIAD of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender
Parents and Their Children in Our Nation's KIt’s angry inch time!
12 Schools.”
Administrative Coordinator Shawn Long
WINSTON-SALEM — “Hedwig and the
said,“To my knowledge, this is the first extenAngry Inch,” written by John Cameron
see next page >
Mitchell with music and lyrics by Stephen
10
N O R T H
sive report on the experiences of kids with gay
parents in schools. It's filled with graphs, stats
and tables.”
Information included in the report says that
gay parents tend to be much more involved and
proactive in schools; half of the students with
gay parents experience intimidation and bullying; and a fifth of parents feel they are mistreated and not included by school officials.
Copies are available free by request via
email to [email protected]. Supply name
and mailing address. ENC will cover postage
and handling.
For more information on ENC, visit
www.equalitync.org.
STATEWIDE
Campus climate survey released
CHARLOTTE — Do you consider your
campus to be gay-friendly? Does your campus
have work to be done on transgender issues?
What does it mean to be an LGBT student,
staff or faculty member on your campus?
Campus Pride seeks undergraduate and
graduate students, staff, faculty and administrators who identify as LGBT people to participate in the comprehensive assessment
through the National LGBT College Climate
Survey. The survey is housed under the Q
Research Institute for Higher Education
(QRIHE), the national center for the scholarly
study of LGBT people in higher education.
The QRIHE is owned and operated by the
national non-profit organization Campus
Pride. Dr. Susan R. Rankin of The
Pennsylvania State University serves as
C A R O L I N A
research director. Dr. Warren J. Blumenfeld of
Iowa State University is the associate research
director. Institutional Review Board approval
has been granted nationally for this study. In
accordance, participation is confidential and
data specific to individual higher education
institutions will not be identified in the final
analysis. Once completed, any participant
will have the opportunity, if chosen, to register for $500 cash and a free cruise aboard
RSVP Vacations.
“Nationally there is much work to be done
to better serve LGBT students and the larger
campus community. Our goal is to provide an
assessment that can create positive change
and safer, more inclusive LGBT colleges and
universities,” Rankin said. She added,“Campus
Pride’s National LGBT College Climate Survey
offers an annual, comprehensive means to
provide valuable information for program
planners and policy makers in tackling
emerging issues on campus.”
This research examines emerging issues,
trends and changing demographics of LGBT
people in higher education. Research allies
include American College Personnel
Association – College Educators International,
Consortium of Higher Education LGBT
Resource Professionals, Gay & Lesbian
Alliance Against Defamation, Human Rights
Campaign, NASPA – Student Affairs
Administrators in Higher Education, National
Gay & Lesbian Task Force, National Youth
Advocacy Coalition and RSVP Vacations.
For more information, call 704-277-6710
or email [email protected]. To participate, visit www.campuspride.org/research.
Queer groups abound
STATEWIDE — Whether you are a
Facebook, MySpace person or you are engaged
in Google,Yahoo, etc., groups, there's always
one that will meet one's taste palette. There's
no exception to that in the Tar Heel State.
Among a fast growing network of LGBT
and/or friendly Meetups are:
The Winston Salem LGBT & Straight Allies:
They will be attending an Adam Foundation
Martini Night event on April 8 at 6 p.m. They
will meet on March 23 and April 27 at 7 p.m.
with PFLAG Winston Salem Adult Support
Group (which is held on the fourth Monday
each month). lgbtfriends.meetup.com.
Lesbians Who Love Movies: On April 4,
there will be a dinner/movie night at 6 p.m. at
a member's home in Hillsborough. www.meet
up.com/Lesbians-Who-Love-Movies.
Geeks and Gaymers of NC: Bad Sci-Fi
Movie Night, March 28 at 5 p.m. at a private
residence in Durham. geek.meetup.com.
Homme Artist and Artisans: They will
meet on April 29 at 6:30 p.m. in Charlotte.
www.meetup.com/homme-artist-and-atisans.
Triangle Couples Without Kids Social
Group (DINKs-if we must): On March 27 at 7
p.m. they will meet for a social gathering.
childfree.meetup.com.
Charlotte Gay Professionals: On April 3,
join members at a local restaurant for an
evening of networking and socialization.
www.meetup.com/The-Charlotte-GayProfessionals-Meetup-Group.
Others to consider are: Triangle Community
Works Game Night (gayrights.meetup.
com/319); Fayetteville Area LBT Friends
(www.meetup.com/The-Fayetteville-LBTMeetup-Group); Lesbian Couples (www.meet
up.com/lesbiancouples); Lenoir Gay & Lesbian
Community (www.meetup.com/Lenoir-GLBTSocial); Triangle Area Gay Scientists
(gaypros.meetup.com/328); and more!
Visit the Meetup site at www.meetup.com
and search for one of a multitude of groups
near you. Some are closed which require moderator approval for membership.
Yahoo groups include ones for NOW chapters, PrideSisters, GLBT Pagans, Rainbow Kids
NC and NC Family, to name a few.
Got an LGBT-focused group or organization (religious, sports, social action and more)
to promote? Let us know We’ll be glad to share
the news with our readers. Q
info: Announce your community event in NC News Notes.
email: [email protected].
11
12
L I G H T S
-
C A M E R A
-
A C T I O N
GayCharlotte Film Festival kicks off April 3
Fest is first-ever large-scale LGBT
cultural event since 1990s’
OutCharlotte festival
by Will Billings . Contributing Writer
CHARLOTTE — For LGBT Charlotteans
who miss the queer cultural scene celebrated
by the 1990s’ OutCharlotte festival, the long
wait will come to a close during the first weekend in April.
The first annual GayCharlotte Film
Festival kicks off at 6 p.m. on Friday,
April 3 at the Lesbian & Gay
Community Center of Charlotte.
The Festival, which runs
through Sunday,April 5,
features more than a
dozen LGBT-themed
films, some with a
local Charlotte
and North
Carolina focus.
The films represent a wide variety
of tastes and styles,
including full-length
movies and shorts, documentaries and narrative fictions, as well as nationally and critically
acclaimed films on transgender issues, the
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy of the U.S. military and films by and about AfricanAmerican and Latino LGBT communities.
The event is sponsored by the Community
Center. Festival organizer Teresa Davis said
hosting the weekend-long event at the Center,
as opposed to renting space at an actual
movie theater, was as much about practicality
as economics.
“The Center’s rooms, located at The Music
Factory, are extremely versatile,” explained
Davis.“Some of the well-established,
mainstream Carolina film festivals screen many of their
movies at similarly-sized
venues, so it didn’t make
sense to rent a movie
theater when we could
bring audiences to our
wonderful space and pass the
cost-savings along to them.”
Davis said the Festival planning
committee was thrilled to learn that
Takeover Friday, a regular event popular
with gay and lesbian nightlife-goers, had
agreed to “takeover” one of the Friday night
films.All ticket holders will receive half-off
admission to the Garden & Gun Club, located
next door to the Center. The Takeover feature
film begins at 8 p.m., after the “Hometown
Shorts” series at 6 p.m.
Proceeds from the Festival benefit the
Community Center,“although the mission of
the Festival is as much about bringing quality
movies to our LGBT Community as it is about
raising funds so we can keep our doors open,”
Davis said.
Movies include “Ask Not” which address-
es challenges faced by gays in the military,
“Dear Jesse,” about a gay North Carolinian’s
ties to the late U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms and two
movies actually filmed at the Center: “Queer:
Out and About in Charlotte” and “Coming
Out/Coming In.”
Full-length features include “Hard” where a
young, gay cop must work in a homophobic
police unit while catching a serial killer who
murders gay johns, and “Christopher Street”
which is the East Coast version of L.A. television series “Noah’s Arc.”
Davis is also proud the Festival will screen
“Barbara & Tibby,” a work she said is of
“utmost importance” to all Carolina LGBT
communities. The film addresses Virginia’s
anti-gay marriage legislation and constitutional amendment.A similar amendment has
been introduced in the N.C. General Assembly
again this year; it has failed to gain traction in
five previous legislative sessions. Q
— The GayCharlotte Film Festival will be held
April 3-5 at the Lesbian & Gay Community
Center of Charlotte, 820 Hamilton St., Suite B11. For ticket information and movie schedules,
visit www.GayCharlotteFilmFestival.com.
13
F E A T U R E
stamp of approval
Gay researcher calls out HRC
for giving perfect score to
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Co.
corporate parent
by Matt Comer . Q-Notes staff . inDepth
ublic high schools; libraries and
museums; public and private colleges
and universities; hospitals; foundations and charities — the list of beneficiaries
of the legacy of R.J. Reynolds, his family and
the Winston-Salem tobacco company he
founded more than a century ago is long and
valuable — perhaps endless.
There is hardly a Carolina soul who will
debate the positive, economic influence
P
amounts of harm tobacco use causes in North
Carolina and to the LGBT community.”
In a late February letter sent to the Human
Rights Campaign — copied to Q-Notes and
others — Lee outlined his argument for
reducing Reynolds’ CEI score.
“While it is perfectly legitimate to report
on the workplace policies of the tobacco
industry,” Lee wrote to HRC,“I believe you
may have overlooked the evidence on corporate responsibility and inadvertently and incorrectly given a perfect score to Reynolds American
Tobacco (sic).”
Released annually, the CEI
ranks Fortune 500 companies,
and others, according to the
LGBT-friendliness of corporate
policies and practices. Scoring
criteria in the “corporate responsibility” section of the CEI requires
that a company must exhibit
“responsible behavior toward the
LGBT community,” and show that
it “does not engage in action that
would undermine LGBT equality.”
Fifteen points are deducted from
the scores of corporations found
to be engaging in harmful antiLGBT activity.
Lee said that Reynolds
American, and other companies,
have exhibited poor corporate
responsibility toward their LGBT
customers. In his letter, Lee said
An anti-smoking campaign targeted
to LGBT San Franciscans by SF Pride.
Reynolds and other Tobacco Road tycoons
had on this state, its people or its society
and government. But one openly gay
researcher at the Tar Heel State’s premier
“public ivy” isn’t convinced that Reynolds
American, the tobacco company’s corporate
parent, is deserving of all the praise it’s
been getting from the Human Rights
Campaign, the nation’s largest LGBT advocacy
organization.
Joseph Lee, a social research specialist in
the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Department of Family Medicine’s Tobacco
Prevention and Evaluation Program, says that
Reynolds American shouldn’t have received a
perfect 100 score in the 2009 HRC Corporate
Equality Index (CEI).
“Being from Madison County, I am not
denying the long heritage of tobacco in North
Carolina,” Lee told Q-Notes in an interview via
email.“But, today, we cannot deny the huge
14
that the company has shown “irresponsible
and cynical behavior” toward LGBT people
through its marketing of a “product … directly and unequivocally linked to death and disability.” Lee says that Reynolds American’s
actions have created a “health inequality” and
that “disproportionate numbers of lesbian
women and gay men smoke and suffer from
the resulting death and disability.”
Lee contended that his main opposition to
Reynolds’ perfect 100 score stems from evidence of the company’s history of marketing
has increased tobacco use among LGBT peo-
F E A T U R E
ple. Study after study confirms that disproportionate numbers of lesbian and gay adults and
youth smoke.
“By giving a perfect score to Reynolds
American, the HRC is promoting health
inequalities, not corporate equality,” he said.
“Until tobacco companies stop selling addiction and disease to LGBT communities, they
should not be included in an index of equality.”
Lee’s page-and-a-half letter was referenced
and cited 25 times with research studies and
reports, some as recent as this year, showing
that LGBT people are more likely to start
smoking because of stress from discrimination
and oppression, persistent and targeted advertising by the industry and exposure to smoking environments, such as gay clubs and bars.
“For better or worse, bars and clubs have
long been an important part of our communities,” Lee told Q-Notes.“Many bars are, in
fact, paid by the tobacco industry to allow
and promote smoking. It is the social environment of smoky places, discrimination and
targeted marketing that pushes LGBT youth
to start smoking.”
Sally Herndon Malek, director of the
Tobacco Prevention and Control Branch at the
N.C. Division of Public Health, told Q-Notes
that her program had attempted to gather
information specific to North Carolina lesbian,
gay and bisexual (LGB) communities and
their smoking habits.
In 2004, she and other staff attended the
NC Pride Fest and Parade in Durham. Out of a
small sample of 136 surveys collected there
— one of the only Carolina-specific attempts
•••••••••••••••••
Should companies
promoting addictive and
unhealthy products
(cigarettes, alcohol, etc.) be
included in the
Human Rights Campaign’s
Corporate Equality Index?
at LGB tobacco use data collection — Malek
found a higher rate of smoking among LGB
adults (42 percent) than the general population of adults in the state (24.8 percent, in the
same time period).Among non-smoking LGB
respondents, 47 percent said they were most
exposed to second-hand smoke in bars.
In particular, her community survey
showed that 59 percent of the North Carolina
LGB youths aged 18-24 reported using tobacco products. She said that only 31.3 percent of
youth the same age report smoking in the
general population.
“Rates are higher across North Carolina in
that population [of 18-24 year olds] in general
because there was a cohort of young people
who were smoking at higher rates,” she said.
“We have been successful in North Carolina,
beginning to put some things into practice
that really help prevent tobacco use initiation
among young people.”
In a publication of the community survey
results, Malek and her staff ceded that the
sample size was small, but that the data collected provided “some insight into tobacco
use prevalence in the LGB population in
North Carolina.”
Daryl Herrschaft, director of the HRC
Foundation Workplace Project, told Q-Notes
via phone that the national organization is
cognizant of the health-related ramifications
of tobacco use.“HRC does not accept sponsorship dollars from tobacco companies
because we recognize the harmful effects that
tobacco has done, and in some ways its disproportionate effect on our community …
We don’t want to play a role in advocating
smoking to our membership and to people
who come to our events.”
He said the CEI scores aren’t meant to
reflect anything other than a company’s treatment of LGBT employees.
“The Corporate Equality Index addresses only corporate policies that impact LGBT
people,” Herrschaft said.“It also addresses
external actions of the company that directly and primarily impact LGBT equality. The
Corporate Equality Index is only one measure of policies for LGBT employees and we
strongly encourage everyone to seek out
and pay attention to other indicators that
are important to them.”
see HRC on 16
See the options and vote at
www.q-notes.com
15
F E A T U R E
HRC called out for giving perfect score
to Reynolds American
from page 15
Herrschaft said that CEI scores are based
on corporate policies and practices relating to
non-discrimination policies, health insurance
policies and domestic partner benefits, as
well as corporate actions such as supporting
anti-gay organizations or taking positions on
legislation that hurts the LGBT community.
The CEI scoring “is not the right information to be looking at,” he said, if one is
concerned primarily with the health of the
LGBT community.
Lee said HRC should be taking into consideration the harm companies cause
through other actions outside of legislative
and philanthropic arenas. He cited Reynolds’
“Project SCUM,” or “Sub-Culture Urban
Market” plan.
In his letter to HRC, Lee claimed that
Reynolds had “planned Project SCUM (that’s
Sub-Culture Urban Market) to target gay men
in the Castro District of San Francisco.”
In a written response to several questions
posed by Q-Notes, Seth Moskowitz, a communications director with Reynolds American,
said that Project SCUM was never a finalized
or utilized marketing plan.
“It was a proposal in a document from one
[of] R.J. Reynolds’ sales offices for a marketing
program called, Sub Culture Urban Marketing,”
Moskowitz explained.“This inappropriate and
offensive document presented an idea for marketing cigarettes to adult smokers who chose
16
alternative lifestyles. The proposal was never
pursued or put into action.”
Moskowitz added,“In 2001, when R.J.
Reynolds became aware of this document,
the company saw that it used language that
was unacceptable, inappropriate, offensive
and insulting and the company publicly apologized. The document did not reflect the
opinions, policies or practices of the company — in fact, it could not have been more
opposed to R.J. Reynolds’ operating philosophy and practices.
“This thoughtless document did not, and
does not, represent R.J. Reynolds’ view of, and
respect for, its customers and employees.
Rather, the company used the discovery of
that document as a catalyst for communicating once again to its employees the management philosophies and practices by which the
company is to be run.”
While the Project SCUM plan was never
put into action, Lee nonetheless feels the
company has used advertising to draw in
new LGBT customers for Reynolds cigarette
brands.“The tobacco industry uses similar
strategies of making products more available and more appealing today,” he said.
“Instead of calling us scum, the industry
talks about inclusion, diversity, and responsibility. Either way, the purpose of targeted
marketing is getting LGBT youth and adults
to start smoking.”
Moskowitz admitted that R.J. Reynolds
Tobacco, as any other company would, wants
LGBT consumers to choose their brands over
others.“If the ultimate question is this: does
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company want LGBT
adult tobacco consumers to use an R.J.
Reynolds brand instead of a competitor’s
brand — the answer is, yes. The company
would like to earn the business of all adults
who have made the choice to smoke cigarettes or use tobacco products.”
He said that “gay adult tobacco consumers,
like the rest of the adult tobacco consuming
population, have the same ability and right as
the rest of the population to evaluate and
make informed decisions about whether or
not they want to use tobacco or any other consumer product.”
Although the company hasn’t run any
print advertising in more than a year,
Moskowitz said that the company had, in the
past, run cigarette advertising in publications
like The Advocate and Instinct.“It would not
be appropriate to exclude gay audiences or
media from R.J. Reynolds’ brand communications,” he said.
R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company and its
corporate parent, Reynolds American, adhere
to equal opportunity policies in employment
and hiring — policies that include sexual orientation and gender-identity.
Moskowitz said the company strives “to
ensure that LGBT employees are treated the
same as other employees.” In 2002, R.J.
Reynolds included LGBT employees and their
partners in medical, dental and vision benefits
under a domestic partner plan.
Lee is adamant in his opposition to giving
undue praise to tobacco companies.“We have
to stop the addition to the tobacco industry’s
flattery and money,” he said.“All the tobacco
industry’s marketing and promotion (including its inclusive policies) do is help sell cigarettes. Tobacco company ‘social responsibility’
to the LGBT community means a higher body
count in Winston-Salem and beyond. It does
not mean more rights and less discrimination.
“Smoking in LGBT communities is a social
justice issue,” he added.“Tobacco is the only
legal product that when used correctly leads to
disability and death. Our communities smoke
considerably more than straight folks, and we
thus suffer from earlier death and more disability due to tobacco-related diseases.As a community, we have not faced so many obstacles
only to lose our lives early from smoking.” Q
— Are you a smoker? Want to quit?
Get help by calling QuitlineNC at
1-800-QUIT-NOW (7848-669)
and visit www.becomeanex.org.
Both are free resources.
Find more LGBT-specific information at
www.lgbttobacco.org and
www.gaysmokeout.net.
Burning up the stage
page 19
Urban living with Southern charm
Carolinas cities offer variety in downtown, metro living by Matt Comer . Q-Notes staff
Y
ou don’t have
to move to
Atlanta, D.C., or
New York to get a
taste of urban, downtown living on the
East Coast. Cities
small and large across
the Carolinas offer
exciting options for
those who desire
something a bit more
than the usual
Southern suburban
experience.
Charlotte
The newest and
most luxurious development in the Queen
City is bound to draw
excitement from
across the Carolinas,
and perhaps the
entire southeastern
region.
The Vue, set to be
completed in mid-tolate 2010 according
to sales manager Rob
Vue Charlotte, currently under
construction at the 31st floor.
McCrorey, will
include more than
400 luxury units in a
51-story, towering
building over
Uptown’s First Ward.
The Vue’s units
start at $319,000 and
continue upward to
$2 million or more. It
will the be tallest residential building in
North Carolina.
McCrorey said that
the tough housing
market and economy
has “definitely slowed
down the pace of
sales,” but that units
are still being sold.
“We’re at 65 percent sold right now,”
he told Q-Notes. “We
are considered a luxury building in
Charlotte. People can
really perceive how
scarce this opportunity is going to be in
the future because so many
other projects here are being
postponed or canceled.”
The development will feature state of the art amenities
and security. McCrorey’s especially proud of the building’s
bio-metric finger-print control.
A 25-yard, Olympic-sized pool,
4,000 square foot work-out
facility, a concierge and 24hour doorman service is just
the beginning of what might
turn out to be the place for
Uptown Charlotte living.
info: www.vuecharlotte.com
Raleigh
It’s beginning to look a lot like
A rendering
gay town — you won’t have to
wait too awful long before a
veritable gayborhood pops up in downtown Raleigh.
The Hue, a seven-story condo development with first floor retail sits on the
corner of Glenwood and Hargett — right
across the street from The CC and next
to Legends. Those LGBT nightlife lovers
might enjoy themselves living so close to
their favorite watering holes in what
of the Hue Raleigh’s pool and courtyard.
developers are calling “the future of
downtown Raleigh living.”
Amenities in the Hue, scheduled for
completion this year, include a resident’s
cocktail lounge, contemporary courtyard
with pool and barbecue grill, private fitness
room and concierge service. Individual unit
features include spacious private balconies,
see Southern on 18
‘Dangerous’ liaisons with
queer lust, seduction, betrayal
Queen City Theatre to present all-male version of
play based on classic French novel
ince the 1782 publication of the
French novel “Les Liaisons dangereuses,” better known as
“Dangerous Liaisons” to the English-speaking world, European and American playwrights, and later filmmakers, have been
obsessed with capturing the spirit and
risqué sexuality of author Pierre Choderlos
de Laclos’ characters.
In April, Charlotte will get a taste of the
classic French tale in an all-male, gay version produced by Queen City Theatre
Company.
While mainstream media will likely turn
their attention to the retelling of the 1996
Charlotte “Angels in America” drama presented in “Southern Rapture” by Actor’s
Theatre, “Dangerous” will present a much
more openly sexual tale that has managed
to stay alive in the minds of Westerners for
centuries. This contemporary adaptation of
“Les Liaisons dangereuses” by playwright
Tom Smith is bound to turn some heads;
S
thank the heavens above Charlotte isn’t as
conservative as it was in 1996.
Director Glenn Griffin, one of four
Queen City Theatre founders, says that
despite the raw sexuality of the production, the piece has artistic and real-life
meaning. If art celebrates life, how can it
not celebrate and explore sex, a key component of it?
“I think the original novel could only do
so much for the period it was in,” Griffin
told Q-Notes during a recorded conversation available exclusively at Q-Notes Online.
“There is so much sexual energy suggested. The movies and plays based on novel
once again suggested all of that. But this
play really plays into the sex of it; the
game of it and the manipulation — all
of the ways that sex can be used, even
as a weapon.”
The sheer amount of open sexuality in
the play made casting difficult, a Queen
City Theatre founder and “Dangerous”
Cast of Queen City Theatre Company’s production of ‘Dangerous.’
Photo Credit: QCTC
actor Kristian Wedolowski said.
“Glenn was very clear in the auditions
as to what the show would be about,” he
said. “Some people did audition and did
get cast and got our phone call and had to
turn it down. Either they were gay and
their partners wouldn’t allow them to do
such a show on stage and others were
see Seven on 27
www.q-notes.com/qliving • QNotes
Q - L I V I N G
Southern charm dots Carolinas
from page 17
walk-in laundry rooms, wireless security
capability, hardwood floors and built-in,
stainless steel appliances.
info: www.hueraleigh.com
Winston-Salem
Once home to banking giant Wachovia,
the City of Winston-Salem offers downtown
living with a sense of small town charm.
With a population of a little over 200,000,
Winston’s downtown is an eclectic mix of
when those hot and sultry summer afternoons come our way.
But don’t expect One Park Vista to be
as affordable-sounding as the Nissen. One
Park is solely a condominium community,
with prices in the half-million dollar range
or higher. Sounds pricey, but some folks
must like it — only 19 units haven’t sold.
info:
oneparkvistawinstonsalem.org . nissenapartments.com
Greenville, SC
Interior view of
a Nissen apartment.
If living downtown in a larger city
has you squirming, don’t give up
hope. The town of Greenville in
Upstate South Carolina has a beautiful, charming downtown area full of
life, food, nighttime fun and more in a
sleepy Southern town size.
Greenville, population 57,000 or
so, sits in the county of the same
name — although the population
numbers sound small, we’re sure
you’ll find plenty of colorful gay folk
among the half-million or so people
living outside the city limits.
Greensboro
Like its nearby sister city of Winstonoffices, cool and relaxing nightlife, a vibrant
Salem, the City of Greensboro offers an
arts scene and the historic Old Salem.
exciting but quaint downtown complete
Two prime properties sit squarely in the
with great food and nightlife. Affordable
middle of all the action — the Nissen
downtown apartment residences make
Building Apartments and the new, almost
downtown living realistic for young professold out One Park Vista.
sionals.
Originally built in 1927 as an office
The Elms Apartments, a restored turn of
building, the Nissen has been a symbol of
the century hotel conversion, sits in the
Winston-Salem’s strong business legacy. In
old historic district of Greensboro, above
the late 1990s and early 2000s, plans to
renovate the building for resiA rendering of the completed
dential use finally went into
One Park Vista, with the taller,
construction phase. Although
older Nissen Building in the
condos were the developer’s
background.
original plan, the building is
now home to over 140 high
rise apartments, with rent for a
one bedroom starting at $795.
Two bedroom apartments run
for $1165-$1700.
Amenities, like a workout
room and rooftop pool with
rentable pexnthouse party
space, seals the deal.
Next to the Nissen is the
new development One Park
Table 16 restaurant. The Elm St. residences
Vista. On its website, developers say they
range from $675 to $1175 per month in
wanted to create a sense of “Uptown style”
price and 650 to 1,125 square feet in size.
and “Downtown living” while keeping a
Nearby dining and nightlife includes Natty
flair for suburban life. Porches and decks
Greene’s and M’Coul’s Public House.
accompany many of the units giving them
info: 336-272-0767 Q
an open and airy feel that’ll be just right
18
Q - L I V I N G
The men of ‘Burn
tory
y pose.
‘Burn the Floor’ strike
strike a preda
predator
Openly gay
gay cast member Robin
Windsor can be seen standing in the
center of the group
group..
Burnin’ up the stage
High-energy dance show coming to Charlotte
by David Stout . Q-Notes staff
o doubt about it: America is captivated by dancing at the moment. The
proof is all over TV — in the form of
current reality hits “Dancing With The
Stars,” “So You Think You Can Dance” and
”America’s Best Dance Crew” — and in
theater houses nationwide — where productions like “Riverdance,” “Stomp” and
“Tap Dogs” regularly play to sold-out audiences. In fact, at the time this piece was
being prepared “Riverdance” had only
days ago concluded a week-long run in
Charlotte.
Now, after just two weeks to catch our
collective breath, another dancing smash is
poised to open in the Queen City. This one,
called “Burn the Floor,” has most recently
been thrilling audiences at San Francisco’s
Post Street Theatre with its edgy, rebellious
take on Ballroom and Latin dancing.
The movement in “Burn the Floor” is a
high-voltage mix of Rumba, Cha-Cha,
Samba, Salsa, Waltz, Tango, Quickstep,
Swing and Jive. A cast of 16 award-winning dancers — including Australian
Ballroom dance champions and World
Latin American champions — has been
assembled from around the globe to bring
the show’s set pieces to pulse-pounding
life. The production is rounded out with
two percussionists and two vocalists who
perform live during various numbers.
The idea for “Burn the Floor” grew
from a display of Ballroom and Latin dance
the show’s Australian-born creator Harley
N
Medcalf experienced at Sir Elton John’s
50th birthday gala in London in 1997. He
eventually partnered with former World
Champion Latin and Ballroom dancers
Peta Roby and Jason Gilkison to produce
the project.
Gilkison, the show’s artistic director, is
also its choreographer — a position he
likewise held on “So You Think You Can
Dance” last season and on the NBC series
“Superstars of Dance,” which aired earlier
this winter. He told dance legend Rita
Moreno backstage after the San Francisco
premiere of “Burn the Floor” that he had
the cast watch her work in the film “West
Side Story” to see “perfection.”
The icon returned the compliment in a
gush of superlatives, Leah Garchik reported in the San Francisco Chronicle: “She
dropped to her knees to kowtow to them,
keeping up a stream of praise: ‘You’re
astonishing’; ‘You’re amazing’; ‘Who
wants a kiss?’; ‘You’re going to run forever, if you live’ (the routines are strenuous,
to put it mildly); ‘How wonderful you are’;
‘Bravo, bravo.’”
Audiences in Charlotte can judge for
themselves when “Burn the Floor” swings
into the Blumenthal Performing Arts
Center March 24 with shows scheduled
through March 29.
For more information, see the display
ad in this issue or visit www.burnthe
floor.com. To purchase tickets, call the
BPAC box office at 704-372-1000. Q
19
Q - L I V I N G
Drag Rag
by Miss Della . Contributing Writer
From blizzards and beyond — it’s way too fun!
Oh kids, time draweth nigh and my column
is due once again. My, my, my — what shall we
discuss this time? A pageant in a blizzard?
Rescuing Coco Couture’s and her friend’s things
from a car with no keys? (Thank goodness I
bought this year’s membership with AAA after
all). One never knows what will be encountered
in the wonderful world of pageantry, right?
And, speaking of Asheville queens, hats off
this time to my Cherokee sis Vivica Dupree
who won all categories at Miss Asheville
Sweetheart. Her runners-up were Manhattan
and Giselle St. James (Jacqueline’s daughter,
who was there to support and dance for dear
daughter).Another Sweetheart contest was
recently held at Warehouse 29. Cherries Jubilee
won Talent and the crown. Her RUs included
Sassi Stevenz (who won Creative Presentation),
Felicity Brylette (winning Creative Evening
Gown) and Vanessa Cottrell.
Shame on me for not mentioning that there
was a screening of “Pageant”in Atlanta not long
ago at the Plaza Theatre with Bubba D. Licious
and the Lady Bunny hosting. Sure wish it
would come to the Queen City! One star of the
movie,Victoria Parker, was recently on L.A.
Talk Radio talking about the movie and
“RuPaul’s Drag Race.” I’m sure that was a holler!
In national pageantry prelim news,congrats
are going out to Jodie Santana who recently won
Miss Missouri Continental Elite.Trinity Taylor of
Birmingham,AL just won Great Lakes EOY and
was crowned by the national titleholder,Nina
West (last year’s winner of the same prelim).
Hats off to Michigan’s Natalie Cole who was
recently crowned the newest Miss Unlimited in
Hickory.Her RUs were Alexis Nicole Whitney
and our Miss NC,Quindyn “Q”Campbell.
On the U.S.ofA.scene,we have aplenty to
report on.Our Miss At Large,Tajma Hall,tells
me that she and the other national titleholders
had the red carpet rolled out for them recently in
Las Vegas for the Sin City prelims.Royal treatment does not even begin to describe the things
these ladies enjoyed,I’m told — private shows,
VIP soirees and lovely seats to see the “real”Miss
America pageant! Apparently,the promoter
Stephan has all the right connections.Naomi St.
James won with RU Alina Maletti.April Reign
won the At Large with RU Alexis Nicole Whitney.
Amber Nixx won the Classic.All kinds of lovely
Texas girls in the mix.A big shoutout to my sis
20
Victoria LePaige who just won
Miss Arizona — this three-time former national
title-holder has her eyes on another rhinestone
prize.Get it,girl! Kudos also go out to the new
Miss AL Tiffany Rachels,Miss FL Natasha
Braxton with RUs Dorae Saunders and
Josephine (O’Hara) Andrews,Miss NJ Sahara
Davenport and Miss OK Mya Mokha Iman.
And, let us not forget the Mother Nature’s
nightmare that was Miss NC! It started out with
interviews at the host hotel and a great show at
Scorpio that night, featuring formers Tiffany
Bonet (celebrating her 10th anniversary),
Jessica Jade,Versage, plus Miss NC U.S.ofA.At
Large Eden Parque Divine (my first time seeing
this lovely queen) and the outgoing Miss NC,
Cierra Nichole. Then Kara Young-Ross flew in,
her bags were delayed and it just all kinda went
downhill from there for a little while. There
were rumors of postponing the pageant, but a
few dedicated folks pulled it off minus a few
contestants and most everyone else but the diehards (including myself). Brooke Divine won
Interview with a perfect score and Talent (and
the crown, too, obviously) and Raven Wood
won Gown and was named 1st RU. Other contestants included 2nd RU Cheetah Shaw and
Briana Love. Everyone involved that evening
deserves a big thank you and a pat on the back
for taking part, even Alana D. Steele and her
gang from Indy who participated when folks
from just right around the corner were complaining and criticizing. This is show business,
folks, and the show must go on!
And, speaking of Tiffany Bonet, she told me
the Sweethearts of XTC show at Warehouse 29
(that I missed at the last minute) was fantastic.
Paris LeBon emceed. The place was packed by
10:30 pm. I’m told in the audience that one
could spy former NC legends of the stage like
Sammera Stevens, Candace Corday and Tiffany
Wellington.Wow — sorry I did miss it!
Let’s make a trip to the gorgeous NC
mountains for the U.S.ofA. pageants in
Asheville at Scandals, featuring all the national titleholders including Kara Young-Ross,
Tajma Hall, Shae Shae LaReese, plus our fierce
Mr. U.S.ofA. Ram Crawford, Miss Texas Leyla
Edwards O’Hara (my little baby), plus Regine
Phillips, Coco Couture, the hott Wendy
Williams, and more. Road trip! Q
info: Drop me a line, OK? . The [email protected]
21
Q - L I V I N G
House of Mercy
AIDS walk
set for April 4
16th annual event welcomes walkers of all ages
BELMONT, N.C. — Spring is coming back — everyone
knows what that means.As the days get longer and warmer,
non-profit groups are organizing fundraisers and other activities to raise awareness and cash.
The House of Mercy, a non-profit residence for lowincome persons living with advanced stages of AIDS, will be
among the first groups to roll out fundraising events this
spring. On April 4, the group will present its 16th Annual
Walk for AIDS.
Founded by the Sisters of Mercy, the House of Mercy has
been providing housing and compassionate, 24-hour care for
low-income AIDS patients since 1991. The group has served
over 250 men and women since their beginning.
The Walk for AIDS begins at 9:30 a.m. on Saturday,April
4 on the Sisters of Mercy campus in Belmont. Throughout
the day, several groups and performers will take the stage to
entertain during the walk and picnic reception afterward.
Entertainers include the Belmont Steel Drum Band and
Audioform, an acid-jazz funk collective that originated in
Charlotte.Audioform is known for its multicultural attempt
to fuse jazz, funk, and soul into a sound that is augmented by
a big horn section and a groove-oriented rhythm section.
The band consists of Tony McCullough (alto saxophone),
Joey Rayfield (trombone), Travis Calvert (Saxophone),Audi
Jones (drums), Joe Smalls (bass) Keith Whatley (guitar),
Antonio Diaz (percussion) and Johnathon Ayala (keys).
This year’s honorary chair is Maureen O’Boyle, a graduate
of West Charlotte High School. O’Boyle anchored for “A
Current Affair” and the entertainment news magazine show
“EXTRA” before moving back to Charlotte to anchor for
WBTV News.
This year’s event is sponsored by Tibotec Therapeutics,
Firefold,WSGE 91 and Q-Notes. Corporate friends of the
event include Environmental Diversified Services, Lucas
Concrete Products, Merck & Company, The Woodshed
Lounge, and Tony’s Ice Cream Company.
For more information about the event or to make a donation, visit www.thehouseof
mercy.org or call 704-825-4711, ext. 3. Q
aspeakout b
Send your letter to the editor or any other thoughts to
[email protected] or click on over to our website at
www.q-notes.com and join the conversation there.
Web comments will be featured in each issue. Limit
letters to the editor to 150 words or less and include
your name, city and state and a phone number where
you can be reached.
22
Q - L I V I N G
General Gayety
by Leslie Robinson
Contributing Writer
A rocky time in the Rockies
State senators in Utah and Colorado delivered hugely
homophobic rants lately. It seems this country is suffering an
outbreak of Rocky Mountain spotted fervor.
In the Utah case, Sen. Chris Buttars (R-West Jordan) sat
down with a documentary filmmaker to discuss the involvement of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in
California’s Proposition 8 battle.
Buttars said gay activists are “probably the greatest threat
to America going down.”
Not the frightening economy, not the two wars America’s
fighting, not the health care mess. The greatest threat to
America is Americans demanding equality. The truth is out.
Time for me to admit this gay activist is doing her part to
bring America down: I’ve signed up to bring a town in Idaho, a
subdivision in Michigan and a mall in Florida to their knees.
Buttars also said,“What is the morals of a gay person?
You can’t answer that, because anything goes.”
Yes indeed. Today I managed to lie, embezzle, assault and
commit arson.All before lunch.
The state senator compared gay activists to Islamic radicals.“Muslims are good people and their religion is anti-war.
But, it’s been taken over by the radical side.And, the gays are
totally taken over by the radical side.”
While I’ve never known a gay activist who wanted to blow
up planes, I could suggest the idea at the next meeting. Maybe
we could talk some eager young twink into it. Promise him
that in the next life — to which we are rushing him — he’ll
be rewarded with an entire troop of Chippendales dancers.
After a Salt Lake City TV station aired Buttars’ comments,
people inside and outside the state called for him to resign.
Fat chance. He has refused even to issue an apology.
The Utah Senate president, a fellow Republican, removed
Buttars as chair of a judicial committee — to keep him from
being a distraction, not to punish him. Buttars’ colleagues
agree with much of what he said. One senator noted Buttars’
language was “immoderate,” adding,“I don’t believe that all
gays have no morals whatsoever.”
Oh. Goody.
Over in Denver, Colorado State Sen. Scott Renfroe (RGreeley) morphed into a preacher during debate on a bill
extending health benefits to partners of gay state employees.
In a six-minute speech, Renfroe called homosexuality an
“abomination” and an “offense to God.” He quoted several
Bible verses, including that pip from Leviticus that says men
who sleep together shall be killed.
He pinched a page from the playbook of Sen. Buttars in
the neighboring state, comparing gays not to terrorists, but to
something similar.
“I’m not saying this (homosexuality) is the only sin that’s
out there,” he explained.“We have murder.We have all sorts of
sin.We have adultery.And, we don’t make laws making those
legal.And, we would never think to make murder legal.”
So, homosexuality and murder are on a par.With apologies to John Denver, I’m experiencing a Colorado Rocky
Mountain low.
After the appropriate uproar, Renfroe told the press he didn’t mean to suggest that homosexuality and murder were the
same. He also said he doesn’t advocate punishing gay people.
However,he still holds that all sin,including homosexuality,
offends God and the state shouldn’t enact laws condoning any of
them.There goes that law allowing counterfeiting I had in mind.
Just when these two state senators have cast a pall over
the region, an antidote arrives. Roger Carrier, a straight,
retired teacher from Salt Lake, was disgusted by the comments of Sen. Buttars. To combat what he feels is growing
homophobia among Utah politicians, he’s proposed placing a
statue of Harvey Milk at the Utah Capitol.
It’ll never happen. But, Carrier showed a happier attitude
in the high altitude. Q
info: [email protected] . www.GeneralGayety.com
23
Q - L I V I N G
Tell Trinity
by Trinity . Contributing Writer
However, sweetie, if
you’re talking about
over spending your ex’s
credit cards, withholding sex from your
spouse or completely
avoiding someone who
did you wrong, well, then that’s not only good
revenge, that’s just good ole common sense.
Hello Trinity,
I’ve been working on my art for years without success. I know dreams take time and hard
work, but I’m thinking of quitting. Is it weak to
give up on a dream for something more financially practical?
All Dreamed Out, Richmond, Va.
Hello All Dreamed Out,
Altering your dreams and how you go after
them is for the intelligent
and strong. Giving up is
for everyone else. If you
try and try and still
nothing happens, then
take some healthy time
off before, yes, trying it
again differently. Honey,
one alternative is to
dream part-time while
working part-time at a
financially rewarding job
or on getting a trade degree like hairdressing
or construction. Then, use that income as a
reinvestment for your dreams.With a practical
“fall back” you can “get back” to your dreams
even better than before. For inspiration, study
the histories of Lincoln, Edison and others
When is revenge wrong or just
good ole common sense?
Hey Trinity,
Is revenge really so wrong?
The Revenger, Daytona Beach, Fla.
Hey Revenger,
You mean as in retaliation or vengeance?
To steal from, destroy or put a mafia hit on
someone or make someone’s life worse than
death by filing an unethical public lawsuit?
Well, if you’re talking about that, then, yes,
revenge is wrong and why waste your time.
24
(like myself) who never gave up, but just
altered the dream constantly! (The cartoon
shows you the many faces of those who did
not give up!)
Dearest Trinity,
My last date complained that I needed to
learn better boundaries. How pretentious is that?
Bewildered Boundaries, Indianapolis, Ind.
Dearest BB,
Whether it was pretentious or not, I can’t
help but think that as society spends more
time alone, on the internet or sitting effortlessly watching hours of cable, the more setting
boundaries is becoming a lost art. Some people have too many and some not enough. No
matter what, pumpkin, it’s always good and
healthy to keep checking in with yourself, your
behaviors and your good or bad boundaries.
Dear Trinity,
I threw a party but everything went
wrong. It was my first attempt at party
throwing and it will definitely be a
while until my next one. Any tips for
hosting?
Party Doubts, Louisville, Ky.
Dear Party Doubts,
Not only have I written
“Trinity’s Uptown Tips For Hosting
A Party,” but, baby, I also wrote:
Trinity’s 11 Hats
For Hosting A Party
1. The Organizer forecasts the event, hires
help and invites everyone via phone, email
and/or snail mail.
2. The Purchasing Agent decides what to buy,
where to buy it and when to buy it, like
ice, just before the party.
3. The Head Chef plans the menu and oversees the cooking, the food the presentation
and the table layout.
4. The Cook just cooks (and lets the chef
worry).
5. The Decorator arranges the furniture, the
lighting, the candles, the decorations and
makes sure it all Feng Shuis (flows).
6. The Cleaning Person makes it all shine
especially the bathrooms and the common
areas.
7. The DJ (disc jockey) is in charge of the
most important thing…ambiance with
constant pre-, during and post-event
music.
8. The Server continually presents food,
rearranges half empty platters and passes
out hors d’oeuvres (which is a must).
9. The Host greets, takes coats, points out the
bar and helps the guests meet each other
(so that the host can get back to work).
10. The Tidy-upper constantly spruces up,
cleans up and never worries about picking
up someone’s drink (because everyone has
labeled or different cups).
11. The Post-event Breakdown Person raps up
and puts it all away (and never breaks a
thing). Q
— With a Masters of Divinity, Reverend Trinity
was host of “Spiritually Speaking,” a weekly
radio drama, and now performs globally.
info: www.telltrinity.com . [email protected]
Tell Trinity, P.O. Box 23861 . Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33307
Sponsored by: Provincetown Business Guild
800-637-8696 . www.ptown.org
Q - L I V I N G
Out in the Stars
by Charlene Lichtenstein
March 21-April 3
Make room for energetic Mars as it pushes its way
through Pisces. There is nothing as powerful as an
idea whose time has come. Hurry up and move on
it before it goes.
ARIES (03.21-04.20) Gay Rams have a way of
unearthing the truth even when it’s deeply buried
and practically invisible. There is no reason to
accept anything at face value now since much of
what is left unsaid is much more useful to you than
what is exposed. Be strategic, calm, evasive and
look under the surface for clues. There is plenty of
time to manipulate them to your liking later.
TAURUS(04.21-05.21) Your life, in general, revs
to a roar. Queer Bulls with a yen for company will
find it in droves. Place yourself where it will do you
the most good in the long term. There is a lot that
you need to accomplish on a personal level over the
next year or so and the connections you make now
will decide whether that road is slick, gravelly or
smooth. Hob nob from the top down.
GEMINI(05.22-06.21) You may become too,too
much in your quest for advancement. Pink Twins
need to feel appreciated and recognized for their
considerable efforts, but how much can you ask
of bosses now? If you are seeking employment,
this is the time to try something unexpected that
will heighten your profile and get yourself
noticed…but wearing a cellophane suit is not
that thing.
CANCER (06.22-07.23) Brush up on your various skill sets, gay Crab. Higher education and
other forms of study — both formal and informal
— prove to be more valuable than you initially
think. Your inquisitive mind needs nourishment
beyond the occasional cable program. So, carve out
. Contributing Writer the
time and ramp up
the effort. Can an old dog learn new tricks? Only if
they cruise the right bars.
LEO (07.24-08.23) Get ready for tax season,
proud Lion. Despite your best efforts to put off the
inevitable, it is time to turn to fiscally prudent and
accurate analysis of your state of affairs.Survey the
potential damage with a good advisor. But, all is
not doom and gloom. Expect a zetz in your love
life. It is the spice you need to keep things interesting and passionate. Be flexible and very pliable.
VIRGO (08.24-09.23) Open enemies are no
match for you. Queer Virgins can be diplomatic or
aggressive and see success in whatever option they
choose.Mold relationships more to your liking and
needs, but try to appear to be fair. For those seeking new liaisons, rely on your gut feelings as you
scan the playing field. Displaying too much gut
though is not recommended.
LIBRA (09.24-10.23) Maybe it is time for a pet
or a workout. Or, maybe a workout with a pet.
Proud Libras are too stressed out. Anything that
gets you to rest, relax and recharge has multiple
benefits. Clean out your in box and push more
into your out box. You find alternative ways to
clear and unload clutter. Use the time to tone and
buff your bod instead of just lifting the occasional paper weight.
SCORPIO (10.24-11.22) There are no straight
lines to success. Linear thinking will get you
nowhere and actually take you far off the mark.
Use your ample imagination and creativity to chart
your course over the next couple of years. Queer
Scorps are often very intense. Now, put that passion
to work on your own agenda. If that means throwing a not-to-be-missed basheroo, so be it.
SAGITTARIUS (11.23-12.22) Gay Archers are
not stay-at-home types,but consider giving it a try.
Find creative ways to enhance your surroundings
and make them more stimulating and enjoyable.
One great way is to plan the perfect get-together
with the usual unusual crowd that will have them
talking for weeks.Well,even a couple of days is better than average.
CAPRICORN (12.23-01.20) Pink Caps are expected to always be logical and exact. However,
your actions do not always match your words.
While you think you can spread your oil and slide
by, your grease could begin to fry and burn. If you
find yourself criticized for saying one thing and
doing another, just tell the confused crowd that
you are running for political office.
AQUARIUS (01.21-02.19) If money has been
tight, this time period will either help you invest
more wisely or cajole you into unnecessary spend-
ing. But, is it something that you want to risk right
now, Aqueerius? Take care in any situation that
requires a monetary outlay of any kind. Perhaps it
is better to err on the side of thrift and cheapness.
But, don’t worry, this too shall soon pass.
PISCES(02.20-03.20) Recently,you had exciting
thoughts and now you can match these thoughts
with successful action. There is something energizing about you. Begin new projects, get yourself in
front of important, meaningful projects. You make
strong advances that set the stage for future success.
Don’t wait for the world to rouse you. If you snooze,
you will oversleep and lose. Q
© 2008 Madam Lichtenstein, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Entertainment.
info: Visit www.TheStarryEye.com for e-greetings,
horoscopes and Pride jewelry. My book “HerScopes: A Guide
To Astrology For Lesbians” from Simon & Schuster is
available at bookstores and major booksites.
25
Q - L I V I N G
Out and About . compiled by Q-Notes staff
Events and happenings across the Carolinas
Main, 335 Main Ave. 8 p.m.-12 a.m. 828-322-1447,
ext. 224. www.alfainfo.org.
Mar. 24 • Raleigh
Day of Action
Join EqualityNC and its supporters for their annual
Lobby Day at the N.C. Legislature. Talk to your state
senators and representatives about the issues and legislation that matter to you and your community. N.C.
Legislative Building, 16 W. Jones St. 9 a.m.-3 p.m.
www.equalitync.org.
Apr. 2-5 • Charlotte
Film Festival
Mar. 26-28 • Asheville
The Lesbian & Gay Community Center of Charlotte
has rescheduled the Film Festival, previously planned
for the end of January.Apr. 2, opening night gala; Apr.
3, audience votes on favorite features and shorts; Apr.
4, awards ceremony. gaycharlottefilmfestival.com.
John Cameron Mitchell
Apr. 3-5 • Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina-Asheville presents
its 2009 GLBTQ Conference with a slate of panels and
keynote speakers including director of John Cameron
Mitchell (“Shortbus,” “Hedwig and the Angry Itch”).
Mitchell will speak at a Q&A session following a
screening of “Hedwig” on Mar. 26 in the Humanities
Lecture Hall. For more information on conference
registration and single event passes, visit
www.unca.edu/queer/.
Unity Conference
Mar. 27-29 • Winston-Salem
The House of Mercy will present its 16th Annual Walk
for AIDS. For more information about how to participate, help fundraise or attend the walk, visit
www.thehouseofmercy.org.
‘Hedwig’
Students from the University of North Carolina School
of the Arts present a performance of “Hedwig and the
Angry Inch.” This punk rock, hard rock, glam rock
musical written by John Cameron Mitchell
(“Shortbus”) will have you jumping and dancing with
excitement. Shows are 8 p.m. Mar. 27-28 (18 and up),
11 p.m. Mar. 27-28 (21 and up) and 7 p.m. Mar. 29 (18
and up). The Garage, 110 W. 7th St.
$10 general/$7 students.
Mar. 28 • Greensboro
Peace & Justice concert
The Peace & Justice Network presents its first annual
Concert for Peace, Justice and Sustainability, to benefit
the network in support of community efforts and
organizations working to promote peace and justice.
The concert will feature Grammy-nominated performing artist Eliza Gikyson, with introductory
remarks from noted author Robert Jenson. Church of
the Covenant, 501 S. Mendenhall. 7 p.m. $20 admission available through Deep Roots Market or via
[email protected].
Mar. 29 • Charlotte
Carolina gay softball
The Carolina Gay Softball Alliance will host a clinic
and sign-up for new players at Veterans Park in the
Plaza-Midwood neighborhood. Interested new players
should bring a glove,“feel sporty” and be ready to
start the clinic by 3 p.m. If joining the team, league fee
is $40, cash only. For more information, call Ron
Tessneer at 704-287-9637 or visit
www.myspace.com/carolinasoftballalliance.
Exploring topics and issues of gender and sexuality in
the South, the University of North Carolina GLBTSA
presents its 2009 Southeastern Regional Unity
Conference, an annual gathering of progressive LGBT
youth and their allies. Registration is open and available online through www.unityconference.webs.com.
Apr. 4 • Belmont
Walk for AIDS
Apr. 5 • Charlotte
Carolina gay softball
The Carolina Gay Softball Alliance will host a clinic
and sign-up for new players at Veterans Park in the
Plaza-Midwood neighborhood. Interested new players
should bring a glove,“feel sporty” and be ready to
start the clinic by 3 p.m. If joining the team, league fee
is $40, cash only. For more information, call Ron
Tessneer at 704-287-9637 or visit
www.myspace.com/carolinasoftballalliance.
Apr. 11 • Charleston
‘Crisis’ signing
Join Sean’s Last Wish and Faith in America for a
fundraiser and book signing of “Crisis: 40 Stories
Revealing the Personal, Social, and Religious Pain and
Trauma of Growing up Gay in America.” Mitchell
Gold, editor, will be there with other contributors from
South Carolina to sign copies of the book. Copies of
“Crisis” will be available for purchase. Proceeds benefit non-profits supporting LGBT teenagers, including
The Trevor Project Helpline, GLSEN, PFLAG, Point
Foundation,Ali Forney Center and Sylvia’s Place
Homeless Youth Shelter.Waldenbooks/Borders Books,
120 Market St. #C-116. 9 a.m.-12 p.m. Free.
www.crisisbook.org. www.seanslastwish.org.
Apr. 15-May 2 • Charlotte
‘Southern Rapture’
Join the SC Pride Movement for an evening of bowling, socializing and fun. $15 gets you shoe rental and
two games. Bar and food available at the bowling
alley.AMF Bowling Lanes at Parkland Plaza, 900
Axtell Dr., Cayce, SC. 7 p.m.-10:30 p.m.
www.scpride.org.
Take a trip back in time with the Actors’ Theatre of
Charlotte to when the Queen City was coming of
age in the heart of the culture wars of the 1990s.
“Southern Rapture” is a sidesplitting, fictionalized
farce based on the defining battle between the
city’s artists, politicians, pastors and innocent
bystanders over a local production of “Angels in
America.” 650 E. Stonewall St. Various times.
Various prices. 704-342-2251.
www.actorstheatrecharlotte.org.
Apr. 2 • Hickory
Apr. 18 • Greensboro
Dining for Friends
Thicke & Hudson
A celebration to benefit ALFA, the only HIV/AIDS
service organization serving Alexander,Alleghany,
Ashe, Burke, Caldwell, Catawba,Watauga and Wilkes
counties. Dining For Friends (DFF) is as simple as
having dinner with friends. Invite friends to your
home for dinner, and guests “pay” for their dinner
with a donation to ALFA.Afterward, join ALFA supporters at their Dining for Friends Finale. Market on
Grammy winning, platinum superstar and recording
artist Robin Thicke and Grammy and Academy Award
winner Jennifer Hudson will bring their multi-city coheadlining tour to the Greensboro Coliseam
Complex’s Special Events Center, 1921 W. Lee St. 8
p.m. www.ticketmaster.com. Q
Apr. 2 • Columbia
Bowling with SC Pride
info: Announce your community event in Out & About.
email: [email protected].
Submit your events at Q-Notes Online!
You can now easily submit all your events at Q-Notes Online.
Surf over to www.q-notes.com/out-and-about/submit/ and complete the form.
Click the submit button and our staff will receive your event. It is that easy!
Bookmark it in your browser! www.q-notes.com/out-and-about/submit/
26
Q - L I V I N G
Seven guys get ‘dangerous’
from page 17
straight and weren’t comfortable with this
type of play.”
Two straight actors were eventually cast,
playing the two young lovers in the tale.
“There’s still a taboo of ‘Oh, I’m
straight. I don’t want to do a gay play,”
Griffin said, letting his pride show for the
two straight actors who’ve said they’re
committed to playing the roles.
The production isn’t for the faint of
heart. Wedolowski and Griffin expect the
show to be a hit, but certainly not one
that’ll keep their company afloat. They’ve
relied on more subdued productions to see
Duke Energy Theatre, 345 N. College St.,
them through the current economic mess
Charlotte, from April 2 through April 18.
and allow them to present challenging and
For more information and for tickets, visit.
rare works like “Dangerous.”
www.queencitytheatre.com or call 704“There was a moment in October that
372-1000. Q
we were really depressed, to the point of
‘Like, what are we going to do?’’
Wedolowski said. “The election, the
economic crisis, the gas crisis — everyOnline Exclusive
thing together — since then we have
Listen to the full audio conversation with
been optimistic and it is growing. A lot
Queen City Theatre founders, Director Glenn
of people have begun to see theater
Griffin and actor Kristian Wedolowski at Q-Notes
again as a way to get out of their
Online. www.q-notes.com/multimedia/.
problems, to get out of their houses.”
“Dangerous” will be presented at
Support the companies and organizations
that rally for you!
They’re here in Q-Notes.
To advertise, call 704.531.9988 or email [email protected].
only online
• ‘Dangerous’ liaisons special online exqlusive audio
interview with Director Glenn Griffin and actor
Kristian Wedolowski at Q-Notes’ Multimedia section
• EarthTalk: saving the polar bear
• Money Matters: portfolio strategies
more at q-notes.com!
27
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Transcription

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