of the majority?

TYRANNY
OF THE MAJORITY?
Anti-gay Amendment One heads to May 2012 ballot
Equality North Carolina gears up campaign
against Amendment One
Youth: Amendment
sends bad message
by Matt Comer [email protected]
Politically-active gay young people speak out
Campaigns take root
RALEIGH — Voters will head to the polls
on May 8, 2012, to vote on an anti-LGBT
constitutional amendment that will ban
marriage, civil unions and domestic partnerships for same-sex couples. The measure,
“Amendment One,” could also have dire
consequences for scores of unmarried opposite-sex couples.
The legislation putting the amendment
on the ballot was approved in less than 24
hours worth of consideration by members of
the North Carolina General Assembly. The
bill passed the House on Sept. 12 and gained
the slimmest three-fifths majority it needed
to pass the Senate on Sept. 13. Amendment
One opponents have criticized Republican
legislative leaders for the way in which they
handled the bill. For one, they say leaders silenced opposition and pushed the
amendment through the committee process
without any public input from citizens or
legal scholars.
“The second strategic mistake they
made was that it was so hastily and sloppily
written,” said Equality North Carolina Interim
Executive Director Alex Miller. “They didn’t
take the time to ensure what they were putting forward for inclusion in the constitution
is what will actually be put in front of voters.”
The bill approved by the legislature
would amend the state constitution by adding, “Marriage between one man and one
woman is the only domestic legal union that
shall be valid or recognized in this State. This
section does not prohibit a private party from
entering into contracts with another private
party; nor does this section prohibit courts
from adjudicating the rights of private parties
pursuant to such contracts.”
Yet, the question voters will consider
states simply, “Constitutional amendment
to provide that marriage between one man
and one woman is the only domestic legal
union that shall be valid or recognized in
this State.”
Miller said there are “real constitutional
questions” regarding the wording of the
amendment and the ballot question. The
issue was raised at a debate on Sept. 21 at
the University of North Carolina School of
Law between House Majority Leader Rep.
Paul Stam (R-Wake) and Rep. Rick Glazier
(D-Cumberland).
“Neither of them nor the professors present who are constitutional scholars could
answer the question,” Miller said, indicating
he was not aware of any current legal challenge to the amendment’s wording.
At the center of debate is the amendment’s phrase, “domestic legal union.” Miller
and several constitutional law scholars have
said the phrase is too broad and vague.
“They passed an amendment that makes
invalid any legal recognition for any relation
besides a traditional man-woman marriage,”
Miller said. “This bill will affect same-sex
and opposite-sex couples, senior citizens
and domestic violence victims.”
Advocates say Amendment One’s broad
implications and consequences will mean
extra support in the nearly eight-month-long
campaign to defeat the measure at the polls.
Gearing up
Within days of the amendment’s legislative approval, citizens across the state took
to Facebook and Twitter to organize against
the ballot measure. Grassroots activists, too,
began getting their hands wet. In Boiling
Springs, N.C., friends began their “Neighbors
for Equality” campaign and others are
speaking out in their own, individual ways
(see story, page 11).
As of press time, Equality North Carolina
had yet to announce their formal campaign
against Amendment One. But, Miller said
planning was already underway and strategies being discussed and laid out.
“We’re now in the process of creating
the campaign and it will happen over the
next several weeks,” Miller said. “I can’t
tell you when exactly, but I can say it is less
important for us to have a campaign logo
or slogan before we make sure we have a
strong campaign strategy.”
Miller said the group’s pre-existing
strategies had been structured for a ballot
referendum in a general election. Legislators
changed their plans and placed the amendment on May’s primary ballot, instead. Miller
see Equality on 6
CHAPEL HILL — At just 22, Lee Storrow
hopes he’ll become Chapel Hill’s youngest
council member since then 21-year-old Mark
Chilton was elected to the body in 1991.
Storrow, who is openly gay, is a recent
graduate of the University of North Carolina
at Chapel Hill and the managing director
of the North Carolina Alliance for Health.
He also serves on the board of directors of
the American Legacy Foundation, a group
founded from the 1998 settlement with the
nation’s major tobacco companies. He’s
stressed public transportation, affordable
housing and expanding the town’s tax base
as key issues in his campaign.
“There is a need to have someone on
council who is a coalition builder and who
will do the work to reach out to all residents,
particularly young people,” Storrow said. “A
third of Chapel Hill’s population is under 24
years old and without our voice at the table
we don’t get policy solutions that are as best
for our town as they could be.”
Storrow faces a crowded field in the
election this year, to be held on Nov. 8.
In the midst of his campaign for office,
Storrow was keenly aware of the legislative fight brewing over an anti-LGBT
constitutional amendment that seeks to
ban recognition of marriage, civil unions
and domestic partnerships for same-sex
couples. When lawmakers approved its
placement on a May 8, 2012 primary ballot,
Storrow took pause.
see Amendment on 6
After nearly eight years of trying, anti-gay state Sen. James Forrester
(R-Gaston) has finally succeeded in gaining legislative approval for
his so-called Defense of Marriage amendment. It sparked protest
statewide when it was first introduced in 2004 at the height of
controversy surrounding a proposed anti-gay amendment to the
federal constitution. Above: On May 5, 2004, former Metropolitan
Community Church of Charlotte Pastor Mick Hinson and partner
Gene were among those speaking out against Forrester’s amendment.
They attempted to file for a marriage license in Mecklenburg
County and were denied. “There is not justice in the world
regarding [same-sex] relationships — period,” Hinson said at the time.
— File1-14
Photo. 2011
Oct.
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Oct. 1-14, 2011
Vol 26 No 11
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Campaigns take root
Youth speak out on amendment
Hagan supports ENDA
Keisling in Charlotte
Mayfield wins primary
News Notes: Regional Briefs
Grassroots activists mobilize
General Gayety
Guest Commentary
QPoll
Editor’s Note
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HRC NC gala kicks off
Drag Rag
Tell Trinity
Women and calcium
Out in the Stars
On Being a Gay Parent
Q events calendar
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Interview with DNC CEO Steve Kerrigan
National Gay History Project
Continuing Coverage: Amendment One
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Oct. 1-14 . 2011
qnotes
by leslie robinson
qnotes contributor
Find me a find
Yente would plotz.
The matchmaker in “Fiddler on the Roof”
would have a coronary over the kind of
matchmaking being practiced these days.
And, by a rabbi, no less. The shmendrik.
For his part, Rabbi Arele Harel doesn’t
need criticism from fictional characters, as
he’s receiving plenty from real people who
are angry over his efforts to match Orthodox
Jewish gay men with Orthodox lesbians.
On the face of it, pairing a zebra and a wombat might stand a better chance of success.
Harel, who lives in a Jewish West Bank
settlement, told The Associated Press he
fixes up gays and lesbians so they can have
children, a commandment of Jewish law.
“The main aspiration here is parenthood,”
he said. “It allows them to become parents
in a way that is permitted by religious Jewish
law and prevents a conflict between their
religious world and their sexual world.”
Um, the conflict between the two will still
be there, as surely as I don’t intend to marry
a wombat.
But, I get what he means. He’s helping
people live by the letter of the law. Even as
the spirit of the law and their individual spirits
won’t fare so well.
Harel believes some gays shift their orientation through therapy. He said his approach
is for those whose orientation won’t budge,
but who want to remain observant. Six years
ago he started matching gay men and lesbian
women, recognizing a “deep distress” among
those “facing a dead end road.”
Instead of finding a new road, 24 gays and
lesbians chose to tread the straight and narrow one — Harel said he’s wed 12 couples,
some of whom produced children. Perhaps,
with assistance from Falcon Studios and
Angelina Jolie movies.
Adultery is a no-no under Jewish law.
In Harel’s view, when two married straight
people mess around they’re guilty of adultery,
because the two are sexually compatible. In a
gay-lesbian marriage, as long as both persons
know the other is dating, it’s not adultery.
Seems like Harel has found a loophole big
enough to force a huppah through.
He maintains that once kids come, the
gays learn to love each other. “Their love is
based on parenthood. Parenthood is the glue
and it’s strong.”
A number of Israelis are critical of Harel’s
unorthodox approach to Orthodox gays.
Most Orthodox Jews view the homosexual
as slightly more appealing than the arsonist.
Orthodox rabbis say Harel should be pushing
gays to change their orientation.
On the other side, a liberal religious gay
group charged Harel with trying to “erase”
gays from the Orthodox community.
Harel’s position is a precarious one. Kind
of like — Didn’t you know I was going to say
this? — a fiddler on the roof.
A group for gay Orthodox Jews called
Kamoha independently fielded many phone
requests for gay-meets-lesbian matchmaking, so Kamoha has joined with Harel to offer
the service.
Kamoha’s website reads, “In this project,
all of the cards are open and without the
lies, half-truths and ‘mistakes,’ because both
participants know very well the nature of the
prospective spouse’s orientation.”
Do they ever. They can spend many a
happy evening swapping coming-out stories.
Or non-coming-out stories.
You know, now that I really think about
it, Yente was nothing if not pragmatic as a
matchmaker, so maybe, if she were living in
Israel today, she wouldn’t be appalled at these
gay pairings. She might even be getting in on
the act. A successful match fetches about
$400 from both groom and bride.
Whoever performs the unlikely matching,
the endeavor brings to mind lyrics sung by
Tzeitel in “Fiddler” as she wryly imitates Yente:
I promise you’ll be happy. And even if
you’re not,
There’s more to life than that. Don’t ask
me what! : :
info:
[email protected] . generalgayety.com
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Oct. 1-14 . 2011
VIEWS
VIEWS
general gayety
guest commentary
by Valerie Jarrett :: qnotes contributor
‘Don’t Ask’ repeal furthers fairness and equality
As of September
20, 2011, the discriminatory law known as
“Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell”
ceased to exist. No
longer will patriotic gay and lesbian
Americans need to
hide who they are
in order to serve the
Valerie Jarrett
country they love.
Photo Credit:
While this is an
(The White House) important step in our
ongoing effort to form a more perfect union,
it is also, in some ways, an unremarkable
step. Gays and lesbians have served in our
armed services from the time of the American
Revolution. But, they have served in silence;
worse still, some have been forced out for
nothing more than their sexual orientation.
We know that, to use an old adage, you
don’t need to be straight to shoot straight.
While there will never be a full accounting of
the patriotism demonstrated by gay and lesbian Americans in service to their nation, we
know that they have served, with honor and
valor. When President Barack Obama signed
the Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell Repeal Act into law,
he told a story about an act of heroism during
the Battle of the Bulge.
A regiment in the 80th Division of Patton’s
Third Army came under fire. During the combat, a private named Lloyd Corwin fell down
into a ravine. He could have died there. But,
one friend, a soldier named Andy Lee, came
back and scaled down the icy slope, risking
his own life to bring Private Corwin to safety.
Lloyd always credited his friend with
saving his life. Four decades after the war, the
two friends reunited and it was only then that
Lloyd learned that Andy was gay. Lloyd hadn’t
known, and more importantly, he didn’t care.
Andy’s sexual orientation had no impact on
his valor and sacrifice.
That’s a refrain we heard time and time
again in preparing to repeal “Don’t Ask, Don’t
Tell” — that our military is ready for the open
service of our gay and lesbian service members. That, simply put, sexual orientation is not
a factor. Now that DADT is gone, gay and lesbian service members will continue to serve,
albeit with one important difference — they
can be open about who they are. This change
will only serve to strengthen our military. As
many of our nation’s top military officials have
stated, unit cohesion, recruitment, retention
and military effectiveness will not be harmed
or undermined.
Indeed, because patriotic Americans who
happen to be gay or lesbian will no longer
have to conceal who they are, our military,
and our nation, will be better off.
We would not be here today were it
not for the leadership of President Obama,
current and former members of Congress,
ordinary Americans and those who wear or
have worn the uniform of the United States
Armed Services. On behalf of the president,
I also want to thank the leadership at the
Defense Department. From conducting a
comprehensive review of the issues associated with repeal, to offering a support plan
for implementation, to training our forces to
make them ready for this change, to rewriting
masses of regulations to comply with the new
law, the Pentagon has taken all necessary
steps with full speed and proficiency.
As with any change, there will be apprehension from some. But, I am certain that
we will look back and wonder why it was
ever a source of controversy in the first place.
The president has every confidence in the
professionalism and patriotism of our service
members. Just as they have adapted and
grown stronger with other changes, we know
they will do so again.
There is no doubt that our service members will continue to serve with integrity and
honor and approach each task and mission
with the professionalism that we expect
of them. Be they soldiers, marines, sailors,
airmen, or coast guardsmen — they remain
members of the finest military of the world.
It is that military that has fought to preserve
the freedoms that define America. And, now,
with the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” we
have furthered those American principles of
fairness and equality. : :
— Valerie B. Jarrett is a senior advisor to
President Barack Obama. She is also the
chair of the White House Council on Women
and Girls and she oversees the Offices
of Public Engagement, Intergovernmental
Affairs and Urban Affairs.
VIEWS
editor’s note
by matt comer
[email protected]
Hate group extremists are leading
anti-gay amendment push
Twenty-four hours – that’s just about the
amount of time it took Republican leadership
in the North Carolina General Assembly to
push through a drastic and draconian revision to our state’s constitution. They’re hasty
consideration of the anti-LGBT constitutional
amendment circumvented a true public hearing on the bill and betrayed Republicans’ utter
disrespect for their hallowed chambers, the
law and the people of this great state.
The amendment, which will ban recognition of marriage, civil unions and domestic
partnerships for same-sex couples and even
many opposite-sex couples, had been assigned a Senate committee hearing though no
one would have known it by the body’s public
calendar. Capitol reporters caught wind of
the amendment’s placement in a stripped out
version of another unrelated bill and alerted
the public. Only formally announced the night
before its hearing, House and Senate leaders
sought to play a game of bait-and-switch with
citizens. Upon returning to work the next day,
they abruptly moved the bill’s hearing from
the Senate to the House and in less than hour
passed it and sent it to the floor.
No public comment was allowed. There
was no input from citizens and no analysis
from legal and constitutional scholars. “We
don’t have time,” Republican leaders said,
though a more accurate statement would
have been, “We can’t allow public discussion;
it will reveal the true motivation for and horrid
consequences of this legislation.”
The amendment passed the House. Less
than a full day later, it gained the slim threefifths majority approval it needed in the Senate.
It will appear on the ballot on May 8, 2012.
As intriguing and utterly disgusting as the
legislative process might have been, there are
more important matters to which we should
now turn our attention. At the forefront sits
concerns over an impending ballot initiative
that will pit anti-LGBT hate groups against
North Carolina’s voting and taxpaying LGBT
citizens, their families and friends and others
for whom this amendment will spell disaster.
The North Carolina Values Coalition will
lead the fight to enshrine discrimination into
our state constitution. A thorough examination
of the group, its leadership, supporters and
donors will be necessary as the campaigns
advance. Citizens would do well to learn more
about the people who are willing to push all
other legitimate concerns and considerations
aside in their quest to constitutionally guarantee permanent second-class citizenship for
LGBT Tar Heels.
The coalition’s executive director, Tami
Fitzgerald, is well-known in Raleigh. She’s
worked primarily as a lobbyist for the state’s
most radical anti-gay advocacy group, the
North Carolina Family Policy Council. Based
in Raleigh, the council is a state affiliate of
the Washington, D.C.-based Family Research
Council, named a hate group in November
2010 by the Southern Poverty Law Center.
Prior to founding the coalition, Fitzgerald
headed up NC4Marriage, a group founded
by the council. The connections between
Fitzgerald, her coalition, the council and its
D.C. parent organization are telling. Why have
North Carolina Republicans aligned themselves with known hate groups?
Whether Amendment One passes or fails in
May is totally dependent upon North Carolina
voters. We hope our fellow Tar Heels are able
to see through the smoke-and-mirrors show
so successfully presented by hate extremists
— some of whom have aligned themselves
with white supremacists — and vote down this
amendment. North Carolina does not need the
hate these jesters are pushing. : :
Oct. 1-14 . 2011
qnotes
Equality NC to lead amendment fight
continued from page 1
said the development will be encouraging for
the campaign against Amendment One.
“We’ll need to implement a new strategy,”
he said. “A primary is all about [voter] turnout,
whereas a general election is about persuasion. It’s a different kind of campaign with
different messaging and different organizing.”
While Equality North Carolina will head
up the campaign organization, Miller said his
group will be working closely with other or-
Continuing coverage…
Catch continuing, breaking-news
coverage of the campaigns for and
against Amendment One online at
goqnotes.com. In addition, be sure to
check out this great online-only coverage from the past three weeks:
House leader: ‘No answer’ on divorce
(with audio), goqnotes.com/12533/
Senate passes amendment, goqnotes.
com/12419/
Faith leaders: ‘We stand on side of
justice,’ goqnotes.com/12394/
In the limelight: Interview with openly
gay state Rep. Marcus Brandon
(D-Guilford), goqnotes.com/12364/
Law professor warns of ‘vague and
untested language’ in anti-LGBT
amendment, goqnotes.com/12344/
State NAACP outlines opposition to antiLGBT amendment, goqnotes.com/12320/
Senate leaders attempt sneaky hearing
of anti-LGBT amendment, goqnotes.
com/12313/
ganizations with a vested interest in defeating
the amendment. He cited Arizona’s 2006 victory against their amendment, similar in scope
to North Carolina’s Amendment One, as an
example of broad, cross-sectional organizing.
“The only time this has been defeated
was in Arizona in 2006 and the reason was because their amendment was so much broader
than issues just about same-sex marriage. It
had a broad impact and brought out opposition not only from LGBT allies, but also groups
that aren’t traditional coalition partners.”
Equality North Carolina’s coalition-building
will prove essential to success, Miller said.
It’s an organizing tactic they’ve used and had
in place since the beginning of the legislative
session this year.
A growing network
Sam Parker, Equality North Carolina’s
director of community organizing, structured
a powerful, grassroots field organizing strategy as her group faced an uphill legislative
campaign. She said the network built in the
preceding three months will prove essential
for future mobilization.
“We have indentified folks all across the
state who want to volunteer with us,” she said,
citing more than 12,000 people who amassed
nearly 50,000 postcards sent to legislators
in opposition to the amendment. “We have
people now already invested in the process
and they want to see it through to the end.”
Parker will continue in her field
organizing role as the group ramps up its
primary campaign.
“We’ll be asking folks to take a pledge
to vote no in May,” she said. “We’ll be doing
voter registration.”
In addition to Parker, Equality North
Carolina employed nine regional grassroots
organizers during the legislative phase of their
campaign. Though the ballot campaign could
restructure some of those positions, Parker
said on-the-ground organizers will still play an
integrated role.
“I’m orchestrating people on the ground
who are going to be having these conversations with individuals across the state,”
Parker said. “We are just in the beginning
stages, but it will be an opportunity to engage
folks who aren’t normally engaged because
LGBT issues don’t necessarily affect them.”
Regardless of the May vote’s outcome,
Parker and Miller believe Equality North
Carolina’s campaign will build and strengthen
the community.
“There’s always going to be another
issue,” Parker said. “It’s really important to
maintain relationships with volunteers and
those already invested. We’ll need them to be
invested on something else down the road.”
It is expected that both campaigns for
and against Amendment One will draw
on financial support from individuals and
organizations across the country. Anti-LGBT
lobbyist Tami Fitzgerald of the North Carolina
Values Coalition has said previously that she
anticipates needing only $500,000 to pass the
amendment in May. But, past ballot initiatives in other states have seen millions of
dollars invested by groups like the National
Organization for Marriage and the Catholic
and Mormon churches. The Family Research
Council and its state affiliate, the North
Carolina Family Policy Council, have already
invested against the amendment. Fitzgerald is
a former lobbyist for the groups.
Miller said Equality North Carolina will
work with local and national coalition partners
like Faith in America, PFLAG and the Human
Rights Campaign. He said the coalition will be
counting on the support and momentum it’s
already achieved nationwide.
“Our fundraising will be coming from
a lot of sources,” he said. “The grassroots
fundraising is going be so important. Every $5,
$10 or $100 contribution really adds up. We’ve
got 40,000 Facebook fans, tens of thousands
of supporters across the state; if everybody
just gives $5, that can be put to great use in
defeating the amendment.”
Equality North Carolina’s campaign has
already attracted attention from national
players. Hickory, N.C.-native Chris Hughes, an
openly gay co-founder of Facebook, contributed $10,000 to the group’s legislative campaign.
“We hope to continue to rely on support
from folks who can contribute large donations
and national groups who can invest resources
into the campaign,” Miller said.
While discussions of fundraising are important, Miller and Parker said the campaign
is ultimately about what is right for North
Carolina and its people.
“We have eight months to have these conversations knowing that we are on the right
side of history,” Parker said. “It’s going to take
all of us. We need everybody in on this effort.
The more cooks in the kitchen, the better.”
She added, “At the end of the day, we are
fighting for our livelihood. If we lean on one
another and will be each other’s resource, we
could win in May.” : :
more: Learn more about Equality North
Carolina and how to get involved at
equalitync.org.
Amendment angers young Tar Heels
continued from page 1
“I was incredibly disappointed with the vote at the legislature,” Storrow said. “That’s not the North Carolina I thought I
grew up in.”
A native of Asheville, Storrow said he chose to stay instate for school because of the progressive reputation North
Carolina had fostered. He believes the Republican-led legislature has done more damage than they realize.
“I felt like our state was one that valued diversity and was
open and accessible to all,” he said. “A lot of actions by the
General Assembly this session moved our state backward.”
Storrow isn’t the only openly gay young person who found
this year’s legislative session upsetting. Seventeen-year-old
Raleigh resident Seth Keel feels like young people’s voices are
being ignored. He’s an active member of N.C. HEAT, an education advocacy group that has protested controversial school
choice decisions by the Wake County Board of Education. He’s
also running for mayor of Raleigh. The law doesn’t permit him to
run — one must be 21 in order to seek or hold office in the state
— but Keel said his campaign serves as an opportunity to bring
attention to issues important to local youth.
“It is the main purpose of this campaign, discussing how
Raleigh can represent the youth on city council,” Keel said.
“Youth aren’t being represented and are, at times, misrepresented. We have no voice in local, state or national politics.”
Keel believes Republicans in the General Assembly have
continued to ignore the voice of young people, especially during debate on the anti-LGBT amendment.
“They did not consider the impact that this has on the
youth within the LGBT community,” he said. “They don’t think
about the message this sends to young gay and lesbian teens
who want to grow up and want to have a life and marry and
have a family. To see our governing body try to throw that
qnotes
Oct. 1-14 . 2011
away is sending a completely wrong message
to LGBT youth.”
Keel also thinks Republican lawmakers
were arrogant and “blatantly disrespectful.”
On the day of the amendment’s debate in the
House, Keel witnessed Majority Leader Rep.
Paul Stam (R-Wake) leaning back in his chair
and eating popcorn.
“Paul Stam is the epitome of what is wrong
the Republican Party in this state,” he said.
“This whole session has been about targeting
people. We saw it with the voter I.D. bill and in
the Women’s Right to Know bill and now trying
to further oppress the LGBT community. It’s very
hard to try to remain calm while [Stam] is so
blatantly discriminating against me.”
Storrow and Keel both believe that young
people will stand up and turn out to vote against
the measure.
“Young people are angry in this state and they
In a cellphone photo taken by openly gay teen and activist Seth Keel from the
are ready to take a stand on this issue, whether they
gallery, Republican Majority Leader Paul Stam is seen leaning back at his
are gay or straight or some other sexual orientation
House floor desk eating popcorn while his colleagues debate amending the
or identity,” Storrow said. “Young people in college
state constitution. “Paul Stam is the epitome of what is wrong the Republican
Party in this state,” said Keel.
understand that this is important. They will go to the
polls and we will see it fail.”
the campaign trail for now, it’s a challenge in which Storrow
“I hope the youth turnout in May will be strong
fully intends upon investing himself.
and at least show that youth care about this issue,” Keel said.
“I’ll be taking a small break after the elections, but in the
“Regardless if it passes, our turnout will send a message that the
spring I’ll be knocking on doors to get progressive-minded
youth here are adamantly against the amendment.”
people out to the polls,” he said. “I’m confident we have the
Storrow recognizes that the campaign against Amendment
ability and the passion to get folks out for the election.” : :
One will be difficult. He says it is a challenge to progressive
— by Matt Comer
advocacy groups to “step up their game.” Though he’s still on
NEWS
Hagan supports
ENDA
DURHAM — U.S. Sen. Kay
Hagan (D-N.C.) announced on
Sept. 24 that she will become a
co-sponsor of the Employment
Non-Discrimination Act, federal
legislation that would prohibit employers from discriminating against
workers on the basis of sexual orientation
and gender identity.
Hagan’s decision was made via statement
at the NC Pride Festival and Parade on the
east campus of Duke University. Addison Ore,
executive director of the Greensboro, N.C.based Triad Health Project and former Equality
North Carolina board member, read the statement at the event.
“I’m announcing today that I will be signing
on as a co-sponsor to the Employment NonDiscrimination Act (ENDA),” reads Hagan’s
statement, provided to qnotes by her office.
“Discrimination must never be tolerated, and
I believe that all Americans deserve an equal
opportunity to fulfill their potential. No one
— no one — should be turned away from a
job or fired because of their sexual orientation
or gender identity.”
Hagan’s staff is crediting a recent constituent meeting with helping to move the senator
toward cosponsorship.
Roberta Dunn of Charlotte was one of six
constituents at the meeting in Greensboro on
Sept. 16. Dunn, who is transgender, was joined
by two other transgender North Carolinians
and three members of the Greensboro chapter of PFLAG.
Dunn said the meeting lasted about 45 minutes and went well.
“I feel really pleased and happy,” Dunn
said upon learning of Hagan’s decision to sign
on to the legislation. I’m very proud to have
her as a senator.”
more Read our full report and Hagan’s full
statement at goqnotes.com/12558/.
Trans advocate in Charlotte
CHARLOTTE — Mara Keisling, founding executive director of the Washington,
D.C.-based National Center for Transgender
Equality (NCTE), addressed a small crowd
of about two dozen attendees at the LGBT
Community Center of Charlotte on Sept. 20.
The next day, she also spoke at the University
of North Carolina at Charlotte.
NCTE has been focused primarily on changes in federal administrative policies. Many
have included commitments by the Obama
Administration to ban discrimination based on
gender-identity in federal employment.
Hospital visitation, Keisling pointed out, is
one of the many policy areas in which the administration has made changes. In September,
the U.S. Department of Health and Human
Services issued updated guidelines for all
hospitals receiving federal funding. New
policies will be required, giving all patients the
right to name their own next of
kin for the purpose of visitation.
“That might seem like a
small thing until you’re the one
whose partner is in the hospital,” Keisling remarked.
more: Read our full report at
goqnotes.com/12552/.
Mayfield wins
primary
CHARLOTTE — Community
organizer LaWana Mayfield
(right, with her campaign
team) sailed to victory on Sept. 13 in her
Democratic primary against Charlotte City
Council District 3 incumbent Warren Turner.
Mayfield won 51 percent of the vote while
Turner walked away with just 34 percent.
A third Democratic candidate, Svend Deal,
captured 15 percent.
“I had hoped the community wanted
to see something different and that they
would support me but, honestly, I was never
arrogant enough to assume that I’d win,”
Mayfield told qnotes at a post-primary election party in southwest Charlotte. “I’m confi-
dent our community is ready for a change and
they are confident in the fact that I’ll get on
council and fight for the community and that I
mean what I say.”
Mayfield is the fourth openly gay or
lesbian candidate to run for local office in
Charlotte. She now faces Republican Ed
Toney in the general election on Nov. 8. If successful, Mayfield will become the first openly
gay or lesbian person elected to local office in
Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.
more: Read our full report at goqnotes.
com/12438/.
Oct. 1-14 . 2011
qnotes
BRIEFS
news notes:
from the carolinas, nation and world
compiled by Lainey Millen :: [email protected] | David Stout :: [email protected] | Matt Comer :: [email protected]
Charlotte
Fundraiser slated
CHARLOTTE — An “Evening of Hope and
Inspiration” will be held on Nov. 13, 7:30 p.m.,
at McGlohon Theater at Spirit Square, 345 N.
College St., and features the music of Country
Gospel group The Martins.
This group has toured throughout the
nation and has appeared at venues such as
The Grand Ole Opry and Carnegie Hall. They
have also received Grammy awards and
Dove decorations.
The concert is presented by Rosedale
Infectious Diseases, PLLC, as an annual fundraiser to benefit their Jeanne White-Ginder
Food Pantry. The pantry provides Rosedale’s
clients with emergency food assistance.
Recognition of two community leaders will
be presented with the Hope and Inspiration
Award. Recipients are Rev. Deborah Warren
and Tonia Bendickson. Warren is the founder,
president and CEO of Regional AIDS Interfaith
Network and Bendickson is director of communications at Elevation Church and served
as a former WBTV anchor.
Tickets are $15-$20 for reserved seating.
For more information, call 704-372-1000 or visit
carolinatix.org.
— L.M.
Winner announced
CHARLOTTE — Time Out Youth has named
its 2011 Neil & Tim Griffin Scholarship winner.
Christine Abernathy received the recognition.
She is a political science and women’s studies major at the University of North Carolina at
Chapel Hill.
The scholarship is awarded to a LGBT
student who attends a North Carolina college
or university.
In other news, Amy Medlin and Melissa
Hartsell have joined Time Out Youth as
social work interns. Both are students at the
University of North Carolina at Charlotte.
For more information, visit
timeoutyouth.org.
— L.M.
Triangle
Center to host awards dinner
RALEIGH — The LGBT Center of Raleigh
will hold its 2011 Awards Dinner on Oct. 7 at
The Stockroom at 230, Carolina Trust Building,
230 Fayetteville St.
Cocktails and silent auction will take place
at 7 p.m., with dinner and program following
at 8 p.m.
Rev. Jimmy Creech will be honored
with the Distinguished Service Award and
Akil Campbell will receive the Community
Impact Award.
Space is limited, so purchase tickets
quickly. Cost is $100 and includes cocktails,
dinner and special entertainment.
For more information, visit lgbtcenterof
raleigh.com.
— L.M.
Seniors kick up heels
RALEIGH — The Gay & Gray Initiative at
qnotes
Oct. 1-14 . 2011
the LGBT Center of Raleigh is holding a dance
and social on Oct. 9, 3-7 p.m., at the Clarion
Hotel’s penthouse floor, 320 Hillsborough St.
This event is part of the Raleigh is Coming
Out Festival.
H’ors d’oeuvres, cash bar and DJ help to
complete the fare.
Tickets are $15 and may be purchased in
advance or at the door.
For more information, visit lgbtcenterof
raleigh.com.
— L.M.
Western
Retreat on horizon
MAGGIE VALLEY — The Cross & The
Rainbow spiritual retreat for LGBT Christians
will be held from Oct. 7-9 at the Living
Waters Reflection Center, 103 Living Waters
Ln. Theme this year for this annual event
is “Walking in Solidarity with our Suffering
World.” The retreat is sponsored by The
Diocesan Ministry for Gay and Lesbian
Catholics, Diocese of Charlotte.
Director will be Sister Mary Perniski, OP, a
member of the Dominican Sisters of Adrian.
Enjoy group sessions, meals, mountain
hikes, reflective time and Catholic Mass in
a warm and welcoming setting. Participants
are encouraged to share their stories and
strengthen their relationship with God.
Cost is $95 and includes semi-private
room, six meals and sessions.
To register or for more information, call
David Ferguson at 704-921-5711 or email
[email protected] with “retreat” in the
subject line.
In other news, the ministry has released
its informational brochure in Spanish to meet
the needs of the LGBT and allied Hispanic
community. For those interested in receiving
this, mail requests to David Ferguson, P.O. Box
12451, Charlotte, NC 28220.
— L.M.
Festival scheduled
FAIRVIEW — Stella’s Place, in partnership with Mountain Laurel B&B, presents
Music on the Mountain from Oct. 21-23.
Accommodations are made available through
Mountain Laurel B&B, 139 Lee Dotson Rd.
Enjoy drumming circles, hikes, light sports,
potluck dinner, dancing and music.
Saturday evening’s entertainment features
Lyn Koonce, Barb Ester & Beth York, Tammy
Gregg and PJ Brunson.
The event is limited to 100 women.
Cost is $32 for two-nights’ rustic camping
and concert or $16 for the concert only.
For information and reservations, call 828712-6289, email [email protected] or
visit stellasplace.webly.com.
— L.M.
Regional
Programs highlight LGBT community
CHAPEL HILL — University of North
Carolina Television includes in their programming features that highlight the LGBT community. The award-winning “In The Life” series,
produced by In The Life Media, is the longest-
running show documenting the LGBT experience. It is presented by WNET out of New York.
It is made possible through support from a
variety of resources. Over the past 20 years, it
has created a full spectrum of offerings, including history, civil rights initiatives, healthcare
and more. It airs at 10 p.m. on Sundays.
Viewers may watch previous 30-minute
episodes online to catch up, dating back to
the 11th season from 2002.
On Sept. 26 a red carpet premiere for the
20th anniversary season was held in New
York. It honored trailblazers in the LGBT movement, as well as focused on issues pertinent
to the community.
Memberships, giving options and corporate sponsorships are welcome.
This program not available in your area?
Then use online tools at :In The Life” to petition local public television stations to carry it.
For more information, visit unctv.org or
inthelivetv.org.
— L.M.
LGBT education minimal at med
schools
CHAPEL HILL — A study released by the
Stanford University School of Medicine says
that most medical schools only spent about
five hours on educating its students about
LGBT healthcare needs.
Results say that the 33.3 percent of
schools that responded provided no time in
classroom content.
HealthCanal.com reported, “Our findings
indicate that there is a dissatisfaction with
medical school coverage of LGBT content at
a number of schools and suggest room for improvement in LGBT-related curricula,” Mitchell
Lunn, M.D., senior author of the study.
The study was also co-authored by
Sanford University graduate Eric Tran who
is an MFA student at the University of North
Carolina at Wilmington, among others.
For more information,visit med.stanford.
edu/lgbt/.
— L.M.
Campus Scene
Contest launched
CHARLOTTE — Campus Pride, in celebration of its 10th anniversary in September, has
kicked off its national Born This Gay contest.
They have teamed up with CampusSpeak
for its campus tour and contest.
For a chance to win free speakers, LGBT
event registrations, resources and other prizes
valued at $10,000 plus throughout the year, visit
campuspride.org/bornthisway to register. The
first drawing will be held in March 2012.
In other news, Campus Pride was recently
cited by Newsweek when the publication used
the online LGBT-Friendly Campus Climate Index
as a resource for learning about campuses that
are inclusive and accepting. Executive Director
Shane Windmeyer said he was not aware that
Newsweek was utilizing the Index as part of its
methodology in determing its top 25 list. “It’s a
good thing…and at least Newsweek relied on
our professional expertise and the online Index
to drive its rankings. The more attention we can
have toward the need to create LGBT accep-
tance and safer, more welcoming campuses at
colleges and universities, all the better for our
LGBT youth.”
— L.M.
Advocacy
ACLU seeks coordinator
RALEIGH — The American Civil Liberties
Union of North Carolina is searching for an
LGBT campaign coordinator. This position is
for a limited term project that expects to be
completed by May 2012.
The candidate will be coordinating all aspects of the ACLU-NC’s advocacy against the
proposed anti-gay constitutional amendment
that will be up for vote on May 8, 2012. Duties
include, but are not limited to, campaign
management, public speaking, coalition and
advocacy work, as well as representing the
agency’s positions to the public. Travel and
weekend work will be required.
Work will be based out of the Raleigh
office.
For a complete list of responsibilities and
qualifications, visit aclu.org/job/lgbt-campaign-coordinator-aclu-north-carolina.
Salary is between $37,000-$42,000, based
upon experience. Benefits are included, as
well as travel and work-related expenses.
Applications should include a cover
letter, resume, writing sample (no more than
five pages) and list of at least three professional references, including contact information for each.
Submit applications to Jennifer Rudinger,
Executive Director, ACLU of North Carolina,
P.sO. Box 28004, Raleigh, NC 27611-8004.
For more information, email aclunc@
nc.rr.com.
— L.M.
National
U.S. military officially open
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The “Don’t Ask,
Don’t Tell” policy that kept openly gay, lesbian
and bisexual Americans from serving in the
U.S. military officially ended Sept. 20 and
according to Servicemembers Legal Defense
Network, the national group that led the fight
against the law, the repeal was welcomed
with approximately 100 celebrations in all 50
states. SLDN’s official party was held in the
nation’s capital while New York City’s gathering was hosted at the historic Stonewall Inn,
birthplace of the modern gay rights movement.
Army Veteran and SLDN Executive Director
Aubrey Sarvis observed, “Today marks the
official end of ‘Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’ and is an
historic milestone along the journey to achieving LGBT equality in America’s military. Thanks
to veterans, active duty, leaders, allies and
supporters everywhere, this is a monumental
day for our service members and our nation.
Indeed, we have taken a tremendous leap
forward for LGBT equality in the military.”
In the Carolinas, celebrations were held
in Charlotte, Davidson, Durham, Raleigh and
Wilmington in N.C. and in Charleston and
Columbia in S.C.
— D.S.
NCAA supports trans athletes
INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. — The National
Collegiate Athletic Association has approved
an important policy that clarifies opportunities
for transgender student athletes to participate
on college athletic teams in accordance with
their gender identity. The NCAA, which governs sports for more than 1,200 colleges and
institutions, worked closely with the National
Center for Lesbian Rights’ Sports Project and
Griffin Educational Consulting to develop the
policy. Under the policy:
• A transgender male student athlete who
has a medical exception for testosterone
hormone therapy may compete on a men’s
team, but is no longer eligible to compete on
a women’s team without changing the team
status to a mixed team.
• A transgender female student athlete
who has taken medication to suppress
testosterone for a year may compete on a
women’s team.
Transgender student athletes who are not
undergoing hormone therapy remain eligible
to play on teams based on the gender of their
birth sex and may socially transition by dressing and using the appropriate pronouns that
match their gender identity.
— D.S.
DOMA repeal lands GOP sponsor
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Rep. Ileana RosLehtinen has become the first Republican in
the U.S. House to co-sponsor the Respect for
Marriage Act, the bill to repeal the discriminatory Defense of Marriage Act that blocks
federal recognition of legal marriages of gay
and lesbian couples. Ros-Lehtinen represents
Florida’s 18th congressional district, which
covers most of Miami, her hometown.
The Respect for Marriage Act was introduced by Rep. Jerrold Nadler of New York on
March 16 of this year and a Senate version was
introduced by Dianne Feinstein of California
on the same day. President Barack Obama announced his support for the bill on July 19.
Human Rights Campaign President Joe
Solmonese said, “Congresswoman RosLehtinen is a longstanding advocate for our
equality and has shown today that respect
for our community, and our marriages, is a
mainstream and bipartisan principle. With
the American people strongly supportive of
DOMA repeal, we will continue to work with
members of both parties to end this discrimination once and for all.”
— D.S.
Prop 8 trial video coming
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — On Sept. 19,
U.S. District Court Chief Judge James Ware
ordered the public release of the video recording of the historic trial in Perry v. Brown.
In that trial, which took place in January 2010,
two same-sex couples challenged Proposition
8, the 2008 ballot measure that stripped the
freedom to marry from same-sex couples in
California. Following the trial, now-retired
Chief District Judge Vaughn Walker ruled in
August 2010 that Prop 8 is unconstitutional.
That ruling has been on hold while the proponents of Prop 8 appeal Judge Walker’s ruling.
The Prop 8 proponents have fought to
prevent the public from viewing the official
video recording of the trial. The couples who
are challenging Prop 8 filed a motion seeking
to unseal the video recording and Chief Judge
Ware heard the motion on Aug. 29. The City
and County of San Francisco and Media
Coalition members, including the Los Angeles
Times, CNN, The New York Times, FOX News,
NBC News, and The Associated Press, joined
the plaintiffs in asking the court to release the
videotape of the public trial.
In his ruling, Chief Judge Ware said that
public access to trials and court records are
“[f]oremost among the aspects of the federal
judicial system that foster public confidence
in the fairness and integrity of the process.”
Judge Ware ordered that the video recordings be made public on Sept. 30, 2011.
— D.S.
Global
Study: Aging issues for LGB Brits
LONDON, England — LGB people in the
U.K. are far more likely to end up living alone
and have less contact with family in later
life than heterosexual people, according to
research published by British gay rights
group Stonewall. The study, Lesbian, Gay and
Bisexual People in Later Life, raises significant
questions for how Britain responds to the needs
of its one million LGB citizens over the age of 55.
According to the report, older gay and bisexual men are around three times more likely
to be single than heterosexual men. And, while
almost nine in 10 heterosexual older people
have children who may offer care and support
in later life, the number is just over a quarter
of gay and bisexual men and just under half of
lesbian and bisexual women.
In addition, lesbian, gay and bisexual
people are also half as likely to regularly see
members of their biological family. Less than
a quarter see family members at least once
a week, compared with more than half of
heterosexual people.
— D.S.
Oct. 1-14 . 2011
qnotes
Ask Dr. C…HIV and healthcare advice
Helping to keep you in the know with up-to-date information
by Frederick Cruickshank ~ Medical Director
After many successful installments of “Ask Dr.
C,” this is yet another opportunity to offer our
readers information about HIV from basic questions to in-depths explanations. We are still receiving many of your questions and are working
hard to provide responses to as many questions
as possible to provide information for you and
the community. The questions have provided us a
forum to debunk myths and remove stigma from
those living with HIV and AIDS. It is important to
educate yourself, get tested and protect yourself!
We appreciate every question we receive! Dr. C
looks forward to responding to as many emails
as possible.
Does everyone who is exposed to HIV
get infected?
— Ben from Charlotte
Good question, Ben. The answer is no. It is
possible to be exposed to the infection and not
10
qnotes
Oct. 1-14 . 2011
become infected. Whether a person becomes
infected after being exposed to HIV depends on
how the virus enters the body and the amount of
virus that enters the body. But, that doesn’t mean
that you should expose yourself thinking that
you will not become infected. It only takes one
exposure to HIV-infected blood, semen or vaginal
fluids to contract the disease. Protect yourself
and get tested if you think you could have been
exposed. The earlier that diagnosis occurs, the
more effective treatment is.
Dr. C, I am a lesbian and only have sex
with other women. I have heard that
women who only have sex with other
women are not at risk for HIV infection.
Is this true?
— Kim from Gastonia
This is an important question, Kim. I have
been asked this many times. According to the
U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
(CDC) female-to-female transmission of HIV is
much less likely to occur as compared to transmission in which a male is involved. However,
it is possible! HIV transmission could potentially
occur if vaginal secretions or menstrual blood
enters open sores or cuts in or around the mouth,
such as those caused by canker sores or blisters,
vigorous teeth brushing or flossing or some form
of trauma. This could allow for the exchange of
potentially infected blood or body fluids. In order
to protect yourself, you can use a dental dam (a
thin, square piece of latex) or a non-lubricated
condom when having sex with your female partner. Female to female transmission also occurs
often by sharing needles. At any time if blood
from one partner can enter the other through a
breakage in skin, infection can occur.
Can a person who is HIV positive with
an undetectable viral load still pass HIV
to someone else?
— Chris from Charlotte
Chris, this is a great question because I think
people often think the answer is no. In reality
the answer is yes. A viral load test measures the
amount of HIV in a person’s blood. An undetectable viral load means that the amount of virus
in a person’s blood is too low for the test to
measure. It does not mean that there is no HIV in
the person’s body. A person who has a low or
undetectable viral load can pass HIV to someone
else, although the risk is probably lower than if
he or she had a high viral load. Risk reduction
measures, like using condoms and not sharing
needles, still need to be taken. Protect yourself!
Does “the pill” offer any protection
against STDs or HIV?
— Bettie from Rock Hill
Bettie, this is a very common misconception.
Many people feel that they can forego condom
use if the female is taking “the pill.” But, in reality,
this is not true. Oral contraceptives decrease your
likelihood to get pregnant, but offer no protection
from STDs or HIV. It is important to use a condom
when having sex in order to protect yourself.
Likewise, other forms of contraception including
“the patch,” Depo-Provera, only reduce the risk
of pregnancy. Keep an open dialogue with your
sexual partners and use a condom. It is important
to protect yourself. If you believe you or your partner has been exposed, I encourage both of you
to get tested. We conduct HIV and STD testing
here at Rosedale on a regular basis. You can also
get tested at your local health department.
Always remember that this is an advice
column based on your questions and the best
possible knowledge out there. We need your
questions to help educate the community, so
email them to [email protected] and be sure
to include a first name and location. All respondents will remain anonymous. We will try to do
our best to answer, educate and inform from your
responses to this column.
Don’t forget to visit our website at
rosedaleid.com and friend us on Facebook
for community and clinical updates.
— Sponsored Content —
NEWS
Grassroots, start your engines!
LGBT citizens engage, fire up homespun activism efforts
by Matt Comer :: [email protected]
CHARLOTTE — LGBT North Carolinians
are wasting no time when it comes to organizing against Amendment One, the anti-LGBT
constitutional amendment that will be placed
on the May 8, 2012 primary ballot (see our
story, page 1).
Just days after the amendment passed
the legislature, grassroots activists across
the state took to Facebook, Twitter and other
social networks to organize and connect. In
Boiling Springs, N.C., Gardner-Webb graduate
Tyler McCall and friends founded Neighbors
for Equality.
“When everything happened, we started
thinking about ways we could be involved and
started looking at places that were maybe a
little lacking and what was being offered by
other organizations,” McCall said. “The big
thing we’re looking to accomplish is mobilizing our friends and neighbors.”
Neighbors for Equality’s website at neighborsforequality.org will serve as an “online
hub” for on-the-ground activists, McCall
said. He and the group hope to connect other
like-minded citizens who are individually or
as groups working to educate voters and get
them to the polls come May.
In Charlotte, one couple felt a similar push
to make a difference. The week of the amendment’s legislative approval, Scotty Vanhoozier
and his husband Ben Collins showed up at
the Takeover Friday event at Uptown’s Westin
Hotel decked out in “Vote No May 8” T-shirts.
Vanhoozier, a screen-printing hobbyist, had
printed them himself.
“I knew I’d get a positive, good response
at Takeover; I didn’t expect anything less than
that,” he said. “I’ve also been showing the
T-shirt to our straight friends and, of course,
they are all very supportive and on board with
not passing that amendment.”
Vanhoozier said the impending ballot campaign is very personal. He and Collins have
been together since June 2009. They married
in Provincetown, Mass., in May.
“In the eyes of the state, our marriage
means nothing, but to us it means a lot,”
Vanhoozier said. “I’ve always told anyone that
all I want was what my parents had. They got
married and have been married for 45 years.
I think that this is really the last civil rights
movement for this country. It’s very important
we as gay people speak out.”
Vanhoozier and McCall are just two
examples of a growing trend: average gay
folk who’ve had enough and have decided
to take a stand. Vanhoozier thinks growing
grassroots action is a sign of the “passion of
the people.”
Vanhoozier
plans to sell some
of the shirts he’s
made. He’ll collect
orders through
VoteNoMay8NC.
etsy.com. McCall
and Neighbors
for Equality are
planning on doing
the same. Both say
all proceeds will
benefit Equality
North Carolina, the
statewide LGBT
advocacy and education group that will be
leading opposition to the amendment.
“If I can only sell 10 T-shirts for $10 each
that’s still $100 they didn’t have yesterday,”
Vanhoozier said.
Alex Miller, Equality North Carolina’s
interim executive director, said movement
across the state on the grassroots level is
exciting and encouraging.
“There is a lot of energy around this
issue and there are a lot of people who feel
strongly not only about the amendment, but
Scotty Vanhoozier and husband Ben Collins decked out in their T-shirts at the
Westin Hotel Takeover Friday. Inset: Vanhoozier works to perfect his “Vote No”
T-shirt on a screen-printer he keeps in his garage.
also about how important it is to stand up and oppose it in a public
way,” Miller said. “It’s great to see there’s a
lot of energy and absolutely we appreciate
folks creating merchandise and donating.”
McCall and his fellow organizers said
they’re excited about the prospect of working with a statewide campaign. Being based
in Western North Carolina, McCall expects
Neighbors for Equality to play a unique role.
“Sometimes we forget about the rest of
these little areas across the state,” McCall
said. “Maybe we will have a bit more reach
‘We Are America’
HRC NC Gala kicks off
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) has announced that the
17th annual HRC North Carolina Gala is returning to Charlotte
in 2012 after being held in Raleigh for two years. The event is
scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 25, 2012 and will be held at the
Charlotte Convention Center.
HRC North Carolina Gala organizers have put their planning
into full swing. On Sept. 13, HRC supporters and community
members gathered for a special kick-off event at the Harvey B.
Gantt Center for African-American Arts+Culture.
Learn more about the event, get tickets and more at
hrccarolina.org. : :
Nayya Bey (l-r), Nakia Savage
and Starr Gordon were among
those celebrating the return of
the HRC NC Gala to Charlotte
recently at the kick-off event at
the Harvey B. Gantt Center in
Charlotte.
HRC NC Gala 2012 dinner co-chairs Rich Hurley (l-r), Cherie Green
and Dan Mauney celebrate the return of the gala to Charlotte.
into these passionate communities that have
developed in some of these small towns.”
Miller said his group will be working on
ways to create a cohesive and coherent
message around the forthcoming “No on 1”
campaign.
“We applaud the energy and motivation
we’ve seen since the amendment was passed
and we hope to continue to have good, open
communication and good working relationships with all of our coalition partners across
the state,” he said. : :
— Photo Credit:
Rachel Sutherland
Communications
Historians take note. This year’s
National Gay History Project, with its
nearly 30 participating LGBT news
publications including qnotes, is a shout
out to say that the LGBT community will
no longer allow insensitivity, intentional
or not, to downplay the contributions
LGBT people have made to this country.
To put it simply, this year’s project is
definitive. Without people who were
LGBT or LGBT allies, there would be no
United States of America. We helped
create this nation and we helped keep
it together through the Civil War. And,
indeed, the Founding Fathers not only
had us in mind when creating this country, they welcomed and recruited us in
their efforts.
Welcome to “We Are America.”
Mark Segal, Coordinator
more: See all of our National Gay
History Project features online-only
throughout the month of October at
goqnotes.com/to/arts-entertainment/
history/.
— Photo Credit: Rachel Sutherland Communications
Oct. 1-14 . 2011
qnotes
11
A&E
drag
rag
by miss della
qnotes
contributor
Mercy
buckets!
Well dammit, Janet — here I sit, rounding up the tea for yet another Drag Rag.
What a time it has been since the last one.
And, the pageants are still coming at me. By
the time you read this, I will already have
been to the Miss Gay Southeast America
pageant down at the Hide-A-Way in Rock
Thrill. That’s where we’ll pick up the next
time. Which reminds me, what a booger
mention I made of Miss NC America last
time. But, we were going to press and I did
at least want the finalists and winner’s court
to be mentioned. What I failed to mention
was the involvement by all the formers
(many of whom were not even in drag)
backstage helping the girls. This was one of
the best Miss NC pageants in a long time!
Other than that, I ask you, how flawless was
Jamie Monroe’s “Halo” number? Old school
perfection, baby — old school. Made me
wish Kelly Raye had won Miss NC America
since she was from that same era. Oh, well,
one can dream, right?
The awards that I did not mention
were Best City Prelim to Bruce Bowyer of
Miss Piedmont; Promoter of the Year went
to Macy Alexander and partner Jason;
Sharde’ Ross and Kerri Nichols were
inducted into the Miss NC America Hall
of Fame, presented by our first Miss NC,
Brandi Alexander (who always comes to
show her support); and Kerri presented former Miss NC promoter Marsha McLawhorn
the Miss NC America Lifetime Achievement
Award for decades of service to Miss NC.
Sadly missing again was one of my favorites
ever, Melissa Montgomery. Nina Fierra
was able to perform her Talent after being
named Best Non-Finalist and ole girl cut up
on that stage! It was so good seeing many
old friends and new ones, but it’s always a
delight to see Curt who used to bring the
lovely Candace Corday to the stage. She
was first runner-up to Miss NC America
back when Blair Williams won.
Other impersonators qualifying to
compete at Miss America next month in
Ohio (when Coti gives it all up) include Miss
Arkansas, Zia D’Yor with RU Jazmyn Turrelle;
Mid West, Diva Coppafeel and RU Crystal
see Drag Rag on 17
12
qnotes
Oct. 1-14 . 2011
A&E
tell trinity
by trinity
qnotes contributor
The secret spell of
the drag queens
Hello Trinity,
I’ve been dating this guy off and on for almost a year, but then
I met his brother. Now, I have been fooling around with his
brother behind his back. Am I bad or is it his brother’s fault?
Brotherly Sins, Los Angeles, CA
Hello Brotherly Sins,
Now, I know I’ve read this problem
somewhere. Oh, yes, here it is in the
book called, “Demonic, Immoralistic,
Shameful Living” written by Satan
himself just before descending
into the underworld. In the chapter
called “Ruining A Family Without A
Conscience” it clearly states that,
“When you date two brothers at the
same time, any morals or standards
that you thought you had no longer
exist.” This chapter also touches
on future karmic punishment, but
that’s way too graphic for me to print.
Darling, you better start sleeping with
a weapon for protection because this
is not a love story, this is a revenge
thriller.
Dear Trinity,
The world is in such turmoil: the
economy, the GOP war on the working class. 2012! I can’t find
the meaning of life! Help!
Lost, Tulsa, OK
Dear Lost,
Every so often even the most fabulous find themselves lost.
Pumpkin, you must force yourself to conquer your loss for
life by getting lots of sleep, keeping busy, intellectually challenging yourself, as well as working on the next election and
facing your fears constantly! (See my cartoon to learn how
to conquer your current malaise and deal with things that
are scary.)
Hey Trinity,
I caught my boyfriend in the bathroom at a circuit party with
another guy for the second time. He said that they were just doing drugs. Why are gay men into drugs and sex at the bar even
if they have someone special at home?
Sex & Drugs, Detroit, MI
Hey S & D,
Some relationships are
“win-win,” but this sounds
more like “loser-loser!”
Drugs and/or sex in the
toilet stall also sounds
like juvenile delinquency at
its finest. Having a boyfriend
doesn’t mean having this
problem. This problem
is way too Sid & Nancy.
Sweetie, before you catch
him a third time you need to
say, “Make a fool of someone else — good-bye!”
one. Help!
Dearest Trinity,
I need to go to court, but my
offense is not big enough
to be appointed a lawyer. I
need one and I can’t afford
Dearest Lawyerless,
I may not have been born in a courtroom, but, honey, I’ve been
in one many times for many reasons. So, on those trying court
days where you must go it alone here are:
Trinity’s Trusty Tips For Winning in
Court Without A Lawyer
  1. Showing up on time with a good attitude always works best.
  2. Be very prepared with pictures, statements, witnesses and
short, to the point answers.
  3. You’re not in a foreign country where they flog you, so at
least appear grateful and respectful to the judge, jury and
the press.
  4. Look professsional. Men: dress shirt, (optional) tie, slacks,
shoes. Women: two piece suits and hair up!
  5. If you have a law enforcement, post office, doctor or military
uniform, wear it!
  6. Pointing, throwing things or swearing in court is one way to
be found guilty or in “Contempt Of Court.”
  7. I know you’re a gay rights, feminist, Afro-American,
Buddhist activist, but a courtroom is not the place to attack
the system.
  8. Would you rather die right or live! If your life is at stake think
twice about needing to prove yourself right! (Review: Salem
Witch Trials)
  9. The more money you have the better chance you have of
getting out of trouble, so get it, borrow it or find it if you can!
10. Lastly, our judicial system has major failures, but it’s what
we have, so learn to manipulate it rather than blame it! : :
— 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]
Sponsored by: Provincetown Business Guild
800-637-8696 . www.ptown.org
Lawyerless, Tucson, AZ
Oct. 1-14 . 2011
qnotes
13
LIFE
There are more benefits
to calcium than women
might think
That splash of milk in your coffee just isn’t enough
for a healthy diet
Eighty percent of women don’t get
enough calcium from food alone, according
to a recent study conducted by the National
Health and Nutrition Examination Survey.
That means women’s bodies are stealing
calcium from their bones.
Many foods like milk and other dairy products are well known to be prime sources of
calcium. Calcium is a crucial nutrient that helps
build and maintain bones, muscles and teeth.
It also keeps us moving by helping to maintain
muscle health and strength. But, taking a calcium supplement alone isn’t enough. The NIH
reports that vitamin D intake is also important
because it improves calcium absorption.
But, many women are falling short of
meeting their recommended daily calcium
allowance — between 1,000 mg and 1,200 mg.
Ladies may be surprised to learn that an eight
ounce glass of skim milk only makes up 30
percent of the calcium they need each day.
Risks of not enough calcium :: One of the
most common risks of not getting enough calcium is osteoporosis, a disease characterized
by low bone mass and deterioration of bone
tissue. Osteoporosis can lead to bone fragility.
Without bone-density testing, you may not
know you’re suffering from osteoporosis until
you suffer a fracture — which happens to half
of all women older than 50.
Starting young :: If you think calcium
is important only when you’re older, think
14
qnotes
Oct. 1-14 . 2011
again. NHANES also found that 90 percent of
teenage girls aren’t getting enough calcium
through diet alone. Since boys and girls
between the ages of 9 and 18 years old need
1,300 mg of calcium per day, getting a head
start on healthy habits can prove vital in
providing a strong nutritional foundation as
they get older.
Finding the right supplement :: If you don’t
get enough calcium through your diet, then
supplements, like Caltrate, are a good compliment to giving your body the nutrients it needs
to help keep your bones strong and your body
moving. These days, calcium supplements,
like Caltrate, are available in tablets, soft
chews and gummy forms and most can be
taken with or without food. However, calcium
alone isn’t enough. Calcium should be taken
in conjunction with vitamin D because it helps
the body absorb calcium for the development
and maintenance of bones. It also supports
mobility as it may help improve muscle health
and strength. : :
— Caltrate is partnering with Susan G.
Komen for the Cure as a national sponsor of
Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure series.
To learn more about the importance of
calcium and vitamin D in your diet, for special
offers and product information, and to share
your story about who, or what, moves you,
visit Facebook.com/Caltrate.
Courtesy ARAcontent.
A&E
out in the stars
by charlene lichtenstein
qnotes contributor
October 1 - 14
Welcome National Coming Out Month. And,
now with three personal planets entering sexy
Scorpio, there is no stopping the Pride. So, what
is stopping you?
LIBRA (09.24-10.23) Don’t be surprised if you become overly concerned with finances now. That
shouldn’t mean that you become excessively
cheap or that you should worry about where your
next meal is coming from. It means that this is
the opportune time to think about your financial
future. How cushy will your retirement be? Better
pack an extra pillow.
SCORPIO (10.24-11.22) This is your time to shine.
Proud Scorps maneuver themselves right into the
center of all the action and take it over. You ooze
charisma. Will the world bend to your command?
Give it a try. Too, too soon the planets move on as
you blend back into the shadows. In the meantime, grab your 15 minutes of fame and make it
last more than an hour.
SAGITTARIUS (11.23-12.22) Focus on the road
ahead. Your intuition hits a high mark and you are
able to predict future events with greater precision. What will you do with all this inside poop?
Will you buy stocks a day early? Will you maneuver around corporate sink holes? Will you choose
the perfect lover? Anything is possible if you put
your mind to it, gay Archer. So, focus already.
CAPRICORN (12.23-01.20) You couldn’t be alone
if you tried. Friends gather at your door, surround
you in the neighborhood and even waylay you in
some remote hideaways. Forget about avoiding
them. Why not toss yourself in the center of the
stew and boil with some buddies? Even better,
expand your current group with some fresh
faces. Join a new club, run with a new crowd,
stump for office.
AQUARIUS (01.21-02.19) Now is the time to make
your big corporate move, Aqueerius. No sooner
do you think that you are stuck where you are in
the machine than a series of movements moves
you ahead in the assembly line. What will you
do with your newfound power? Will you use it to
help those at the bottom or will you cushion your
own bottom? Oh, let’s guess.
PISCES (02.20-03.20) Guppies need to expand
their vision and what better way to do that than
through travel? So, get out of the house and see
what the world can deliver in terms of experiences. For those who are stuck where they are, try to
refresh your outlook cyberly or through a class.
Just because you sit in the same place doesn’t
mean that your mind can’t wander around.
ARIES (03.21-04.20) Proud Rams are hot numbers
and why not? Your charisma soars and you
are raring and ready for love. You possess the
maximum amount of sex appeal and know how
to use it. So, use it or be prepared to lose it by
Thanksgiving. Don’t content yourself with quiets
nights in front of the television set. Unless, of
course, it is with a close companion.
TAURUS (04.21-05.21) Relationships need your
attention. Be more cognizant of partner’s needs
and see what you can do to increase the joy.
Queer Bulls need a little TLC, too, and there are
ways to let others know what you want. Create a
paradise. Guarantee it by toasting with champagne while in that bubble bath for two. And, if
you are in the meet market, get out and meet.
GEMINI (05.22-06.21) Pink Twins need to look at
themselves in the mirror and see if they like what
and who they see. Maybe you can improve on
perfection? There is no excuse to be lazy and
there is much to be gained by being active and
healthy. The cosmos commands that you get off
your duff and buff. Join a gym, check out a new
diet or try something aerobic. No names please!
CANCER (06.22-07.23) This is not the time to hide
in your shell and become a wallflower. It is the
time to break onto the party scene and create
a scene yourself. Tap into your creative well
and see what springs out. You can create some
masterpieces that get you fame and fortune.
Plan some extraordinary launch event. Get into
mischief or mister chief. Your choice.
LEO (07.24-08.23) You will be amazed at how
interesting and engrossing just hanging around
the house can be. Or, maybe you just need to
totally relax and put your feet up. No matter what
you decide to do, do it at home. Proud Lions can
spice up their domestic agenda with a little flair
and the right mix of guests. Concoct some new
cocktails that loosen tongues and other things.
VIRGO (08.24-09.23) The conversation hits into
high gear on both a personal and a professional
level. Be sure that your messages are consistent,
on target and cannot be misinterpreted. Queer
Virgins with a bee in their bonnet can make some
stinging speeches that will stir up the hive. But,
know when to add some sticky honey to your
words too. : :
© 2011 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.
Oct. 1-14 . 2011
qnotes
15
VIEWS
on being a
gay parent
by brett webb-mitchell
qnotes contributor
The mysterious, magical art of
being a household
My young adult children are slowly
coming to understand that their childhood
was unique and pretty-darn good. Granted,
like most young children, they weren’t sure
of what was going on or who had the most
power among the three adults who were “parental units” (my daughter’s term). My partner
was slow to embrace his role and function as
a parental unit since he came into the process
of raising my children after they were born
and well on their way in life. Like many LGBTQ
people who decided they did not want to have
children and later find themselves in relationship with those who already have children,
it is a serious life-changing adjustment. This
16
qnotes
Oct. 1-14 . 2011
is because the presence of the one entering
a significant relationship with another adult
will not only leave his or her mark on the other
adult, but will be either a significant or fleeting memory in the lives of a parent’s child or
children. Because my partner resisted being
the other “dad” in the relationship (at first),
my children had great fun finding him a name:
“uncle” did not work for him, so they settled
on “the gay nanny” or simply “Dean.” But
make no mistake, he has been fully “Dad” to
them in the many expected and unexpected
ways we who are biological parents try to be
“moms” and “dads” with children we love
and who love us.
North Carolina state Sen. Jim Forrester
recently raised the problem he has with the
way an increasing number of children are
being raised around the world during the
floor debate on the constitutional amendment
banning marriage equality: “Two dads don’t
make a mom. Two moms don’t make a dad.
Children need both a father and a mother.” In
other words, two dads or two moms is “new,”
“weird” or maybe even “unbiblical” (thus
sinful). What Forrester fails to understand or
appreciate is that he is promoting a liberal,
contemporary understanding of the American
family, dubbed the “nuclear family” in the
1950s, which is equated wrongly as “the
traditional family.” Time and again we need
to be reminded that the “nuclear family” of
“a father and a mother” is not the “traditional
family” system prior to the 1950s. Instead, the
traditional family pattern of raising children,
before this time, was bringing up children in
a household, where a child had more than a
mom and a dad. Instead, there were many
moms, dads and other parental units (godpar-
ents, grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins,
a faith community, close friends) who raised
children in multi-generational households,
a pattern well-established throughout time
around the world. In other words, my family
system is more of a household, in which we
are hearkening back to a more conservative,
traditional way of raising our children rather
than the sterile, unhealthy, contemporary,
liberal position of Forrester.
For example, my father grew up in a
house in Brooklyn, N.Y., in the 1920s, with his
parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles.
They lived together in a four-story house
where each family had their own floor to
call their own, but my dad was raised by the
generations of his extended family system,
like most other children his age. In 19th
century rural American farming communities,
households raised children and grandchildren, a practice that was largely killed off by
people moving into a city as they partook in
see next page u
the contemporary rise of the Industrial Revolution.
Biblically, in both ancient Hebrew scriptures and the
New Testament, the word “family” is not to be found.
The Apostle Paul writes about “households” in his
Epistles, in which generations of family members
lived with one another in a single abode, farm or
village. Jesus was raised in a household, since that
was the common Jewish practice in his days. And,
don’t get me going on King Solomon and his 700
wives, 300 concubines and kids, for a discussion of
unbiblical biblical family practices.
As for me and my household, we live in a more
traditional, conservative way of being household for
and with one another, with two dads, a mom, two
young adult children, two dogs, two homes, constant
communication, care, compassion, worry and joy.
My children are ever so fortunate that we chose the
more old-fashioned traditional messy household way,
because they have had three sets of adult, parental
eyes, watching their every move with love, concern
and a spirit of celebration, come what may. After all,
it takes more than “a father and a mother” to raise
children these days, and always has. : :
Drag Rag:
There’s a downpour of pageants galore!
continued from page12
Lace; IL, Erica Leigh Foster; Gulf States, Victoria Dupuis and
RU Blair Williams; FL, Zhane’ Kennedy; PA, Domiana Dupree St.
James; OH, Deva Station; Tri-States, Tanisha Foxx and RU Sparkle
Iman; Heart of America, Sally Sparkles with RU DeMonica
Santangilo; Blue Grass, Celebrity Starr and RU Bridget Nickles;
Miss Texas, Jenna Skyy and RU Vega Marie St. James; and last,
but never least, TN, Pat McCooter and RU Fannie Mae Charles.
What was I thinking the last time not mentioning Miss Pride
Charlotte? Hell, I attended the pageant and just didn’t make any
notes or anything. Elaine Davis won and her RU was London
Dior. And, speaking of Pride, I saw a great show at Scorpio
that Friday night with “RuPaul’s Drag Race” contestant Jessica
Wild, Brooke Divine and our Miss Gay U.S.ofA., Luscious. On
a side note, Olive, I’m still sitting in the lobby waiting on you,
queen! Bitter, party of one.
I wanted to give a big shout-out to Arianna Evans, the newest Miss U.S.ofA. Newcomer — she’s a Texas queen, honey!
Her RUs included Ka’Aliyah McKim Diamond, Aria B. Cassidine,
Heidi Iman and Missy Meyakie LePaige.
Finally, I’ll close with the results from Miss Continental. I
did not attend this year, the first time in 15 years! I understand
it was quite the function (as Amaya would say). The lovely and
sweet Mokha Montrese was relinquishing a title so dear to her
and for that, I’m truly sorry I missed it. The finalists included
Tatiana Braxton, Tiffany T. Hunter, Fontasia L’Amour, Sunny Dee
Lite, Justice Devine, Stasha Sanchez, Sassy Devine, Alexis
Gabrielle Sherrington, Indiana Jones, Queen B. Ho, Naysha
Lopez and Jennifer Cartier. The Top 5 included Stasha Sanchez,
Jennifer Cartier, 2nd RU Tiffany T. Hunter, 1st RU Fontasia
L’Amour and winner, former Miss Gay U.S.ofA., Alexis Gabrielle
Sherrington, or “Gabby.” My good Chicago sis Tajma Hall told
me Gabby was sick-o-ning from beginning to end on final night
and was not leaving without that crown. I’m so happy for her,
as I judged her at her prelim in Miami! The night before, Phillip
Alexander won Mr. Continental, so there you have the king and
the queen! : :
info: Drop me a line, OK?
[email protected]
qomunity qonexions u
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Oct. 1-14 . 2011
qnotes
17
18
qnotes
Oct. 1-14 . 2011
Rugby champ visits Queen City
Oct. 5-6 • Charlotte
Ben Cohen
Campus Pride and a host of other local organizations present English Rugby World cup champion
Ben Cohen for a series of public and private events benefitting Cohen’s StandUp Foundation. Events
include a public happy hour at Phil’s Tavern, 105 E. 5th St., 5:30-6:30 p.m. and a benefit auction at
Sidelines Sports Bar, 4544 South Blvd., 7-9 p.m. $10 minimum donation for each event. For more
information on the events, including a special “Coming Out” rally at the University of North Carolina
at Charlotte, visit campuspride.org/standupwithben/.
Oct. 2 • Cary
Fall Foliage Benefit Concert
Serenity hosts a concert benefiting the
North Carolina Coalition Against Domestic
Violence, SWOOP, the LGBT Center of
Raleigh and the Susan G. Komen Foundation.
Featuring Jennifer Corday, Monika James
and Vickie Shaw. Koka Booth Amphitheatre
at Regency Park, 8002 Regency Pkwy.
Noon. $45-$75. Tickets available online at
ticketmaster.com. serenitygirlz.blogspot.com.
Oct. 4 • Charlotte
Suzanne Westenhoefer
The Comedy Zone, LGBT Community Center
of Charlotte and NC Music Factory present
comedian Suzanne Westenhoefer for a special, one-night-only show. The Comedy Zone,
900 Seaboard St., Suite B3. 8 p.m. $20-$25.
cltcomedyzone.com.
Oct. 6-22 • Charlotte
‘Xanadu’
Queen City Theatre Company presents
“Xanadu: The Musical,” with powerful
performances from some of the city’s most
recognized and award-winning actors.
Directed by Glenn T. Griffin. Duke Energy
Theatre at Spirit Square, 345 N. College St.
Various dates/times. Various prices.
queencitytheatre.com.
Oct. 7 • Raleigh
Awards Dinner
The LGBT Center of Raleigh holds their annual
awards dinner honoring Jimmy Creech and
Akil Campbell. The Stockroom at 230, 230
Fayetteville St. 7 p.m. $100.
lgbtcenterofraleigh.com.
Oct. 8 • Charlotte
Bears Carowinds Trip
Join Bear Encounters for a trip to Carowinds!
After fun in the sun, join the boys for an after
party that night at the Woodshed Lounge.
For more details, visit bear-encounters.com.
Special group discounts end on Oct. 2; visit
site for more details and special instructions
for purchases after that date.
Oct. 8 • Winston-Salem
‘Circumstance’ Screening
OUT at the Movies, Winston-Salem and North
Carolina’s GLBT film series will screen the
2011 drama, “Circumstance.” UNCSA School
of Filmmaking, 1533 S. Main St. 7-8:30 p.m. For
more info, visit OUTattheMoviesWinston.org.
Oct. 9 • Raleigh
Gay & Gray
The LGBT Center of Raleigh’s Gay & Gray
Initiative hosts a dance and social. Clarion
Hotel Penthouse, 320 Hillsborough St. 3-7 p.m.
$15. lgbtcenterofraleigh.com.
Oct. 11-16 • Charlotte
Addams Family musical
Just in time for Halloween, check out “The
Addams Family” musical comedy at Ovens
Auditorium, 2700 E. Independence Blvd.
Various dates/times. Various prices.
blumenthalarts.org.
Oct. 12 • Raleigh
‘Being Earnest’
Oscar Wilde’s “The Importance of Being
Earnest,” the “Trivial Comedy for Serious
People,” is crammed full of memorable satirical humor and larger than life characters (in
fact, in all of theater, is there one more delectable than Lady Augusta Bracknell?). Aquila
Theatre’s staging of Wilde’s masterpiece
promises to overflow with wit, elegance and
romantic comedy. Presented by N.C. State
University Center Stage. Stewart Theatre,
2610 Cates Ave. 8 p.m. ncsu.edu/centerstage/.
Oct. 14 • Winston-Salem
‘Beyond Gay’
A special OUT at the Movies screening of
“Beyond Gay: The Politics of Pride” the night
before the city’s Pride festival (see listing
below). University of North Carolina School of
the Arts, ACE Theatre Complex, 1533 S. Main
St. 7:30-9 p.m. outatthemovieswinston.org.
Oct. 14 • Charlotte
NC Dance: Director’s Choice
Artistic Director Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux leads
North Carolina Dance Theatre in three ballets:
William Forsythe’s “In the Middle, Somewhat
Elevated,” Mark Diamond’s “Bolero” and
a new work by Sasha Janes, “Rhapsodic
Dances.” Knight Theatre, 430 S. Tryon St.
7:30 p.m. Various prices. ncdance.org.
Oct. 15 • Charlotte
Livin’ in the Art
Petra’s presents a special art exhibit highlighting artists from the Carolinas. Proceeds to
benefit LGBT Community Center of Charlotte.
Petra’s, 1919 Commonwealth Ave. 5-9 p.m.
petraspianobar.com.
Oct. 15 • Winston-Salem
Winston-Salem PRIDE 2011
Equality Winston-Salem presents its first-ever
Winston-Salem PRIDE 2011, complete with a
festival at Winston Square Park and a parade
through downtown. Entertainment headliner
is lesbian gospel singer-songwriter Jennifer
Knapp. equalitywinstonsalem.org.
Oct. 18 • Charlotte
Jennifer Baumgardner
The University of North Carolina at
Charlotte presents bisexual activist Jennifer
Baumgardner for this year’s OutSpoken
Speakers Series. Baumgardner, author of
“Look Both Ways: Bisexual Politics,” will also
be named the campus’ first “activist in residence,” Oct. 17-21 during which other campus
activities are planned. McKnight Hall, Cone
University Center. 7 p.m. outspoken.uncc.edu.
Oct. 21 • Charlotte
Heroes vs. Villains
Just Twirl hosts a special Halloween party
with Atlanta’s DJ Jay McCracken. Marigny
Dance Club, 1440 S. Tryon St., Suite 110. 10
p.m. $10. justtwirl.com.
Oct. 26-Nov. 13 • Chapel Hill
Songs and stories from the Freedom Ride
PlayMakers Repertory Company presents
“The Parchman Hour: Songs and Stories
from the ‘61 Freedom Riders.’ In the fiery
first months of America’s civil rights move-
Meeting Date:
Program:
Time:
Cost:
To Reserve:
Q
events
qnotes
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ment, waves of young people rode buses
into the heart of the Deep South. Many were
brutally attacked, arrested, and imprisoned in Mississippi’s notorious Parchman
Farm Penitentiary, where they invented an
ingenious pastime o help them endure, a
live variety show inspired by programs then
popular on radio and television. Jokes, stories,
singing and Bible readings sprang from every
cell. This nightly event became known as The
Parchman Hour. With characters such as
Stokely Carmichael, Martin Luther King and
Robert Kennedy, “The Parchman Hour” honors an important piece of history. Paul Green
Theatre, Center for Dramatic Art at UNC, 150
Country Club Rd. Various dates/times. Various
prices. playmakersrep.org.
Oct. 27 • Chapel Hill
Power of Attorney clinic
Lambda Law Student Association presents
a free Healthcare Power of Attorney clinic.
The evening will begin with a North Carolina
specific “Know Your Rights” presentation, followed by one-on-one assistance from law students in preparing paperwork that will ensure
that your partner can make critical healthcare
decisions for you in the event that you are
incapacitated and designate your partner for
hospital visitation purposes. Dinner will be
served. Space is limited; RSVP to Rachel Hall
at [email protected]. UNC School of
Law, 160 Ridge Rd. 6-8:30 p.m. studentorgs.law.
unc.edu/llsa/poa/default.aspx.
Oct. 28-Nov. 12 • Charlotte
‘For the Love of Harlem’
Openly gay Charlottean Jermaine Nakia
Lee presents his musical “For the Love of
Harlem,” profiling the lives and loves of some
of the most legendary stars of the Harlem
Renaissance. Duke Energy Theatre at Spirit
Square, 345 N. College St. Various dates/
times. Various prices. blumenthalarts.org.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Charlotte Symphony President/Executive Director
Jonathan Martin
LGBT Community Center of Charlotte
820 Hamilton St.
Cash Bar Social/Heavy Hor d’oeuvres @ 5:30 pm
Program starts @ 6:45 pm
$20
Call 704.565.5075
or email [email protected]
for more information
or pay online via PayPal at
www.charlottebusinessguild.org
www.charlottebusinessguild.org
Oct. 1-14 . 2011
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Oct. 1-14 . 2011