April 2-15 . 2011 qnotes

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April 2-15 . 2011
qnotes
qnotes
April 2-15 . 2011
inside
April 2-15, 2011 Vol 25 No 24
14
Cast members Kerri Brackin (Nicky) and Brent Michael DiRoma (Rod)
Photo Credit: © John Daughtry 2009
news & features
6 News Notes: Regional Briefs
8 Sex in the park?
9 Liz Taylor mourned
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Editor’s Note
General Gayety
QPoll
Coming out ally
T-Notes
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No strings attached
Stomp 2011
Pet look-a-like
Out in the Stars
Tell Trinity
Def Jam co-founder honored
Q events calendar
contributors this issue
Leah Cagle, Robbi Cohn, Matt Comer, Charlene
Lichtenstein, Lainey Millen, Leslie Robinson, David
Stout, Trinity
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April 2-15 . 2011
qnotes
VIEWS
editor’s note
general gayety
by matt comer
[email protected]
by leslie robinson :: qnotes contributor
The word is out
Marching backward to the beat
of a despotic drum
Back in December, Vice President Joe
Biden said “there’s an inevitability for a
national consensus on gay marriage.” It is
a theme has been repeated often enough in
days of late. There’s plenty of evidence to support such a hypothesis.
Marriage equality bills and other pieces of
legislation granting relationship rights to samesex couples are advancing across the country.
Both Hawaii and Illinois recently approved
civil unions. A marriage equality bill passed the
Maryland Senate. In Delaware, a bill to extend
civil unions to same-sex couples was introduced to that state’s senate on March 22.
Currently, a total of six states recognize
and allow the performance of same-sex marriages. Another 10 allow civil unions or other
registered types of relationship recognition.
And, for the first time ever, new polling from
ABC News and the Washington Post indicates
that a majority of the American public supports
equal marriage rights. Nearly a decade ago,
only 32 percent of Americans favored such
rights. Today, 53 percent are on our side.
All the while, some states continue to face
the threat of draconian measures to strip such
rights away from their citizens. At press time,
a bill to add an anti-gay constitutional amendment to the Indiana Constitution had made its
way through a senate committee there. Right
here at home, Republican legislators in the
North Carolina Senate hope to pass their own
anti-gay constitutional amendment.
Such measures are, no doubt, a form of
tyranny. They enforce a religiously-motivated
despotism whose aim is singularly focused
on stripping away, layer by layer, the humanity of LGBT people. First it’s marriage. Then it’s
healthcare and visitation rights. Next on the list
is LGBT-inclusive bullying policies and laws.
Then adoption. Where would it stop? Would we
eventually revert to those “good ol’ days” when
queers were burned and stoned to death?
You might say I’m being facetious, but the reality couldn’t be any starker. Under the radar and
mostly unreported by mainstream media, there’s
a growing movement among the rightest of this
country’s evangelical religious right. Known as
“dominionists,” they seek to take political control
across the country and shape the nation and its
body of law under the influence of their religious
doctrines and scriptural interpretations.
Again, you doubt me. “Conspiracy theorist!” you say accusatorially.
Yet, these same people who claim their
mission is only to spread the Gospel here in
America played key roles in pushing one of
the most harsh anti-gay laws in the world in
Uganda. There, anti-gay religious leaders
from the U.S., including many involved in the
“ex-gay” industry, spoke at conferences and to
political and religious leaders. They laid out stereotypes, lies and twisted data painting gays as
predators. How did Uganda, where homosexuality was already illegal, respond? They drafted
legislation that would subject gays to harsh
prison sentences and even capital punishment.
What’s good for the goose, is good for the
gander. If U.S.-based Christianist hate groups
can make it happen in foreign nations, what
makes you think it couldn’t happen here.
I must stop and admit: I’ve painted a stark
and scary picture here — one that’s pretty
far from reality at the moment. But, it isn’t
necessarily a false premonition of our future. The political, social and religious landscapes
of civilization have sometimes been shaped
by freak accidents of history. The only thing
able to prevent such freak accidents is you.
We’re lucky to live in a nation such as ours.
In democracies, just about anyone or any
group of people can gain power if they speak
loudly enough. Whether those in power will be
Christian dominionists or American patriots is
a decision entirely of our own making.
As Tar Heels continue to face the threat
of an anti-gay amendment, we must ensure
that each and every one of us as vigilant, as
engaged and as informed as citizens ought
to be. : :
Learn more: Get more information
on the anti-gay constitutional amendment,
learn how to get involved and speak out at
equalitync.org.
At Wayne State University in Detroit, the
Word Warriors wave the banner on behalf of
the English language’s neglected words. Last
year the Warriors released a list of words they
hoped to rescue from disuse. As the obliging type, I wanted to assist the restoration
effort. So, I tested all 15 words to see if they fit
snugly with my LGBT subject matter.
They fit. Huzzah.
The Word Warriors’ 2011 list has just been
released and I’m feeling the pressure. This
batch looks potentially harder for me to use. If
I can’t blend these words with LGBT content,
they have no future with me. I’ll be helping
consign them to oblivion.
I’ll be a word-killer. The National Writers
Union will hang me by my thumbs.
Okay then, I’m ready to start. Gingerly. I’ll
provide the word, the definition and — God
willing — a sentence using the word.
Concupiscence.
Time out. This word was on last year’s list.
Why have the Word Warriors repeated it?
Either the pressure’s getting to them, too, or
they’re exceptionally fond of the word concupiscence, which means lust. Just what’s going
on in Detroit, anyway?
To return to the business at hand,
Concupiscence. Strong sexual desire. When
Bible-thumping, family-values preaching,
anti-gay leaders succumb to sins of the flesh,
the fallout from their concupiscence provides
hours of entertainment.
Draconian. Excessively severe. Over the
last couple of years, the murderous anti-gay
legislation in Uganda has frequently been
described as draconian, proving that word
ain’t dead yet.
Evanescent. Quickly fading or disappearing. At 15, Pete found his crushes on guys
tended to be evanescent, hot and heavy in
homeroom, but over by lunch.
Hornswoggle. To deceive. After spending
her last dime on ex-gay programs, Mary didn’t
know whether she’d been hornswoggled by
her family, the group leaders or God.
Ossify. To harden like bone. Frieda Frock
knew she needed to look her best for the drag
qpoll
queen competition, but if she applied one
more layer of foundation she believed she’d
ossify on the spot.
Paroxysm. A sudden, uncontrollable
outburst. Her grandmother’s insistence that
Liberace was straight sent Rebecca into
paroxysms of laugher.
Penurious. Miserly; cheap to a fault. Looking back on her relationship history,
Stacy could explain why she dated both men
and women, but she couldn’t explain why she
always wound up with penurious dates who
wouldn’t pay for dinner.
Schadenfreude. Pleasure derived from
someone else’s misfortune. When Biblethumping, family-values preaching, anti-gay
leaders are caught succumbing to sins of the
flesh, the gay community can be excused for
experiencing Schadenfreude and paroxysms
of laughter.
Sibilance. Producing a hissing sound.
Tyler, a straight guy, believed he spoke with
too much sibilance, so to prevent people from
thinking he was gay, he didn’t use a word that
started with “s” from 2005 to 2010.
Skullduggery. Underhanded or unscrupulous behavior. Ralph planned to go to Thailand
for sex-change surgery, but thanks to skullduggery by his travel agent, who pocketed
most of the money, Ralph’s journey ended in
Des Moines.
There. Whew. That’s all of them. Each word
has an LGBT application. I’ve consigned no
words to extinction and my thumbs are safe.
But, this was a tough bunch and I plan
to chat with the Word Warriors about their
choices for next year. I’ll suggest some neglected, out-of-fashion words that will be an
easier fit for me. Like homophile. And labrys.
And, Madonna.
If the Word Warriors don’t go along with
my suggestions, well, you know what that
means: We’re going to have words.
And if “concupiscence” turns up again on
next year’s list, I won’t have a good word to
say about them. : :
info:
[email protected] . generalgayety.com
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qnotes
April 2-15 . 2011
Coming out ally
VIEWS
Straight sister gets a taste of rejection
by Leah Cagle :: [email protected]
I should probably start out with a confession — throughout my youth, my attitude
towards the LGBT community was little
more than a formulaic result of a traditional
Southern Baptist upbringing in small town
Hendersonville, N.C., and a unanimously-dedicated Republican family. I subscribed to the
seemingly compassionate “hate the sin, love
the sinner” theology and carried on in life with
little threat to the conservative bubble I lived in. And then I came to college.
When I transferred to the University of
North Carolina-Charlotte in spring 2008, I
Becoming an ally
Interested in becoming a straight
ally, but unsure of where to start? Here’s
a few tips:
Get educated :: Take a few minutes to
review recent LGBT history in your area.
Read up on literature and research that
can help you deflect ignorant arguments. Ask your LGBT friends about
their current experiences and about
what issues matter most to them.
Get prepared :: Harvey Milk once said,
“I fully realize that a person who stands
for what I stand for, an activist, a gay
activist, becomes the target or the
potential target for a person who is
insecure, terrified, afraid, or very disturbed with themselves.” Count the cost
and prepare yourself for accusations
and questions that are sure to follow
your announcement. The attention you
receive from this is a great opportunity
to educate!
Get loud :: Tell your friends and family.
Start the controversial conversations.
Whether your loved ones (or not-soloved ones) agree with you or not, they
will be forced to recognize someone
that they know as an ally. Hopefully,
the conversations wonderful tools for
chipping away at the fear-tactics and
stereotypes and making way for better
understanding.
Get involved :: Stay tuned in with
qnotes’ event calendar (page 19 and at
goqnotes.com/qguide/events) or volunteer at the Lesbian & Gay Community
Center of Charlotte (gaycharlotte.com).
Collective effort goes a long way, and
we can use all the help we can get!
met a group of people I now
affectionately call my “choice
family.” By the fortunate happenstance of my class schedule, I encountered students of
various backgrounds, hometowns, beliefs and — most
interestingly — sexualities,
who quickly grew to become
my best friends. Needless to
say, after spending time with
these beautiful people and
gaining a deeper understanding
of their loving relationships, my
opinions, theology and heart
began to change. It wasn’t until last summer
that I found the courage to
speak out. Despite being an
intern for a supposedly liberal though un-affirming and unaccepting campus ministry
at UNCC, I could no longer keep my silence.
I read every book on ”the Bible and homosexuality” that I could get my hands on and
talked to anyone who would listen. I was
determined to break the façade that in order
to be Christian I had to be anti-gay. So, on
Oct. 11, National Coming Out Day, I took the
opportunity to “come out” as a gay ally to all
my friends and family. That’s when the shit hit the fan.
After extensive pushback, page-afterpage of concerned Facebook messages,
hours of intervention-style conversations and
an eventual removal from leadership within
my church, I had an epiphany — this experience granted me my first glance, if only a tiny
sliver of understanding, of what the coming
out experience must be like.
This is why it is so crucial for my fellow
straights out there to put away the comfortable heterosexist privilege we enjoy and take
a bold stand as an ally to the LGBT community. It’s not enough to believe, we must take
action and call others to do the same. Only
when we get our asses in gear, working for
the advancement of our LGBT brothers and
sisters can we begin to fathom the societal
and cultural obstacles they are up against.
With that understanding, we can finally begin
— unified in goal and purpose — to work for
a more loving and affirming world. : :
April 2-15 . 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]
erty and helpless to escape its ravages. The
around-the-world tour of 12 countries in 12
months includes performing volunteer work in
each country and filming the journey.
Admission is $20 for adults. Kids
16 and under get in free with parent/
guardian. Price includes dinner and
non-alcoholic beverages.
The event is sponsored by JHG
Financial Advisors.
For more information, visit charlotte
businessguild.org.
— L.M.
Charlotte
HOM to hold walk
Triad
Rustin Center opens at
Guilford College
BELMONT — Get those walking shoes out
and hit the streets for the 20th Anniversary
Walk for AIDS to benefit the House of Mercy
on April 9, beginning at 10 a.m. at 101 Mercy
Dr., at the stone shelter on the campus.
Providing services since 1991 to those
affected by HIV/AIDS, the Sisters of Mercy
have been a beacon of light to those it
serves. Participants will walk the three-mile
route to raise funds for this charity. An event
T-shirt will be given to the first 250 people
who raise $50 or more. Walk alone or as a
team. Some companies provide matching
funds for those who participate and achieve
their objectives. Visit the Walk website for
more details and to sign up.
Prizes will be awarded to top individual and
top team fundraisers, as well as best banner.
Registration is at 9:30 a.m. A picnic, music
and awards reception will be held afterward
on the House of Mercy grounds.
Sotto Voce (an ensemble of One Voice
Chorus) and Eric Thomas, Walk honorary
chair and WBTV meteorologist, will be on
hand to welcome participants.
This year’s goal is $32,000. Eighty percent of
the administrative costs comes from contributions. Funds are needed to supply food, medications and 24-hour compassionate care.
Contributions are always welcome.
Send checks or money orders to House of
Mercy, P.O. Box 808, Belmont, NC 28012 or
donate online.
To RSVP for the picnic or for more information, call 704-825-4711 x3, email [email protected], or visit thehouseofmercy.
org/11walk.
— L.M.
GREENSBORO — Social justice
activist Mandy Carter of Durham, N.C.,
was the keynote speaker on March 16 at the
dedication of Guilford College’s Bayard Rustin
Center for LGBTQA Activism, Awareness and
Reconciliation (BRC).
Formerly the Queer and Allied Resource
Center, the BRC was named in honor of
Bayard Rustin, a Quaker who was a mentor
to Martin Luther King Jr. and a pioneer in
advocating civil rights for African-Americans,
gays and lesbians. Rustin, the chief organizer
of the 1963 March on Washington, is credited
with introducing non-violent Gandhian principles and tactics in the American Civil Rights
Movement, leading to direct actions such as
sit-ins, marches and boycotts.
Carter’s four decade-long career in activism began with her participation in King’s 1968
Poor Peoples’ Campaign, organized by the
Southern Christian Leadership Conference
(SCLC), which solidified her lifelong commitment to non-violence..
Carter helped found Southerners On New
Ground (SONG), which integrates work against
homophobia into freedom and civil rights
struggles in the South, and the National Black
Justice Coalition (NBJC), currently the only
national civil rights organization of concerned
black LGBT people dedicated to fostering
equality by ending racism and homophobia.
In 2005, Carter was nominated for the
Nobel Peace Prize. On Feb. 12, she received
the American Civil Liberties Union of North
Carolina’s 2011 Frank Porter Graham Award
during their 42nd Annual Frank Porter
Awards Ceremony.
For more information, call 336-316-2374 or
email [email protected].
— compiled from release
Guild to host theater owner
Triangle
CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte Business
Guild will bring in J.D. Lewis, owner of the
Actor’s Lab of Charlotte and Los Angeles, to
its monthly meeting on April 19 at 5:30 p.m.
at the Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 820
Hamilton St.
He will address members and guests,
including their children, and tell all about
his upcoming voyage with his two adopted
sons, Jack and Buck, who are also expected
to attend, as they kick-start a humanitarian
venture called, “Twelve in Twelve” in July.
Lewis has a passion for helping others,
especially children who are trapped in pov-
qnotes
Film gains notice
RALEIGH — An upcoming graduate of
North Carolina State University, Will Lamb embarked on creating a documentary that highlights the school’s LGBT and ally communities.
Although this might not seem too remarkable,
it is so for him since he is an ROTC scholar.
Following his graduation in May, he’ll head
to the U.S. Army Signal Corps as a commissioned officer.
His piece, “It Gets Better,” shares the
story of how acceptance and change is
blooming across the campus.
Lamb is a communications media major.
He also serves as president of the university’s
Union Activities Board. He grew up hopping
around with his father who was in the Army.
This lead to a real diverse set of friends for
him over the years. He has no problem with
having gay friends.
Justine Hollingshead approached him last
fall during the launch of the national It Gets
Better campaign to see if he would help share
the NCSU story. She said he was a valuable
ally and brought a perfect set of skills to bring
this project to completion.
The campaign pledge states: “Everyone
deserves to be respected for who they are. I
pledge to spread this message to my friends,
family and neighbors. I’ll speak up against
hate and intolerance whenever I see it, at
school and at work. I’ll provide hope for lesbian, gay, bi, trans and other bullied teens by
letting them know that ‘It Gets Better.’”
After spending time around campus interviewing a number of subjects, the result was
a 14-minute film packed full of comments from
students, staff, faculty and alumni. In fact, the
piece has had over 10,000 hits on YouTube.
To see the piece, visit youtube.com/
watch?v=xuSNuPM5BsI.
— L.M.
SONG holds day of action
RALEIGH — Southerners on New Ground
(SONG) is spearheading a National Day of
Action on April 4 at 16 W. Jones St. at 11:30 a.m.
The silent picket and rally will help to raise
awareness of and defend human rights, public
jobs and public services.
SONG wants LGBT people to be engaged
in this initiative to call attention to the need for
safety and accessibility to healthcare. And,
they chose this particular day as it was the
day that Martin Luther King was assassinated
in Memphis in 1968.
Can’t make it to Raleigh? Then organize a
rally or educational event in your area or wear
a black armband to work.
For more information, call 919-5392051, email [email protected], visit
southernersonnewground.org or call the NC
AFL-CIO at 919-833-6678.
— L.M.
Parents launch anti-bullying initiative
CARRBORO — Melissa and Meredith
Weiss have co-founded Be a Friend, a clothing line created in response to a growing
national concern about adolescent bullying. It
was designed to generate dialogue about the
importance of being a friend and standing up
for anyone who is bullied or mistreated.
Items feature graphics of animated, diverse friendships. Clothing is available online,
through school and non-profit fundraisers,
at festivals and in retail stores. A percentage
of each sale is donated to organizations that
work on bullying prevention or those that help
children with special needs.
It can be used by parents, educators and
organizations to engage dialogue about the
importance of being a friend.
The founders have seen the effects that
bullying can have on children and communities and wanted to help increase awareness
of the issue and help children and families
April 2-15 . 2011
find fun, comfortable ways to talk about these
serious issues.
For more information, call 919-200-9684,
email [email protected] or visit
beafriendclothing.com.
— L.M.
Diversity tackled head on
RALEIGH — North Carolina State
University’s Office for Diversity and Inclusion,
in its ongoing effort to thwart prejudice and
bullying, welcomed Jacqueline Barnett, director of institutional equity at Tulane University,
on March 24 for a lecture about hate crimes.
The event was held in conjunction with
the office’s bi-annual Dialogue on Diversity.
It was also held as a response to hate
speech was smeared on the walls of the Free
Expression Tunnel last year.
She discussed current legislation such
as the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd,
Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, as well as
statutes.
Additionally, the school’s Multicultural
Student Affairs produced an interactive event
called Tunnel of Oppression as part of its
First Annual NCSU Diversity Week (Howel for
Diversity) observance from March 21-26.
The Technician reported that the “program
also aims to inspire social change by creating
awareness of the effects of oppression within
society and the campus community.”
“People may have never been placed
in these types of situations, and they obtain
a sense of what it actually feels like to be
oppressed or discriminated through the
sights and sounds they experience,” said
Ray. “While the Tunnel may be disturbing and
upsetting, it is an effective tool used to teach
people about how it really feels to be in the
situation the images present.”
Once participants have experienced the
presentation, they are asked to share their
own experiences or observances. It is hardhitting and some find it difficult to complete
the process. Exit strategies were built into the
display to allow those who were too shaken
by it to leave before the end.
The Tunnel presentation began in 1993 at
Western Illinois University. It has since spread
to campuses across the country.
— L.M.
Western
Hike slated to raise funds
MORGANTON — ALFA’s annual Hike for
Hope to benefit those affected by HIV/AIDS
will be held on April 16 at Catawba Meadows
Park along the Catawba River Greenway.
Last year it raised over $20,000 and event
hosts hope to top that with $35,000 this year.
All funds raised during this event stay in
Alexander, Alleghany, Ashe, Burke, Caldwell,
Catawba, Lincoln, Watauga and Wilkes
Counties.
To register, volunteer or for more information, call 828-322-1447, x223, email ALFADev@
ALFAInfo.org or visit ALFAHikeForHope.org.
— L.M.
info: Have news or other information? Send
your press releases and updates for inclusion
in our News Notes: [email protected].
National
City settles police debacle
FORT WORTH, Texas — Chad Gibson and
George Armstrong, two men who were injured
during a police “inspection” of the Rainbow
Lounge nearly two years ago, received a
$400,000 settlement from the Fort Worth City
Council on March 23. The settlement was approved without debate and with no admission
of liability. The men allege that officers’ excessive force caused Gibson’s head injury and
Armstrong’s torn rotator cuff. The timing of the
event — conducted on the eve of the 40th anniversary of Stonewall — drew protests and
national media attention.
— D.S.
Civil union bill introduced
DOVER, Del. — The Delaware state
Senate has introduced SB30, a comprehensive civil unions bill. The proposed measure
would allow same-sex couples to enter
into civil unions giving them all of the rights,
benefits and obligations of marriage under
state law, but would not allow same-sex
couples to obtain marriage licenses. Religious
institutions will not be compelled by the law
to solemnize civil unions. Currently, five states
have laws providing an expansive form of
state-level relationship recognition for gay
and lesbian couples without offering marriage: California, Nevada, New Jersey, Oregon
and Washington.
— D.S.
Court declines to remove stay
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — The Ninth
Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals has denied
a motion filed by opponents of California’s
Proposition 8 to lift its stay over a District Court
ruling that found Prop. 8 unconstitutional last
summer. The Ninth Circuit Court’s ruling means
that the stay will remain in effect, and LGBT
families will be unable to marry, at least until
the California Supreme Court settles a procedural matter in the case. A hearing on that issue is not slated to take place until September.
— D.S.
Majority opposed to DOMA
WASHINGTON, D.C. — A new Human
Rights Campaign poll on the Defense of
Marriage Act reveals that opposition to the
law, which bars any federal recognition of
same-sex marriages or civil unions, crosses
all major demographics including age, race,
gender, geography, education and religion.
While House Republican leaders work to
defend DOMA in court, the American people
are clearly aligning against the law. Majorities
of every age group oppose DOMA including
those over age 65 (52 percent oppose, 31
percent support). Catholics oppose DOMA 51
percent to 37 percent. Southerners oppose
DOMA 51 percent to 36 percent.
— D.S.
HRC lobbies law firms
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Now that the U.S.
House Of Representatives has decided to
intervene and defend DOMA in court (after the
Justice Department declined), one of the critical questions is who will represent congress?
Capitol Hill sources have indicated that outside
counsel might be brought it. In anticipation of
such a move, HRC President Joe Solmonese
has sent a letter to the Am Law 200 — the
nation’s top firms — urging them not to take up
the case. Noting that the legal sector has the
largest number of top-scoring
companies in HRC’s Corporate
Equality Index, Solmonese
added in his letter: “It is critical that your organization not
undermine that laudable record
by representing the House in its
defense of this discriminatory
and unconstitutional law, which
denies loving gay and lesbian
couples the fair and equal treatment that they deserve from
their federal government.”
— D.S.
Gay giving for
Japanese crisis
SAN FRANCISCO, Calif. — Rainbow World
Fund, the only international humanitarian aid
organization based in the LGBT community,
has established the LGBT Japan Earthquake
Fund in response to the crisis in Japan. RWF
is asking the LGBT community across the
U.S. to get involved in fundraising for Japan
by organizing local events and donating the
proceeds to the fund or by simply giving online at www.rainbowfund.org/donate. Checks
can be made payable to Rainbow World Fund
(specify “Japan” in the memo) and mailed
to: Rainbow World Fund, 4111-18th St., Suite
5, San Francisco, CA 94114. RWF promises
that 100 percent of donations will be sent to
groups in Japan.
— D.S.
Global
U.N. council calls for global equality
UNITED NATIONS — A joint statement entitled “Ending Acts of Violence and
A police inspection-turned-gay bashing at a Fort
Worth, Texas, gay bar on the eve of the 40th anniversary of Stonewall two years ago spawned
rallies and protests calling for independent
investigations of the incident.
Photo Credit: Txspiked, via Flickr.
Licensed under Creative Commons.
Related Human Rights Violations Based on
Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity”
was issued March 22 at the U.N. Human
Rights Council. The statement was delivered by Colombia on behalf of 85 countries,
including the U.S. The statement “call[s] on
States to take steps to end acts of violence,
criminal sanctions and related human rights
violations committed against individuals
because of their sexual orientation or gender
identity.” The Human Rights Council is an
inter-governmental body within the U.N.
system made up of 47 States responsible for
strengthening the promotion and protection
of human rights around the globe.
— D.S.
April 2-15 . 2011
qnotes
Sex in the park?
Investigative Commentary: Police records debunk the media-driven myth of gay sex in public parks
by Matt Comer :: [email protected]
I
f Charlotte news station WBTV or
Republican Mecklenburg County
Commissioner Bill James were your only
sources of information, you’d likely be led to
believe the Queen City has a significant problem with men engaging in illegal sexual activities in the city’s and county’s public parks.
Fortunately, real journalism uncovers hard
numbers — facts backed up by police records — that show an astonishingly low rate
of arrests for men soliciting so-called crimes
against nature in public places.
The following qnotes report details how
one Charlotte news station helped to perpetuate the myth of gay men as sexual predators.
It’s also the culmination of research into dozens of arrests for solicitation of crimes against
nature in and around the City of Charlotte. All
the evidence points toward one solid conclusion: illegal sexual activity by men engaging in
sex with other men is a mere minor concern
when compared to the overwhelming number
of arrests and citations related to heterosexual prostitution.
Perpetuating the myth
The myth that gay men are predators is
nothing new. Most gay or bisexual men hear
it at some point in their lives, even from family
members or close friends. The prejudiced
myth dates back decades, if not centuries.
A now-infamous educational film produced
in 1958 and released in 1961 is among the
most recognizable examples available in the
public domain. Produced for the Inglewood,
Calif., school district and police department,
it cautions teenage boys against the evils of
“homosexuals” lurking in public restrooms
and parks.
The historic, cultural prejudice and bigotry
against gay men — often painting them as
sick and mentally ill, as the 1958 Inglewood
film does — made a Feb. 22 news report by
WBTV’s Steve Crump all the more damaging.
Armed with nothing more than anonymous
online postings from a hook-up website,
Crump took to southwest Charlotte’s James
Boyce Park to interview concerned parents
and community members.
“Officers with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg
Police Department are looking into a troubling
new hot spot for anonymous sex,” Crump reported in his story, entitled “Internet site links
Charlotte to gay sex” on WBTV’s website.
“Police say men are meeting up for intimate
encounters at a neighborhood park popular
with children.”
Crump continued, “James Boyce
Community Park is located at 300 Boyce
Road in southeast Charlotte. It has the
appearance of any park until you read the
fine print found on a website called cruisinggays.com. One visitor on the website claims
people have sex on many of the trails and
warns people that men have been seen having sex in the open.”
Crump’s report included interviews with
parents and the leader of a nearby neighborhood patrol, accompanied by several video
images of young children playing on swing
sets and other playground equipment, on a
baseball field and with their parents. Copies
of the website postings were shown to
parents during interviews. In one scene, the
reporter mentions the name of the website,
“Cruising Gays,” followed by a parent’s, “Oh
no!” Later, a young woman is heard saying,
“This is awful.”
Following the report, qnotes contacted
WBTV News Director Dennis Milligan. At the
time, Milligan said the station had learned of
the hook-up website from a viewer.
“It had been the subject of neighborhood
concern and consternation,” Milligan told
qnotes. “I think they had been in contact with
the police department and there was some
exchange of emails that there was going to
be something done and that was forwarded
to us.”
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police
Department (CMPD) crime data tracking back
to Jan. 1, 2011 showed no reported incidents
or calls for service related to public indecency or other sex-related crimes within a halfmile of the Boyce Park area. In fact, records
dating back to Jan. 1, 2009, showed only
three calls for service for indecent exposure,
though there were no reported incidents or
arrests for the same.
Following their initial report, WBTV aired
another story after County Commissioner
James publicly questioned how recreation
officials were dealing with “sexual predators”
and the “moral scourge” in Mecklenburg
County parks. James claimed the parks had
become home to “homos-xual infestations”
and that the police still “arrest about 250
homos-xuals a year.”
WBTV also interviewed this writer, though
qnotes later issued a statement clarifying
statements the station misrepresented on air.
Despite no evidence indicating a problem
with illegal sexual activity in James Boyce
Park — evidence outlined by this paper
several times — Milligan insisted Crump’s
story was accurate, though he declined to
comment directly on qnotes’ statement.
“We’re standing by the content of our
story,” Milligan told Creative Loafing. “We
have confidence in our story, and we reported
it in a pretty straightforward fashion and that’s
all I have to say. I’m not going to get into any
specifics of what he [qnotes’ editor] had to
say. He has his own opinions, and he’s certainly entitled to his opinions. We stick by the
story and our reporting of that story.”
Uncovering the truth
Following WBTV’s report, qnotes decided
to do what Crump and his colleagues chose
not to. We immediately undertook an investigation of arrests and charges for solicitation
of a crime against nature and requested
information from CMPD for all of 2010 and
2011 through the end of February.
According to CMPD’s Rob Tufano, a total
of 325 people were charged in 2010 and 2011
with soliciting a crime against nature. Of the
total, only 69 were men. Forty-seven men
were arrested and charged, and the remainder were issued citations.
qnotes further requested the public synopsis for each of the 47 case numbers provided
to us by CMPD officials. After reviewing each,
an obvious trend became clear.
The majority (32 of 47) of cases were
related to prostitution or narcotics activity,
including several specifically linked to CMPDled prostitution and narcotics investigations.
Only 15 cases involved men charged
with a non-prostitution-, non-drug-related
solicitation of a crime against nature. Five
occurred at the Charlotte-Douglas Airport
overlook on Old Dowd Rd., another five at an
interstate rest area, three at Kilborne Park in
east Charlotte, one at a hotel or motel and one
on N. Tryon St.
Heterosexual prostitution
‘predominant’ problem
The arrest records validate the experience
of CMPD Sgt. B.D. Hollar, a unit leader in the
Meeting Date:
Program:
Time:
Cost:
To Reserve:
qnotes
April 2-15 . 2011
Shirking their responsibility
The Society of Professional Journalists
calls news-media professionals to seek the
truth, report it with thoroughness and fair-
see Park on 18
By the numbers
Total CAN* charges:
CAN charges, female:
CAN charges, male:
CAN arrests, male:
Prostitution/narcotics
related arrests, male:
Non-prostitution/narcotics
related arrests, male:
…in parks**:
…in other public areas:
325
256
69
47
32
15
3
12
* Total number of individuals charged with
soliciting a crime against nature in 2010 and in
2011 through Feb. 18, 2011.
** All three occurred at Kilborne Park in east
Charlotte.
No arrests were made in James Boyce Park in
2010 or in 2011 through Feb. 18, 2011.
Tuesday, April 19, 2011
J.D. Lewis and “Twelve in Twelve”
A philanthropic trip around the world with his two sons
Lesbian & Gay Community Center
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
department’s vice and narcotics division.
“It happens, but, no, I wouldn’t say the
parks are overrun with it,” he told qnotes via
phone in late February. “What we generally,
mainly enforce is the prostitution. We have a
proliferation of it on the internet. It used to be
Craigslist; now it is Backpage. We also have a
decent sized street prostitution problem here
in Charlotte and at back massage parlors.”
Vice crackdowns on prostitution are
primarily complaint-driven, Hollar said.
“When we have complaints in reference
to prostitution, we’ll get specific complaints
on specific people,” he explained.
Similarly, stings and operations targeting
other types of illegal sexual activity in public
are also guided by complaints.
“When we do get the complaints we
handle them,” he said, pointing to Kilborne
Park as a recent trouble spot.
The majority of arrested men, Hollar
said, are either married or haven’t publicly
acknowledged their sexual orientation.
Liz Taylor mourned by
AIDS activists
LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The world
lost a fierce HIV/AIDS advocate with the
March 23 death of actress Elizabeth Taylor.
The Oscar-winning beauty launched a
second career as an AIDS activist in 1985
when she organized AIDS Project Los
Angeles’s first “Commitment to Life” event,
which would go on to become the biggest
Elizabeth Taylor (r) with Rock Hudson
AIDS fundraiser in history.
and Liza Minnelli.
“It’s impossible to underestimate
Elizabeth Taylor’s impact on the fight against AIDS from the very beginning,” said APLA
Executive Director Craig E. Thompson. “We’re simply devastated by her loss.”
For Taylor, the fight against AIDS became personal from the start. While she and her
publicist worked in the first months of 1985 to organize the inaugural “Commitment to Life”
gala, she would learn that her friend and co-star Rock Hudson was dying of the disease.
Despite — and because of — widespread silence within the entertainment community,
Taylor worked to pack the Bonaventure Hotel for the gala, which raised $1.3 million. More than
2,500 attended, and Taylor took the stage to present the first Commitment to Life award to First
Lady Betty Ford. Among the attendees were Abigail Van Buren, Cher, Sammy Davis, Jr., Burt
Lancaster, Cyndi Lauper, Shirley MacLaine, Rod Stewart and Stevie Wonder.
Taylor was honored at the following year’s Commitment to Life gala, and the event continued annually for more than a decade, raising millions for APLA’s work in Los Angeles.
Her AIDS activism reached far beyond entertainment circles and into the political arena, as
well. In 1986, she co-founded The American Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) and testified before a U.S. Senate Committee in support of federal funding for HIV care and treatment.
In 1991, she launched The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, which continues to provide
funding for HIV and AIDS programs globally, including those at APLA.
Taylor herself remained a fierce advocate for HIV-related work. She appeared as
recently as 2009 on the stage of Macy’s and American Express Passport in Los Angeles
— another annual event that she helped found, which has raised more than $28 million for
AIDS organizations, including APLA, over its three decades.
“We’ve lost one of the boldest advocates our community has seen,” Thompson said, “but
her tremendous impact lives with us.”
— compiled by David Stout
April 2-15 . 2011
qnotes
10
qnotes
April 2-15 . 2011
t-notes
by robbi cohn :: qnotes contributor
Marriage equality
I don’t expect this to be the most popular
column I’ve ever written. In fact, this will probably be deemed contentious and recalcitrant.
I know how important the issue of marriage
equality is to many within the gay and lesbian
communities. You may have wondered why
some of your trans friends are turning their collective backs regarding this issue. It’s not that
we don’t support the general agenda of equal
rights. We do. And, it isn’t that spousal equality
doesn’t affect trans individuals. It does.
The rationale underlying my lack of interest and support for marriage equality must
be seen through the eyes of proportion. Last
month I wrote about the results of the mammoth trans survey which has plainly demonstrated that opportunities and quality of life
for trans persons indicate “injustice at every
turn.” For a significant portion of the trans
population, life has become a matter of survival. For a majority of trans identified individuals, life is substantially burdensome. And, too
many trans persons are marginalized, vilified,
ostracized and, in some cases, murdered. Yet, the history of trans activism within the
LGBT umbrella has seen a consistent pattern
of pejorative treatment. If it wasn’t the baseless
and untenable argument that we should be
patient and wait our turn, then it was the patronizing and condescending handling of trans
issues or the co-opting of trans tragedy as a
fundraising tool to increase the coffers of Gay,
Inc. and its single-minded effort to work on
legislation paramount to the gay community. To
wit: marriage equality, the Defense of Marriage
Act (DOMA) and “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT).
The history is remarkably clear. Even as
far back as the early 1990’s (much earlier, in
fact) we see evidence of an extreme lack of
sensitivity and understanding by the gay hierarchical structure vis-à-vis the inclusion of
trans issues in the broad umbrella of discrimination. This is all the more incomprehensible
given that, in many cases, discriminatory
behavior has been generally prompted by the
alleged transgression of gender expression in
a world which thrives on gender normativity.
The view toward LGBT solidarity was
irrevocably damaged after the 2007 fiasco
over the Employment Non Discrimination
Act (ENDA). It became obviously apparent
that many in the LG world not only did not
understand the nature of trans discrimination,
but displayed an acute insensitivity towards
the repercussions of a non-inclusive ENDA.
We’ll come back for you later, we were told.
Yet, reality proves that revisiting this kind of
legislation is rare and that many in the gay
and lesbian communities could care less. HRC
made that abundantly clear.
Fast forward to the Obama administration.
We thought the time had come for total inclusivity. We’ll all get there together. We’ll pass all
the legislative measures for which we’ve been
fighting…and first, and foremost, will be ENDA.
That’s not what happened. Instead, the
first bill passed was a relatively toothless hate
crimes bill. Sure, this was necessary, but not
the most important piece of legislation needing
passage. Regardless, ENDA still appeared to be
on track, until the fight for health care became a
juggernaut with its own mass-dominating politics. ENDA was essentially shunted to the side,
even though talk still circulated that leant credibility to its possible introduction and support.
Sadly, this wasn’t the case. In fact, the
contentiousness of Congress and the inability
to address cloture issues, the perpetual boondoggle agenda mobilized by the Republican
caucus, essentially doomed ENDA. Yet, there
was enough support for the dismantling of
DADT, and the lame duck congress, along
with executive support, managed to see this
bogus program get dumped. There is every
reason to presume that ENDA might have
been that last ditch piece of legislation, yet it
seemingly wasn’t even up for consideration.
Now that DADT has been undone, what
is the most important issue that most gay and
lesbian activists are hoping to advance? Is
ENDA finally the consensus favorite? Nope.
The number one issue which members
of the LG communities hope to advance is
marriage equality, as well as the corollary
repeal of DOMA. The political affairs of the state of Maryland
have been a microcosmic slice of what
activists are addressing nationwide. And, the
hypocrisy is blatant. Many bloggers in the trans
community have addressed this disparity, foremost amongst them Transgriot, ENDAblog and
Planetransgender. What is the nature of this
disparity? In Maryland, concurrent bills were
put before the state legislature — a marriage
equality bill and a transgender protections bill.
Of course, when it comes to marriage
equality, the tactic of incrementalism is unacceptable. Nothing short of full equality in marriage will be championed or accepted. Yet, the
bill which would make discrimination against
trans individuals illegal was amended to remove
the “public accommodations” language. A
transgender protections bill without public
accommodations is essentially worthless. Most
trans activists would rather see no bill than one
so poorly constructed. Yet, Equality Maryland
has been fully supportive of this incremental approach for the trans rights bill, even thought that
kind of strategy is deemed unacceptable when
we talk about marriage equality.
In Maryland, public accommodations
protections for gay and lesbian individuals were
passed in the early 1990’s under the aegis of
across-the-board anti-discrimination legislation.
Yet, here we are in 2011 and Equality Maryland
supports a bill which denies trans persons
the identical protections it’s members enjoy.
Insisting that something is better than nothing
subverts the very safeguards that gay and lesbian persons would insist upon for themselves.
And to only advocate legislation mandating full
marriage equality rather than work toward a
compromise (read: incremental) civil unions language appears to make a fairly clear statement.
Incrementalism is acceptable for the trans bill,
but unacceptable for the marriage equality bill.
The trans community is merely asking for
fair and equal treatment, made all the more
difficult when our allies neither understand
nor support our core issues.
Next month this column will address the
issue of public accommodations and why it’s
such a critical part of any anti-discrimination
legislation. : :
— Comments and corrections can
be sent to [email protected].
To contact Robbi Cohn,
email [email protected]..
April 2-15 . 2011
qnotes
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12
qnotes
April 2-15 . 2011
“Say Anything”
2. Wayne and Garth’s“Bohemian Rhapsody” headbang in
the car in “Wayne’s World”
by david stout :: [email protected]
3. Tom Cruise cuts loose in his underwear to “Old Time
The music scene onscreen
Rock N Roll” in “Risky Business”
Music and movies are indelibly linked. So
4. In “Reservoir Dogs,” Michael Madsen hacks off a man’s
much so, in fact, that the first feature-length
ear while groovin’ to “Stuck in the Middle With You”
talkie was “The Jazz Singer”— the story
5. Pulse-pounding “Ride of the Valkyries” helicopter assault in
of a Jewish cantor who defies his family’s
“Apocalypse Now”
religious heritage to perform popular music.
6. “Unchained Melody” pottery scene between Patrick Swayze
In the ensuing years motion pictures
and Demi Moore in “Ghost”
have provided us with an unforgettable array of music and iconic
7. Toga partiers “Shout” it out loud in “National Lampoon’s
movie moments set to it. Recently, AOL’s Moviefone released its
Animal House”
ranking of the 50 Best Music Scenes in Movies.
8. “Tiny Dancer” sing-along on the bus in “Almost Famous”
The criteria for consideration was that the song or music had to
9. Matthew Broderick “Twist and Shout”s on a parade float in
be “diegetic.” In other words, it had to come from the characters or
“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off”
from a source within the film (such as a radio) that the characters
10. PeeWee Herman’s biker bar “Tequila” dance in “PeeWee’s
could hear just like the audience. This meant that some films with
Big Adventure”
celebrated soundtracks, like “The Graduate,” were ineligible, since
11. “Casablanca” becomes even more beloved “As Time Goes
the songs are another form of scoring. (Also note that musicals
By,” so play it again, Sam
were disqualified since they are another movie beast altogether.)
12. Patrick Swayze (again) and Jennifer Grey’s “Dirty Dancing” to
Here’s the top half of Moviefone’s list with additional
(“I’ve Had) The Time of My Life” is a real pick-me-up
commentary.
13. A jedi walks into a bar — where an alien band is playing
1. Lloyd Dobler (John Cusack) standing outside Diane Court’s
klezmer-style in “Star Wars”
window, arms aloft holding boombox playing “In Your Eyes” in
14. “This Is Spinal Tap”…and this is a side-splittingly small
audiophile
“Stonehenge” set for the band’s big showstopper
15. Tom Cruise (again) goes down in flames for Kelly McGillis
while crooning “You’ve Lost That Loving Feeling” in “Top Gun”
16. “Dueling Banjos” is upbeat, but it feels (rightly, we soon learn)
like a dark foreshadowing in “Deliverance”
17. Aliens and humans bond over a sequence of musical tones in
“Close Encounters of the Third Kind”
18. Duckie’s manic lip sync of “Try A Little Tenderness” grabs
“Pretty In Pink” Molly Ringwald
19. Marty McFly plays “Johnny B. Goode” and invents rock and
roll in “Back To The Future”
20. Malcolm McDowell unleashes a deluge of violence while
“Singin’ in the Rain” in “A Clockwork Orange”
21. John Travolta busts a disco move to “You Should Be Dancing”
in “Saturday Night Fever”
22. Tom Hanks’ little-kid-in-a-“Big”-man’s-body plays chopsticks
with his feet at FAO Schwarz
23. In the library, “The Breakfast Club” — the athlete, the basket
case, the princess and the criminal — rock out to “We Are
Not Alone” by Karla DeVito.
24. Holly Golightly (Audrey Hepburn) enchants with a plaintive
“Moon River” in “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”
25. Dr. Frankenstein (that’s Fronk-en-steen) and his namesake
creation soft-shoe their way through “Puttin’ On The Ritz” in
“Young Frankenstein.” : : info: [email protected]
qomunity qonexions u
April 2-15 . 2011
qnotes
13
STAGE
No strings attached
Avenue Qmmunity characters and puppets use fiction to highlight real issues
The cast of ‘Avenue Q’ with Tim Kornblum at far left.
Photo Credit: © John Daughtry 2009
A
s bright-eyed young people, we all had
questions about life, love and how the
world works. So, we turned to the influences we trust most in life — our parents, our
friends and, perhaps, most memorably, our TV
programs. But, what happens when we cross
over that inevitable border into adulthood?
Who is there to answer the difficult questions
we encounter them then? Often, just as the
most pressing questions of adulthood emerge,
the advising panel disappears. Well, lucky for
us, our answer may have just pulled into town.
This April, one of the most beloved recent
musicals is hitting the Queen City theater
scene. “Avenue Q,” a quirky two-part musical, creates a fun adult mimicry of “Sesame
Street”-like childhood programs by combining
youthful style with mature issues. Satirizing
the supposedly false promises of uniqueness,
possibility and success ensured by childhood
television shows, “Avenue Q”’s characters
— both person and puppet — playfully and
comically comment on the harsh reality that
many adults arrive upon with blunt reception
— that they are not so special and that, in
fact, sometimes “it sucks to be me.”
The creation of this theatrical gem was a
group collaboration. Musicians and lyricists
Robert Lopez and Jeff Marx dreamed up the
production almost a decade ago, originally
envisioning it as a television series. However,
in 2002 the show was developed into a stage
production directed by Jason Moore and a
year later the performance went live as an
Off-Broadway production. Only three short
months later, the production had become a
sensation, rocketing the musical to Broadway
and meriting substantial praise and a whop-
14
qnotes
ping four extensions.
And, the accolades go on. “Avenue Q”
went on to score three Tony Awards —including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book
— and win the 2003 Lucille Lortel Award for
Outstanding New Musical. The musical was
also recognized with a nomination for the 2003
Outer Critics Circle Outstanding Off-Broadway
Musical award. ”Avenue Q” played its final
Broadway performance on Sept. 13, 2009, but
the fat lady is far from belting out that final
note. The success spawned national tours,
international productions and static performances in Las Vegas and London’s West End.
And, now, all the crazy excitement of “Avenue
Q” is coming to Knight Theatre in Charlotte!
So what’s all the fuss about? To those
of you who may be new to “the ‘Avenue Q’
neighborhood,” here’s the gist: Princeton
(played by David Colston Corris), a naive
and wide-eyed dreamer fresh out of college
ventures to New York City with nothing to his
name but hope and ambition. Lacking any sort
of financial assets, Princeton commits to a
cheap neighborhood in the city where the rent
is low and the neighbors are nice — Avenue
Q. In forging new relationships with one another, Princeton and his neighbors learn what
it means to take on the tough questions in life
hand-in-hand.
A deeper
connection
“Avenue Q”’s very own Tim Kornblum,
who plays the role of Brian in the musical,
took a few minutes to share with qnotes what
this experience has meant to him. Originally
from Union, N.J., Kornblum stumbled upon his
love for acting in theater classes and productions put on by his high school.
In college, his talents were sidelined.
Kornblum focused on his athletic skill, playing
sports throughout his university career and
studying toward a degree in psychology. But,
before graduation, he struck up a deal with his
parents about an upcoming acting opportunity.
“If I got the job then I didn’t have to
go back to school…and luckily enough
for me, I got the job,” he says. Since then,
Kornblum has taken on some fantastic
roles in other productions — Max Prince
in Neil Simon’s “Laughter,” Lenny Ganz in
Neil Simon’s “Rumors” and Thenardier in
“Les Miserables.” But, Kornblum shares an
especially strong connection with the plot
in “Avenue Q.” “Well it’s essentially a show
where puppets and humans and all different
kinds of characters live together in comedy…
but, they are adult scenes….everything to
homosexuality, struggle to find purpose in life,
to racism,” he relates. “Any problem that you
encounter in growing up, it deals with.”
“Avenue Q” plays on the lesson-giving nature of most childhood TV shows and tackles
the difficult, sometimes racy task of addressing their adult audiences with advice on real
issues. Some of the songs include: “If You
Were Gay,” “Everyone’s A Little Bit Racist,”
“The Internet Is For Porn” and “It Sucks To
Be Me”.
Kornblum is a self-proclaimed “struggling
comedian” and says he relates identically
with his character role of Brian. Yet, his emotional connection with the stories in “Avenue
Q” dives even deeper.
“I saw the show for the first time in 2006
April 2-15 . 2011
and I fell in love with it immediately,” he says,
relating his own coming out journey and
the inspiration he says he received from the
musical’s closeted, gay character. Watching
the character navigate the difficult journey of
self-acceptance gave Kornblum the surge of
courage he needed to come out to his friends
and family.
Kornblum places significance in performance art and he thinks the same inspiration
that gave him courage to came out can have
an affect on others and the greater LGBT
community.
“I think that to do theater, to act, specifically in theater, you really have to have
so many deep seated emotions that most
people don’t have to tap into in everyday life,”
Kornblum says. “And, I think particularly for
a gay actor or audience member, it helps you
to accept yourself…in whatever situation but
especially in the gay community but being
able…to get comfortable in your own skin.
That’s why there is such an LGBT following.”
Kornblum’s trip to Charlotte will be his first,
but it seems the Queen City’s reputation proceeds itself. “I’m really excited to finally get
a chance to visit there…it will be nice to be
there for a week and see what all the hubbub
is about,” he says.
The show will take the stage at
Blumenthal’s Knight Theatre April 5-10. Tickets
range from $20-$85 and can be purchased
at blumenthalarts.org. If you are considering
bringing your family, be sure to check out
“Avenue Q”’s maturity warning at avenueq.
com/about.html. Performances in Durham will
also be staged April 19-20; visit dpacnc.com
for more information. : :
Stomp 2011
celebrates anniversary
COMMUNITY
Southern Country Charlotte marks 20 years of service
by Matt Comer :: [email protected]
Charlotte’s LGBT Country Western dancing and social group is celebrating 20 years
this year and their annual Queen City Stomp
— slated for April 15-17 — is set once again to
raise much-needed funds for area non-profits.
The event features cocktail parties, dance
lessons and evening dances, along with
a silent auction and other
activities. It’s
Southern Country
Charlotte’s preeminent annual
event, attracting hundreds of
locals, as well
as other Country
Western dance
enthusiasts
from across the
country.
Founded in
1991, Southern Country Charlotte’s original group of organizers sought to promote
Country Western music. But, their mission
grew as the years went by. Southern Country
registered themselves as a non-profit and
began to raise funds for local community
groups. Proceeds from events ranging from
car washes and yard sales to auctions and
their annual Queen City Stomp have totaled
nearly $100,000 in cash, goods and services
benefitting groups like the American Cancer
Society, the Battered Women’s Shelter, House
of Mercy, the Lesbian & Gay Community
Center and Time Out Youth, among others.
The group’s president, Chris Gray, says he’s
glad Southern Country Charlotte has forged its
own path as a funder of local LGBT initiatives.
“We are able to raise money for organizations and charities
while at the same
time getting out
and doing stuff in
the community as
much as we can,”
he says. “Even with
the economy last
year, we were able
to raise around
$10,000. That was
a great thing and
we hope to keep it
going.”
The event kicks
off on April 15 with a welcome cocktail party
hosted by Southern Country Charlotte board
members. Beginner line dancing lessons
follow at 8 p.m. with Stomp’s Welcome Dance
slated for 9 p.m. Dance lessons will be offered
the following day from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Queen
City Stomp’s annual Cattle Call Ball opens at
9 p.m. All events will be held at the Sheraton
Charlotte Airport Hotel, 3315 Scott Futrell Dr.
For more information or to register for
events, visit queencitystomp.com. : :
Photo Credit: LeeNachtigal, via Flickr.
Licensed under Creative Commons.
Pet and owner
look-a-like competition
Do you and your furry friend happen to share a resemblance?
Send in a photo to see how you measure up with
the rest of our readers.
In anticipation of our upcoming print edition celebrating our furry (and sometimes not-sofurry) friends and their owners, qnotes is opening a fun competition to our readers.
First, take a picture with your doggie doppelgnger, comparable kitty, reptilian resembler
or fishy friend and email it to us at [email protected]. If your team scores in the top 10 entries, qnotes will contact you requesting a short 50 word story on how you met your adorable
other half. Then, look forward to seeing your photo in our April 16 issue, in print and online!
For more information or if you have any questions, email [email protected].
April 2-15 . 2011
qnotes
15
out in the stars
by charlene lichtenstein :: qnotes contributor
April 2 - 15
We can fall head over
heels for just another
pretty face, especially
when Neptune enters
Pisces and conjuncts
Venus. Will it be just another fling once the
dust settles or will it be something much more?
Let’s guess.
ARIES (03.21-04.20) Proud Rams love the
sound of their own voice. However, you will go
on…and on…until it is clear to all that you either
do not know what you are talking about or are
some sort of savant. Expect vivid dreams awash
with revelations from ghostly spirits and seers
from beyond. Interpret their whisperings wisely;
you know how a game of “telephone” works.
TAURUS (04.21-05.21) There may be a certain
friend who begins to look pretty darned good.
Queer Bulls, anxious for connection, may passionately plug into a platonic partner. Please, do
not be tempted. This is a giddy, transitory phase
that will dissipate as the weeks wear on. It would
be a shame to ruin a perfectly good friendship on
a night (or less) of extremely foggy emotion.
GEMINI (05.22-06.21) There is someone trying to pull the professional wool over your
eyes, pink Twin. Take note and file for future
reference. This time period places you in the
suckers corner where those with even less
scruples than you try to take advantage. My
advice: Remain practical and don’t make any
major moves or major decisions for the next
few weeks. Then find your own sucker.
CANCER (06.22-07.23) Don’t take anything
at face value, especially when it comes in
contract form. Legal issues become a minefield
16
qnotes
April 2-15 . 2011
and where you think you are making headway,
you can run right into a brick wall. Ouch! So
read the fine print and ask advice, gay Crab.
Temporarily sequester yourself in friendlier
environs. You will settle the score soon enough.
LEO (07.24.08.23) Life wraps you up in one big
sensuous dream. Proud Lions may not know
which end is up, which may not be a bad thing!
You are awash with romantic intention and
ache to spread your good vibes (and other
attributes) around. But, will your amour du jour
last? It’s up to you lover. Enter with your eyes
wide open. Err, is that all?
VIRGO (08.24-09.23) Simple situations suddenly
become much more complicated or, at least,
much more emotional right now. You may be a
superstar around senior staff, but your petty antics won’t impress your most important constituency — your partner. Queer Virgins should not
confuse those who feed with those who feast.
Chew on this for a while before you bite again.
LIBRA (09.24-10.23) Every quack diet and every
strange health regime seems to be the magic
pill for you now. How many pounds of whoknows-what do you have to consume before
you feel on top of your game? The lesson to
be learned is to love yourself for who you are
inside and out. Make your own magic concoctions and share with a (very) good friend.
SCORPIO (10.24.11.22) Proud Scorps are ready
for a rollicking good time. Let them roll — bank
roll that is — and make every jolly effort an expensive one. You may not know when enough
is enough. But, hey, when you’ve got it, spend
it to the hilt. Just remember that by the end of
these two weeks, you may not have so much of
it anymore. Who will love you then, baby?
SAGITTARIUS (11.23-12.22) Home is where
the heart is, or something like that. Fact is,
sweetheart, you may not be sure what to find
at home right now. Gay Archers are apt to
discover a few surprises when it comes to certain long-term and predictable relationships.
Your reactions will determine whether these
surprises turn into landmines or dust bunnies.
Hey, but you never overreact. Ha!
CAPRICORN (12.23-01.20) Get with the program
bud. The fates goad you into making outrageous
statements. You are bored! Bored! Sure, life as
a mangy rat on a treadmill is not exactly what
you envisioned for yourself, but don’t bow to
the temptation to call it as you see it. Pink Caps
should spend their time recharging and begin to
feel the spring in their step. Don’t step in it now.
AQUARIUS (01.21-02.19) Aqueerians become
romantically inspired and think there is nothing
better, nothing nicer than to shower their personal trinket with fabulous treasures. This may
get the attention of a few fast friends who hope
to benefit from your largess. Keep a beady eye
open for opportunists and interlopers though.
Stick with those who are tried and true — at
least for now.
PISCES (02.20-03.20) There are times to get
out there, mingle and meet new folks and then
there are times to refrain from meeting. You
may find that it will be difficult to tell when your
presence is no longer required (or desired).
What is a well-meaning Guppie to do? Better
plan for a few quiet evenings and make your
best impression on your sofa. : :
© 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.
tell trinity
by trinity :: qnotes contributor
How long is too long
for the first kiss
Hey Trinity,
I’m openly gay and seeing a closeted
guy for a couple of weeks. He hasn’t
even kissed me yet. Am I wasting my
time?
Kissless, Atlanta, GA
Hey Kissless,
Some closeted
men won’t kiss till
they’re sure they
like someone. Also,
some men hang
around hoping
they’ll become interested when
they’re not sure. And, even other men are
too nice to say they’re not interested for
sure. That’s men, that’s dating and that’s
life, pumpkin! Give it a month (that’s all)
and if there’s no lip action, you’re beating
a closeted horse!
Dearest Trinity,
I think my live-in boyfriend is stealing
from me, but he swears he’s not. A few
months ago, I also caught him drinking when he swore he
wasn’t. If I can’t trust him, what should I do?
Caught Twice, Miami Beach, FL
Dearest Caught Twice,
When someone lies the first time, make a mental note, but by
the third time make a dash for the door. Listen, honey, what a
man says and does is often not the same thing! (See if I have
learned what to do in my cartoon.)
Hello Trinity,
I keep dating people I’m not attracted to, but because they’re
nice or generous, I try until eventually I can’t do it anymore.
How do I stop this pattern without giving up dating?
Trapped In Kindnessville?, San Diego, CA
Hello Trapped In Kindnessville,
Being kind always takes precedence over selfishness.
However, you are not responsible for everyone’s feelings. We
all create our own good and bad situations so we can learn
about life, love and about acceptance and rejection. Now, sweetie,
to stop this “mercy dating” a)
stop accepting dates from people
you’re unattracted to by saying
“No” immediately; b) wait before
sleeping with anyone so no one
gets hurt; and c) start approaching
people you are attracted to! Dating
means
feeling an attraction, be it intellectual, sexual or financial!
Dear Trinity,
Last month I introduced my new
boyfriend and his X-rated tattoos
to my parents. I’m afraid they’re
still in shock. Why should I keep
secrets from my parents? Shouldn’t they be part of my life too?
Freedom Of Speech, Vancouver, BC
Dear Freedom Of Speech,
To be honest, no! Your parents are not your parole officers.
They need to be part of your life and the key word is “part.”
You’ll understand one day, but for now start reading:
Trinity’s Sexy Secrets You Don’t Need
To Share With Your Parents
1. You don’t need to share your S&M fetish lifestyle. The latex
tuxedo you wore to your niece’s wedding was enough!
2. You don’t need to show off all your girlfriend’s tattoos? Just
because she thinks Jesus being eaten by Satan is cool, your
parents don’t have to!
3. You don’t need to disclose your fantasy-come-true relationship with the Las Vegas stripper/porn star. The lap dance at
your father’s 60th was enough!
4. You don’t need to share the trials and tribulations of your
threesome relationship! They live in Nebraska for God’s
sake.
5. You don’t need to show off your boyfriend’s and your new
piercings just because your mother likes jewelry!
6. You really don’t need to share your lover’s new silicon injected penis at your annual Smith family summer barbeque
do you?
7. You don’t need to tell your father, his wife, your mother and
her lover about your boyfriend’s night in drag, leading to his
arrest. It’s not that funny!
8. You don’t need to let everyone know that you both take
drugs strictly for sexual purposes. Isn’t anything sacred?
9. You don’t need to tell Auntie Em that your new date is with
the Hells Angels. Didn’t she have enough troubles with your
last ex, “the hit man?”
10. Lastly, you don’t need to tell your 75-year-old mother on her
deathbed that your girlfriend is really a boy! It’s not always
about you! : :
— 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
April 2-15 . 2011
qnotes
17
Park sex myth busted
continued from page 8
ness, to minimize harm, and be accountable to mistakes, unethical practices and
public grievances. The overwhelming
majority of journalists abide by such
codes, though, occasionally, journalists
shirk their duties and responsibilities to
the public in exchange for sensationalistic
tabloidism. Such was the case for WBTV’s
reports on alleged-though-uncorroborated incidents of illegal sexual activity in
James Boyce Park.
The lopsided numbers all point to
heterosexual prostitution as the primary
issue of concern among sexual crimes in
Charlotte — not men who have sex with
men. Upon further investigation and upon
being exposed to the public, these facts are
clear to even the most casual of observers. Yet, reporter Steve Crump and WBTV
opted to ignore calls for accuracy, chose
to distort and mislead the few facts they
cared to report and played into decadesold prejudices and stereotypes of gay men.
Such behavior is a clear violation of
journalistic ethics and can do irreparable
harm to LGBT people. That’s why qnotes,
unlike our colleagues at WBTV, opted to
engage in real journalism, investigate the
issue and report solid facts. We also sought
to hold our colleagues at WBTV accountable. This report — the culmination of
research and investigation, not sensationalism and half-truths — has done just that.
So, let the myth be quashed. There is no
“infestation” of gay men in Mecklenburg
County parks. There is no overwhelming
problem — that is, except for heterosexual
prostitution.
The evidence points Charlotte — and, in
particular, County Commissioner Bill James
and WBTV — in one clear direction: stop
scapegoating gay men and start looking in
the mirror. Misbehaving heterosexuals are
your problem. Leave us gay folk alone. : :
more: Read our original story on
WBTV’s reporting at goqnotes.com/10106
and our statement, “Correcting the record,”
at goqnotes.com/10136.
Def Jam co-founder
among honorees
Other winners include Ricky Martin, ‘True Blood,’ ‘30 Rock’
The Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) held their annual media awards
ceremony in New York City on March 19.
Among the honorees this year was Def Jam co-founder Russell Simmons. He received the
GLAAD Excellence in Media Award for his contributions to diversity and equality initiatives.
In his 2007 book, “Do You!,” Simmons spoke out for equality.
“You can’t only support diversity and freedom when your rights are at stake,” he wrote. “You
should fight for those concepts
for everyone, all of the time.
You should speak out against
prejudice whether it’s directed
toward African-Americans,
Asian-Americans, Latinos,
Muslims, Christians, Jews,
blacks or white, gay or straight,
women, whoever. Because an
attack against any group is an
attack against you.”
The Rev. Al Sharpton presented the award to Simmons. : :
more: View a full list of
GLAAD Media Award recipients
at goqnotes.com/10511.
— compiled by Matt Comer
from release
Excellence in Media Award
recipient Russell Simmons poses
with the Rev. Al Sharpton at
the 22nd Annual GLAAD Media
Awards presented by ROKK
Vodka at New York’s Marriott
Marquis on March 19.
Photo credit: © 2011 Dimitrios
Kambouris/WireImage.
All Rights Reserved.
18
qnotes
April 2-15 . 2011
April 15-17 • Charlotte
Queen City Stomp
Hundreds of participants from across the country and southeast
flock to Charlotte for Southern Country Charlotte’s annual Queen
City Stomp, an LGBT Country-Western dancing festival including
evening parties and dances and daytime dancing lessons and
more. For more information, including registration, event details and
lodging options, visit queencitystomp.com.
April 2-3 • Charlotte
Antiques Show
The International Collectibles and Antigues
Show wraps up its four-day stopover in
the Queen City at the Metrolina Expo. 7100
Statesville Rd. $10 with free parking. 704-7147909. icashows.com.
April 3 • Raleigh
‘Over Jordan’
Triangle Gay Men’s Chorus presents “Over
Jordan — A Sunday Afternoon Gospel
Celebration.” A TGMC fundraising event, with
special guest gospel music sensation Mr.
Robin Davis. Church of the Good Shepherd, 121
Hillsborough St. 2-4 p.m. VIP ticket package includes catered lunch and concert, $35. Concert
only, $15. Tickets at tgmchorus.org/events.
April 5 • Davidson
Eli Clare
Writer, poet and activist Eli Clare visits
Davidson College to discuss his studies
and experiences of gender, queerness and
disability. Alvarez College Union, Room 900.
207 Faculty Dr. 7:30 p.m. Free. eliclare.com.
davidson.edu.
April 7 • Chapel Hill
‘Shortbus’
Internationalist Books hosts a queer movie
night featuring, “Shortbus,” a sexually diverse
ensemble of emotionally challenged characters desperately try to connect in New York
City. 405 W. Franklin St. 7 p.m. Free. 919-9421740. internationalistbooks.org.
April 8-17 • Winston-Salem
RiverRun Film Fest
A bevy of cinema venues and other spaces
across the City of Arts make way for this
year’s RiverRun International Film Festival.
Sponsored by the Winston-Salem/Forsyth
County Arts Council and Reynolds American,
among others, the 10-day event features a
variety of feature-length and short films from
all genres and across the world. A special
screening of “We Were Here,” a documentary exploring the impact of HIV/AIDS in 1980s
San Francisco will be presented at various
times and venues April 15-17. For more information on venues, films, tickets and more,
visit riverrunfilm.com.
April 9 • Belmont
20th Anniversary AIDS Walk
Join House of Mercy’s 20th Anniversary Walk
for AIDS to raise AIDS awareness and funds to
benefit the organization’s low-income residents
living with advanced AIDS. First 300 walkers
raising $50 or more will receive Walk T-shirts.
Sotto Voce of One Voice Chorus and Honorary
Walk Chair Eric Thomas, WBTV Meteorologist,
will welcome walkers at 10 a.m. A picnic
reception with music on the House of Mercy
grounds follows the three-mile walk through
historic downtown Belmont. See thehouseof
mercy.org/11walk.htm for donation forms, map
and team information.
‘Gypsy Sexuality’
Author Jud Nirenburg joins Internationalist
Books to discuss his book “Gypsy Sexuality:
Romani and Outsider Perspectives on
Intimacy.” Explore the myths about the romantic and alluring Gypsies and some of the most
controversial realities. 405 W Franklin St. 7 p.m.
Free. 919-942-1740. internationalistbooks.org.
April 16 • Charlotte
BarCamp Charlotte 5
A recurring, democratically-organized “unconference” on tech, media, art and culture.
Pre-register at barcampclt.org. Area Fifteen,
515 E. 15th St. 9 a.m.-4 p.m. barcampclt.org.
Petra’s Got Talent
Petra’s continues their search for huge talent
with eight new contestants. Calling all performers: vocalists, instrumentalists, dancers,
comedians, drag performers, stupid dog tricks
and more! Cash prizes for the top three and
bookings for first place. Visit petraspianobar.
com for official contestant rules. Audience
will decide the winner. Petra’s Piano Bar,
1919 Commonwealth Ave. 10 p.m.
petraspianobar.com.
April 17 • Durham
‘Sing for the Cure’ Kick-Off Social
Common Woman Chorus and Triangle Gay
Men’s Chorus co-host a casual event to
promote the upcoming Triangle premiere
performance of “Sing for the Cure” on June
12 at the Meymandi Concert Hall. Proceeds
benefit the choruses and Susan G. Komen for
the Cure-NC Triangle. Cash bar, free appetizers. Suggested donation of $20. Revolution
Restaurant, 107 W. Main St. 3-6 p.m.
tgmchorus.org/events.
April 20 • Rock Hill
Wednesday Night Out
Amici’s Italian Restaurant in Rock Hill hosts
a weekly night out for the surrounding LGBT
community. WNO is a gay professionals happy hour for the Rock Hill/South Charlotte area
— a perfect opportunity to meet make new
friends and get connected. 2732 Celanese Rd.
For more information, call 803-328-6836.
Plaza Midwood Spring Party
Music from more than half a dozen bands and
musicians. Artwork from community artists.
Food from the Diamond. This and more at
the Plaza Midwood Spring Party, hosted by
Petra’s. 1919 Commonwealth Ave.
petraspianobar.com.
‘Adam’s Gift’
Internationalist Books hosts the Rev. Jimmy
Creech discussing his new book “Adam’s Gift:
A Memoir of a Pastor’s Calling to Defy the
Church’s Persecution of Lesbians and Gays,”
a moving story and an important chapter
Q
events
qnotes
goqnotes.com/qguide/events
arts. entertainment.
news.
views.
in the unfinished
struggle for lesbian,
gay,
bisexual and transgender civil and human
rights. 405 W. Franklin St. Free. 919-942-1740.
internationalistbooks.org.
Pecha Kucha
Local artists and creative souls gather for a
unique show-and-tell presenting 20 slides for
20 seconds each in what organizers call an
“exhilarating kaleidoscope of inspirations,
ideas and work.” Amos’ Southend. 1423 S.
Tryon St. 7:30 p.m. pecha-kucha.org/night/
charlotte/.
May 3 • Charlotte
Walk against domestic violence
The Avon Foundation presents Walk the
Course Against Domestic Violence. Walk up
to 18 holes (5 miles) alongside tournament
players’ wives and families at Quail Hollow
Club, a PGA TOUR course, to raise funds and
awareness for the domestic violence cause.
All proceeds benefit local domestic violence
organizations. $35 per person ($25 before
4/22), under 12 free. Quail Hollow Club, 3700
Gleneagles Rd. 6-9 p.m. 866-646-2866.
walkthecourseagainstdv.org.
May 6 • Charlotte
Empower(mint)
The Mint Museum in Charlotte is hosting three
“First Friday” Mint events this summer, the
second of which is Empower(mint). The Mint
Museum Uptown will be organizing live entertainment, gallery tours, hands-on art activities
and a cash bar. The event is free for members
or $10 for non-members. The Levine Center for
the Arts, 500 S. Tryon St. 6-11 p.m. For more information contact April Young at april.young@
mintmuseum.org or call 704-337-2034.
May 6 • Charlotte
HIV, AIDS, and You Art Show
Local artists present their “Positively Art”
show, remaining on display until June 17.
The Lesbian and Gay Community Center, 820
Hamilton St., Suite B11. Show opens at 5:30
p.m. Free. 704-333-0144. gaycharlotte.com.
May 7 • Charlotte
AIDS Walk Charlotte
One of the largest AIDS fundraisers across
the Carolinas, AIDS Walk Charlotte raises
funds for the Regional AIDS Interfaith
Network. To register walk teams or learn
more, visit aidswalkcharlotte.org.
May 14 • Charlotte
Queen City Drag Race
The second annual Queen City Drag Race
heats up! Competitions, music, drink and food!
Proceeds benefit Human Rights Campaign and
Pride Charlotte. Hartigan’s Irish Pub, 601 S.
Cedar St. 1-6 p.m. queencitydragrace.com.
April 2-15 . 2011
qnotes
19
20
qnotes
April 2-15 . 2011

April 2-15 . 2011 qnotes

Transcription

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