26 CONTENTS
THE CHARLOTTE PRIDE TEAM
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Riley Murray, President, she/they
Will Martin, Vice President, he/him
Angel Truesdale, Secretary, she/her
STAFF
Meredith Thompson, Managing Director, she/her
Liz Schob, Communications Manager, she/her
Maurice Clark, Programs Coordinator, he/him
2024 FESTIVAL & PARADE TEAM
Alissa Smith, she/her
Ana Azizah, he/her
Anthony Thaxton, he/him
Anthony Walton-Tate, they/them
Brandon Burton, he/him
Brendan Schamu, he/him
Bubba Barrera, he/him
Calvin Price, he/him
Court Hereford, she/her
Dylan Schackelford, she/her
Esha Shah, she/her
Felix Adam, he/him
Frankie Day, she/they
Gary Carpenter, he/him
Lupe Silva, Treasurer, he/him
Lee Robertson, Director, he/him
Daniel Valdez, Director, he/him
John Walton-Tate, Operations & Finance Manager, he/him
Greg Janiak, he/him
Hannah Fitch, she/her
Jake Kolevar, he/hm
Jason Lewis, he/him
Jayla Serena Mitchell, she/her
Jonathan Hill, he/him
Joseph TenHulzen, he/him
Justin Carpenter, he/him
Justin Pate, he/him
Katie Cormier, she/her
Kelsey Willis, they/them
Krystal Harwick, she/her
Lolita Chanel, they/them
Nanhao Chen, he/him
Oso Chanel, he/him
Paris Tindal, he/him
Rachel Florian, she/they
Renata Johnson, she/her
Ryan C. Beaupré, he/him
Sheila Walsh, they/them
Tessa Malayan, she/her
Tiffany Crooks, she/her
Trinda Simpson, she/her
Troy McElrath, he/him
Warren DiBiase, he/him
Xzaviar Boston, they/them
5 CHARLOTTE PRIDE FESTIVAL & PARADE
Thank you to all our sponsors and partners
6 REEL OUT CHARLOTTE
The Queen City’s Annual LGBTQ+ Film Festival
7 CHARLOTTE PRIDE JOB FAIR
Thanks to all our participants, companies & organizations
VOCALIST, COMPOSER AND MUSICIAN PAULA COLE HEADLINES PRIDE
Grammy Award winning artist identifies as part of the LGBTQ+ community
26 TAKING PRIDE IN OUR WORK Growth, Connection and Community
36 THE YEAR IN QUEER: 2024 LGBTQ+ Pop Culture Moments
44 MEET YOUR 2024 CHARLOTTE PRIDE & CHARLOTTE BLACK PRIDE DRAG COURTS
Meet these members & hear their stories
57 2024 CHARLOTTE PRIDE SCHOLARS
Empowering the next generation of LGBTQ+ leaders
60 2024 CHARLOTTE PRIDE GRAND MARSHALS
Meet Jim Yarbrough (he/him) and Shann Fulton (they/he)
64 RECAP OF PRIDE PICTURES FOR 2024
Here’s a look back at the best moments from our Festival & Parade weekend
71 COMMUNITY RESOURCE DIRECTORY
These community resources were compiled by Charlotte Pride in partnership with QNotesCarolinas
WELCOME to the 2024 Pride Magazine
Somehow, it’s been 25 years! Hard to believe, but when I look back on it, there have been so many memorable moments: challenges, tough choices, triumphs, tears, laughs, friendships and connections made, joyful celebrations, long hours spent working and planning, milestones, pitfalls, long hours, and – in the end – great reward.
Charlotte Pride was born in 2000 and I’ve been part of this organization for more than 20 of those years. As we approach our 25-year anniversary, I’ve been reflecting on our history with all of its highs and lows and “how did we do that?” moments that have fueled the remarkable growth of our organization and its reach.
If you know me, you know that I am quite passionate about our Charlotte Pride Festival and Parade. I remember when we held the first Charlotte Pride events in Marshall Park with a few hundred people attending. I recall long hours, working into the night, along with other dedicated volunteers, to envision and execute the festival. When we added a parade in 2013, it reminded us and our community of our connection to a shared history and social justice movement that began in 1970 with the Christopher Street Liberation Day March, which followed the 1969 Stonewall Riots.
When we moved our festival to the center of our city in 2011, it felt like we were living into our mission of visibilityenriching, empowering, strengthening, and making visible the unique lives and experiences of LGBTQ people in Charlotte and the Carolinas. There in the heart of the city, we were undeniably loud and proud and it felt great. I couldn’t have imagined that today, we would see well over 200,000 people over the course of the festival and parade weekend. We now feel the embrace and excitement of our city, region, and beyond. I’m so grateful for how our festival and parade have grown.
If you really know me, though, you know that what drives me goes beyond the two-day festival weekend. I know that Charlotte Pride must be present for and advocate for our
LGBTQ+ community every day of the year. The August Charlotte Pride weekend is a meaningful and important celebration, and it connects and uplifts people of all ages –members of our LGBTQ+ community, their families, and allies. But that energy and connection must continue beyond the festival, year-round. That’s why, if you ask me what motivates me, what keeps me and our board and staff pushing forward – it’s our year-round programming. Our ongoing meetings and gatherings with core volunteer leaders help keep our Pride family strong, while our Charlotte Pride Scholarship and Internship Program supports emerging young leaders, and our Job and Career Fair empowers LGBTQ+ workers, connecting them with resources and opportunity. Moreover, our Reel Out Charlotte film festival (17 years strong!) is our region’s only annual, LGBTQ+ film festival and is an important arts and culture event for our region.
So, as we look forward to marking 25 years of creating programming and opportunity for our LGBTQ+ community, their families, and allies, we’re recommitted to staying true to our roots and our mission, while also creating new and exciting things. In particular, we want our 2025 Charlotte Pride weekend to be special. Our festival and parade might look a little different, but we promise it will be better than ever…stay tuned! We look forward to engaging with you in the year ahead, and to seeing you at our August festival and parade. In the meantime, I hope you will enjoy reminiscing about the good times and meaningful moments we had together in 2024 through the stories and pictures in this magazine.
With Pride, Riley Murray
Charlotte Pride Board President she/they
Charlotte PRIDE
VISIONARY SPONSORS
Arts and Science Council
Bank of America
Charlotte Area Transit
System (CATS)
Equitable
Festival & Parade
Krispy Kreme
McDonald’s
Wells Fargo
UPLIFTING SPONSOR
Mint Museum
LEADERSHIP SPONSORS
Bud Light
Ally Financial
Brighthouse Financial
Honeywell
NASCAR
TD Bank
VISIBILITY SPONSORS
Amity Medical Group
Gilead Sciences
Novant
PNC Bank
CREATIVITY SPONSORS
AAA
Avance Care
CapTech Consulting
Corning Optical
Communications
Credit Karma
CVS
EY
Fifth Third Bank
JMD Law
Johnny Fly
Kintegra Health
K&L Gates
KPMG
Mecklenburg County
Government
Sidelines Sports Bar & Billiards and Bar Argon
Truliant
USAA
Walmart
EQUALITY SPONSORS
Enterprise Mobility
Duke Energy
Food Lion
K&L Gates
Lending Tree
Procter & Gamble (Luvs)
PSA Airlines
U.S. Bank
EMPOWERMENT SPONSORS
Atrium Health
Daimler
Monster Energy
Moore & VanAllen Law
Red Ventures
Regions Bank
Robertson and Associates
Tepper Sports (CLT FC and Panthers)
Trane Technologies
Truist
Verizon Walgreens
WellCare
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Blue Flowers Cannabis
Charlotte Gaymers Network
Hispanic Federation
LanguageLine Solutions
MEDIA PARTNERS
Beasley Media Group
iHeart Radio
Norsan Media
QNotes
ViiV Healthcare
Noodles and Co
PepsiCo
Rise Brands
The Woodshed
Triad City Beat
REEL OUT CHARLOTTE:
The Queen City’s Annual LGBTQ Film Festival
PRESENTING SPONSORS
ASC Culture Blocks
K&L Gates
RED CARPET SPONSORS
Gilead Sciences
Hispanic Federation
SILVER SCREEN SPONSOR
Charlotte Gaymers Network
BOX OFFICE SPONSORS
Lending Tree
WDAV 89.9FM
SPOTLIGHT SPONSORS
Sidelines & Bar Argon
Charlotte Pride JOB FAIR SPONSORS
COMMUNITY PARTNERS
Carolinas LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce
Central Piedmont Community College
PREMIER PLACEMENT PARTNERS
Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS)
Brighthouse Financial
Duke Energy
Lowe’s Home Improvement
PFLAG Charlotte
Olive AI Marketing
Reel Photos & Video
PSA Airlines
Reynolds American Transit Management of Charlotte, Inc. (TMOC)
Wells Fargo
PROFESSIONAL PARTNERS IN PRIDE
DCLI
NASCAR Microsoft United States Department of Labor
LOCAL BUSINESS OR NONPROFIT SPONSORS
Aetna Medicare Solutions
Carolinas CARE Partnership & Transcend Charlotte
Charlotte Center for Legal Advocacy
Charlotte-Mecklenburg Community Relations
Collaborative Insights Therapy and Counselling
Congresswoman Alma Adams
Equality North Carolina
MEDIA PARTNER
Kiss 95.1
Jennifer Temps, Inc.
NC Department of Health
Per Scholas
Planned Parenthood South Atlantic
RAIN
Road to Hire
The Freedom Center for Social Justice
Celebrating community spirit
Friends, family, neighbors, and local business owners are the backbone of this community. Our vibrant spirit comes alive at events like these.
Wells Fargo proudly celebrates Charlotte Pride 2024.
Vocalist, composer and musician
PAULA COLE HEADLINES PRIDE
By: David Aaron Moore (he/him)
Grammy Award winning artist identifies as part of the LGBTQ+ community
Paula Cole captured a Grammy award for Best New artist in 1998 when her songs “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone” and “I Don’t Wanna Wait” became enormously successful pop radio and rock hits.
But her story and path to musical success began long before that in her hometown of Rockport, Massachusetts. Born into a family that supported progressive thinking and creative exploration, her mother was a mixed media artist and an elementary school art teacher. The father was a professor of biology and ecology and played bass in a polka band.
In high school, she was the president of her senior class and performed in student and staff produced theatrical productions. Later, she attended Berkeley college of music in Boston, setting jazz and picking up gigs here and there singing classic jazz standards at local lounges. That later led to a recording deal from the jazz label GRP Records, but Cole turned that down. Instead, she moved to San Francisco and eventually got her first break when she was asked to perform with Peter Gabriel on his Secret World Tour.
Her big break came in 1996 with her second album on Warner Brothers, “This Fire.” The album’s first single, “Where Have All the Cowboys Gone” hit the number eight spot on the billboard pop charts and her signature follow-up single “I Don’t Wanna Wait” hit number 11 on Billboard and became a generational identity tune, serving as the theme song for the television series “Dawson’s Creek.”
“I DIDN’T WANT TO LIVE THE REST OF MY LIFE NOT BEING HONEST ABOUT MY IDENTITY.’’ – Paula Cole on being Bisexual
Q&A
In the years that followed Cole has released 11 other albums, had girlfriends (she came out properly in 2022), boyfriends, a husband, a daughter and later another husband who brought another child into her life. She’s still married to her husband David and openly embraces her identity as a bisexual member of the LGBTQ+ community.
There’s so much more to tell, but it’s time we get to our exclusive interview and let Paula do the talking.
David Aaron Moore: Thanks for speaking with us. Where are you on the planet right now? What’s it like where you are?
Cole did sign a contract with Imago Records, releasing her first album “Harbinger,” along with the single “I Am So Ordinary.” Imago, however, went out of business and there was no publicity for the album. Shortly thereafter Cole signed a contract with Warner Brothers Records, who re-released “Harbinger,” although it received a lukewarm response.
Paula Cole: (Laughs) I’m in New England. In Massachusetts, not far from where I grew up in Rockport, my hometown. Just a stone’s throw from there, in Beverly. There’s a little bit of mist outside, a soft gray color in the sky. It’s cool. It’s probably like low 70s, so it’s lovely. It feels like Ireland right now, actually.
DAM: Are you at home, or traveling?
Paula Cole: I’m in my studio. It’s like an L attachment to the
building we live in, which is an old carriage house, built at the turn of the [20th] century, like approximately 1900 and it was built for horses and cows, which I love, because I’m an animal lover. And I’m standing in what was the cow shed, which now is, like, you know, renovated, and it’s got white pine on the walls. This is my room where I can close off from the house. It’s really quiet and I make music in here. I’ve got my upright piano and my keyboards and my guitars, and I write in here. I put my ideas up on the walls, and I like to pace when I talk. So I’m standing at the door and I’m looking outside at goldfinches, because it’s starting to lean into later summer, and the goldfinches are really active. I’ve put up a lot of thistle seed feeders for them and they’re making their nests. I love looking outside at the nature, you know.
DAM: What was life like for you growing up in Massachusetts? I’ve read some about your parents, and it sounds like you had a great family.
PC: I did. My parents were intellectuals, and my mom’s an artist. She taught art to public school grade schoolers, and my dad was a professor at a state college nearby at Salem State College, he taught biology and ecology. So they were educators, they were liberal. I was not raised with religion. I felt spirituality, but I didn’t have any wordage or dogma. So in a way, I was given that gift of openness and curiosity.
DAM: What are your thoughts about playing Charlotte Pride?
PC: I’m really happy and excited to do it. I’m so psyched to be there. I’ve played some Pride events, not many, and I think people are starting to understand who I am more now
and that it’s a great fit. It’s love all around and it makes me happy. So it’s very natural, [but] it’s a later blossoming. I’m kind of a more reserved and shy person, so it has taken time for people to know my story, or for me to talk about my identity. I had some big hits in the late ‘90s and everything was a big fuss! So then I went away for a while, and I’ve been slowly, steadily making my art again. I don’t know, I just feel like I’m entering consciousness again. It feels really nice.
DAM: What kind of stage performance can we look forward to?
PC: I know I’m gonna play songs that work really well in a larger festival setting. There’s one song that I want to bring out called “Hope is Everywhere,” which is like anthemic for right now and what we need. It’s like a call to action, a call to vote. It’s got an amazing beat and it’s from my double album “Revolution. And if you go to the last side D, the whole thing is this, like a 10-minute song of hope. It’s like this joyful dancing anthemic rousing and it’s perfect for the festival, so I’m definitely gonna’ do that, and the hits, like “Where Have all the Cowboys Gone” and “I Don’t Wanna’ Wait.” Things that are uplifting and important. There’s a song “I Believe in Love,” that I think will be perfect. I’ll have a quartet. I’ll play piano. I probably won’t play guitar. Maybe, I don’t know, but it’s going to be uplifting. Yeah, uplifting.
DAM: A lot of people in music, literature and art have been talking about this lately, so I’d like to get your thoughts, too. How do you think AI [artificial intelligence] will impact the world? I mean for everyone, and that includes what you do, too.
PAULA COLE PERFORMED ON THE CHARLOTTE PRIDE MAIN STAGE AUGUST 18.
PC: I don’t know what is ahead, probably massive job losses? I think it’s important for people to embrace their eccentricity and their uniqueness and their artistry, because you can’t replace that with AI. I’m sorry, but any kind of sonic replication or fabrication of music sucks. Somebody asked AI to create Kate Bush singing “Where Have all the Cowboys Gone?” It was hideous, you know, like, I’m sorry, but AI does not make good music. You know, it’s really some shit.
DAM: So you’re performing at a Pride event, and I read that you came out in 2022 and identify as bisexual. Tell us about that. Did you have any difficulty from family, friends and fans of your music?
PC: For myself, I think I did, and it felt like in my old fashioned sensibilities, you know, my Gen X sensibilities, especially growing up in a small conservative town in New England where like everything was kept really secret and private, I felt like the world only saw me as a straight person. I’m presently married to a man and I’m raising my kids, and they have such a different sense of identity. I learned a lot through them, and I learned a lot by being a teacher. I was a faculty member at Berklee College of Music for 11 years, and I was teaching millennials and Gen Z, and it was wonderful to hear their sense of identity. It made me realize the hypocrisy I was holding silently inside of myself and that I didn’t want to negate all that I am and who I’ve loved or who I’ve been with, and I’ve just kept that extremely private. I wrote about it in my songs, like in early songs, like “Carmen” on my second album, which was released in 1996. That was a love song to my girlfriend, and my core fans knew that, but I never was going about making proclamations, I just felt like raising my children and teaching younger generations. But I just I couldn’t hold the hypocrisy anymore.
DAM: When you say you “couldn’t hold the hypocrisy anymore,” what does that mean? Could you elaborate on that a little more? PC: I just live my life quietly, and people saw me as a straight person, but that’s not what I am, and I didn’t I didn’t want to live the rest of my life not being honest about my identity. So yes, I’ve kind of recently, more recently, come out with that truth. It’s still new for me to talk about it. I guess, people look to me, and I teach. I need to be honest with all that I am.
DAM: Let’s talk some more about causes and issues in our world that are important to you. Your sense of awareness has always been palpable in your music.
PC: I Thank you. I think the thing that keeps me up at night is worrying about our natural world, like the animals, like the innocents on the planet. What we’re wiping out. There are several species that are on the verge of extinction, and I just didn’t think we would see like this Anthropocene. We’re standing at the doorway, and we are responsible for the extinction of so many species that is about to happen, and I don’t see us changing as quickly as we need to change. You
know, I’ve been a committed vegetarian since I was 14. I love animals, and I hope that in my like, third and fourth acts, I can be more involved with animal species preservation. Some of these species are clinging to existence, the North Atlantic Right Whale, and the Orangutan, those are some that really speak to me. I was raised by an ecology and biology professor, so I was always viewing the world in this holistic way, that we all are interdependent and symbiotic. You know, we are in relationship to each other. You start seeing the disappearance of certain species. Then the ecosystem begins to change. The food chain begins to change. It’s just a matter of time with our own demise. If you don’t respect the whole, how arrogant to think of evolution as this linear legacy that we [humans] are the be all, end all. It’s not like that. It’s it’s a spiral. It’s an interconnected circle.
DAM: What are your feelings about what’s going on in the country right now, politically?
PC: Do we need to go there? (laughs) I posted a Kamala Harris photo the other day and I immediately started losing followers. It’s divisive, but I’ve always been outspoken, I’ve always been honest, wearing my heart on my sleeve, and it’s like, you’ve got to vote against fascism. I feel like we’re in Germany in the 1930s watching the birth of a dictator in slow motion right now. So it’s frightening and I don’t understand why more people aren’t educated or woke enough to see what is
“I just live my life quietly, and people saw me as a straight person, but that’s not what I am, and I didn’t want to live the rest of my life not being honest about my identity.”
actually unfurling in front of our eyes right now. I guess it’s easier to stand there and rally for who you are in your indoctrinated culture, spirituality and belief systems. It’s easier to be rallying for that than looking at yourself. And you know what? What Kamala Harris represents would force a lot of people to look at themselves and their misogyny. She’s breaking barriers. So I think Trump is trying to figure out his attack line. He hasn’t figured it out yet. He’s still in a limited space as far as his wordage, but it’ll come. He won’t be able to help himself. That’s what he usually does with women or any Democrat. It’s usually crazy.
DAM: So another question that I have for you, and this comes up often a lot lately, do you think that today’s world is more challenging for young, LGBTQ+ people than it was when you were in your teens or 20s?
PC: In so some ways. I think the rise of fascism with the whole MAGA party is frightening. I think it’s frightening, and I think we’re going to see more scapegoating, especially of trans people and that’s frightening. There are Neo Nazis walking the streets of Nashville. There are places where drag performances are outlawed. In some ways, it’s more
frightening. And also the loss of women’s rights with their own agency over their bodies. I never thought I’d see that. I grew up kind of worshiping that second generation, second wave of feminism, Betty Friedan and Florence Kennedy. They made that happen for all women. It was federally protected and that’s been torn down. I think in some ways it’s worse, and we’ve got to turn this hate ship around.
DAM: As the 21st century has moved forward, the way we interact with each other has changed a lot. During the COVID pandemic, that was impacted even further. Do you think it’s more challenging for people to connect with each other now, than it was in years past?
PC: It’s hard to answer that. I think in some ways it’s easier, in some ways it’s harder. I think it might not be as positively reinforcing, and I think that human interaction is important. People are important. That’s what life is about, your experiences with other people. Our connections to people as we grow older, and throughout life, matter. If you don’t have social connection, people die from that. People die from that isolation or solitary existence. We need people. We need meaningful connection and belonging. We need each other.
we don’t just feel pride once a year. we feel it every day.
McDonald’s has been a local sponsor for the Charlotte Pride Festival, showing unwavering support for the community for more than a decade.
In 1962, Sam Walton opened the doors of the first Walmart. He recognized the value of bringing affordable products to people in small towns. Walmart has been helping people save money – and live better – ever since. Walmart PRIDE is on a mission to make Walmart the most inclusive and affirming place for the LGBTQ+ community and to elevate, celebrate, and advocate for out LGBTQ+ associates, engage in the communities we serve, and to counsel the business.
Pride is inside and out
At Bank of America, we believe being a diverse and inclusive company makes us stronger.
We’re proud to have been the first financial institution to offer comprehensive benefits to domestic partners. And the more than 38,000 members of our LGBTQ+ Pride employee network and their global allies have been a powerful influence and voice that can be heard everywhere.
What would you like the power to do?®
Kieth Cockrell President, Bank of America Charlotte
by
Photo
Photo
Bryant Morrison, courtesy of Charlotte Pride
TAKING PRIDE IN OUR WORK
By Sheila Walsh, they/them, Charlotte Pride volunteer
Growth, Connection and Community
As one of the largest Pride events in the Southeast, Charlotte Pride’s Festival and Parade weekend draws thousands to celebrate the rich spectrum of identities and experiences of our community.
The excitement and uplift of that annual celebration then fuels community, connection, and impactful work in the following days, weeks and months.
2024 was an exciting year of growth, as we welcomed two new full-time staff members: Programs Coordinator Maurice Clark and Operations & Finance Manager John Walton-Tate.
Our volunteer base grew along with our staff, with new faces bringing fresh ideas and energy to monthly team huddles. Hundreds of volunteers joined us during the Charlotte Pride weekend, in addition to dozens of our year-round volunteer leaders, putting the collaborative spirit of Charlotte Pride on full display.
CONNECTION, COMMUNITY, AND FULL CALENDARS!
The year began with a trip to Las Vegas, where Charlotte Pride staff attended the U.S. Association of Prides’ National Conference, connecting with Pride organizers from across the country. Taking time out to reset, meet new people, compare notes, and have a little fun further energized the team for the work ahead.
In February, Charlotte Pride produced our annual Job Fair at Central Piedmont Community College’s Parr Center. The event, which provides economic opportunities for LGBTQ jobseekers, welcomed more than 150 participants and more than 30 employers, including corporate sponsors, local businesses, and community organizations committed to diversity and inclusion. Career advancement and resumebuilding workshops led by the Carolinas LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce and Olive AI equipped jobseekers with new strategies and tools, while Reel Photo and Video provided free professional headshots for attendees. On-the-spot interviews offered immediate connections with potential employers, resulting in some direct hires and leads, making it a truly impactful community event.
In March, for International Women’s History Month, Charlotte Pride hosted a panel discussion at Hattie’s Tap & Tavern, featuring inspiring voices like Justine Lindsay, the NFL’s first openly transgender cheerleader. The conversation highlighted the incredible contributions of women in our local LGBTQ community and was curated by our own 2023 scholarship winner, Monisha Pirela!
Speaking of the Charlotte Pride Scholarship & Internship Program, supported by the Principal® Foundation, we launched a second year of this expanded program that same month, allowing us to find 11 deserving scholarship winners plus one incredibly talented intern to support our busy summer season of work. We’re grateful to be empowered to support local LGBTQ and ally college students, thereby boosting economic mobility as we support the next generation of leaders.
SPRING: ANTICIPATION IN THE AIR
April’s exciting announcement of Main Stage headliners for the 2024 Charlotte Pride Festival and Parade WeekendBob the Drag Queen, Baby Tate, and Slayyyter - generated an immediate, electric response, with fans eagerly anticipating what promised to be one of our best lineups yet.
In May, Reel Out Charlotte: The Queen City’s Annual LGBTQ Film Festival at the Independent Picture House returned for a 16th year, celebrating LGBTQ voices through a diverse slate of films, from shorts to full-length features, which explored themes of love, identity, activism, and resilience. Following a kick-off event, “The Reel Deal: Musical Movie Trivia” at Divine Barrel, the film festival showcased international and local films, engaging panel discussions, and filmmaker Q&As, including a talkback following the screening of “Old Lesbians,” a documentary about older LGBTQ women navigating life and activism. Writer and director Meghan McDonough shared her insights into stories that often remain untold.
PRIDE MONTH: CELEBRATION AND ADVOCACY
June brought a whirlwind of activity, starting with Community Auditions, where talented members of the local LGBTQ community competed for spots on the festival stage. Congratulations to winners Maggie Lowe, Katalina, and Camden Kawaii, who were able to let their talents shine on our festival’s Main Stage, as well as Jurnee, an American Idol finalist chosen to open for Paula Cole!
And we always look forward to collaborating with Charlotte FC for their annual Pride Night – a fun and inclusive community celebration. We were also grateful that the City of Charlotte supported us with a Pride Month Proclamation, an important gesture of local government backing for LGBTQ Charlotteans and our rights.
Further highlighting the importance of representation in government, Charlotte Pride co-sponsored a Non-Partisan Candidate Fair at Resident Culture South End, alongside Freedom Center for Social Justice, Carolinas LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce, and other community partners. The event provided Mecklenburg County residents an opportunity to meet candidates running for local and statewide offices, emphasizing the importance of political engagement within the LGBTQ community.
THE MAIN EVENT
The 2024 Charlotte Pride Week began with an Interfaith Service at Sacred Souls United Church and culminated in a week of citywide celebrations. Uptown Charlotte transformed into a vibrant Pride destination, featuring four stages, more than 200 vendors, a bustling Youth and Family Zone, the indoor arts activation Flourish, and a VIP experience.
CHARLOTTE PRIDE CELEBRATES THE POWER OF COMMUNITY, CELEBRATION, AND ADVOCACY.
Braving the heat and unpredictability of summer weather, together, we all enjoyed another, exciting and empowering Charlotte Pride Festival and Parade. With approximately 11,000 parade participants and 240,000 attendees, the weekend was a powerful reminder of our collective strength, resilience, and power.
A LOOK
AHEAD: 25 YEARS OF STRENGTH AND SOLIDARITY
Charlotte Pride is more than just celebration -- it’s a platform for advocacy and empowerment. Many of us have read or heard multiple stories of institutions, organizations, and companies rolling back support for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI). This election season and always, Charlotte Pride remains hopeful that you will work alongside us to ensure that programs and supports for our LGBTQ – and other marginalized communities – remain intact and strong. We urge you to share the importance of registering to vote and making informed choices, including in local elections, where policies directly impact our local community. Please help us encourage community members – including your own family and chosen family -- to research candidates, engage in the political process, and hold elected officials accountable, recognizing that while national elections are significant, local leaders often shape the day-to-day realities of LGBTQ people.
Charlotte Pride celebrates the power of community, celebration, and advocacy. Proud of what we’ve accomplished while also recognizing the work and struggle
ahead, we serve as a safe space where LGBTQ individuals can express themselves authentically and without fear. We remain committed to working to keep our Charlotte Pride Festival and Parade accessible and free for everyone.
2025 will mark the 25th anniversary of Charlotte Pride’s founding. For a quarter-century, we’ve been building community, fostering inclusivity, and advocating for LGBTQ rights in the Queen City.
To support Charlotte Pride’s mission, we invite you to consider becoming a Friend of Pride. Visit CharlottePride.org/ Friends to learn how your contribution helps sustain one of the Southeast’s most vital LGBTQ organizations.
Charlotte Pride is actively planning and working to build and create what comes next – always striving to make our programs better and more inclusive and impactful than before, with help from your feedback, ideas, financial support, and volunteerism. We’re grateful you’re with us on the journey.
INCLUSION CREATES FUTURESHAPERS
We know that when everyone is at the table, innovation happens, and we can build the future together.
“Diversity
–William Sloane Coffin Jr.
The Year in Queer: 2024 LGBTQ+ POP CULTURE MOMENTS
By Anders Hare, he/him
2024 has been a vibrant, explosive, and transformative year for LGBTQ+ representation in pop culture. From show-stopping performances and groundbreaking films to major wins at award shows, the community has taken center stage in ways that have left an indelible mark. Beloved queer icons and allies alike have used their platforms to champion authenticity, celebrate diversity, and push boundaries. We’ve seen the return of mainstays and the birth of new favorites, giving audiences relatable and empowering LGBTQ+ characters, while music and fashion embraced bold, unapologetic expressions of identity.
As we look back at 2024, these pop culture moments highlight the growing influence and visibility of LGBTQ+ voices, reminding us of the power of representation in shaping culture and fostering acceptance.
President Biden gives historic interview to LGBTQ+ newspaper
While we still face significant hurdles in this country, we are fortunate to have a president who champions representation. President Biden extended his commitment to the LGBTQ+ community with a historic interview with The Washington Blade in September, discussing transgender rights and ongoing legal challenges. This was shortly after his speech at the opening ceremony of the Stonewall National Monument Visitor Center in New York City, a landmark event in honoring LGBTQ+ history and advocacy. It’s a move that many hope will set a precedent for leaders in this country.
The (official) return of Noah’s Arc
Fans were over the moon in 2023 when it was teased that the classic “Noah’s Arc” was making a comeback. The staple TV show, headlined by Darryl Stephens, Jensen Atwood, Rodney Chester, Doug Spearman and Christian Vincent, made history as the first scripted television series to center gay Black men in 2005. While fans got a small sliver of what was to come last year, they found out the rumors were true when the show’s creator Patrik-Ian Polk teased a cryptic social post with set chairs labeled “Noah” and “Wade,” with the caption “are you ready?” This came with a heart-melting clip of the OG cast doing a table read for the reboot, giving fans the confirmation––and affirmation––they needed.
Another “Drag Race” OG hung up her costume
We’ve seen legendary queens take the stage on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” over a whopping 16 seasons, and while we love to celebrate our performers, their reigning eras must come to an end. Venus D-Lite said goodbye to the stage this year writing to the Drag artform on Instagram: “I must do what is best for me and my passion that you once opened the door to, I hope you find peace like I have.” Known for her classic Madonna impression from season three, Venus is the latest original queen to quit drag, following Fred van Leer, Nina Flowers, and RuPaul.
LGBTQ+ stars showed up and showed out at the Primetime Emmys
The 76th Primetime Emmy Awards were glowing with
vibrant stars who won big, representing the LGBTQ+ community. Queer icon Jodie Foster took home her first Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie in “True Detective: Night Country.” The Netflix hit “Baby Reindeer” had several nods on the big night, with star Jessica Gunning––who is a lesbian––winning the Emmy for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie. Richard Gadd––Gunning’s co-lead who is bisexual––took home the awards for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie and Outstanding Writing for a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie.
Thailand is the first Southeast Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage
History was made when Thailand became the first Southeast Asian country to legalize same-sex marriage, and actors Both Nattapong and Newyear Kitiwhut celebrated in the best way they knew how: by getting engaged! The actors had already been together for 11 years, but the news that their love would now be recognized by the country of Thailand prompted a social media post, in which Both got down on one knee to propose and asked Newyear to marry him, to which Newyear tearfully replied, “yes.” It’s a historic moment for an iconic couple that is hoped to be inspiring and emulated.
LGBTQ+ athletes defied the odds at the Paris Olympics
At the Paris 2024 Olympics, a record 193 LGBTQ+ athletes delivered standout performances, representing both athletic prowess and inclusivity. Team USA’s track stars like Sha’Carri Richardson and nonbinary track star Nikki Hiltz –– one of at least three –– made strides in their respective sports. Several stars from the WNBA, including Britney Griner, Alyssa Thompson and Chelsea Gray, also showed up and showed out in a major way. These athletes exemplified excellence while proudly embracing their identities, contributing to a more inclusive and diverse representation of Team USA on the global stage.
Chappell Roan brings lesbian singers back to forefront
One of the fastest rising pop stars of 2024, Chappell Roan’s look and aesthetic emulate the drag queens she’s inspired by. What’s more, her songwriting tells stories that women who love women can relate to. In her 2024 hit single “Good Luck, Babe!,” Chappell details a relationship with a woman who tries to deny her romantic feelings for Roan. It’s a tune about coming to terms with who you are and what you like. Roan said she’s inspired prominently by Kate Bush, alt-J and Stevie Nicks, and the LGBTQ+ themes in her songwriting mirror queer icons like Tracy Chapman and Brandi Carlile that came before her. There’s no question she will continue to inspire others through her inclusive songwriting for years to come.
Victoria Monét proves she’s a mainstage girlie at the Grammy Awards
The 66th Annual Grammy Awards proved to be a winning year for LGBTQ+ musicians, with Phoebe Bridgers and Rock supergroup Boygenius, as well as longtime ally Kylie Minogue all receiving nods. But the one queer artist to defy the odds and critics with three wins is Victoria Monét. After writing hits for your favorite artists for over a decade, Victoria stepped out with her official debut album “Jaguar II” in 2023. When it came time to promote the album that summer, Victoria said her request to perform
at MTV’s Video Music Awards because and was denied because they claimed “it was too early in her story.” Well, 2024’s Grammy wins just six months later–– the short time it took for her to become a solo star––prove that no one knows the time or place of our breakthrough but ourselves.
“Agatha All Along” brings long-awaited queer representation to the Marvel Cinematic Universe
We got a tease of Marvel’s exploration into LGBTQ+ relationships and themes in 2021’s “The Eternals,” but nothing compares to the explosive, colorful storytelling that plays out in this “Wandavision” spinoff. It centers around the titular Agatha Harkness whom we met in the latter show, trying to regain her powers, joined by an all-star cast of Sasheer Zamata, Ali Ahn, Debra Jo Rupp and the iconic Patti LuPone. Aubrey Plaza plays Rio Vidal, with whom Agatha develops sexual tension over the course of the series. It’s an openly queer show that represents its viewers in new ways.
Celebrating LGBTQIA+ lives in song since 1990
Meet Your 2024 Charlotte Pride & Charlotte Black Pride DRAG COURTS
By Anders Hare, he/him
An illustrious and established tradition in the Queen City, The Charlotte Pride and Charlotte Black Pride Courts represent the best in performance and some of the most impactful members of Charlotte’s LGBTQ community. These individuals are brought together by sought-after pageants, but their path forward is paved by the people and the need of press forward.
Here are the members of the Charlotte Pride and Charlotte Black Pride Courts and their stories.
Meet Rebecca Stardust MX Charlotte Pride
Rebecca Stardust, Mx Charlotte Pride, started drag performing in high school as well as various events, including “Drag Woo” at Winthrop University. Since then, Rebecca has gone on to grace stages across Charlotte.
“I’m honored to represent Charlotte drag, particularly for those often ostracized within the community, and I look forward to making a positive impact over the next year,” Rebecca said. “I’m representing all of those weirdo,
untraditional people and bringing that to light. And I’m honored to do so, and I feel absolutely lucky to do so.”
One of Rebecca’s commitments is to mental health advocacy, having experienced anxiety, ADHD, depression, and eating disorders. Rebecca aims to represent Charlotte’s LGBTQ+ community by promoting inclusivity and resilience.
“I’M HONORED TO REPRESENT CHARLOTTE DRAG, PARTICULARLY FOR THOSE OFTEN OSTRACIZED WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.”
La’ John Trinity Mr. Charlotte Black Pride
Prior to becoming Mr. Charlotte Black Pride, La’John Trinity worked for several years as an entertainer for Disney and other companies. La’John made the move to Rock Hill, South Carolina to care for his mother, which prompted him to enter Charlotte’s Pride scene and eventually earn his title. Since being in the Carolinas, La’John has made strides to make an impact in the community. His community service project, “Cereal, Cereal, Cereal,” provides non-perishable food items to the homeless.
“My biggest thing is making sure that people are aware of the many different services that are provided within the community,” La’John said. “I’m actually currently working on an LLC with that particular project [Cereal, Cereal, Cereal] and seeking out grants to make it even larger, beyond our immediate Charlotte metro area.”
A goal of La’John’s as Mr. Charlotte Black Pride is to emphasize the importance of representation and awareness within the LGBTQ community and to be an advocate for increased visibility and access to services.
“MY BIGGEST THING IS MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE AWARE OF THE MANY DIFFERENT SERVICES THAT ARE PROVIDED WITHIN THE COMMUNITY.”
“IT TRULY DOES MEAN THE WORLD THAT I AM MISS CHARLOTTE PRIDE, AND THAT I’M A PART OF THE LEGACY.”
Erica Chanel Miss Charlotte Pride
Erica Chanel, Miss Charlotte Pride 2024, began her drag career a decade ago in South Carolina, inspired by friends to pursue entertainment. Since then, she’s become a staple, performing with Charlotte’s Vanity House. Winning the title was emotionally significant for Erica, solidifying her hard work and community support.
“I was very pleased because I knew I had a lot of people rooting for me, wanting this for me as much as I wanted it for myself,” Erica said. “it truly does mean the world that I am Miss Charlotte Pride, and that I’m a part of the legacy that came before me, and that I’ll be a part of the legacy that comes after me.”
During her time on the court, Erica hopes to represent the Black and Brown community, highlighting the lack of representation when she started. Erica hopes to build on representation in the LGBTQ+ community by stressing the importance of a strong support system and authentic friendships.
Z’Nia M’laysia Addams
Miss Charlotte Black Pride Lady
Z’Nia M’laysia Addams began her journey into drag pageantry through her work with local club promoters and show directors. After being taken under the wing of her drag mother, Ebony Addams, she became captivated by the art of competitive pageantry and has since evolved into a dedicated contestant, sponsor, coach, and promoter.
Winning this title means everything to Z’Nia, as it offers a platform for representation and advocacy for both cisgender and transgender women. This is her second time holding the title, having first won it in 2019. “For me, being Miss Charlotte Black Pride Lady is about showing beauty and strength in all its forms. It’s a chance to uplift and protect our community,” she shared.
Z’Nia’s goals for the coming year include launching preliminary events and fundraisers to elevate the division and strengthening ties with local LGBTQ+ organizations. She is inspired by the love she receives from the community and is determined to be a voice for those who are often unseen.
“FOR ME, BEING MISS CHARLOTTE BLACK PRIDE LADY IS ABOUT SHOWING BEAUTY AND STRENGTH IN ALL ITS FORMS.”
“THESE ORGANIZATIONS CAME FROM US NOT HAVING SAFE SPACES INSIDE OF THE LARGER ORGANIZATIONS.”
Kortnee Pope Collins Miss Charlotte Black Pride
Ray Green, better known onstage as Kortnee Pope Collins, is originally from Charleston, South Carolina and a theater kid at heart. After pursuing drag in college as a dare, Kortnee has thrived ever since, earning the title of Miss Charlotte Black Pride. During her time on the court, Kortnee aims to highlight the significance of Charlotte Black Pride and other organizations that advocate for Black people, working to provide safe spaces for Charlotte’s Black LGBTQ+ community.
“These organizations came from us not having safe spaces inside of the larger organizations, and our people decided to, as we always do, improvise and find a way to persevere and come up with something that meant something to us,” Kortnee said.
One key initiative of Kortnee’s is to teach aspiring performers to research who they are as entertainers and to mentor the next generation of drag performers.
Dallas Cole Coutour Mr. Charlotte Pride
After reaching the pinnacle of Mr. Charlotte Black Pride in 2023, Dallas Cole Coutour decided he wasn’t done impacting Charlotte’s LGBTQ+ community. He became Mr. Charlotte Pride, bringing with him a desire to advocate for Black members of the LGBTQ+ population, as well as continue work to advocate for community members who are homeless in the Queen City.
“If doing pageants and sewing and making my orders and performing for the people and being a voice is where I’m supposed to be, then God is preparing me for that,” Dallas said. “I’ve been awarded this great platform to not only share my story but be in an effective light on other people’s as well.”
Originally from Detroit, Michigan, Dallas grew up in a supportive family, and he aims to spread that supportive, positive attitude in Charlotte during his time on the court.
“I’VE BEEN AWARDED THIS GREAT PLATFORM TO NOT ONLY SHARE MY STORY BUT BE IN AN EFFECTIVE LIGHT ON OTHER PEOPLE’S AS WELL.”
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Empowering LGBTQ+ artists and small businesses by offering visibility and support, while delivering crucial community aid and advocacy.
2024 Charlotte Pride SCHOLARS
In 2025, we are thrilled to continue expanding the Charlotte Pride Scholarship Program and offer our summer internship for the second consecutive year, thanks to the continued support of the Principal® Foundation. The Charlotte Pride Scholarship & Internship Program, generously supported by Principal® Foundation, is dedicated to enhancing economic mobility for LGBTQ+ and ally college students from the Charlotte metro area by providing scholarships and valuable internship opportunities. This year, our scholars received up to $10,000 for the 2024-2025 academic year at accredited two or four-year institutions, and one selected student was given the opportunity to intern with Charlotte Pride during Summer 2025, earning a $5,000 stipend. This program continues to empower the next generation of LGBTQ+ leaders by providing financial support and hands-on professional experience.
CHLOE RIPOLI
Champion of Pride Scholarship
$10,000
they/them
South Piedmont Community College
REUBEN EVANS
Legacy Scholarship
$5,000
he/him
Central Piedmont Community College
ADAM BELL
Empowerment Scholarship
$2,500
he/him
Southern New Hampshire University
ABBY BEAVER
CLT Pride Summer Intern
$5,000 summer stipend + $2,500 scholarship
she/her
Queens University
KAYLYN BAUDER
Leadership Scholarship
$1,250
she/they
Clemson University
MADDY REILLY
Visionary Scholarship
$1,000
She/her
Appalachian State University
ARIANNA KENNEDY
Visionary Scholarship
$1,000
she/her|
Cleveland Community College
GABBY LAATZ
Visionary Scholarship
$1,000
she/her
Emerson College
KYANA PEOPLES
Visionary Scholarship
$1,000
she/her
Johnson C. Smith University
CONNIE PEARSON
Visionary Scholarship
$1,000
she/her
Johnson & Wales University
Take Pride. QUIT TOBACCO TOGETHER.
Daimler Truck North America is one of the largest employers in the Carolinas with six locations in the Charlotte area. Through intentionality, understanding, and empathy, and with the help of EQUAL, Daimler’s Employee Resource Group which focuses on LGBTQIA+ employees and their allies, DTNA works to cultivate a safe and authentic workspace for employees of all sexual orientations and gender identities. We actively promote the hiring of a diverse workforce and strive to retain that talent by creating inclusive policies and education. EQUAL gathers the strength of a supportive community for our LGBTQIA+ employees and their allies while championing policy change that is inclusive for everyone.
2024 Charlotte Pride GRAND MARSHALS
Every year, Charlotte Pride honors those whose work and dedication exemplify the meaning of Pride. Our Grand Marshals empower and unite LGBTQ+ and allied people through their leadership, service, and support for others. They understand the importance of celebrating our past while advancing LGBTQ+ rights and visibility. The leaders we honor and uplift this year have demonstrated their personal commitment to service and community. They lead by example, often as servant leaders, in supporting and uplifting the people and communities around them. They embody the words of Martin Luther King, Jr., who said, “Anyone can be a leader — the only necessity being a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love.” With great honor, the Charlotte Pride Board of Directors presents the 2024 Grand Marshals.
JIM YARBROUGH (HE/HIM)
Jim’s journey with the LGBTQ+ community began in 1986, when he was asked to sit on the board of directors of Queen City Qoordinators (QCQ), an umbrella organization that provided much-needed support with a speakers bureau, a hotline, a women’s social group and the establishment of QNotes in newspaper format.
For 38+ years Jim has served the LGBTQ+ community by running QNotes. In 2007, he became the owner/operator of White Rabbit, the only LGBTQ+ focused retail store in NC. Additionally, he has sat on a number of community boards and task forces, including Pride Charlotte and MCC Charlotte, among others.
SHANN FULTON (THEY/HE)
Shann Fulton is a dynamic leader and philanthropist committed to inclusivity and human rights. As Chair of Charlotte Black Pride, Shann champions the visibility and rights of Black LGBTQ+ individuals, ensuring their voices are heard and celebrated. Raised in a small town in the Lowcountry and having called Charlotte home for 14 years, Shann’s leadership journey is deeply rooted in social justice.
Under Shann’s guidance, Charlotte Black Pride has grown, enhancing its impact through community town halls and cultural events. With a 19-year career at Spectrum as a Technical Order Operations Analyst and a B.S. in Computer Science from SC State University, Shann excels professionally.
Shann is also dedicated to volunteerism, supporting local organizations focused on LGBTQ+ youth, POC youth mentorship, and underserved communities. Shann shares a loving home with their fiancé and two fur babies, with twins and five grandchildren being central in their lives. They enjoy activities like ATV riding, traveling, and family time.
Alexan Mill District Charlotte, North Carolina
Ascent Uptown Charlotte, North Carolina
The Prospect Charlotte, North Carolina
The Atherton Charlotte, North Carolina Element SouthPark Charlotte, North Carolina
PRIDE PICS
Community Resource DIRECTORY
These community resources were compiled in partnership by Charlotte Pride and QnotesCarolinas.
ADVOCACY RESOURCES
ACLU of North Carolina acluofnorthcarolina.org
Campaign for Southern Equality southernequality.org
Carolinas LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce clgbtcc.org
Equality North Carolina equalitync.org
Freedom Center for Social Justice fcsj.org
Human Rights Campaign North Carolina northcarolina.hrc.orgfacebook.com/ HRCCharlotte/
LGBTQ Democrats of Mecklenburg County meckdemlgbtq.org
Log Cabin Republicans of North Carolina lcrnc.org
North Carolina AIDS Action Network ncaan.org
Safe Schools NC safeschoolsnc.org
ART RESOURCES
Arts & Science Council of Charlotte artsandscience.org
Charlotte Pride Band charlotteprideband.org
Gay Men’s Chorus of Charlotte and Women’s Chorus of Charlotte gmccharlotte.org
One Voice Chorus onevoicechorus.com
HEALTH & HIV CARE RESOURCES
Affinity Health Center
Locations in Rock Hill, Clover, and York
877-647-6363 affinityhealthcenter.org
Amity Medical Group
Locations in East and South Charlotte 704-208-4134 amitymed.org
Anuvia Prevention & Recovery Center
100 Billingsley Rd. Charlotte, NC 28211
704-376-7447 anuvia.org
Blue Lotus Clinical & Consulting Services bluelotusccspllc.com/
Carolinas Care Partnership 5855 Executive Center Dr. Suite 102 Charlotte, NC 28212 704-531-2467 carolinascare.org
Charlotte Transgender Healthcare Group charlottetranshealth.org
Dudley’s Place
103 Commerce Centre Dr. Suite 103
Huntersville, NC 28078
704-977-2972
myrosedalehealth.com/dudley
House of Mercy 100 McAuley Cir.
Belmont, NC 28012
704-825-4711 thehouseofmercy.org
Mecklenburg County Health Department – Northwest Campus 2845 Beatties Ford Rd.| Charlotte, NC 28216
704-336-6500
mecknc.gov/HealthDepartment/ ClinicServices
Mecklenburg County Health Department – Southeast Campus 249 Billingsley Rd. Charlotte, NC 28211 704-336-6500 mecknc.gov/HealthDepartment/ ClinicServices
Planned Parenthood Charlotte Health Center
700 S. Torrence St. Charlotte, NC 28204 704-536-7233
plannedparenthood.org/ health-center/northcarolina/charlotte/28205/ charlotte-health-center-2703-90860
PowerHouse 2.0 3552 Beatties Ford Rd. Charlotte, NC 28216 980-999-5295 facebook.com/ThePowerhouseProject
Quality Comprehensive Health Center Medical Clinic
3607 Beatties Ford Rd. Charlotte, NC 28216
704-394-8968 qchealth.net
RAIN
601 E. 5th St. Suite 470 Charlotte, NC 28202
704-372-7246 carolinarain.org
RAO Community Health
321 W. 11th St. Charlotte, NC 28202
704-237-8793 raoassist.org
Rosedale Health and Wellness 103 Commerce Centre Dr. Suite 103 Huntersville, NC 28078 704-948-8582 myrosedalehealth.com
INTERFAITH RESOURCES
Caldwell Presbyterian Church
Presbyterian Church (USA) 1609 East Fifth St. Charlotte, NC, 28204 704-334-0825 caldwellpresby.org
Dilworth United Methodist Church
United Methodist 605 East Blvd. Charlotte, NC 28203 704-333-4173 dilworthchurch.org
First United Methodist Church
United Methodist
501 N. Tryon Street Charlotte, NC 28202 704-333-9081 charlottefirst.org
Havurat Tikvah
Jewish, Reconstructionist 2821 Park Rd. Charlotte, NC 28209 980-225-5330 havurattikvah.org
Holy Trinity Lutheran Church
Evangelical Lutheran Church in America 1900 The Plaza
Charlotte, NC 28205 704-377-5439 htlccharlotte.org
Inclusion Community
United Methodist 21209 Catawba Ave.
Cornelius, NC 28021
inclusioncommunity.org
Missiongathering Christian Church
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 420 E. 15th St.
Charlotte, NC 28206
704-412-4028 missiongathering.com
M2M Charlotte
Presbyterian Church (USA) 3601 Central Avenue Charlotte, NC 28205 m2mcharlotte.org
Sardis Baptist Church
Alliance of Baptists, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship 5811 Sardis Rd.
Charlotte, NC 28270 704-362-0811 sardisbaptistcharlotte.org
SouthPark Christian Church
Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) 6650 Park South Drive
Charlotte, NC 28210 (704) 554-1066 southparkchristian.org
St. John’s Baptist Church Alliance of Baptists, Cooperative Baptist Fellowship 300 Hawthorne Ln. Charlotte, NC 28204 704-333-5428 stjohnsbaptistchurch.org
St. Martin’s Episcopal Church
Episcopal Church 1510 E. 7th Street Charlotte, NC 28204 704- 376-8441 stmclt.org
St. Peter’s Episcopal Church
Episcopal Church 115 West 7th St. Charlotte, NC 28202 704-332-7746 st-peters.org
Trinity Presbyterian Church
Presbyterian Church (USA) 3115 Providence Rd. Charlotte, NC 28211
704-366-3554 trinitypreschurch.org
Wedgewood: A Social Justice Community
Interfaith PO Box 18912 Charlotte, NC 28218 704-641-0454 wedgewoodcharlotte.org
Unitarian Universalist Community of Charlotte
Unitarian Universalism 234 N. Sharon Amity Rd. Charlotte, NC 28211 704-366-8623 uuccharlotte.org
NIGHTLIFE RESOURCES
Starlight on 22nd 422 E 22nd St Charlotte, NC 28206 980-225-7709 starlighton22nd.com
Bar Argon 4544 South Blvd H Charlotte, NC 28209 704-525-7787 barargon.com
The Woodshed Bar 3935 Queen City Dr Charlotte, NC 28208 704-394-1712 thewoodshedbar.com
Chasers Charlotte Noda 3217 The Plaza Charlotte, NC 28205 980-402-3297 chaserscharlotte.com
The Scorpio 225 Fairwood Ave
Charlotte, NC 28203 704-837-2536 thescorpio.com
Sidelines Sports Bar and Billiards 4544 South Blvd Charlotte, NC 28209 704-525-2608 thesidelinesbar.com
Hattie’s Tap & Tavern 2918 The Plaza Charlotte, NC 28205 (980) 938-6228 hattiesclt.com
Petra’s Bar 1919 Commonwealth Ave. Charlotte, NC 28205 704-332-6608 petrasbar.com
Snug Harbor 1228 Gordon St Charlotte, NC 28205 (704) 561-1781 snugrock.com
ONLINE & PRINT MEDIA RESOURCES
Axios Charlotte axios.com/local/charlotte
Charlotte Magazine charlottemagazine.com
Charlotte Observer charlotteobserver.com
Charlotte Post thecharlottepost.com
CLTure clture.org
Hola News holanews.com
La Noticia lanoticia.com
Norsan Media norsanmedia.com
QCityMetro qcitmetro.com
Q Notes Carolinas qnotescarolinas.com
Que Pasa Mi Gente charlotte.quepapanoticias.com
Queen City Nerve qcnerve.com
Scalawag Magazine scalawagmagazine.org
PRIDE IN THE CAROLINAS
Charlotte Pride is a member of the International Association of Pride Organizers (InterPride) and the U.S. Association of Prides (USAP). We are proud to support and highlight our sibling Prides across the Carolinas.
Alamance Pride Burlington, NC alamancepride.org
Apex Pride Apex, NC facebook.com/ApexNCPride/
Blue Ridge Pride Asheville, NC blueridgepride.org
Catawba Valley Pride Hickory, NC catawbavalleypride.org
Charleston Pride Charleston, SC charlestonpride.org
Charlotte Black Pride Charlotte, NC charlotteblackpride.org
Charlotte Pride Charlotte, NC charlottepride.org
ENC Pride Kinston, NC encpride.org
Fayetteville Black Pride Fayetteville, NC facebook.com/ fayettevilleblackpride/
Fayetteville Pride Fayetteville, NC fayettevillepride.org
Greensboro Pride Greensboro, NC greensboropride.org
Hendersonville Pride Hendersonville, NC
hendersonvillepride.org
Lexington Pride Lexington, NC facebook.com/Lexington NCPride
NENC Pridefest Elizabeth City, NC nencpridefest.com
New Bern Pride New Bern, NC newbernpride.com
Outer Banks PrideFest Manteo, NC obxpridefest.com
Out! Raleigh
Raleigh, NC outraleigh.org
Port City Pride Wilmington, NC facebook.com/ PortCityPrideBlockParty
Pride Durham Durham, NC pridedurhamnc.org
Pride Winston-Salem Winston-Salem, NC pridews.org
Raleigh Pride Raleigh, NC outraleighpride.org
Rock Hill Pride Rock Hill, SC cdmercantile.com/rock-hill-pride
Salisbury Pride
Salisbury, NC salisburypride.com
Shelby Pride Shelby, NC facebook.com/ShelPRIDE
South Carolina Black Pride Columbia, SC facebook.com/southcarolina. blackpride
South Carolina Pride Columbia, SC scpride.org
Sylva Pride Sylva, NC facebook.com/SylvaNCPride/ Union County Pride Union County, NC unioncountypride.org
Upstate Pride SC Spartanburg, SC Upstatepridesc.org
Wake Forest Pride Wake Forest, NC wakeforestpride.org
Wilkes Pride/Wilkes True Colors Wilkesboro, NC https://www.facebook.com/ WilkesTrueColors
SOCIAL SUPPORT RESOURCES
Carolina Bear Lodge carolinabearlodge.club
Carolinas LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce clgbtcc.org
Charlotte Black Pride charlotteblackpride.org
Charlotte Gaymers Network charlottegaymersnetwork.com
Charlotte LGBTQ Elders facebook.com/charlottelgbtqelders
Charlotte Pride charlottepride.org
Charlotte Tradesman charlottetradesmen.org
Crisis Assistance Ministry 500-A Spratt St. Charlotte, NC 28206 704-371-3001 crisisassistance.org
Erase Trans Hate Carolinas erasetranshatecarolinas.org
Feed The Movement facebook.com/feedthemovementclt Hearts United for Good hugclt.org
Lesbian Friends of Charlotte https://www.facebook.com/groups/ lesbianfriendsofcharlottenc/
Pauli Murray LGBTQ+ Bar Association lgbtqbarnc.com
The Plus Collective thepluscollective.org
Poor No More facebook.com/PoorNoMoreCharlotte
Prime Timers of Charlotte charlottepridetimers.org
Queen City Connects queencityconnects.com
Roof Above roofabove.org
Southern Country Charlotte southerncountrycharlotte.com
Transcend Charlotte transcendcharlotte.org
Twirl to the World Foundation twirltotheworld.org
SPORTS RESOURCES
Carolina Piedmont Softball Association carolinapiedmontsoftball.org
Charlotte Front Runners facebook.com/CharlotteFrontRunners
Charlotte Rainbowlers charlotterainbowlers.com
Charlotte Roller Derby cltrd.org
Charlotte Royals Rugby charlotteroyalsrugby.com
Queen City Tennis Club| facebook.com/groups/36411747197
Stonewall Sports stonewallcharlotte.org
YOUTH & FAMILY RESOURCES
Central Piedmont Pride Alliance facebook.com/groups/ CPCCPrideAlliance
Davidson College Center for Diversity & Inclusion davidson.edu/offices-and-services/ center-student-diversity-and-inclusion
Gender Education Network gendereducationnetwork.org
PFLAG Charlotte pflagcharlotte.org
PFLAG Concord/Kannapolis pflag.org/chapter/concord-kannapolis
Rainbow Foster Network rainbowfosternetwork.org
Queens University of Charlotte Office of Diversity, Inclusion, & Community queens.edu/dei/the-office-ofdiversity-inclusion-communityengagement-dice
Time Out Youth Center timeoutyouth.org
PRIDEOF FRIENDS BECOME A TODAY!FRIEND
GIVE A ONE-TIME GIFT OR SIGN UP AS A FRIEND OF PRIDE WITH MONTHLY GIVING TO SUPPORT CHARLOTTE PRIDE’S YEAR-ROUND PROGRAMS, EVENTS, AND COMMUNITY SERVICES.
Charlotte Pride’s individual giving program, FRIENDS OF PRIDE, allows you to give back and support Charlotte Pride programming throughout the year. Your monthly contribution goes directly toward sustaining the community-driven work of Charlotte Pride in Arts & Culture, Economic Growth & Upward Mobility, Community Solidarity, and Visibility & Education. Give today, with Pride!
SEE FULL DETAILS AND BECOME A FRIEND OF PRIDE ONLINE AT: