Qnotes June 24, 2022

LGBTQ Local News, Voices and Community

JUNE 24 - JULY 07, 2022|VOL 37 NO 05 Printed On Recycled Paper

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Playwright James Ijames wins Pulitzer Bessemer City native captures award for Drama

Choosing who we work with, and the way we think about job recruitment

Evictions are challenging to longterm credit – pg 12

– pg 10

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inside this issue

feature

10 Choosing who we work with 12 Eviction, It’s impact on your credit and what you can do

A moment in history has been removed. The Gaston County Museum removed a image of this couple after getting engaged. In this article, we will dive more into detail about this topic.

news

4 Medical Marijuana 5 Transcend Charlotte and Carolinas Care Merge 6 TOY Offers Workshops for Educators and School Staff to Support LGBTQ Students 6 Carolina Panthers hire the NFL’s first Trans Cheerleader 6 Lexington, N.C. Shows off Their Pride with a Second Annual Celebration 7 Pew Research Center Releases Report from Focus Groups 7 Holly Springs, N.C. Mayor Called Out for Rejecting Pride Proclamation 7 ‘Drag Queen Story Hour’ Goes on as Planned at Apex Pride 8 Biden Issues Executive Order to Fight Conversion Therapy 9 FCSJ takes part in Poor people’s March

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Why I make my Son’s Clothes

Baby clothing is hyper masculine or hyper feminine. This couple is choosing a different route for their son by making his clothes.

PAGE 14

a&e

13 Gaston County Museum Removes LGBTQ Photo Sparking Outrage 16 Pride Journey: Salt Lake City 18 Crazy about ‘C.R.A.Z.Y.’

life

14 Why I Make My Son’s Clothes 17 Gay Bars on Decline 19 Our People: James Ijames

views

15 Let the Church Look in the Mirror

events

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Gaston County Museum Removes LGTQ Photo

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Medical Marijuana Advances in NC From The Pulse

BY JAMES BURRELL | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

O

n June 6, the state Senate passed a historic bill that would allow patients to receive medical marijuana through a trained physician for medical conditions such as cancer, PTSD, epilepsy and more.

The bill would also remove the statelevel criminal penalties for medical use, cultivation and distribution of marijuana.

The measure would not change civil or criminal laws governing marijuana for nonmedical use.

Filed last year by the Senate as the “North Carolina Compassionate Care Act,” Senate Bill 711 passed its final required reading with a 36-7 vote. Sen. Bill Rabon (R-Brunswick) spoke about the benefits of medical marijuana and its necessity during the second reading last Thursday, which passed after having a floor debate.

“It is our duty as lawmakers to pass legislation that helps people who need our help,” said Rabon, a primary sponsor of the bill and a cancer survivor who has worked on the legislation for five years.

“It is not going to make them ashamed or reluctant to seek help if it is recommended to them by their physician.”

Another primary sponsor of the bill, Sen. Micheal V. Lee (R-New Hanover),

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also acknowledged that patients might need treatment that only marijuana can provide. “The patient gets to pray that this works because a lot of times nothing else does,” Lee said.

Though the bill has bipartisan support, opponents such as Sen. Jim Burgin (R-Harnett) remain unconvinced.

“Marijuana does not treat the ailment; it only masks the symptoms,” Burgin said.

Sen. Julie Mayfield (D-Buncombe) requested to amend the bill for in-state growers and retailers to participate in the medical marijuana trade. “This is a bill that the public clearly wants, but it is not quite there yet,” said Mayfield who ultimately voted against it.

The bill outlines limited and rigorous requirements – for individuals, physicians and suppliers – which the Department of Health and Human Services would enforce. The physician would also have to note whether benefits of smoking or consuming marijuana outweigh the risks for the patient.

According to the bill, requirements for patients would include having a

“debilitating medical condition.”

These include cancer, PTSD, epilepsy, HIV/AIDS, ALS, Crohn’s disease, sickle cell anemia and other health conditions.

Patients would need to have shown diagnosis for a condition and a written certification from their physician. Afterward, they apply to DHHS to receive a registry identification card for consuming medical marijuana. The card would go to a designated caregiver of the qualified patient. The caregiver – who needs to be at least age 21 – would assist the patient with the medical use of marijuana.

Patients can have two designated caregivers, and caregivers can serve two qualified patients.

Both the qualified patient and the designated caregiver would be required to carry their registry indentation card when possessing medical marijuana or marijuana-infused products.

Duke University medical professor David Casarett, a supporter of medical marijuana, said that the drug is not for everybody or every condition. “I think we go into this with the honest assessment that it’s not a wonder drug, it’s not a

panacea, it’s not a cure-all and it has some risks,” Casarett told WUNC. “As long as we go into it with eyes wide open and an honest assessment of risks and potential benefits, I think it is the right time.”

The bill will now go to the House.

However, it is uncertain whether that chamber will pass the measure or wait until the next legislative session. In that case, the bill’s chances of becoming law would be delayed until possibly next year.

Currently, North Carolina allows the use of industrial hemp-based products that contain 0.3 percent THC – the chemical that makes someone high.

If the bill becomes law, citizens would be able to consume a higher amount of THC, like in regular marijuana.

As of May 27, 37 states and the District of Columbia have removed state-level criminal penalties for medical marijuana, including Virginia, Alabama and New York.

James Burrell is a summer journalism fellow with NC Policy Watch, sponsored by the States Newsroom. He graduated from North Carolina Central University, where he co-edited the student newspaper, the Campus Echo.

This story appears courtesy of NC

news

Transcend Charlotte and Carolinas Care Merge to Better Serve Community Together Organizations Will Offer Focused Efforts for Trans Community

by David Aaron Moore Qnotes Staff Writer

resource for so many of those people.

“It’s incredibly important, [and] studies have shown that affirmation – and that means anything from respecting someone’s pronouns to supporting folks exploring their identity – help[s] them reduce depression, anxiety and [thoughts of] suicide. It’s very important for allies as well, and so we always tell people if you’re going to do anything today, go forth and be someone in whose presence others can rest as their authentic self.

“We’re trying to be that place, that resource for trans, non-binary folks and allies, as well.”

T

ranscend Charlotte and Carolinas Care Partnership announced late last month they have merged in order to better serve the LGBTQ communities of Charlotte.

Carolinas Care will provide organizational, administrative and fundraising support, and Transcend will offer expertise in gender equity and trans-focused programming while continuing to provide high quality peer support groups, case management, community education and special services like an expression space and name change workshops.

The organization will also support Carolinas Care and their commitment to serve the LGBTQ community, which includes areas such as counseling, case management, substance abuse, HIV/AIDS testing, care and treatment as well as access to healthcare.

With the relocation to the Carolinas Care Partnership facility at 5855 Executive Center Drive, Transcend programs will be easily accessible by car and CATS bus lines.

Transcend’s Executive Director Bethany Corrigan spoke with WJZY’s Queen City News recently about the organization’s new developments since the merger, and more.

“Joining up with Carolinas Care Partnership ... enabled us to expand our services, so we provide free and low cost social and mental health services,” Corrigan explained.

That includes peer support groups and name change workshops offered on a bi-monthly basis and a program called Expression Space, which provides free resources like clothing, shoes and specialty items such as bath and care products, as well.

Transcend Charlotte’s Mission “[Our] case management helps folks

Defining New Terminology

Transcend Charlotte’s executive director Bethany Corrigan talks about the organization’s services after merging with Carolinas Care Partnership. with income, bill pay support and housing, and because of our partnership with the Carolinas Care Partnership, the housing resources recently have been expanded.

In addition we can offer on the spot HIV testing, again, through our very dear partnership [with] the Carolinas Care Partnership.

“So really ... what we’re seeking to do here is show up and stand with and for trans and non-binary folks in the Charlotte Community.”

The Battle Against Discrimination Corrigan also spoke about the availability and need for across the board transcare and advocacy in multiple aspects of life.

“Folks with diverse gender identities face increased discrimination, harassment

and violence. Last year, Charlotte was named the second deadliest city in the United States for trans people, and that primarily affects trans women of color.

“The system is built to favor folks who are considered to be in the mainstream, so what we’re doing here is trying to address issues of equity, [and] we will be here addressing those inequities as long as those inequities exist. In addition, we also work to ensure that policy is created fairly.

We’re in that fight, as well.

The Importance of Resources for Trans and Non-Binary Individuals For many individuals in and out of the trans and non-binary communities, access to and education about the communities themselves doesn’t come easily. Corrigan is proud that Transcend is an available

Since the 1970s we have watched as terms for our community have evolved from gay, to lesbian and gay, to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender. Although a finalized acronym continues to remain a bit elusive, it currently ranges anywhere from the frequently used LGBTQ to the 12-character LGBTQQIP2SAA (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, Questioning, Intersex, Pansexual, TwoSpirit, Androgynous and Asexual).

It’s not surprising that some of those letters (and numbers) have become confusing for individuals in both the straight and queer community.

It’s interesting to note the letter ‘n’ is nowhere to be found in either acronym, and significant that Corrigan explained the meaning behind the term Non-Binary to WJZY’s anchor Julian Sadur.

“So non-binary simply means a gender identity that is outside of what you would consider a binary or a two-gender expectation, [like] man, woman [and] male, female,” Corrigan explained. “Nonbinary means gender identity outside of that two gender understanding, and that’s something we would encourage allies to explore. You might just learn something about yourself!”

For more information on services available visit Transcend Charlotte and Carolinas Care Partnership. Both

Connie J. Vetter, Esq. Attorney at Law, PLLC

Your LGBTQ+ Law Attorney serving Clients from across North Carolina Talk/Text 704-333-4000 or online

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Time Out Youth Offers Workshops for Educators and School Staff to Support LGBTQ Students In what seems a likely and logical response to a barrage of anti-LGBTQ legislation aimed at youth and students across the country, Time Out Youth in Charlotte is offering two educational workshops that will repeat multiple times during June and July.

The virtual sessions are geared towards educators and school staff, in an effort to help them learn more about and support LGBTQ students in the upcoming school year and the future.

At 60 minutes in length each, they are made available at a rate that is deemed as affordable by the individual.

LGBTQ+ 101 covers basic statistics of the LGBTQ youth experience, as well as use of appropriate terminology and insightful ways and means of working with LGBTQ youth and students. The first workshop took place Tuesday, June 14. On the off chance you missed that one, the same session repeats Friday, July 8, noon to 1 p.m. and Monday, July 18, 3 to 4 p.m.

LGBTQ+ 201 is also virtual, available at the rate you choose and lasts 60 minutes.

This workshop takes a much closer look at statistical information regarding LGBTQ youth, closely examines the use of specific labels and language in the larger LGBTQ community and continues the exploration of empathetic and insightful methods of skillfully connecting with LGBTQ youth and students.

The first online session for LGBTQ+ 201 took place Thursday, June 23. If that date and time didn’t mesh with your schedule, the program repeats Tuesday, July 12, 4 to 5 p.m. and Wednesday July 27, 5 to 6 p.m.

For more details and to register, visit the summer workshop area of the Time Out Youth website, or contact Haeley Robinson via email at hrobinson@timeoutyouth.org. info:bit.ly/3n4897B

Carolina Panthers hire the NFL’s first Trans Cheerleader Dancer Justine Simone Lindsay, 29, recently demolished a sports world barrier, becoming the NFL’s first ever openly transgender cheerleader.

“You are looking at the newest member of the Carolina Panthers TopCats,” she wrote in a celebratory Instagram post back in March, announcing her membership on the team’s cheerleading squad and officially coming out publicly as trans.

“This is a moment I will never forget, and I cannot wait to show you all what this girl has to bring.”

In her first interview, Lindsay told BuzzFeed News about the fear she had to overcome to make the announcement.

“I just felt like when I posted it, whatever reaction I get from everyone, it does not matter.”

She also thanked TopCats coach Chandalae Lanouette in that initial post.

Lanouette says she was aware of Lindsay’s gender identity, but that it was her talent that secured her place on the squad. “My goal is to create a team of individuals that

future to hold out for.”

“I’m happy because I was able to break down that door and tell people, ‘Hey, we are not just sexual beings,’” Lindsay said. “‘We are actual human beings who want to better ourselves.’ are absolute fire I felt like, Why not on the field but are tell the world: ‘Hey, incredible human listen, this is a great beings in the locker accomplishment.’” room, good friends, As is all too good people, and at predictable, the end of the day, Lindsay received you have to walk some backlash through the door online after the first to get to that announcement. spot.”

But she’s taken it in At a time when stride, clapping back transgender youth in another post. are under attack, “The Carolina particularly in the Panthers sporting arena, organization is Sam Ames, the an excellent one, Trevor Project’s Charlotte girl makes good: Justine Simone one that supports director of advocacy Lindsay is the first out trans cheerleader all people white, and government in NFL history. (Photo Credit: Instagram) black, yellow, trans, affairs, says Lindsay straight, etc.,” represents “critical” she wrote. “I’m visibility for young paving the way for those under me who people. “She can give young people are scared and afraid to take that step watching a dream to hold on to and a because it is not easy to do when you have

Lexington, NC Shows off Their Pride with a Second Annual Celebration Lexington, N.C. has a population of approximately 20,000. The town was once a thriving notch on the southeastern textile belt, but like so many other mill towns, that ship sailed long ago. These days Lexington doesn’t have a specific driving force behind the town economy, although the county government of Davidson is at the top of the list for employment providers.

Locals (including a fairly sizable LGBTQ community) like to boast that it’s the barbecue capital of the world, and many who enjoy calling the town home work in nearby cities with better employment

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opportunities like Winston-Salem, Greensboro and Highpoint. It’s not a far drive and allows residents a lower cost of living if they’re willing and able to make the relatively short trek. Charlotte is close by, too – less than an hour by car.

On June 25, the non-profit PFLAG Lexington NC and the town’s Uptown Lexington organization are partnering to host the second annual Lexington PRIDE event. The celebration is reported as an engaging family activity that supports and recognizes the LGBTQ+ community not only in Davidson County but in the Triad.

The free event will be held at Bull City Ciderworks-Lexington, located at 599 S. Railroad Street, Bull City, and will feature food trucks, cider, cidermosas, beer, wine, slushies and non-alcoholic drink options for purchase, along with a selfie wall, crafts and other fun activities. Additional activities include a vendor market, drag queen performances with DJ Chilly Wille and live music from the Comedowns.

PFLAG is currently continuing to accept applications for vendors, volunteers and donations. Email PFLAG at info@ pflaglexingtonnc.org for a link to register as a vendor.

For more details, visit PFLAG Lexington NC’s Facebook page. info: bit.ly/3xDqQUm — David Aaron Moore

Virtual workshops for educators and support staff working with LGBTQ students are available from Time Out Youth during June and July. (Photo Credit:

ignorant people making comments that didn’t go through the process like the rest of us.”

Lindsay’s accomplishment is all the more significant in the context of the NFL. In recent years, the league has come under increased scrutiny for the longterm effects of players’ frequent head injuries, as well as its treatment of Colin Kaepernick. The former San Francisco 49ers quarterback alleges he was blackballed after repeatedly taking a knee during the National Anthem to protest racial injustice and police killings of Black Americans.

The participation of transgender athletes in elite sports has also become a hot-button issue, with swimmer Lia Thomas recently becoming a lightning rod for those who insist trans women shouldn’t be allowed to compete in women’s sports.

“I will continue to be that pioneer,” Lindsay wrote on Instagram. “I will continue to inspire and help my African American beautiful trans sisters until my last breath.”

This story is made available through our media partner LGBTQ Nation. info: bit.ly/3b3YqeC — John Russell

news

Pew Research Center Releases Report from Focus Groups with Transgender and Non-binary Americans In early June, the Pew Research Center released its findings from focus groups of transgender and non-binary Americans, in which they discuss their experiences, challenges and hopes for the future.

As Pew noted, their research comes at a time of increased visibility and acceptance of transgender people in American life as evidenced by the U.S. State Department and Social Security Administration announcing earlier this year Americans will be allowed to select “X” rather than “male” or “female” for sex markers on passports and Social Security applications.

At the same time, a number of states – among them North Carolina – have moved to limit the rights of transgender people, what children may learn about them in school, and may make teachers, counselors and administrators out LGBTQ students to their parents before they are ready.

The new Pew Research Center survey finds that 1.6 percent of adults in the United States are transgender or non-binary – that is, their gender is different from the sex they were assigned at birth. This includes people who describe themselves as a man, a woman or non-binary, or who use terms such as gender fluid to describe their gender. While relatively few U.S. adults are transgender, a growing share say they know someone who is (44 percent today vs. 37 percent in 2017). One-in-five say they know someone who doesn’t identify as a man or woman.

In order to better understand the experiences of transgender and non-binary adults at a time when gender identity is at the center of many national debates, Pew Research Center conducted a series of focus groups with trans men, trans women and non-binary adults on issues ranging from

their gender binary adults journey, to how from around they navigate the U.S. and issues of gender ranging in age in their day-tofrom late teens day life, to what to mid-60s. Most they see as the currently live in most pressing an urban area, policy issues but about half facing people said they grew who are trans up in a suburb. or non-binary.

The groups This is part of included a mix The Pew Research Center’s report provides a glimpse a larger study of White, Black, into some of the experiences of people who are that includes a Hispanic, Asian transgender and/or non-binary. (Credit: Adobe Stock) survey of the and multiracial general public American on their attitudes about gender identity participants. and issues related to people who are The report delves into how those in transgender or non-binary. Those survey the focus groups identify, when and how results will be released later this summer. they realized they were transgender or These focus groups were not designed non-binary and their experience navigating to be representative of the entire population medical care, among other issues. of trans and non-binary U.S. adults, but the The report also uses pull-quotes from participants’ stories provide a glimpse into participants in the focus groups to highlight some of the experiences of people who are their experiences in their own voices. transgender and/or non-binary. The groups This story appears courtesy of our media included a total of 27 transgender and nonpartner NC Policy Watch.

Holly Springs, NC Mayor Called Out for Rejecting Pride Proclamation “Either we are a community accepting of our LGBTQ residents and this is a no-brainer or we are not,” said Holly Springs Town Council Member Aaron Wolff, as he took Mayor Sean Mayefskie and other colleagues to task June 7 for failing to issue a Pride month proclamation or sign on to Wake County’s non-discrimination ordinance.

“What is the downside?” Wolff asked. “I can only think of one downside, and that’s the fact that it would make a small part of our population uncomfortable: the part that thinks the lives of our LGBTQ community are worth less, that their lives are sinful [and] that their lives are nothing to be proud

of. Pride, in this context, is [viewed as] an offensive term.

“If we have to choose between making an intolerant minority uncomfortable and making our LGBTQ community feel welcome and safe, I choose the latter every single time.”

Wolff said the Wake County nondiscrimination ordinance has also been widely misunderstood by many opponents.

It does far more than protect LGBTQ individuals, according to Wolff.

Protected classes under this ordinance passed by the county last October include race, natural hair or hairstyles, ethnicity,

‘Drag Queen Story Hour’ Goes on as Planned at Apex Pride America is currently experiencing particularly volatile growing pains as some in our country continue to wrestle with issues surrounding gender presentation and sexual orientation.

Nowhere is that more apparent than in small towns across the country and here in North Carolina.

In recent years LGBTQ Pride events have moved beyond larger cities and into smaller towns. Across North Carolina it’s not uncommon for places like Salisbury, Lexington, Chapel Hill and Apex, among others, to host their own Pride festivals.

Controversy came to the fore recently when the town of Apex announced they would be canceling a portion of their pride event, The Drag Queen Story Hour, because of complaints and threats from individuals

and groups in the area. The presentation was geared towards children and youth and designed to promote understanding and appreciation for diversity in gender presentation.

Amidst a continuing plethora of antitrans legislation and generalized intolerance from many conservatives and most of the Republican party, it was announced Saturday, June 4, the presentation was being canceled.

Apex Mayor, Jacques Gilbert, posted on his Facebook page the following message: “It continues to be my goal to ensure that all voices in our community are represented.

“I have received a variety of feedback regarding the drag queen Story Hour at the upcoming Apex Pride festival.

“Given that this part of the event was

Holly Springs Councilman Aaron Wolff (shown) stands with the local LGBTQ community. (Photo Credit: Facebook) creed, color, sex, pregnancy, marital or familial status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, national origin

or ancestry, National Guard or veteran status, religious belief or non-belief, age, or disability.

“I’ll say it again – pregnancy, religious belief, age, veteran status, disability. It is unclear to me if everyone who reached out to us against this ordinance had a full and clear understanding of exactly what they were campaigning against,” said Wolff.

Mayefskie, apparently in defense of his lack of LGBTQ policy support, said he believes the town is inclusive and their actions speak louder than words.

To date, six towns in Wake County have signed on to the non-discrimination ordinance.

This story appears courtesy of NC Policy Watch. info: abc11.tv/3N0066f — Clayton Henkel

not originally and concern at presented what seemed when the event like censorship. was proposed, In response, I met with EqualityNC representatives quickly stepped from the up to the plate organization as a sponsor for hosting the the presentation, event, the and it continued Apex festival as had originally EqualityNC stepped in as a sponsor so the ‘Drag committee, been planned, Queen Story Hour’ would take place as intended. and presented without incident.

(Photo Credit: Screen capture) the feedback I “It felt really have received important for us from citizens. to hold down the space for the community, “Today I was notified that the Apex to work with folks who are supportive of the Festival commission has taken the feedback LGBT community, and make sure that the into careful consideration and has decided focus was not on the people who hate us, to remove the drag queen story hour from but the focus was on us and having these the event.” safe spaces,” EqualityNC’s Kendra Johnson That didn’t last long. A bevy of parents, told the Raleigh News and Observer. both straight and from the LGBTQ info: bit.ly/3QsnbS6 community, voiced their disappointment — David Aaron Moore

June 24-July 7, 2022

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news

Biden Issues Executive Order to Fight Conversion Therapy Without a new law he’s doing what he can on his own

BY ALEX BOLLINGER | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

P

resident Joe Biden is signing an executive order today to fight conversion therapy worldwide. The order addresses several other issues involving anti-LGBTQ discrimination.

The executive order tells the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to issue rules that ban the use of federal funds for programs that offer conversion therapy. HHS will also have to increase public awareness about the harms of conversion therapy.

Major health and mental health organizations oppose conversion therapy, which describes a set of techniques that practitioners promise will turn gay and bi people straight and trans and non-binary people cis.

Conversion therapy is based on the idea that LGBTQ identity is a problem to be fixed, which can lead to long-term damage to victims’ self-esteem. A 2013 survey showed that 84 percent of former patients of conversion therapy said it inflicted lasting shame and emotional harm, and another study found that LGBTQ people who were forced into conversion therapy had an attempted suicide rate five times above normal.

The Biden administration is also encouraging the Federal Trade Commission to consider classifying conversion therapy as an “unfair or deceptive act or practice” that would require consumer warnings. The Departments of State, Treasury and HHS are also working on a plan to ensure that U.S. foreign aid funds don’t go to conversion therapy.

President Biden supports the LGBTQ Community.

(Photo Credit: Gage Skidmore is licensed under CC BY-SA 2.0. ) even come up for a vote.

Banning conversion therapy was a Biden campaign promise in the 2020 Democratic primary.

Biden’s LGBTQ policy brief said that he would work to enact the Therapeutic Fraud Prevention Act, which bans conversion therapy.

The bill was introduced in the Senate

by Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) but has not

The executive order also addresses discrimination against LGBTQ families looking to foster children. Noting that LGBTQ parents are seven times more likely than straight/cis parents to adopt a child from foster care, Biden ordered HHS to increase LGBTQ discrimination protections in the foster care system.

This is an area of contention with the right. The Trump administration loosened protections in this area, allowing adoption agencies that receive federal funds to refuse to work with same-sex couples.

HHS will also expand volunteer family counseling and support programs, and research the mental health impacts of family rejection on LGBTQ people.

In a call before the announcement, a senior administration official stressed Biden’s support for the Equality Act, which would add sexual orientation and gender identity to existing federal civil rights legislation and ban anti-LGBTQ discrimination in many areas. The bill passed the House last year but has stalled in the Senate.

Biden will give a speech to celebrate Pride month this afternoon at 4 p.m.

Eastern Standard Time during a reception

Some Parents Freak out When Gay Children’s Book read at School Hostility Aimed at Teachers and LGBTQ Youth Continues

BY ALEX BOLLINGER | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

P

arents in North Carolina’s neighboring state of Virginia are angry that a librarian in the town of Woodbridge read an age-appropriate children’s book called “Prince & Knight” to the school earlier this month.

The book, written by Daniel Haack and illustrated by Steve Lewis, is about a “prince who didn’t quite find what he was looking for” when his parents tried to set him up with some princesses. He and a knight are then forced to battle a dragon and protect their lands, when he discovers that the knight is who he was looking for all along.

Amazon says the book is appropriate for preschool through third grade children.

Despite the anodyne story, some parents at Marshall Elementary School are angry that a librarian read the book during morning video announcements to students.

“Some romantic issues or sexual issues should be dealt with at home because gay marriage can be a matter of religion,” said Janelle Anderson, as if straight marriages

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aren’t religious asked her if she even though they would feel the often take place same way if the in churches. librarian read a “I thought similar book about that was a very a straight couple. controversial Anderson replied, choice to read at “I don’t really think an elementary that romance of school level and any kind belongs not give parents in elementary the option school books. I to opt-out or cringe at the Snow give parents a White story.” warning.”

That doesn’t Anderson was exactly square so mad that she with her use of posted a video the word “gay” in ‘Prince & Knight,’ by Daniel Haack and Steve of the librarian her video caption Lewis, is recognized as an age appropriate book reading the book or why she hasn’t for preschool through third grade children. to social media said anything (Photo Credit: Photographer Name) with the caption about any books “Force-feeding read at the school gay romance books to kids.” until now.

Regional news reporters from WUSA9 Former teacher Rebecca Anderson said

that she thought it “just makes sense” to read a book with LGBTQ characters during Pride month.

“I think it had nothing to do with sex, and it had nothing to do with anything else other than visibility,” she said. “There’s no difference. Love is love.”

In a statement, Principal Dr. Kristin Bock said that the school will not tolerate “intimidation of Marshall [Elementary] staff and insinuated threats against them.”

A follow-up to the book was released last year. “Prince & Knight: Tale of the Shadow King,” follows the challenges of the now-married couple as they battle an evil force that threatens to destroy their kingdom.

Both books are listed as being available for check out from the Cabarrus County library in the Charlotte Metropolitan area.

This story appears courtesy our media partner LGBTQ Nation. Additional content created by qnotes Staff. : :

news

FCSJ Takes Bus to Poor People’s March Charlotte-based nat’l org takes part in historic event

by David Aaron Moore Qnotes Staff Writer

F

our buses carrying people from Charlotte and other nearby areas of the Carolinas headed for DC and the Mass Poor People’s and Low Wage Worker’s Assembly and Moral March on Washington June 18.

Among those was a chartered bus from the Freedom Center for Social Justice, a national Charlotte-based organization dedicated to helping and serving the needs of trans individuals, people of color, elders, youth, LGBTQ and faith communities.

Over 20 LGBTQ representatives from the Freedom Center rode on the chartered bus, along with a marching drum corps known as Alternatives and some 60 other individuals from Charlotte.

A crowd reportedly numbering in the thousands attended, although no specific attendance number has yet to be reported.

The goal of the March and Assembly on Washington is to draw nationwide attention to the 140 million poor and low income people in the United States. That includes 43 percent of the country’s entire population and 52 percent of children in the country. An estimated 250,000

people in “LGBTQ the country people [are] die from being asked poverty and to stand inequality together related and we issues every will do that year. until victory Bishop is won for Tonyia all. When Rawls, we stand founder and together, Executive there is not Representatives from the Freedom Center for Social Justice Director one step in DC. (Photo Credit: FCSJ) at the backwards.”

Freedom While Center for Social Justice travelled to various media reports have indicated Washington, and spoke directly to the turnout was lower than hoped for, crowd.

Cameron Pruitt, FCSJ Director of Faith “In 1968 they arrested Bayard Rustin, an Organizing, still felt as though the event out gay black man who stood near this very was a success. spot as a silent architect of the March on “[Poverty] impacts people from all 50 Washington led by Dr Martin Luther King Jr. states,” said Pruitt. “There was such a broad Today we stand here and say we won’t be spectrum of people there,” he explained. silent anymore.

“Trans people, ministers, union members, “LGBTQ people are a part of every airline employees, people of different community that is represented here faiths and [they] were able to share their today. We will not ask permission for that stories. The event was one of the most truly which is ours as citizens of the community, intersectional political moments I’ve ever members of the human family and seen, uplifting the unique … struggles of children of God. marginalized people across the country. It

was a very intersectional experience.”

Pruitt observed the event was exceptionally diverse, and several reports confirmed about 50 percent of the crowd was a mix of BIPOC individuals and the other 50 percent a variety of individuals of various Caucasian cultures.

The Poor People’s campaign pledges to return to Washington in September this year to join with 5,000 poor and low income people and religious leaders, along with 100 economists in a non-violent moral direct action effort for the next step of the campaign.

Among the organization’s demands are a White House Poverty Summit with President Biden and a call on all economically challenged people to vote to affect impacting and positive change on American democracy in a way that will produce positive outcome for those coping with poverty.

Reverend William Barber II, a minister and co-chair of the Poor People’s campaign was a keynote speaker at the event.

“This level of poverty and greed, in this, the richest nation in the history of the world, constitutes a moral crisis and a fundamental failure of the policies of greed.

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3800 Shamrock Drive, Charlotte, NC 28215

June 24-July 7, 2022

Qnotes

9

feature

Choosing Who We Work With

Charlotte-based Zaddy Solutions is changing the way we think about recruitment and community

BY CHRIS RUDISILL | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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he U.S. is likely headed into a recession. According to Robert Reich, former US secretary of labor, economist and columnist for The Guardian, new home construction has finally slowed, mortgage demand continues to decline, and the country’s largest and most influential retailers are reporting disappointing sales and profits.

“The stock market is in bear territory.

Futures markets are signaling trouble ahead,” says Reich.

The Federal Reserve’s response to May’s Consumer Price Index (CPI) report by raising interest rates three-quarters of a point was the largest single interest rate increase since 1994. Basically, rate hikes increase the costs of borrowing for individuals and consumers. We purchase less as a result and the economy slows.

A recession, or even impending recession, often means fewer new job opportunities for workers but today’s unprecedented labor imbalance could work out a little differently. It is still a job seeker’s market. The labor market currently has nearly two job openings for every unemployed person. Sign-on bonuses in Charlotte range from $500 at some customer service jobs and up to $45,000 for nurses at Novant Health.

Current job boards on Indeed.com include $2,000 bonuses for factory workers in Concord and $3,000 sign-on bonuses for apartment leasing consultants in Charlotte.

While job offers might lessen for some seeking new employment, the dynamics are not likely to change anytime soon, and research shows that diversity matters when it comes to hiring. That research has shown that promoting gender and racial diversity has a positive impact on a company’s financial performance. Intel and Dalberg Global Development Advisors found clear correlations between more diverse tech company workforces and higher revenues, profits and market value.

Specifically, to the LGBTQ community, Forbes reported last year that academics at two universities in Finland accessed the financial performance of 657 publiclytraded U.S. companies between 2003 and 2016 and found that those with “LGBTfriendly policies” saw higher profitability and higher stock market valuations. The study used HRC’s Corporate Equality Index to measure LGBTQ competencies.

“These findings can be considered to support the view that socially progressive corporate policies and diversity management pay off and create value for the firm,” read the report.

Employees have more power than ever and a new generation entering the workforce have higher expectations for fairness and equity. Events like the Out and Equal Workplace Summit, Lavender Law and the Reaching Out MBA career expo give companies an opportunity to reach students and graduates and spotlight their interest in hiring LGBTQ professionals.

LGBTQ Recruiters in a Crowded Space

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Qnotes

June 24-July 7, 2022

As recruiting communities. the need manager on He did as much as he could in the for talent the marketing structures that existed, but soon reached increases, and creative out to Webb, who got his start in financial recruitment side before operations working at his family’s tax firms are expanding into preparation company. “It’s not like we changing technology were flush with money,” remembers the narrative at Meridian Anderson. With a notebook full of charts when it Technologies. and ideas, the two began hashing out a comes to He then got plan. This is what we can do. This is how building into the AI the industry currently works. The two future world working started brainstorming on how to solve the employment with Zen & problems they had witnessed. relationships Art, a leader They brought McCurdy on a few and some in strategic months later. Today, Anderson and Webb, are setting business, IT the official co-founders, serve as CEO a standard architecture and CFO respectively. McCurdy is Head for inclusion. and digital of Talent Management. His parents ran a Zaddy services. successful medical staffing company for Solutions in “I didn’t over 30 years. “We just came together, set Charlotte is feel like I out a mission and have been working ever a boutique was actually since,” says Anderson. recruiting accomplishing “We had a good number of iterations firm focused anything of this company already,” says Webb. “The on the digital, other than initial idea is not quite what we’re doing creative, just bringing now.” The goal resonated with him and technology more business just as he lives his life, Coty knows that and in. I didn’t you may change the plan, but you don’t marketing feel like I was change the goal. space. really solving Trust, Honesty, Transparency They anything,” he “We don’t do process for process-sake,” Longtime friends Zach Anderson and Coty Webb are one of says. Anderson says Anderson. The three agree that there launched Zaddy Solutions in March 2021 as the first two LGBTE didn’t yet is a big problem with trust in most staffing LGBTQ recruiting company in the Southeast. Photo certified know what the firms and that’s damaging both the courtesy of Zaddy Solutions staffing and exact problem industry and the job candidates. recruiting was when Zach compares it to an airport. “If firms in the country. LGBTE stands for he started. The bells went off a bit later the airport is successful at what they do, LGBT Business Enterprise, a designation when working with a colleague resourcing parking will be easier, getting through of the National LGBT Chamber of HBCU contacts across the Carolinas. It security, doing all that, getting all of Commerce (NGLCC). In addition to some was tough. There was no platform or your baggage – the quickest way to get positive recognition, the certification also strategy to make gets you into the organization’s database real meaningful which is accessible by NGLCC corporate connections. partners, qualifies your business for One school’s sourcing opportunities and provides Director of mentorship programs, leadership Alumni Relations trainings and scholarship opportunities. might be With 20 years of combined recruiting another’s Career experience, Zaddy Solutions is run by Services. “This Zach Anderson, Coty Webb and Bradley started sparking McCurdy, three North Carolina natives. my way of They have already set themselves apart in thinking,” recalls a crowded field, and not just because of Anderson. their name. Anderson and Webb started Zach noticed the company in March 2021 to make an that no one was impact on the Charlotte area and disrupt truly addressing the status quo. This didn’t come without diversity. While ruffling a few feathers along the way. people were “The system to me is broken,” says throwing around Anderson. “It is so crowded by the same terms like D&I folks, that the supplier diversity managers (Diversity and are excluded from those conversations.

Inclusion) or DEI We’re not able to get through it so we are (Diversity, Equity having to literally break the system and and Inclusion), get people pissed off at us for breaking organizations the system, then put it back together.” weren’t really Anderson has been in the staffing creating field for nine years now and knows what meaningful success looks like. He made the money, relationships did all the partying and schmoozing, and or measuring placed people in jobs everywhere from their progress in startups and small companies to large building tangible Zach Anderson kept hitting glass ceilings and wanted to make an national brands. He spent nearly three partnerships impact on the Charlotte area as it grows into a hub for technology. years as an account manager and then with diverse Photo courtesy of Zaddy Solutions

to the airplane and the most enjoyable experience.” Zaddy Solutions wants to work in the background, building opportunities for inclusion and success.

Instead of being the destination, they want to help candidates find their way through and land.

They work with other organizations like Charlotte Gaymers Network, Carolinas LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce and Per Scholas to expand their connections and build strong relationships across industry and community.

“The goal for any recruiting firm, especially one that’s small and boutique like us, is to use those relationships to your candidate’s advantage,” says Webb. They haven’t found a way to fully democratize that yet, but that is part of the long range vision.

Anderson also heads Out in Tech’s Carolinas Chapter. The organization, led solely by volunteers, is the world’s largest non-profit community of LGBTQ+ tech leaders and is building more inclusion in the field. The organization has been a good ice breaker for Zaddy Solutions as they’ve built the company over the past fifteen months. Out in Tech has a long record of creating positive networks and doing the right thing when it comes to growing an equitable and respectable industry.

While Anderson continues to grow his own reputation as a leader in the field, he knows it is not just about him. “If it was up to me and I was power-grabbing, this would not flow,” he says. He leads by inviting people in. “There are so many

companies that their that are impressions not telling of a company the truth or stay true. throw up Barriers still barriers. exist though, Establish the for both the relationships candidates and by allowing the company. people to Much of the come in and system, and be part of the I mean the journey,” he staffing firm says. industry and Breaking that of finding Barriers a successful “We are career, is working with based on who people that you know want to work and not what with us,” says you know.

McCurdy, Webb wishes noting the they could confidence have gotten that people around those can have in barriers in the the company. beginning.

As Head of Talent Management, Bradley McCurdy Just like It all starts works to place candidates with Zaddy Solutions’ clients. consumer with the Photo, Facebook. loyalty to candidate LGBTQknowing supportive where they companies, those looking to build careers want to be in five years and then Zaddy find comfort in knowing that a company Solutions helps them come up with a plan has been vetted. to get there. It might incorporate training Zaddy has customers that they with their partners at Pro Scholas or regularly do business with, and they stay going through interviews with Anderson. in contact with the people they place “If we’re doing our job right, we’re in those companies. This helps insure removing all the blockers and removing

all those kinds of stuff,” says Anderson. It all goes back to being a trusted institution and the relationships they’ve built.

When it comes to building LGBTQ representation in the field, opportunities for tech jobs abound. Remote work has opened the door for folks and the power dynamics in the workforce and in the recruitment process are showing signs of progress.

With only a year under their belts, it is difficult for Zaddy Solutions to capture their impact on that industry in Charlotte.

As they make connections and build relationships, Anderson says he wants to make sure “the door stays wide open” for others. “We have all seen how Charlotte changed in the last twelve years. Some of it has been for the better and some of it has left a vast amount of gaps,” he says.

Zaddy Solutions hopes to be the rainbow bridge for someone who might not yet be confident enough to be out and open about who they are, to help them get access, education, mentorship, apprenticeships, internships and build their own relationships.

There is the chance to be more. “Tech is everywhere,” says Anderson. “You either have to research and develop it or you have to make it happen. You have to sell it, or you need to know how to make money flow around it.”

It seems that despite economic concerns, focusing on our own diversity and our own goals might be the best path forward. As Anderson says, “we get to choose who we work with.” : :

June 24-July 7, 2022

Qnotes

11

feature

The Impact of Evictions on Your Credit and What You Can Do A Look at How One Individual’s Good Credit Was Impacted by Another’s Unanticipated Actions

by David Aaron Moore Qnotes Staff Writer

S

hannon is a busy and active professional, and she’s part of Charlotte’s LGBTQ community. She’s also a mom. Like any parent, she wants to help out her children when she can.

In fact, most people want to help out others when they can. There comes a time when you might be approached by someone who is close to you, or a family member in need of help. Or the situation could be reversed: You might be in need of financial assistance.

Things don’t always go as planned in life – that’s a given. And something that began as an intended gesture of good will could end up in disaster, sometimes fracturing family members from one another and destroying friendships.

All because of money.

There’s a rule to live by that that many people have likely heard from a parent or grandparent at some point: When someone asks you for financial help in a time of need, if you’re not prepared to offer it as a gift, you can’t afford to loan it to them.

In 2019, Shannon’s daughter Kimberly (we’ve chosen to use only first names here to protect the individuals’ privacy) approached her mother about help with renting a residence at a local apartment complex in Charlotte’s 28210 zip code.

While Shannon’s credit was good, she knew that she had multiple financial obligations and suspected she would not qualify to be a co-signer for her daughter. Nevertheless, she agreed for her daughter’s sake to give it a try. As she suspected, she was turned down. Strike one: The apartment complex now has a record of her personal information.

Within a matter of days, Kimberly was informed that she qualified to rent the apartment on her own without a cosigner.

She signed a contract and agreed to move in. Although mom Shannon wasn’t a cosigner, she recalls using a credit/debit card with her name on it to help pay for the deposit and first month’s rent. Strike two: More information linking Shannon’s credit directly to Kimberly’s actions.

The following year, before Kimberly’s lease agreement expired, she defaulted on the contract and because of circumstances beyond her control, fell behind by two months, owing a total of $1,734.00.

Unaware that her actions would impact her mother, and having no desire to cause her mother any additional stress or hardship, Kimberly moved out of the apartment almost immediately, leaving no one around to receive the documents indicating that Kimberly was in default of her lease agreement and she and her mother were being sued for the remaining balance.

It is unclear whether it is illegal, but it is certainly unethical that the apartment complex named Shannon on the Summary

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Ignoring and/or running from an eviction can have a disastrous impact on your credit and possibly friends and family around you. (Photo Credit: Adobe Stock) Ejectment Complaint. She had no legal attachments to the rental agreement, and the company only had access to her personal information because of the original application and the likely use of the credit/debit card for payment of the deposit and first month’s rent.

In fact, when the hearing was held, neither mother or daughter attended because they were unaware of the scheduled hearing. The result was a judgment in favor of the apartment management company and an additional charge of just over $1,200 was added, bringing the amount of money now owed to $2,908.65. Strike three: Ignoring the debt.

After an unspecified amount of time had passed, Shannon was made aware that mail was being held for her daughter at the apartment leasing office. Upon pick up, she noticed her name on some of the various envelopes and documents.

She read the material with her name on it, realized parts of what had transpired and that the past due amount was now in collections. Upon reaching out to the collection agency, she was promptly informed a payment of more than $6,000 was due.

What Shannon was now preparing to pay for was an accumulated amount that included the past due rent, legal fees and collection agency fees. She was told that if the payment was made right away there would be no negative impact on her credit report. In her haste to prevent any damage to her credit, she paid the amount requested.

Despite the whopping payment and assurances from the collection agency, the eviction did show up on Shannon’s credit report and it remains there currently.

So what were the mistakes Shannon made, can she get at least some of the money back and what can she do to have the undeserved smear campaign removed from her credit report?

The first mistake was filling out a document with personal information when she knew it was extremely unlikely she would be approved in the first place.

That’s not to say she shouldn’t have offered to help Kimberly, but perhaps Shannon should have considered offering to help her in other ways, such as attempting to help her fund a place that was better suited to what her daughter initially perceived her financial limitations to be.

The second mistake was paying for her daughter’s deposit and first month’s rent using her personal credit card. Companies will tell you they do not keep the information on file, and in some cases that is true, but in today’s world you simply can’t rely on the honesty of most people or any financial institution. A safer option would have been for her to deposit the money onto a pay-as-you-go debit card for her daughter to use or, if the apartment complex was agreeable, pay by money order or cash.

Her third mistake was what actually led to a home run for the collection agency that convinced her to pay over $6,000: ignorance of the debt.

After making the payment, the likelihood of Shannon retrieving even part of the money is extremely unlikely.

There was a debt due, and she did not show up for the hearing. Even in a case like this, her name was on a legally recognized document for a civil suit.

Unless she had proved in advance of

the hearing that she was listed on the document incorrectly, it would have been in her best interest to attend the hearing to explain the situation. From a judge’s perspective at the time, she simply didn’t show up.

While the $3,000 the collection agency shaved off the top seems rather excessive, she did agree to pay it.

Can she hope to have this undeserved blight removed from her credit report?

Yes. Efforts made to contact the apartment management office by this reporter have gone unanswered, but that comes as no surprise. Most companies will not speak to a third party that is not directly involved in such a case.

For an individual who is personally disputing such a debt, response is of greater likelihood. To attempt to have the initial financial provider remove the negative credit reporting once it has gone to a collection agency is more often than not, ineffectual. In this case, given the initial underhanded tactics, even more so.

Shannon’s personal experience with the collection agency has already been established. Their 100 percent markup of what was initially handed to them to collect paints a clear portrait of their over-thetop capitalist policies. One does question their motivation for reporting her after their assurance they would not. There is no logical answer as to why that was considered beneficial for their company.

But all is not doom and gloom.

Shannon does have the Federal Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and the North Carolina Credit Reporting Act on her side. The two can work together to repair damage that has been done to her credit.

Especially in a case like this when action has been taken without justification.

Under the Fair Credit Reporting act, an individual has the right to dispute inaccurate and erroneous information on their credit reports. This literally means you’re going to be disputing it.

And, it means you’re going to have to do the footwork. You will be required to contact each agency that is reporting the information incorrectly and dispute it.

When a credit reporting bureau receives a dispute, it has 30 days (or 45 days, in certain circumstances) to investigate the dispute unless it is deemed as frivolous.

Once the credit reporting agency completes its investigation into your dispute it must remove or correct any inaccurate and incomplete or unverifiable information.

Verified information may continue to appear on your credit report. If the item cannot be verified within the time limit, the credit reporting agency must remove the item until the investigation is completed. With this plan of action, you are your own best advocate.

As is quite likely in Shannon’s case, if your rights have been violated, under the Fair Credit Report Act you may be entitled to collect actual or statutory

a&e

Gaston County Museum Removes LGBTQ Pride Photo, Sparking Outrage Image pulled by county Manager Kim Eagle

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GBTQ advocates are demanding officials in Gaston County reverse their decision to remove a photo showing two men recently engaged, kissing, from a museum exhibit. The photograph, taken

by Charlotte freelance photojournalist Grant Baldwin, shows Justin Colasacco and his husband Bren Hipp kissing after Colasacco dropped to one knee and proposed in front of the crowd at the 2019 Charlotte Pride Festival & Parade. They married Oct. 4, 2020.

“As a gay man living in a state that celebrates diversity, it is truly disheartening to learn that there are still organizations that continue to deny us the same liberties as the heterosexual community,” Justin Colasacco said in a text to The Charlotte Observer.

“To remove a moment in history that gave us visibility and celebrated samesex marriage that has been legal in North Carolina since 2014, is unjustified,” Colasacco said. Hipp was walking with the Atrium Health group when they approached the parade judges in the center of uptown and Colasacco proposed to him, Spectrum News 1 reported at the time.

“Congratulations to one of our nurses who was proposed to during the Charlotte Pride Parade!” Atrium Health posted on Facebook in 2019. “He said ‘yes!’”

According to a Gaston County government statement first reported by the Gaston Gazette Tuesday night, County Manager Kim Eagle told Gaston County Museum staff to have the photographer submit a replacement picture “that would be more considerate of differing viewpoints in the community. The idea behind the exhibit is to document a historical event, and there are other options from the photographer’s work that more fully capture the context of the parade that was documented.

Eagle, a former Charlotte assistant city manager, didn’t return a phone message from The Charlotte Observer.

County spokesman Adam Gaub provided the same statement to the Observer Wednesday, and said the county had no further comment.

In the county statement, Eagle said: “The museum is government-funded, and as such, it is important for the items it shares to be informational without championing political issues. As a public administrator, there is a delicate balance between the effort to foster an inclusive workplace and community, while avoiding political advocacy.”

In a phone interview Wednesday, Baldwin said his role as a photojournalist who has freelanced for The Charlotte Observer and other media outlets is “to tell a narrative I’m not a part of,” and not to be an advocate through his lens. He was under contract with Charlotte Pride to take images at the festival, he said.

“There was no advocacy on my part and no request that I present any advocacy

BY JOE MARUSAK | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Gaston County deems Grant Baldwin’s image of a just-engaged couple embracing ‘political advocacy.’ (Photo Credit: Screen Capture) images,” he said.

Baldwin said he and several other photographers in the region were asked to submit three or four photographs that represented their work for consideration in the museum’s Into the Darkroom: Photography as History and Artform exhibit. The exhibit opened May 31 and continues through July 29, 2023, according to the museum website.

Baldwin said he’s happy his photograph has drawn attention. “When a photograph takes on a life of its own and has its own narrative from the perspective of the people who view it, that’s a job well done,” he said. “I’m not happy that it does appear that issue is being taken because it’s an LGBTQ image,” he said.

The county manager’s remarks drew a swift rebuke from Charlotte Pride, which said in a statement released June 15 it “condemned” Eagle’s decision as “abhorrent” and a violation of First Amendment rights.

“Here we go again,” Charlotte Pride board president Clark Simon said in the statement. “Gaston County’s decision ... seeks to silence and erase the existence of LGBTQ and minority people in Gaston County and the wider region.”

Simon, who lives in Gastonia, said he found it “especially astonishing” that Gaston County also censored a second photograph by Baldwin, one that documented protests against a Confederate monument on Gaston County government property in downtown Gastonia.

In the statement released by its communications director, Matt Comer, Charlotte Pride said it finds it “especially offensive that a local government body would seek to censor photographs of LGBTQ and Black life during June, a month in which LGBTQ people commemorate

their rights and when Black people

celebrate Juneteenth, the official end of slavery in the United States.”

Hipp said his first reaction to Gaston County pulling the photo was “surprise.” He and Colasacco weren’t aware the photo was in the exhibit, although they gave Baldwin permission to use the picture, he said. He said he agrees with Simon’s thoughts on the matter.

Baldwin said he learned his photographs had been removed only when a Gazette reporter contacted him Tuesday. “I haven’t had any dialogue with the county manager, so I’m pretty far out of the loop [as to her reasoning],” he said.

He said he called Gaston County Museum Director Jason Luker, who apologized to him for not having yet notified him of the county’s actions.

When the Observer reached Luker by phone Wednesday; he declined comment and referred a reporter to Gaston County spokesman Gaub.

This article appears courtesy of our media partner The Charlotte

June 24-July 7, 2022

Qnotes

13

life

Why I Make My Son’s Clothes We are not raising our son along societal norms

BY TIM KENDRA-DILL | GUEST CONTRIBUTOR

W

hen you walk into a children’s clothing store, signs quickly alert you to which side of the store is for girls and which one is for boys. Like most parents of a son, I automatically walk to the “Boys” side. It is what I have been conditioned to do by societal norms. For decades, those social norms have told us that boys can only portray manliness and strength while girls must appear timid and soft.

“Snips and snails, and puppy dogs’ tails; That’s what little boys are made of… Sugar and spice, and everything nice; That’s what little girls are made of.” That is how the 19th century nursery rhyme went.

This idea has been sewn into the cognitive fabric of our lives, but this story is not about psychology. It is about a decision my husband and I made before we even adopted our son.

We were not going to raise our son along these societal norms. We would dress him in most things, allow him to play with whatever he wants, as long as it didn’t harm him physically, and let him tell us what he wants. We would not be the type of parents to force anything on him, thus molding him to what society thinks he should be as a boy.

When it came to clothes, I quickly noticed that all boys’ clothes are hyper masculine, even infant clothes. They portray monster trucks, rocket ships, Marvel superheroes, construction vehicles, tools and the like. Alternatively, girls’ clothes are hyper feminine with rainbows and fairies.

There is a sharp contrast in the words on boys’ clothes too. ‘Heartbreaker,’ ‘Mad Love for Mama,’ All-American Boy,’ ‘They call me trouble’ and more don boys’ t-shirts. Some of you may be thinking, “what’s wrong with this?”

It continues the narrative that boys are one way and girls are another. My husband and I believe that every child is unique, including our son. He should

Tim Kendra-Dill with son. (Photo Credit: Tim Kendra-Dill) have the opportunity to find out what he likes, not what society tells him he should like. Our job is to raise him as a caring, respectful human, and his clothes should reflect that joy.

Making the Clothes When my son was around 11 months old, I decided to start making him clothes.

It makes us all happy and helps us steer clear of the gender roles embedded in retail options.

I found Brindille & Twig online offering infant clothing patterns. I was like a kid in a toy store. There were so many patterns I wanted to try, but I decided to start with a free one and see how it went. I was surprised there were free options out there. I downloaded it, printed it out on my home printer and cut it out. I found some navy-blue fabric with white and glittery gold stars at my local Joann’s.

I can’t leave that store now without some new fabric under my arm.

Taking the pattern, I used it to cut out the pieces needed from my fabric to make a pair of bummies, This Easter two-piece outfit included a custom graphic. which are short shorts that (Photo Credit: Tim Kendra-Dill)

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Qnotes

June 24-July 7, 2022

are meant to cover a diaper. I had sewn a little before and had learned some of

the skills from my mother. My earlier project had been pillows about 17 years ago. They were simple, but the fabric was quite different from what is used for clothing. Apparel fabric is much softer and has some elastic to it. Luckily, I learned a lot by watching, and with the abundance of YouTube videos for everything imaginable, I was on my way to making my son’s clothes.

They were fabulous, and he looked so cute in them. Since those first shorts, I’ve made shirts, some more shorts and a couple of complete outfits.

I usually decide what I’m going to make by what he needs at the time. Now that summer is here, I will make him some rompers. As fall comes around, I’ll make him some long-sleeved shirts that he will be able to wear all season long.

My son is only a year and a half right now. At this stage in his life, he doesn’t know where his clothes come from. All he really knows is that he needs to get dressed or undressed. I doubt he ever focuses on what he is wearing, unlike us adults.

I make him clothes because it makes me and my husband happy. I enjoy doing it, and for me that is the only reason someone needs to do something. I hope that as our son gets older and he sees that I am doing this for him, he will appreciate it to the extent that he will ask me to make him more clothes. If not, like any parent, I will probably make them anyway.

I hope that through these clothes he will understand that they represent individuality and that they were made especially for him, with love from his papa.

Tim Kendra-Dill lives in Huntersville, N.C. with his husband and son. He is a UX/ UI Design and Research Consultant and

This “space dino” shirt was part of an outfit that Tim Kendra-Dill made for his son.

(Photo Credit: Tim Kendra-Dill)

views

Let the Church Look in the Mirror Spiritual Reflections

M

y father taught me how to see. My daughter is teaching me how to see more fully.

As a boy, my dad learned how to observe the people, places and events of the world from the vantage point of the small town in Georgia where he was raised. He saw beyond what was right in front of him, the vestiges of the Jim Crow South and the courage of those who worked to dismantle it, to an emerging future.

His writing focused on America’s plodding and sometimes backwardlooping progress toward equality and equity for all people. He covered civil rights in the 1960s and, for a time, even left journalism to join the movement.

He lived long enough to get to know his granddaughters as little girls and to witness the election of President Obama, a step forward, but not the destination.

My daughters’ final visit with him was spent playing on the floor while the PBS documentary “Eyes on the Prize” about the Civil Rights movement aired in the background. When the girls paid momentary attention to the television, he shared his own personal memories about the giants and heroes who appeared on screen.

Those little girls are grown now, and the nation still struggles toward equality and equity. I left my own stint in journalism to end up a pastor, and my ministry has been framed by the church’s role in the ongoing work of both racial and LGBTQ justice.

Whatever my dad showed me about observing and influencing the world, my daughter, Sophia, has taught me to see the world even more fully, the world she will inherit and shape in her own way. It was over a routine family dinner of stir fry when, in middle school, she calmly and confidently came out to those who love her most, her mom, her sister and me. She’s been teaching us all to see ever since.

Her future is one of intersectional opportunities and challenges, a day beyond the societal swim lanes that separate us into tribes and groups, a day when each individual as created by the

BY REV. JOHN CLEGHORN | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Divine is able to thrive and shine. We’re not there yet, and some days it seems we are moving away from that day rather than toward it. There is urgent work to be done that calls people of faith to serve as peace-makers and hopedealers in a broken and divided world.

That work intersects issues of race and sexuality. Caldwell Presbyterian and other faith communities worked to get rid of North Carolina’s infamous “bathroom bill.” We have walked with – and learned from – trans people who are members. Soon, we and others of faith will be walking and singing in the Pride Parade and Festival in August, an annual highlight.

“Let those who have eyes to see …,” Jesus said.

We’ve been blessed to see – and be a small part of – the mainstream church’s emerging welcome of the LGBTQ community, though the work of creating a safe and welcoming space is far from over.

It’s a “both/and” time in Charlotte that calls for “both/and” discipleship. So, even

as we remain vigilant and watchful for the efforts by some to demonize trans people, we are called to study the ways of anti-racism.

Even as we learn the depth of the city’s affordable housing crisis and how it affects LGBTQ people of all ages, we are guided by the knowledge that most caught in that crisis are people of color.

Scripture instructs us to lift the voices of women, because sexism and misogyny still poison too many spaces. We strive to learn through the eyes of our members with differing physical abilities how to create a more welcoming and accessible church campus.

We adapt our building construction methods to account for the truth of climate change and how we can mitigate it.

“Let those who have eyes to see …,” Jesus said.

But, first, let the church look in the mirror. Given the hate and dehumanization that spews from some corners of Christianity, let the church at large redouble its efforts to practice radical welcome and self-giving service to all its neighbors.

As another Father’s Day comes and goes, I count my own gifts and blessings – of a father who taught me how to look for the sins of privilege and racism and a daughter who is always teaching me and my wife to see the pain, perseverance and magnificent possibility of the LGBTQ+ community.

Behind these is the greatest gift of all, a faith that calls, equips and enables us to build a beloved community of love and justice.

Rev. John Cleghorn is a pastor of Caldwell Presbyterian Church in the Elizabeth area of Charlotte.https:// www.caldwellpresby.org/. His is the author of Resurrecting Church: Where

June 24-July 7, 2022

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Salt Lake City Pride Journey

BY JOEY AMATO | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

F

or years I have heard about Salt Lake City’s thriving LGBTQ community, but I had yet to experience it firsthand.

The Advocate even called Salt Lake City one of the ten ‘Queerest Cities in America.’

Recently, I had an opportunity to travel to the Beehive State with my good friend and internationally known EDM musician Joey Suarez, where we had a chance to revel in the city’s attractions and culinary scene, and see what all the hype was about.

Our homebase for the visit was the fabulous Hotel Monaco, part of the Kimpton collection of hotels. Kimpton is well-known for being one of the most LGBTQ-friendly chains in the country, so I knew we were in good hands. The property features a welcoming lobby, fitness center, two culinary options: Bambara and The Vault, and is within walking distance to almost every attraction in the city.

Begin your first day in Salt Lake City with a trip to Eva’s Bakery, a wonderful little establishment offering freshly baked goods and a variety of homemade breakfast items. I decided to try their roasted beet & avocado toast which was served with potatoes and organic greens. This was a perfect option for those who enjoy a savory breakfast item over something sweet, although Eva’s definitely has a nice selection of sweet treats to choose from if you prefer.

Just a short drive away from downtown is the Natural History Museum of Utah.

The beautifully designed building blends in perfectly with the natural surroundings of the mountains and contains quite the selection of dinosaur fossils and gemstones, most of which were discovered locally. The museum boasts an extensive paleontology program and possesses nearly 30,000 specimens in

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their collection.

Next, swing by Tracy Aviary, one of only two freestanding aviaries in the country, and say hello to Andy, the Andean condor, as well as the Chilean flamingos. The aviary also offers unique experiences which guests can participate in to get up close and personal with some of their feathered attractions. Don’t forget to stop by the South American Pavilion featuring 30 South American birds nestled amongst lush plants in a unique indoor-outdoor exhibit.

Salt Lake City’s international culinary scene is something the city is proud of, and one of its shining stars is a Japanese restaurant called Takashi. Joey and I ordered four dishes to share, and each was prepared to perfection. Our favorites included the magic dragon roll as well as the tiger’s roll, featuring tiger shrimp tempura with spiced crab, kaiware sprouts, unagi and avocado, topped with eel sauce and sesame seeds.

For some fun entertainment, head to Why Kiki, a tiki bar themed venue just a

few blocks from the hotel which recently started weekend Drag Lunch – no, not exactly brunch, as some performances occur after standard brunch hours. The intimate venue is a wonderful place to catch a performance by one of Salt Lake’s fabulous drag performers while sipping a delicious tropical cocktail.

Adventure seekers can go on a hike along one of the city’s numerous trails. On one crisp morning, we headed to a trail nicknamed “The Living Room” due to the rock formation at the top of the mountain that resembles a couch, or so I’ve been told. We made it about three-fourths the way to the top before we had to stop from exhaustion due to the altitude. Yes, I’ll blame the altitude. Don’t despair, there are many picturesque vantage points along the way to capture that perfect Instagram photo.

For dinner, head to Manoli’s, a tapas style Greek restaurant which offers a variety of traditional dishes as well as some modern twists of Greek specialties.

While Joey dined on a sumptuous lamb

burger, I tried the garides, grilled shrimp cooked in a Greek coffee barbecue sauce served over seared polenta. We decided to share an order of spanakopita, a savory phyllo-filled pastry stuffed with feta and spinach and served with an artichoke cream sauce. I love spanakopita, and Manoli’s didn’t disappoint. However, the best part of the meal was the cinnamon ice cream, which was probably one of my favorite ice cream dishes ever!

When I lived in Nashville, I published an LGBTQ magazine called UNITE, and one of our issue’s featured country music superstar Eric Church on the cover.

He is country music’s answer to Bruce Springsteen, so much in fact, one of his biggest hit songs is titled “Springsteen.”

We had the opportunity to attend the Eric Church concert at the Vivint Arena, home of the Utah Jazz. While it would have been fun to experience a basketball game, hearing 15,000 people sing Church’s hit songs was quite memorable.

After the concert, it was time to explore Salt Lake’s nightlife. Located on Harvey Milk Boulevard is Milk+, a swanky new LGBTQ club that would rival that of most major cities. Milk+ offers a huge dancefloor, stage, patio, and table seating to enjoy cocktails or food. The eye candy was abundant, and the bar staff was quite friendly. All the entertainment occurs in one large open room so the venue mixes between drag and dancing most of the evening.

Another bar worth visiting is The Sun Trapp, which is within walking distance of Hotel Monaco. With limited time, it was impossible to visit all the nightlife establishments, but I think I got a good taste of what Salt Lake City had to offer. I began to see why the city was voted one

life

Gay Bars on Decline, According to Study

Changing Culture, Internet Sites and Smartphone Dating Apps Cited as Reasons

T

BY JOHN RUSSELL | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

he number of bars and clubs catering specifically to the gay male population is declining nationwide, according to a new study examining the effects of COVID-19 lockdowns on LGBTQ spaces in the United States.

The study’s author, Greggor Mattson, a professor of Sociology at Ohio’s Oberlin College, who also curates the Who Needs Gay Bars project on Twitter, found that between 2019 and Spring 2021, the number of gay bars in the country dropped by about 15 percent.

Compared with a similar decline between 2017 and 2019, Mattson writes, this indicates a steady rate of decline in recent years.

Mattson and his researchers studied historical data from the Damron Travel Guide and compared it to an online census of gay bars taken from February to May of 2021. “[Over] 36 percent of gay bar listings disappeared between 2007 and 2019,” Mattson said in an an interview with ABC News. “So more than a third of gay bars closed in a 12-year period.”

According to the study, bars serving LGBTQ people of color fared particularly poorly, dropping by nearly 24 percent between 2019 and Spring 2021.

Meanwhile, Mattson and his associates found that no lesbian bars closed during the pandemic, possibly due to “intensive media and philanthropic attention,” including from the Lesbian Bar Project.

The potential causes for the decline in gay bars around the United States, cited

by Mattson are, on their face, positive.

Social equality and greater acceptance of LGBTQ people have led to more

welcoming attitudes in bars that don’t cater specifically to the community, as well as a greater willingness of queer people to socialize in non-gay venues. There’s also the rise of social media and the prevalence of location-based apps like Grindr and Scruff that allow LGBTQ people to meet virtually.

The study cautions, however that “rates of change in listings may not reflect actual changes in the number of establishments.”

It also suggests that the decline in gay bar listings was not dramatically increased by the pandemic.

Still, Mattson finds the numbers troubling. “In most parts of the country, gay bars are the only public LGBTQ+ place,” he says. “In other words, they’re the only place where queer people can reliably encounter other queer people in public.”

That could certainly have larger implications for LGBTQ culture.

Larger, multi-cultural clubs that serve a variety of community subsets have often been an opportunity for individuals from varied gender, cultural, economic and ethnic backgrounds to come together and socialize, while sharing ideas and cultivating friendships that might not otherwise develop. The potential result: a larger degree of segregation within the community itself.

Drag entertainment, long a staple in the LGBTQ community could also be largely impacted.

“If the only bar with a purpose-built drag stage closes, then it leaves drag queens and drag kings without a place to practice their art,” Mattson lamented.

This article appears courtesy of our

June 24-July 7, 2022

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Crazy about ‘C.R.A.Z.Y.’ Screen Savor

by Gregg Shapiro Contributing Writer

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he late filmmaker Jean Jean-Marc Vallée, who died unexpectedly at 58 in December 2021, never saw his 2005 movie “C.R.A.Z.Y.” (Samuel

Goldwyn Pictures) receive a general theatrical release in the States. This, despite being a hit at numerous regional LGBTQ film festivals, receiving multiple awards in Canada, having a 100% score on Rotten Tomatoes, and getting released on DVD. But that has changed just in time for Pride month, giving more people a chance to go crazy for “C.R.A.Z.Y.” First, about the title.

“C.R.A.Z.Y.” are the initials of the five brothers in the FrenchCanadian Catholic Beaulieu family – Christian, Raymond, Antoine, Zac, and the youngest Yvan. Also, Patsy Cline’s rendition of the song “Crazy,” is a favorite of the Beaulieu brothers’ father Gervais (Michel Côté).

Now that we got that out of the way, “C.R.A.Z.Y.” opens in 1960 with the birth of the fourth brother Zac on Christmas Eve. As a young boy, Zac (Émile Vallée) is clearly different from his three older brothers, not just because he’s sensitive, but because he has a special mark.

A strip of discolored hair at the back of his scalp. His devout mother Laurianne (Danielle Proulx) is convinced that it is a sign from God. His macho father Gervais is less certain of that and throughout Zac’s childhood remains suspicious of his son’s less-thanmasculine behavior. During his teenage years, Zac (Marc-André Grondin) is virtually ignored by “egghead” Christian (Maxime Tremblay), mildly teased by “sport nut” Antoine (Alex Gravel), and regularly brutalized by his “sworn enemy” Raymond (Pierre-Luc Brillant). It is Zac’s relationship with Raymond, along with the complex rapport he has with his parents, that is at the core of the movie. That, and the fact that he is struggling with his sexuality.

Set, as it is, during the especially turbulent 1960s and 1970s, and continuing into the 1980s, “C.R.A.Z.Y.” does an

exceptional job of capturing the crazy zeitgeist of those periods. Sex (gay and straight) and drugs, and of course, rock and roll, add fuel to the fire of Beaulieu family’s burning flames.

The soundtrack, which features David Bowie and Pink Floyd, along with Cline and Charles Aznavour, among others, is suitably stirring. Vallée, who went on to make hit movies including “Dallas Buyers Club” and “Wild,” as well as HBO’s “Big Little Lies,” deserved the acclaim he received for “C.R.A.Z.Y.,” and his perceptiveness and sensitivity to the subject matter, particularly as a straight man, truly comes through in the most authentic way. C.R.A.Z.Y. is currently available for streaming on VUDU.

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life

James Ijames Our People

by David Aaron Moore Qnotes Staff Writer

going on back and forth between them.

You can tell they love each other, but they’re also good friends. When I was looking for a partner myself, I realized how important that was. You needed to be with someone who could make you laugh.

I mean, you’re going to spend the rest of your life with this person. Getting up in the morning and having breakfast across from them. It’s important that person can make you laugh and be your friend.

J

ames Ijames (pronounced like times without the letter T) grew up in the Piedmont region of North Carolina.

He’s a native of Bessemer City, a tiny little town in Gaston County, current population just over 5,000.

These days, Ijames makes his home in Philadelphia, though places like his native Bessemer City, Gastonia, Belmont and Charlotte were all familiar stomping grounds in his earlier years.

Ijames’ resume reads like the driven man he is. During his career he has worked as an actor, writer and director. Currently he is a professor of theater at Villanova University just outside of Philadelphia.

Like so many individuals who leave the Charlotte Metro area, Ijames headed for Atlanta. He attended Morehouse College there for four years, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in drama. He later moved to Temple University in Philadelphia, where he received a Masters of Fine Art in acting.

Ijames has received a bevy of awards during his multifaceted career, among them, the 2011 F. Otto Haas award for an Emerging Artist, two Barrymore awards for supporting actor – one for his role in “Superior Donuts” and another for his part in the infamous “Angels in America” – as well as two Barrymore awards for Outstanding Direction of a Play for “The Brothers Size” and “Gem of the Ocean.”

There’s more – but we’ll cut straight to the reason Ijames is the focus of so much attention these days: on May 10, North Carolina’s native son was the recipient of the 2022 Pulitzer Prize in the category of Books, Drama and Music for his play “Fat Ham.” Remember William Shakespeare’s “Hamlet?” That’s the bones of “Fat Ham.” Ijames has reimagined the historic play, set the storyline in the modern day south at a backyard barbecue. He’s filled it with queer characters and people of color embroiled in often comedic controversy, but held true to much of Shakespeare’s original dialogue. Unlike Shakespeare’s “Hamlet,” Ijames’s “Fat Ham” doesn’t end with the cast of characters dead at final curtain. Instead, there’s a dance party.

That’s the kind of imagination and creativity that captured a Pulitzer for Ijames.

At the time of our conversation, he’s actually sitting in a closet in his Philadelphia row house.

“I am,” he chuckles. “But it’s an abnormally large closet with a window and my desk. Great in the winter because it’s nice and cozy but terrible in the summer because it gets hot. I use it as my office.”

David Aaron Moore: What was growing up in Bessemer City like?

James Ijames: It was wonderful. I had a big family, and I was always bouncing between parents, grandparents, greatgrandparents, cousins, aunts and uncles.

My mother worked for the Gaston County school system, so I attended Chapel

DAM: What do you miss most about home?

JIJ: [Long sigh] my family. The food.

Going to someone’s house for dinner and eating until you’re about to pop. There is this restaurant in Gaston County called McDonald’s Cafeteria – not like the fast food chain, but owned by a family with that last name. Great food! I miss that a lot, too. Every time I get back there I always try to make sure I go.

Pulitzer Winning playwright James Ijames is a native of Bessemer City.

Grove. I also had a beautiful church family. I was surrounded by just a big huge loving family.

DAM: Tell me about your time at Morehouse. Going from Bessemer City to Atlanta must have been a dramatic change for you.

JIJ: Not really. I have an aunt who lived in Atlanta, so I used to go there and visit a lot growing up. But Morehouse was a special place. It was an all-male school, and I was a music major. I did keep hitting a lot of bumps, though. I acted a lot, so I changed my major to drama. Morehouse has a degree in theater program. But I was all over the place, doing stuff at Clark and Spellman, too. It was a real special four years. And it taught me a lot. I’ve always been a very ambitious person. Not ruthless, just ambitious. One of the things I learned there was to be your full self at all times. Don’t shrink back on who you are for anybody else.

DAM: What was the coming out experience with your family like?

JIJ: Even before I realized the fullness of who I am, they loved me. Between my sexuality and ambition they could tell I was hungry for something, although they didn’t know what it was. But it wasn’t some big issue. When I told them, they were like, “We’re glad you figured it out, it doesn’t matter.” Later when I met someone and fell in love, they welcomed him with open arms. There was always a lot of love in my family. They were always very accepting.

When I was younger I went through this angry spell as a teenager [laughs]. They were like, “Awh, come here. We know you’re having an angry spell, but it’s okay, we still love you anyway.”

DAM: Let’s talk about your family a little bit. They sound like a fascinating cast of characters.

JIJ: I realize how lucky I am because I grew up with such a huge family. My greatgrandmother was Georgia Carter. She was such an incredibly loving individual.

Always very kind and empathetic, never had a bad word to say about anyone and was never judgmental. When she would hear others sitting around gossiping about someone, she would always say, “You’ve got to meet people where they are, you can’t be judgmental.”

My grandparents were military, so they moved around a lot. As for my parents, my dad worked a lot. He was always working.

For a while he was in the military, then he worked at a shoe store and he worked in shipping with a freightliner.

I have two sisters, who are just as ambitious as I am, and then there’s my mom. She always recognized the importance of creative arts and there were always books around the house, and she instilled a real love for reading and learning in me. I remember these books my mom had. She ordered them from Ebony magazine. They were about the history of Black people. I remember pouring over them and reading them cover to cover and learning so much. So my mom and my aunt were very diligent about expanding our worldview. They would send us to museums around town in Charlotte and Discovery Place, so there was always a lot going on, always something for us to do.

DAM: I know you’re lucky enough to still have both of your parents. How would you describe them today?

JIJ: [Laughs] they are very funny people.

We laugh a lot together. When I was a child they always seemed so serious. Not that we didn’t have a good time, but now I see the playfulness. Now that the children are all grown and out of the house and it’s just the two of them, they have a different kind of relationship. There’s an undertone

DAM: How has your life changed since you won the Pulitzer?

JIJ: I’m a lot busier. From that day until just last week there were lots of invitations to make appearances in person and with Zoom conferences. People have become more acquainted with me as a writer. “Fat Ham” is sold out at The Public in New York City. But I’m trying to remain grounded. I don’t want to lose sight of who I am and my values and what’s important to me. I don’t want to get lost in that fantasy world of “I won a Pulitzer.” I want to be who I am.

I want to stay my true self.

DAM: Why did you wait until “Fat Ham” to write about the South?

JIJ: I guess I was afraid to. The South has a lot of assumptions that are made about it, and some of them are true. But I didn’t want to make fun of it. I wanted the audience to meet people where they are and accept them for who they are and hear the story they have to tell without judgment. “Fat Ham” gave me a way to be able to do that.

DAM: What are your plans for the future?

JIJ: I’m enjoying what I’m doing now a lot. I think I would consider going back to acting for the right part. But I’m also enjoying writing, and I enjoy teaching.

I hope to do some more writing for television in the future, as well. But, you know sometimes it feels like I’ve just been going nonstop since college. So I’m also looking forward to resting a little bit. And not feeling like I have to fill all of my life with work.

DAM: If you’re resting, what is your guilty pleasure on television?

JIJ: [Blurts out abruptly] “Housewives.”

Any of them. I love them all. They’re so funny. I can work with them on in the background.

June 24-July 7, 2022

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