Sept 2.-Sept. 15, 2022 Q 1
2 Qnotes Sept 2.-Sept. 15, 2022 Dr. Fredrick Cruickshank MD, Owner and Medical Director Dr. Cruickshank is an out and proud gay physician, internationally known for his treatment and medical research in HIV/AIDS. 70 4.97 7.2972 @TheDudleysPlace dudleysplace.org 70 4.948.8582 @MyRosedaleHealt h myrosedalehealt h.com LGBTQIA+ MEDICAL CARE COMPREHENSIVE NEWACCEPTINGCLIENTSNOW!
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of The Charlotte Observer events These rates only cover a portion of our true cost, however, our goal is to serve our community Mailed 1st class from Charlotte, NC, in sealed envelope. Subscription Rates: ☐ 1 yr - 26 issues = $48 ☐ 1/2 yr - 13 issues = $34 Mail to: P.O. Box 221841, Charlotte, NC 28222 city:address:name: state: zip: credit card – check one: ☐ mastercard ☐ visa ☐ discover ☐ american express card #: exp. date: signature:SUBSCRIBE! 10 Ballroom culture in the Carolinas 6 Gay & Bi Men Reduce Sexual Partners to Fight Monkeypox Exposure 6 Princeton Review Releases Stats on Universities for LGBTQ Students 6 Republicans Take Aim at Charlotte Pride Over Exotic Dancer With Child 9 Photography and transgender representation 13 Fall festival adds color to the Carolinas 13 Charlotte arts organizations and venues 16 Out in Print: “From Gay to Z: A Compendium”Queer 18 ‘Hedwig’ star John Cameron Mitchell per forms in David Bowie tribute 18 Donny McCaslin works with Charlotte Symphony on ‘Blackstar’ 4 Liz Cheney for President? Something Says She’s Not Yet Done With Politics 4 Political Voices : Fighting monkeypox: Together is the only way 5 Letter to the editor: Where the rainbow runs out 7 Robinson’s Truly Wacky Idea for NC Schools 14 Legal Eagle: How to deal with animosity and con flict in divorce 17 Health and Wellness: Addiction to Joy 19 Our People: Danny Knaubfeaturenewsa&elifeviews
Sept. 02 - Sept. 15, 2022 Vol 37 No 10
Sept 2.-Sept. 15, 2022 Qnotes 3 inside this issue For event listings, calendar.qnotescarolinas.com/events-visit 275,000 take part in Pride Special Pictorial: Charlotte Pride celebrates big with largest crowd in North Carolina history PAGE 8 Our People : Danny Knaub Our People: Blumenthal’s VP of marketing shares his love of theater cooking and travel PAGE 19
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• Follow good hand hygiene proto col, including washing your hands thoroughly with soap and water.
In a world of misinformation, the best place to start is with the facts. Here’s what we know: On June 23, 2022, North Carolina health officials confirmed the state’s first positive occurrence of the virus known widely as “monkeypox.” As of Thursday, August 18th at 8:49am, North Carolina has confirmed 198 positive test results. Like in other states, nearly all cases have been reported among men who have sex with men, or “MSM,” for lack of a better term, and all cases in North Carolina have been among cisgender men. According to the August 10th, NCDHHS “Monkeypox Response Update: Equity Data Report on Cases, Testing, and Vaccines,” the highest showing of the virus is among Black or African American men, who make up 70% of the cases, while 19% of the cases are among white men. As of August 8th, over 3000 doses of the vaccine to prevent the virus had been administered. According to NCDHHS data, the racial data for demographics receiv ing the vaccine is a near inverse of those who have tested positive: only 19% of vaccine recipients have been Black/African American, whereas 67% of vaccines have gone to white men. These data points represent three disparities: MSM are more at-risk for contracting the virus, Black men are more at-risk than white men, and white people are more likely to have been vaccinated. It’s important to separate what this data is telling us and what it’s not telling us but what our own biases may be driving us to conclude. In a July 28th town hall with EqualityCarolina,NorthNCDHHS Secretary Kody Kinsley made the point that, while it is trasmitted through close, intimate contact, including sexual activity, the virus is not classified as a sexually transmitted disease: “First and foremost… this is not an STI. This spreads through close, intimate, skin-to-skin contact. It can spread dur ing sexual activity and during non-sexual activity… Second, because this virus re quires that sort of close, intimate contact for spreading, when it starts to take hold in a particular cohort, we see it hold in that cohort over time.” Shame and stigma often prevents peo ple from treating, preventing, and commu nicating about their health status in ways that can prevent the spread. As is often the case, harm reduction will be the best individual practice for limiting the spread of the virus. At Equality North Carolina, we have worked to learn as much as we can in the last few weeks about this virus, and we are inviting organizations that serve LGBTQ+ people into a coalition to do outreach, education, and advocacy around testing and vaccinations. We have created www.poxvirusnc.org and @poxvirusnc on Twitter and Instagram to share informa tion from our community to our com munity. There, you can access and share community-based vaccine clinics, preven tion tips, and information on testing. Here are some key ways to prevent the spread of this virus:
CREDIT: US House Office of Photography
• Receiving medications to prevent HIV infection (PrEP)
“If I have to choose between maintain ing a seat in the House of Representatives or protecting the constitutional republic and ensuring the American people know the truth about Donald Trump, I’m going to choose the Constitution and the truth every single day,” she said during the campaign.
Speculation has buzzed that Cheney would mount a primary campaign for months as her then-upcoming loss to Hageman quickly became evident.
R ep. Liz Cheney (R-WY) lost her leader ship assignment for standing up against former President Donald Trump during his term in office. Last night, she lost her seat in Congress to Harriet Hageman, a candidate whom TrumpCheneyendorsed.votedin favor of Trump’s impeachment after the Jan. 6 MAGA riot at the Capitol and has played a leading role in the subsequent investigation into Trump’s attempt to overturn the presiden tial is becoming the face of the Never Trump movement – and rumors are swirling that she will run for President in 2024. She wouldn’t win, but she could spoil Trump’s stroll to the nomination.
next presidential election, as I said, I be lieve that our nation stands on the edge of an abyss. And I do believe that we all have to really think very seriously about the dangers we face and the threats we face. And we have to elect serious candidates.” But her spokesperson indicated that Cheney has a plan in place already that’s bigger than her own run for office. “In coming weeks, Liz will be launching an organization to educate the American people about the ongoing threat to our Republic, and to mobilize a unified effort to oppose any Donald Trump campaign for president,” Cheney spokesperson Jeremy Adler told Politico. The as-yet unnamed group would serve as a political vehicle for Cheney to continue raising her national profile while attempting to keep Trump from regaining office.
BY
Rep. Liz Cheney’s official portrait confirms she’s enjoying her career too much to walk away just yet.
Liz Cheney for President? Something says she’snot yet done with politics
• Get the vaccine if you are eligible! Current eligibility includes:
But when journalist Jake Tapper asked about her broader ambitions a couple of weeks ago, Cheney hedged her bets. “I haven’t really – at this point, I have not made a decision about 2024,” she said. “…But I do think, as we look towards the
She doesn’t need to win – She just needs to ensure that Donald Trump doesn’t BIL BROWNING |CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Cheney raised nearly $14 million for her losing race and didn’t spend much of it. She could use the money to support candidates who also oppose the Trump agenda or her own presidential campaign. Listen and watch as Cheney speaks about her plans for a continuing effort to derail any future political plans for Trump or other dishonest like-minded politicians. This article appears courtesy of our me dia partner LGBTQ Nation. ::
• Having multiple sex partners or anonymous sex • Being diagnosed with a sexu ally transmitted infection
• Communicate with your partners about any recent illnesses or sores on your body or • your partner’s body before physi cal contact.
“Two years ago, I won this primary with 73 percent of the vote,” she said last night. “I could easily have done the same again. The path was clear. But it would’ve required that I go along with President Trump’s lie about the 2020 election. It would’ve required that I enable his ongoing efforts to unravel our democratic system and attack the foundations of our republic. That was a path I could not and would not take.” Cheney garnered 29.5 percent of the vote in the Wyoming primary. Hageman won 65.8 percent.
At Pox Virus NC, you will find more in formation on how to protect yourself and others. On August 30, 2022, NCDHHS and Equality North Carolina will host a second town hall on this virus. Watch www.poxvi rusnc.org and @poxvirusnc on Instagram and Twitter for more information. Ultimately, the key to fighting this vi rus is through community. We must look out for one another with compassion, and without judgment. We know stigma and shame are barriers to accessing care. But there’s nothing shameful about contracting a virus through intimacy, and it can be prevented. People with the vi rus are part of our community. Intimacy is not the enemy; the virus is the enemy, and we can fight it together by sharing resources and accessible, accurate infor mation. If your organization would like to join the coalition to fight this virus across North Carolina, email rapidresponse@ equalitync.org. : :
• Anyone who had close contact in the past two weeks with someone who • has been diagnosed with mon keypox, and • Gay or bisexual men or trans gender individuals who report any of the • following in the last 90 days:
4 Qnotes Sept 2.-Sept. 15, 2022
Nowelection.Cheney
• Avoid physical contact with people who have symptoms, such as rashes or sores, or with • infected animals or contaminated materials.
Fighting monkeypox: Together is the only way Political Voices BY ARTIE HARTSELL, MSW | CONTRIBUTING WRITER views
• If you have tested positive, isolate until your symptoms have gone away completely
views
Where the rainbow runs out
The Festival
BY TIM KENDRA-DILL |
Is Charlotte Pride handing a pot o’ gold to corporate sponsors pulling a political side-step?. (Photo Credit: Adobe Stock)
Pride have such a vision while taking money from corpora tions that do not? According to Data for Progress, 15 of Charlotte Pride’s spon sors this year gave more than $1,000 to anti-LGBTQ candidates between 2019 and 2022, with some topping $40,000 in total contribu tions. Seven of those spon sors (Bank of America, PNC Bank, Wells Fargo, Enterprise, Regions Bank, Wal-mart and State Farm Insurance) contributed to Gov. Greg Abbot’s (R-Texas) gubernato rial campaign. Abbott called on citizens earlier this year to report parents for child abuse if they supported gender-affirming care. Two of Charlotte Pride’s sponsors, State Farm and Budweiser, gave $5,000 and $10,000 respectively to Gov. Kay Ivey (R-Ala.) just weeks after she signed HB 322 which banned K-12 students from using bathrooms and school facilities consistent with their gender identity and enacted a “Don’t Say Gay or Trans” provision in grades K-5. Why is Charlotte Pride taking money from corporations that do this? It begs the question, did they do any research before taking this corporate money? Do they care, or is it more about making sure the event happens regardless of who funds it?
Sept 2.-Sept. 15, 2022 Qnotes 5
Dear Editor, Charlotte Pride ‘22 was going to be my son’s first Pride event, and I was su per excited to take him. I was over the moon about sharing this experience with him, but then I thought about what the festival represented and if it wasWouldenough.itbe full of history? Would it be magical for him? Would it cre ate memories we would want to talk about later? Would it be full of celebration and color that he could get excited about? I couldn’t answer those questions, but one aspect of the event was undeniable: Charlotte Pride has corporate names plastered all over it. The general theme of Charlotte Pride is a festival of shows, vendors and other areas followed by a parade, which consists of local LGBTQ-owned businesses, sports and clubs march ing down the street in celebration. But even our beloved queer proces sion isn’t immune to an overkill of sponsorships and heavily-advertised corporate businesses. Their ads say how much of an ally they are to the community, and the companies shell out big money to splash their branding all over the Pride events. But for some sponsors, there’s a darker flipside to that political coin. Since my relocation to Charlotte in 2006, I’ve attended a couple of Charlotte Pride events. Both years I’ve felt a burning frustration that so many corporate entities have their hands in the Ievent.started asking myself, what is Charlotte Pride actually about? Is it about community pride? Does it demonstrate any semblance of our community’s history and legacy? Currently, it seems to be about corporate sponsors that blanket the parade route with floats and show up on every social media post from theInorganization.myopinion, the leaders of the non-profit Charlotte Pride have lost sight of the magic a Pride celebration should bring everyone, and they’ve traded it in for big money. Some might ask, “But how is Charlotte Pride supposed to pay for these events? How are they supposed to provide a festival without corporate sponsors?” I don’t have an answer, but as a community constantly fighting for its rights, how is it morally and ethically right when most of the major sponsors have a very recent history of giving money to politicians that write and support antiLGBTQ+“Charlottelegislation?Prideenvisions
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Why have big corporations been allowed to buy their way into our history? Why are Pride festivals com mercially branded instead of named in honor of our achievements? This flies in the face of the cel ebration of our culture and is out of touch with the spirit of Pride itself. Corporations have literally bought a high ticket pass into our community, and Pride events in Charlotte and across the country have allowed it to happen.Editor’s note: qnotes is a media partner of Charlotte Pride. : :
a world in which LGBTQ people are affirmed, re spected and included in the full social and civic life of their local communities, free from fear of any discrimination, rejection andHowprejudice.”canCharlotte
Corporate sponsored pride events have branding all over them
According to the Charlotte Pride website, “The vast majority of pro ceeds and sponsorship go to the oper ation and staging of our annual major events.” Additional funds are used to invest in “improving the annual festival and parade, year-round programming and organizational operations like staff and office space.” Taking money from corporations that do not share the same values actively works against us. It’s an insult. It’s demeaning. It’s a slap in the face of the LGTBQ+ community.
Another issue with taking corpo rate sponsor money is how the festival and parade are marketed back to the public. Corporate sponsors end up getting a “zone” or stage named after them. Who wants to say they’re in the PNC Festival Zone? And what could be more appalling than the Bank of America Charlotte Pride Parade? Both banks gave $10,000 each to Abbott in 2019 and 2020 respectively.
stretchmallayers.skintissuesfattheodsubcutaneoususualmethwhichinjectsvaccineintotheandconnectivebetweentheandmuscularTheintradermethodcouldthenation’s vaccine supply five fold and has been found to be effective when againstvaccinatingrabiesand polio. However, some LGBTQ individuals have criticized the government for what they say is an inadequate response to the“I’veoutbreak.beenreally disappointed in our leaders, especially those who were in of fice during the onslaught of the AIDS crisis, like President [Joe] Biden and Speaker [Nancy] Pelosi,” nonbinary Queer Eye reality TV star Jonathan Van Ness told USA Today.“Once again, we’re seeing too little ac tion taken until the situation has bal looned out of con trol,” they added. “If nothing changes, we’ll continue to experience failures like this response, which has been plagued with too few tests, lack of ac cess to Ioussupply,inadequatetreatments,vaccineandambiguguidance.”“Inmanyways,believeit’sbeen fueled by homophobia and transphobia,” Ness said. “When an outbreak affects mainly men who have sex with men, some portion of our elected legislators will have no incentive to act… which is ob viously messed up because people’s lives are at stake, and there are queer people in all 50 states.” This article appears courtesy of our media partner LGBTQ Nation. info: bit.ly/3Ax3Gk3 — Daniel Villarreal
info: bit.ly/3AXtHL1
The footage was later posted to TikTok and Twitter and has prompted some Republicans to cry child abuse and level accusations of inappropriate behavior at the Charlotte Pride Festival event. Since the report by a local Fox chan nel affiliate, reaction to the footage, which shows the two clearly having fun with no inappropriate behavior evident, accusations of unseemly behavior have reached a national level with conserva tiveWhileRepublicans.thevideo has gone viral, an antiprogressive and sensationalist exploitation Twitter account known as LibsofTikTok posted the following statement about the footage: “A Pride event in Charlotte, NC featured a stripper pole where kids were able to try out pole dancing.” LibsofTikTok took their accusations even further in an effort to malign Pride, claiming that professional dancers had a booth at Pride “urging children to try out” what they referred to as “stripper poles.”The pole was originally used on a float during the parade that represented the business Pole Body and Arts Fitness Studio. Pole body and arts teaches dance and fitness classes and is located in the Mallard Glen neighborhood in the University City North area. The statement of purpose on their website reads as follows: “At Pole Body & Arts, Charlotte Pole Fitness classes are offered at the largest studio in the Carolinas. We are open to all gen ders and service a wide range of ages and body types. We provide a space to build strength, showcase the diversity of beauty, and experi ence Twitteroverlookedtionwithintransformationusall.”Allofthatinformawasconvenientlybyaposterwho identified as Matt Rinaldi, the chairman of the Republican Party of “straightRinaldiTexas.tweetedtojail,”as if to indicate something il legal had taken place and prosecution was imminent. A reported journalist who identified as Tayler Hansen joined in on the frey by posting “America has a serious problem,” while a “Republican political operative” known as Matt Mackowiak called it “child abuse.”It’simportant to note that none of the indi viduals who are crying foul were confirmed as actually attending the event and have only a few seconds of footage to base their claims on. Still, the growing con servative and Republican tide of anger and intoler ance against the LGBTQ community should not go unacknowledged. Similar responses have occurred at drag queen story hours and pride events around the country. info: fxn.ws/3wEEk2N — David Aaron Moore
news
6 Qnotes Sept 2.-Sept. 15, 2022
A cisgender exotic dancer attending Charlotte Pride was captured on camera by an attendee’s mobile phone playing with a child believed to be her son on a twist and slide pole, often used by profes sional dancers and drag performers on stage as part of their entertainment act.
Studies show men are reducing their sex partners to avoid monkeypox. CREDIT: Adobe Stock
The CDC’s survey found that 48 percent of respondents had reduced their number of sexual partners, 50 had reduced their number of one-night stands, and 49 per cent reduced the amount of sex they had with men that they’d met through hookup apps, The Hill reported.
Princeton Review releases stats on universities for LGBTQ students
Republicans take aim at Charlotte pride over dancer with child
Gay & bi men reduce sexual partners to fight monkeypox exposure
Greenville North Carolina’s East Carolina University, an institu tion of higher learning with a full-time enroll ment of more than 22,000 students, came in at number 14 for being one of the most LGBTQ unfriendly col leges in the nation. On the flip side of the list are schools that have a reputa tion for being LGBTQ unwelcoming. Topping off the unwelcoming list in the Southeast: the University of Tennessee in Knoxville. A relatively large school, it has a full time enrollment of over 25,000 and handily captured the number one spot for the most LGBTQ unwelcoming university in the entire country. Among other institu tions of higher learn ing in the Southeast region that students felt were uninviting to the LGBTQ community are Auburn University (#5) in Auburn, Ala., a school with with nearly 25,000 full-time students; and the University of Alabama - Tuscaloosa (#7) in Tuscaloosa, Ala., a school with over 30,000 full-time students. In categories that include academics, ame nities, school services, campus culture, extracurriculars and more, the lists are based on the Princeton Review’s survey of 160,000 students attending the 388 schools and its flagship College guide. “Since 1992, when we debuted our multiple ranking lists as an alternative to a single academics only megalist, our mission has been to give students a more useful resource to find the best college for them,” says Rob Franek, Editor-in-Chief of the Princeton review and lead author of The Best 388 Colleges. “Our selection of the colleges in this book is based on our opinion of their academic offerings. We recommend each one as an academi cally outstanding choice for an applicant. Our ranking lists, however, are not based on our opinions of the colleges. They’re entirely based on what the school’s own students have told us about their experi ences at them.”
In a recent survey of the best 388 colleges across the United States, The University of North Carolina Asheville, located in the western mountain city of Asheville, N.C., came in at #9 as one of the friendliest LGBTQ schools in the country. A relatively small school, it has a full-time enrollment of 3,233. One other school in the Southeast region placed on the welcoming list. Agnes Scott College in Decatur, part of the Atlanta metro area, came in at #5 as a friendly school for LGBTQ students. Another small school, it has a full-time enrollment of just 1,063 On the flip side of the list are schools that have a reputation for being LGBTQ unwelcoming.
This image shot during Charlotte Pride shows an unidentified dancer report edly playing with her son on a body pole during the Pride CREDIT:Parade. Screen Capture CAPTION: UNC Asheville was recognized as the ninth friendliest college in the US. CREDIT: Facebook
The recent increase in cases nation wide has revealed the fact that the United States doesn’t have enough vaccine doses available to meet public demand. To help stretch the current reserve, the United States Food and Drug Administration recently approved the vaccine to be administered intradermally — that is, into the skin’s superficial layers — rather than through its
— David Aaron Moore
The spread of monkeypox is causing men who have sex with men (MSM) to reduce their numbers of sexual partners, according to survey results released this week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
The publication noted that local public health officials have been hesitant to suggest that people practice sexual abstinence as a key approach to avoid ing possible exposure, noting that the strategy may be ineffective even though the federal government championed it during the HIV/AIDS epidemic of the 1980s andThere1990s.are just over 15,000 cases of monkeypox in the United States as of Aug. 22, according to the CDC. However, infec tious disease experts think this number is likely an undercount. President Joe Biden declared a national state of emergency for monkeypox in early August. The World Health Organization (WHO) also declared monkeypox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern in late July. Both the New England Journal of Medicine and WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus have said the epidemic has mostly spread among MSM. Accordingly, the Biden administration has rolled out pop-up vaccination sites at queer events like Atlanta Pride and New Orleans’ Southern Decadence.
Sept 2.-Sept. 15, 2022 Qnotes 7 Connie J. Vetter, Esq. Attorney at Law, PLLC Your LGBTQ+ Law Attorney serving Clients from across North Website/EmailCarolinaatCJVLaw.comTalk/Text704 333 4000 CONNECT. ENGAGE. EMPOWER. To Become a Member or Partner:www.clgbtcc.org704.837.4050info@clgbtcc.org
BY THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER EDITORIAL BOARD | CONTRIBUTING WRITER views
Third graders who attend public school in North Carolina learn about the solar system and volcanoes in science class. Fourth graders study fossils. Social studies at the second grade level teaches students about democracy. In fifth grade, students discuss rights that are protected under the U.S. Constitution. But according to Republican Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson, kids shouldn’t be learning about any of that. Robinson has all but guaranteed he’ll run for governor in 2024. And, as he’s al ready demonstrated with last year’s laugh ably unsuccessful task force to uncover evidence of “indoctrination” in schools, he has quite a few thoughts about public education. Some of those thoughts made their way into his forthcoming memoir, WRAL News reported, and they include this doozy: eliminating the State Board of Education and removing subjects like science and history from first through fifth grade curricula. In those grades, we don’t need to be teaching social studies,” he writes. “We don’t need to be teaching science. We surely don’t need to be talking about equity and social justice.” Because learning about scary liberal concepts like plants or geography is clearly a threat to elementary schoolDoeschildren.hethink kids need to wait until middle school to learn that the earth isn’t flat? But as patently wacky as notintheywithprovidesincurriculum,state.justsuggestionRobinson’sis,it’salsoplainbadforourPublicschoolespeciallyelementaryschool,studentsthebasictoolsneedtosucceedtheworld.That’sjustaNorthCarolina
Lt. Gov. wants to eliminate the State Board of Education and subjects like science and history
thing. It’s how it worksRobinson’severywhere.no-science, no-history cur riculum is bad for our children, who will fall behind because they’re learning con cepts like gravity and the three branches of government at a slower pace than their peers in other states — or because they simply haven’t been taught how to think critically. It’s also bad for our “best in busi ness economy,” which depends on a work force that can match states competing with us for elite companies. Nor will those compa nies want to come here if the schools that employees send their kids to don’t teach basic things that are building blocks to deeper learning. And it would make a mockery of North Carolina — something Robinson already manages to do quite often when he makes headlines like this. Does Robinson really want us to plummet to the bottom? To be known for the inferiority of our public education system and struggle to recruit industries outside of manufacturing?BrianLiVecchi,Robinson’s chief of staff, appeared to offer more context on Twitter, arguing that reading should be prioritized over other subjects like chemis try and economics. “NC public schools are failing to reliably meet even the basic and fundamental requirement of teaching our kids to read. Get that right first,” he wrote. Reading and other subjects are not mutually exclusive, however, and sending kids into the world with an incomplete understanding of how it works is hardly better than failing to teach them to read. Students need a well-rounded educa tion — something that, for the most part, they’re already receiving right now. What do Republicans think about Robinson’s latest pronouncement? Are they willing to help him advance this kind of legislative agenda? If Robinson were governor, he technically wouldn’t have the authority to initiate such a radical change to public school curriculum on his own. But we’re not sure who actually would, since Robinson also wants to eliminate the State Board of Education, which is the en tity responsible for revising content stan dards and the required course of study. As lieutenant governor, Robinson is currently a member of the very board he’s seeking to eliminate. Perhaps we should thank the lieutenant governor for his candor, because North Carolinians now have a more precise idea of what they’d be voting for in 2024. Robinson keeps giving Democrats and Republicans alike more reasons to think he’s bad news. We can’t say we weren’t warned. This commentary appears courtesy of our media partner The Charlotte Observer,: :
Robinson’s Truly wacky idea for NC Schools
8 Qnotes Sept 2.-Sept. 15, 2022 275,000 take part in Pride August 20-21 life
Sept 2.-Sept. 15, 2022 Qnotes 9
F or the past year, photographer Titus Brooks Heagins has been working with Contemporary Art Museum (CAM) Raleigh on the development of a major new exhibition devoted to the artist’s long involvement photographing transgender communities in the United States and Cuba. The exhibition will officially open on October 11, coinciding with National Coming Out Day, and include program ming throughout its run that celebrates and honors the trans community, includ ing a memorial event on November 20, or Transgender Day of Remembrance. While transgender people in North Carolina have seen some legal victories this year, they continue to face discrimina tion and violence, and anti-trans legisla tions span states across the country. Sasha Rodriguez-Mason, a Wake County transgender woman, was mur dered on May 13 in the town of Zebulon. According to HRC, she was the 16th con firmed killing of a transgender or gender non-conforming individual this year. Lt. Governor Mark Robinson has re peatedly spewed hate against the commu nity, referring to both “homosexuality” and “transgenderism” as “filth” at a Seagrove, North Carolina church in June 2021. Heagins’ exhibition seeks to bring more awareness to the stories of the transgen der“Icommunity.createphotography that advocates for political, social and economic trans formation and challenges stereotypes of those ‘othered’ by race, social standing, gender or handicap by presenting counter narratives,” said Heagins in an artist state ment for CAM Raleigh’s Exhibition Lab. He started as a professional photog rapher in 1997 after taking a group of Duke students to the World Youth Festival in Havana, Cuba.. Today, Heagins lives and works in Durham. His work can be found in the permanent collections of the Smithsonian Anacostia Community Museum, the North Carolina Museum of Art in Raleigh and the Casa de Africa in Havana, among others. Heagins’ photography examines peri ods of revolution, social justice, the Black experience in America, gentrification, and poverty. It provides an opportunity for the viewer to engage with diverse communi ties from a perspective that educates, and, as he puts it, “tells the story that the sitter wantsSincetold.”2015, he has photographed the transgender community in Cuba. It is one of the latest focuses of his oeuvre that has been rooted in capturing a wide cultural spectrum through documentary photography. Describing himself as a fine art documentary photographer he has traveled the world capturing the lives of people who are often seen as “other” for over twenty years.
According to Heagins, images of transgender people are often based on stereotypical activities, such as pride parades or sex work. “My intention was to create a counter narrative that locates and balances the lives, through images, those photographed in documentary style portraits,” he states in a project for Lens Culture called “I Still Love You …” The body of work is meant to show resilience, strength and perseverance against transphobia in a male-dominated, or machismo, culture. During a virtual talk with the artist-led photography collective, Six Feet, Heagins said that his time in Cuba shaped every thing in his work. Instead of photograph ing a lot of the street scenes, he made a connection with a Cuban couple who in the years that followed would lead to re markable access into the lives and homes of the country’s residents. He has photo graphed there ever since, along with series in Haiti, Durham and at multiple Black Lives Matter protests across the country. When asked about his interest in photographing the transgender commu nity, Heagins, who identifies as straight and cisgender, recalled the bullying he received growing up in a Black high school where big and brute athletes were heroes. Being on the smaller side all his life, Heagins got picked on and called “gay” and “homosexual.”
“Instead of walking away and distanc ing myself from that, I decided to embrace it,” he said during the talk. “Everyone I thought was gay or homosexual, or what ever label we put on them now, I made them my best friends and they were the folks I hung out with.” That open ness to HomophobiaDaytheconjunctioncelebrationtry’sduringwoman,metcommunityawarenessbringingsomethingittographs.ingpeoplerealizedingandprofessionalcontinuedrelationshipsbuildingintohiscareerwhileworkinCuba,hethattranskeptshowupinhisphoHemadehismissiontodoaboutmoretotheandayoungtransNomi,thecounannualPrideheldinwithInternationalAgainstand Transphobia (IDAHOT). Cuba, under the Castro regime, imprisoned gay men or sent them to reeducation camps in the 1970s. Homosexuality was seen as inconsistent with the hyper-masculine ideals of the government. The country has changed a lot over the last several years. Under the guid ance of former President Raul Castro’s daughter and LGBTQ rights activist, Mariela, the coun try’s constitution now bans “any form of discrimination harmful to human dignity.” Gender reas signment surgery and hormone replacement therapy initially became available free of charge under the national healthcare system in 2008. However, many members of the LGBTQ com munity remain estranged from their families. “I understand the sting of being ‘othered’ in a community you supposedly belong to,” said Heagins. He describes meet ing this young group of trans women in Cuba that he would photograph for years as an amazingHeaginsexperience.workwill be on display at CAM Raleigh from October 11, 2022 through March 12, 2023. The museum is planning a series of events recognizing Trans Day of Awareness, held the last day of March each year, during the final week of the exhibition. More infor mation will be posted on the museum’s website as it becomes available at https:// camraleigh.org. : :
CAM Raleigh Showcases the Work of documentary photographer Titus Brooks Heagins in feature exhibition this October by Chris Rudisill Qnotes Contributor Sábado en el Parque CREDIT: Photo by Titus Brooks Heagins / Lens Culture Ebonee, photo by Titus Brooks Heagins / CAM Raleigh
Photography and transgender representation
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On Saturday, Aug. 27, the something great Sodahpop speaks of could be wit nessed coming to life at a well-attended local venue in Charlotte. Enthusiastic spectators, community organizations and participants came together for the School’s N Session Delux Ball. Commentary was delivered by the rhythmic and rousing voices of Boom Balenciaga and Big Mama Luxe who kept an anticipatory crowd well engaged. Community members joined in with sponsorship and in person support. Organizations like Rain, the Mecklenburg County Health Department and Quality Comprehensive Health Center’s PowerHouse Project 2.0 were on site pro viding free HIV testing, safe sex supplies, monkeypox vaccines and health aware nessIninformation.customaryballroom fashion, the School’s N Session Delux Ball was filled with energy. In front of a lengthy buffet table, an ample group of judges stoi cally sat as numerous houses sashayed, dropped, posed and flaunted their cre ative movements and style in categories like Schoolgirl Realness and Realness With a Twist. Participants were well received, with Houses like Trel Del Core, an Atlantabased house founded in Charlotte, delight ing viewers with an eye-popping fierce sense of style that garnered them a win in the Best Dressed category.
QNOTES STAFF WRITER feature
“There are lots of folks who started in allroom, because ballroom gave them space to do the things that they love to do behind closed doors and were naturally gifted at. Things like hair. We have many who came from ballroom but are now do ing hair for stars.
“One person, Tokyo, who actually makes lace fronts has made wigs for the Kardashians. Ballroom has set many cre ative folks in a direction [to realize] what they had was something great.”
10 Qnotes Sept 2.-Sept. 15, 2022
From Icons to New Houses, Ballroom Continues to Thrive BY L’MONIQUE KING
B y now many of us are familiar with the television series “Pose,” based on the New York ballroom house community and the lives of numerous trans women of color. For those who aren’t as well acquainted, know this: Though the show has been cited for problematic instances and historical inac curacies that seem to reinforce colorism within the Black community, “Pose” is also pretty accurate in telling the story of what life for a trans woman of color can be like and the LGBT community’s handling of the AIDS crisis. Equally relevant is how the creativity of Ballroom has influenced everything from dance to language. Nope, neither Malcolm McClaren nor Madonna created voguing; it was co-opted from ballroom. It’s true, both confirmed that themselves, so we’re not spilling any new tea or throwing anyone shade. Ballroom houses were created out of a community’s dire need for safety, support and housing. When many LGBT folks (mostly gay men and drag queens) found themselves homeless and often dependent on sex work for survival, these houses that graced balls took them in and provided safe havens after their biologi cal families turned their backs on them, their supposed loved ones, and pitched them into the streets. In houses, members found new family and familial structure that closely immolated birth families. Houses were headed by affirming mothers who led families of LGBT sisters, brothers, aunties and uncles. More simply, think of it this way: Houses are families and balls are the party where family proudly performs.
Trel Del Core House members Frecklez and Richy Rich were proud to display elab orately embellished formal wear styled by
Ballroom culture in the Carolinas
The LGBT community has lived a long sad history of oppression, discrimination and abandonment from communities and biological families that didn’t understand or support journeys of self-discovery and expression, which seemed to go against mainstream culture. In the 20th century, New York’s Black and Latinx LGBTQ sub culture has been credited with creating and continuing the ballroom scene. However, a closer look at the origins of ballroom reveal that it actually began in the 1920s. At that time, the ballroom scene was dominated by white gay male drag performers and drag fashion shows. That all changed in the ‘60s during America’s Black Power movement when the Black (and Latinx) LGBT community, tired of the racist and non-inclusive ball culture, started their own ballroom scene. By the 1970s, ballroom culture had be gun to explode, and balls contained many more performance categories than they had previously. Today, ball culture and the creativity it exudes can be experienced and felt in most major cities and some smaller ones, too. In the Carolinas, houses and ball cul ture are thriving. In the Carolinas, self-identified butch queen Sodahpop, also known as Armani Khan Chanel Prodigy, was the first Mother of the Carolina’s “Armani” house and one of the first area ball perform ers to be inducted into the Carolina’s Ballroom Hall of Fame. Performing since 1996 in Atlanta, Sodahpop has been immersed in ball cul ture for more than 25 years. Representing many different houses while most often performing in the category of “Realness With a Twist” – males who are passable as straight and vogue as ultra femme men –Sodahpop had quite a bit to add regard ing the creativity of ballroom culture. According to the iconic performer, what’s creative about ballroom is “everything.” Sodahpop aims to make readers aware of the many aspects that make up ballroom. “You have to realize that voguing in itself is nothing more than a checkmark on the list of what is creative about ballroom. Other aspects include how you actually get to see a lot of young (primarily African Americans) who are creating trend setting [clothing] designs. “A lot of mainstream designers are actually influenced by ballroom. From the Carolinas you have Giovani West, a design er in ballroom who is also the personal designer for [singer] Fantasia,” Sodahpop continues. “And there’s Mimi West. She’s also an amazing designer. Mimi is from New York City and is actually a boy, but in ballroom, a she could be a him or a her.
When asked what makes “The Iconic Haus of Marie LaVeau” different from others, Jamison explains: “The fact that we operate as an actual family. Our house kids call us day and night for advice, career development or just a place to crash.” He also emphasized that any young person wanting to join is welcome to reach out for an interview with the house founders. Jamison can be reached through Haus Marie LaVeau on the social media plat form Instagram at https://bit.ly/3cy0kFr
Sept 2.-Sept. 15, 2022 Qnotes 11 their house’s own Icon Jovan. Christopher “Richy Rich” Freeman offered a widely ac cepted fashion ideal when asked how he felt about the win: “It’s not what you wear, it’s how you wear it.” The dapper twosome were eager to share info on Trel Del Core’s fast track to success: They’re a relatively new fashion house that just started in 2021 with a membership of 25 and grew to over 100 in less than six months.
Those showing the level of interest and commitment to community service embraced by the house can look forward to being welcomed into the family. In the meantime, ballroom culture will continue to bolster the self-esteem of par ticipants while inspiring creativity with a level of fierceness that can only be birthed by the LGBTQ community. : :
For those who want to start participat ing in ballroom before they’re old enough for professional competition outside of ballroom, there’s kiki. Kiki house balls are less competitive versions of the ballroom scene. They are also geared towards younger audiences who may not have the access or money required for extravagant outfits and competition fees. Erik Jamison, also known as E.J. “Pierre” LaVeau, is founding father of the newly formed Charlotte-based “The Iconic Haus of Marie LaVeau.” Along with co-founders Alyson and La’Rose Sainte, Jamison is fo cused on creating a kiki house that centers community service and youth develop ment. The kiki house’s name is a nod to Marie LaVeau, a Voodoo queen of New Orleans who holistically healed the infirmed, granted gifts to the poor and underprivi leged and oversaw spiritual rites cer emonies.Cultivating youth and young adults, from seven to 30 years old, to take on leadership roles is something Jamison looks forward to being part of. “Our youngest current member is an eightyear-old girl whose father is also in volved in the house. He walks the best dressed category,” says members“AllJamison.ofyourhave tal ents, and everyday members are dis covering new talents within themselves as a result of interacting with other house members,” Jamison offers, as he reflects on the creativity of ball culture. “[They are] talents beyond fashion and design, like cooking, creative writing, poetry and dance.”
Dr. Darrin enjoys participating and mastering the category of Butch Queen All American Runway, a performance reminiscent of a male modeling runway show. Clearly he knows how the creativity of ballroom has impacted many differing scenes. He was also able to shed some light on other creative connections to ballroom that many might miss. “In some ways I think ballroom pro vides opportunities to increase confidence in many people. When I started walking my category, I was projecting a different persona. You have to really own your category, the look, the energy and be will ing to be judged because it’s an extremely judgmental group of people allowing you to continue or not. So, for me, if I could get 10s in my category I could then exude [that level of] confidence in my profession al life as well. Creativity is a large part of it too. Once you start in ballroom, you’re not going to have it all together. You’re new, don’t know how you’ll be perceived, and so you look at anything you can for inspira tion, from ballroom to pop culture.”
The creativity of Ballroom culture seems to creep into many aspects of mainstream culture. Many of the looks of ballroom can be seen outside of the event spaces. Sometimes ballroom’s influence is as obvious and tangible as dance, clothing design and wigs. During other times the connections might not seem as noticeable. In 2006 Legendary Dr. Darrin, also known as “Hypnotic” Blahnik, was a Project Coordinator for the program d-up! – a Charlotte HIV intervention and preven tion program for Black men who are gay, bisexual or have sex with other men. A year later, Dr. Darrin co-coordinated and developed the d-up! Ball. It was attended by over 1500 people and offered partici pants $6000 in prize money.
The number of entries in the parade 108 — The number of parade entries with a vehicle or float of some kind 45 — The number of floats in the parade 9,230 — The estimated number of individual marchers in the parade 15 — The number of hours of entertainment on the main stage 30 — The com bined number of hours entertainmentof on the main communitystage,stage, and in Flourish: A Celebration of LGBTQ Arts and Loungeinnumberapproximate600Culture—Theofgueststhisyear’sVIP 5,600 — The ap proximate number of Charlotte Pride Mobile App users 162,000 — The approximate number of pa geviews on the mobile apps home page 72,000 — The approximate number of pageviews on the Charlotte Pride website, Aug. 19-21 1,200 — The approximate number of mentions/coverage by news-media, Aug. 19-21 Help us learn more Obviously, there’s no real value we can put on Pride and no real way to measure all of the joy, empowerment, and happiness the weekend event brought to so many people. But you can help us learn more about the weekend event, its economic impact, and your experiences. Your feedback will help us improve future events and continue to make the case for widespread support of LGBTQ people in Charlotte and the Carolinas. When you take the survey, you can help us finalize our number-crunching, hear important feed back and ideas, and contribute toward a bet ter understanding of this year’s successes. •Take our 2022 event survey today to give us your feedback and help us improve
By the numbers 275,000 — The initial estimate of how many visitors attended the festival and parade over the 210weekend—Thenumber of vendors at this year’s 194festival—
BY MATT COMER (HE/HIM), DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS
Charlotte Pride 2022: by the numbers
After a three-year pandemic hiatus, Charlotte Pride shatters records on its successful return to Uptown
As we continue to review this year’s events, we thought we’d share just a little bit more about the successes of this events, measured in a variety of ways.
12 Qnotes Sept 2.-Sept. 15, 2022 It’s been three years since Uptown Charlotte played host to the massive sea of rainbow-adorned people attending each year’s Charlotte Pride Festival and Parade. Three long years of virtual-only or small and limited socially-distanced activities could never really replace the special meaning and significance of a full-scale, in-person event. Last fall, we were all still a little uncertain what the future would hold. We took a waitand-see approach around October, when we should have originally started planning this year’s events. Vaccines were still being rolled out, and we weren’t certain what new variants or waves of COVID might do. As the new year rolled around, it seemed like we had turned a pandemic corner, and in late January, made the decision to move forward with this year’s in-person festival and We’reparade.glad we did!And by the looks of how many smiling faces we saw on the streets of Uptown a couple week ends ago — it looks like all of you were happy to be back, too! By all ac counts, the 2022 Charlotte Pride Festival and Parade was a smashing success. It’s a testament to the incredibly hard work, dedication, commit ment, and passion of our volunteers. Words can’t really describe the amount of effort, creativity, and ingenuity it took to jumpstart a massive event-planning engine that had sat dormant since 2019. If you haven’t yet al ready, be sure to thank our volunteer lead ers the next time you see them; they’ve certainly earned the praise. Our volunteers, our sponsors, our part ners with the city and county, our festival vendors, and parade entries — and each and every person in our community who attended — each and every single one of you can lay claim to the success of this year. Because of your commitment and decision to brave the threat of rain and storms (which never came!), Charlotte Pride smashed its previous in-person attendance record of 200,000 visitors over the weekend. We’re still crunching all the final numbers, but our initial 2022 attendance estimate came in at 275,000 — quite simply the single largest gathering of LGBTQ people in the his tory of Charlotte, or anywhere else in the Carolinas for that matter.
***SPONSORED CONTENT***
Charlotte Ballet 701https://charlotteballet.org/N.TRYONST.CHARLOTTE, NC 28202 704. 372.0101
PRIDE FESTIVALS
Festival in the Park Sept. 16-18 Freedom Park 1908 East Blvd. Time Vary In its 55th season, attendees can stroll around the park’s lake and get a glimpse of the work of artisans from across numerous mediums. Entertainment is provided on a number of stages across the festival footprint. And, there’s a plethora of food choices, too! festivalinthepark.org.
Take a jaunt to the North Carolina moun tains in October and early November to see the brilliant fall colors while relaxing at one of numerous bed and breakfast loca tions, as well as other accommodations. Check locations for websites for more information. Or, enjoy a camping, canoe, kayaking or other outdoor adventure before the weather turns cold! There’s always something fun to do.
Head out for some fall fun BY LAINEY MILLEN & TOMMIE PRESSLEY
Pig out at this festival held in the town famous for its pit-cooked pork. After you sample the barbecue, enjoy music, craft vendors, a car show and more. barbecuefestival.com.
*One Voice Chorus
Fall festival adds color to the Carolinas
Levine Center of the arts 430 South Tryon St. Charlotte bechtler.org704-372-1000
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Nov. 19-20 Luck’s Cannery 798 Pottery Hwy. NC-705, Seagrove This festival showcases the works of more than 100 potters in what is consid ered to be the Pottery Capital of the U.S. Meet potters and other local artisans and see them at work on their creative pieces. discoverseagrove.com.
One of the largest fall festivals in the Queen City, this one-day event includes performances, games, food, drinks, bake sale, face painting and activities, crafts and vendors, plus door prizes and giveaways. Admission is free. bit.ly/2Hfdogm.
Ovens Auditorium 2700 Independence Blvd. boplex.com704-372-3600Charlotte
Actor’s Theater of Charlotte Phone: 704-342-2251 2132 Radcliffe Ave. Charlotte, NC 28207 Offices & Mailing Address: 1900 Selwyn Ave. #1252 Charlotte, NC 28274
*Women’s Chours of Charlotte 704-549-0661Charlotte,POGMCCharlotte.orgBox560661NC28256-0661
*Gay Men’s Chorus of Charlotte 704-549-0661Charlotte,POGMCCharlotte.orgBox560661NC28256-0661
Well, summer is winding down, but you’d hardly think so with the blistery heat we’ve experienced this year. Never fear! To cool things down a bit, we’ve assembled a sampling of fall festivals that will usher in the season and provide for a fun-filled time across the Carolinas.
YiasouFESTIVALSGreek Festival Sept. 5-8 Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church 600 East Blvd., Charlotte TimesTakeVaryastep into the Grecian world for this long-running festival that began in 1978 that brings tasty food, entertainment, dance competitions and exhibitions, church tours, lectures, cooking demonstrations, shopping, kids playland and more. For months prior to the event, Charlotte area cooks and restaurants prepare desserts and plated meal components that are staple for festival goers. (Personally, I don’t know how they do it! The lines for plates are long, but so worth it!) They even have a drive-up food service for those on the go. Tickets are $3 and are available in advance or at the gate. yiasoufestival.org.
Apple Harvest Festival Oct. 15 Main St., HailedWaynesvilleasoneofthe 10 Best Fall Harvest Festivals in the Nation, this festival is a celebration of the autumn harvest. Countless booths of fresh apple pies, tarts, caramel apples, ciders, jewelry, pottery and yard art will be present. Try your hand at hand-cranking ice cream or pressing apple cider, then taste the fruit of your labor. Live music, dancing, crafts and oldfashioned games abound! bit.ly/2ZfhMWL. Barbeque Festival Oct. 22 Various Lexington,LocationsN.C.
| QNOTES STAFF WRITER
Uptown Amphitheater at NC Music Factory 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd Charlotte livemu.sc/3pQX9f7704-916-8970
Sept 2.-Sept. 15, 2022 Qnotes 13
Charleston Pride Week Nov. Festival13 on Sept. 14 charlestonpride.org. Outer Banks (OBX) Pridefest Sept. 16-18 Nags Head, N.C. obxpridefest.com. Greensboro Pride Festival Sept. Greensboro,18 N.C. greensboropride.org. Catawba Valley Pride Festival Sept. Hickory,10 N.C. catawbavalleypride.org. Blue Ridge Pride Festival Sept. Asheville,24 N.C. blueridgepride.org. Pride Durham Sept. Durham,24 N.C. pridedurhamnc.org. NC Pride Sept. Raleigh,28 N.C. bit.ly/2NiunSH. Famously Hot South Carolina Pride Oct. Columbia,14 S.C. scpride.org. Alamance Pride Festival Oct. Burlington,11 N.C. alamancepride.org. Upstate Pride Sept. Spartanburg,8 S.C. upstatepridesc.org.
FallPOTPOURIColors
University of North Carolina at Charlotte Barnhardt Student Activity Center 9201 University City Blvd., Charlotte 10 a.m.-6 p.m. This one-day festival honors the culture of over 50 nations and began in 1975. Enjoy music, dance and other activities that showcase international flavors. Admission and parking for the event are free. Check the website for directions to parking. ifest.uncc.edu. Carolina Balloon Fest Oct. 14-16 Statesville, N.C. (check the website for directions to park ing and transportation to launch site) Gates open at 3 p.m., opening day; 7 a.m., following days It’s up and away with hot air balloon flights scheduled twice daily — early morn ing and late afternoon. All ballooning activi ties including static display, tethered rides and balloon flights are weather-dependent. Kick back and watch the flights and sights, live music, Artisan Village, food and craft beer and wine and more. Check the website for the full list of events during the festival. carolinabaloonfest.com.
Blumenthal Performing Arts 704.372.1000Charlotte,Belkhttps://www.blumenthalarts.org/Theater,130N.TryonSt,NC28202
* Gay organizations
International Festival Sept. 16- Oct. 2
South Carolina Black Pride Aug. Columbia,25-28 southcarolinablackpride.com.S.C.
PNC Music Pavilion 707 Pavilion Blvd Charlotte Concert Line: charlottemusicpavilion.com704-549-5555
*Reel Out Charlotte noCharlotte,POcharlottepride.org/reeloutBox32362NC28232phonecontactonwebsite
Elizabeth Roddey Dowd Opera Center 1600 Elizabeth Ave Charlotte, NC 28204 https://operacarolina.org/704.332.7177 Theatre Charlotte 501704-376-3777https://www.theatrecharlotte.org/QueensRoadCharlotte,NC
Celebration of Seagrove Potters
noCharlotte,POonevoicechorus.comBox9241NC28299phonecontacton website
Charlotte arts organizations and venues
VAPA Center 704-806-9584Charlotte,700VAPAcenter.comN.TryonSt.NC28202
*Charlotte Pride Band noCharlotte,POcharlotteprideband.orgBox11566NC28220phonecontentonwebsite
14 Qnotes Sept 2.-Sept. 15, 2022
BY LAUREN LEWIS QNOTES CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Think before you speak (and espe cially before you type). Don’t make your life or your lawyer’s job harder. It’s much easier to advocate for a reasonable resolution if your lawyer doesn’t also have to explain away a verbal altercation, a name-calling tirade or inap propriate comments made from parent to child, which is all made even harder when the words are printed.
So many things we do to take care of ourselves are routine. If you break your arm, you caredivorcemanagetoresourcesdentalyeardentistYouthedoctorthinkimmediatelytogotothetotreatproblem.gotothetwiceatopreventissues.Similarly,existhelpyouyourandtakeofyourself in the process while also preventing more detrimental harm. Mediators, co-parenting therapists and parenting coordinators (who assist families in high-conflict divorc es) can help you discuss and resolve dis putes so that you and your ex can evolve into the next iteration of your relationship, moving on from intimate partners. Divorce coaches, life coaches and individual therapists provide a resource to process the circumstances while also helping you get unstuck. Financial advisors and certified divorce financial analysts can help you get back on track for savings and retirement after divorce. Realize there are trained professionals available who can help improve your outlook on life and the divorce process. Make the call. You’re worth the investment. Pay attention to your lawyer’s advice. Your lawyer is trained to be your advocate, and you’re paying good money for her advice. Share relevant information with your lawyer and make sure you keep her updated as things evolve. Legal advice is fact-specific, so as facts or circumstanc es change, so might your lawyer’s advice. Be a good steward of your own dollars and be forthright and responsive with your lawyer. But, don’t let your lawyer stand in your way. You don’t forfeit all responsibility for yourself and your actions by hiring a lawyer, and you also don’t lose your voice. Your lawyer shouldn’t stand in your way of resolving your case on your terms. Ultimately, your lawyer wants what’s best for you, and part of that process for lawyers is ensuring you know all of your options and pros and cons of each option. If you have ideas of resolution or ap proach, share them with your lawyer. If you feel like the path of your legal case is straying from your goals of a peace ful resolution, talk to your lawyer about otherFamilyoptions.lawyers have a unique obliga tion – not just opportunity – to influence the path and outcome of your divorce. The words and tone lawyers use throughout a case – especially at the outset – affect the trajectory of the issues. If lawyers do not take opportunities to dial down conflict, you and your ex won’t be able to either. Find a lawyer whose focus and method meets your need.
How to deal with animosityand conflict in divorce Legal Eagle
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Remember the long game – you reap what you sow.
Utilize investment.worthsionalsprofes–you’rethe
As a family law attorney with more than two decades of experience handling divorce cases for straight and gay couples alike, here are my suggestions for how to handle and emerge from divorce so that you and your children can thrive.
The end of a marriage brings chal lenges. How you navigate those challenges in the moment affects your long-term happiness and success. That’s not rocket science, but it’s also not unrelated to the success of your legal case. What people often don’t realize is that these times of crisis – dividing marital finances, determining custody of children and rediscovering your personal identity irrespective of your partner – have a keen way of affecting you even when you think you are staying afloat. Remembering to stay committed to what’s important to you can help you thrive and not just survive.
Social media posts have a strong presence in the divorce world. You can’t escape them even if you later delete or revise your post. Inevitably, someone has a screenshot. Words matter. Your ex is no longer your sounding board or pseudo-therapist. Redirect those per sonal downloads and elsewhere.outbursts
Lauren V. Lewis is a family law attorney with Essex Richards, P.A. in Charlotte. Her work involves issues of child custody, child support, alimony, equitable distribution, separation agreements, premarital agree ments, postnuptial agreements, and other family law issues. She is active in collabora tive family law and a member of Charlotte Collaborative Divorce Professionals. Lewis is a NC-board-certified family law specialist, a certified parenting coordinator, and guard ian ad litem. : :
Much of life can seem like a self-fulfilling prophecy, and the same is true in divorce. The adage of treat ing people how you want to be treated still rings true. You embarkingareon a new era of en gaging with your ex in a different way, a new way. Perhaps that will be as co-parents for the rest of yourThelives.time you spend now try ing to take the high road, find the silver lining, or self-controlmaintain will serve you Rememberwell.toconsider your goals in your divorce and ensure they include a focus on how you want life to look on the other side.
Sept 2.-Sept. 15, 2022 Qnotes 15
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16 Qnotes Sept 2.-Sept. 15, 2022 From Gay to Z: A CompendiumJustinQueerElizabeth Sayre ©2022, Chronicle Books L$24.95ittle things mean a lot. A tiny kiss, a love note written on a scrap of paper, you know how you cherish those things. If you can keep them in your pock et, on a keychain, or tucked in a satchel, all the better because importance isn’t measured by volume. Little things mean a lot, and in the new book “From Gay to Z” by Justin Elizabeth Sayre, they all add up perfectly. For most of your life, you’ve been fed a steady died of history, but what do you know about gay history, pop culture and stand-out activists? Everything you don’t know about your GayBCs is in tiny entries in thisTake,book.for instance, drag, or a method of performance that Sayre thinks “queer people have always participated in...” Drag is performance, but it’s also campy the ater, “empowerment,” and “a chance to... get to be the person you always wanted to be.” Check out this entry, and the one for RuPaul.Inyour GayBCs are places to meet, dance, play, vacation and a lot of New York and San Francisco hotspots, both current and otherwise. “So much of New York is gone,” says Sayre, and some are im mortalized here. And, by the way, do you speakInsidePolari?this book, you’ll read about trailblazers like Christine Jorgensen, contro versy-makers like Robert Mapplethorpe and Chelsea Manning, activists like Marsha P. Johnson and the male We’wha of the Zuni tribe, who lived as “femalebodied people.” You’ll find notable per formers from then and now in this book; for instance, do you know who Wayland Flowers and his sidekick Madame were? If so, you’ll enjoy the entry for Liberace, too – and if not, then read about Lil Nas X, Billy Porter, Brandi Carlisle, Freddie Mercury and dozens of LGBTQ allies and “icons.” You’ll also find entries about notable LGBTQ-owned newspapers, as well as authors, play wrights, movies and moviemakers. In the introduction for “From Gay to Z,” author Justin Elizabeth Sayres says that there was no way “of boiling down the entirety of queer culture into one book.” It’s true: Just page through and you’ll likely spot AWOL entries almost immediately (What? No Danica Roem? No Bettie Page?). No worries: You’ll also instantly see something else that Sayres promises – lighthearted humor. There’s so much goodness packed between the covers of “From Gay to Z” that you almost don’t know where to start. Be conventional, and begin with “A” or take a chance and flip open the book at random. There’s something in teresting, either way. Sayres goes pretty far back into gay history for the entries chosen, but there’s plenty for a modern reader, or for someone who’s recently out, or who badly needs a brush-up on history. Each entry is quick to read, too, so no commitment is required. Even so, this book is like a bag of potato chips. You can’t help but dip into “From Gay to Z” until it’s gone. Little things mean a lot, but in this case they mean great big fun. : :
BY TERRI CONTRIBUTINGSCHLICHENMEYERWRITER
“From Gay to Z: A Queer Compendium” Out in Print
BY JACK KIRVEN QNOTES CONTRIBUTOR life
that is beneficial to survival. That is why energy dense foods are deli cious, kindness is mine.“deaf”dotoThecreateandcomforting,sexandloveecstasy.challengeismakesurewenotbecometodopaInindustrial ized nations during the first part of the 21st century, anxiety and depression are becoming ever more common. This is happening, despite the fact that these places enjoy food stability, relative peace and security, prosperity and opportunities. Researchers speculate that the reason this is happening is because people have become addicted to pleasure and joy. Whereas we evolved to enjoy fleeting happiness in a dangerous world, we didn’t evolve to enjoy unending happiness in a boringTheone.hypothesis goes that (quasi-simi larly to insulin insensitivity) overexposure to dopamine changes the functioning of the brain to such an extent that mood cannot be properly regulated without ever larger doses of it. Over time this ad diction to joy becomes a cause of despair. It is a classic example of “too much of a goodWhetherthing.” it be extreme sports, power fully flavored foods, explosive movies and video games, multitasking, life hacking or any other number of examples, we live in a world that stimulates us far too much. And to make it even more complicated, this expectation of constant engage ment and delight has been monetized and turned into one of the underlying principles of our economy and culture. Everything, everywhere, at all times needs to be comfortable, happy, delicious, beau tiful, amazing and fun, fun, fun! I certainly don’t mean to suggest that there is no healthy place for hedonism. I mean only that we should be aware of anhedonia. At what point does a total excess of delight become a total absence of delight? Anhedonia is the inability to feel pleasure. And that can have terrible consequences. It is known that the absence of joy and pleasure is a direct cause and/or symptom of depression and other mental health disorders. It is therefore vital to find the balance between stimulation and rest that fosters long term contentment, as opposed to unrelenting joy. It’s rather ironic that the same culture that sells stimulation has also commodified calm. We pay for access to overstimulation, then we pay for access to relief. One industry sells us sugar, the other sells us fiber pills. One sells boot camp exercise sessions, the other yoga class passes. Have you made your appointment for a massage during your layover at the connecting airport? We pay to get sped up and slowed down, but ultimately it’s our mental health that pays the bill. : :
Sept 2.-Sept. 15, 2022 Qnotes 17
The only part of our body that is sentient is our brain. Within the brain we can formulate all sorts of thought, perception, significance and reason. The rest of our body is comprised essentially of water-filled protein sacs that are interconnected with electricity. And although you (as in, the “you” that exists in your mind) can experience something and respond in a thoughtful way, your body cannot. Your body “speaks” a language based on chemical reactions, and it func tions without you having to understand how or why. This chemical “language” is hormones. In our way of anthropomorphizing, we have a tendency to describe their function as “telling” such and such to happen in the body. They don’t tell, command, commu nicate or transfer anything. They induce other chemical responses, and the cascad ing causes and effects effectuate a physi cal response, not an intellectual one. If, however, it is helpful to think of hormones as speaking/telling, then something to know is that they can talk too much.
I’m sure you have had the experience where you wish someone would just shut up: “Please be quiet. I cannot take anymore. I’m now going to tune you out. I know you are talking, but I can no lon ger process everything you are saying. I am overwhelmed and burned out. Blah, blah, blah…” In a metaphorical sense, this blabber ing can happen with your hormones. One increasingly common example in indus trialized countries is insulin insensitivity. In this instance, the physical receptors in cells that accommodate insulin are physi cally damaged by their constant exposure to it — the receptors get literally worn out. Insulin is the hormone that “tells” your body to store surplus food energy as fat. Poor quality diets tend to spike insulin levels insulintoinsulin.becomemuch“screaming”thelouder.”thelin,“ignore”The“told”“commands”ingeventuallyfrequently,numbcellstothebeingtothem.cellsbegintotheinsuwhichcausesinsulinto“yellEventuallyinsulinissothatthecells“deaf”toThisneedgeneratemoretogetthe same net effect is the cause of diabetes and other metabolic disor ders.Although it is a different mechani cal process, this should sound familiar. Having to get a larger quantity of some thing to maintain the same effect is com mon in addiction. Whether it be nicotine, alcohol, pain killers, illegal drugs or other substances, higher doses are required to satisfy cravings. Dopamine is often one of the hormones directly affected by ad dictive behaviors, and the spikes can be affected by emotional stimulation, in addi tion to physical ones. All sorts of substances, situations, behaviors and experiences can become addictive, in the sense that if anything happens enough, your response to it will become diminished. Dopamine is the hormone
totodoserewardsforthatandfoods,evolvedpleasurable.wardinggratifying,somethingthatpartstimulatesthattheofyourbrainprocessesasreand/orWetoenjoysituationsexperiencesaregoodus.Ourbrainuswithaofdopamineencourageusdosomething
Addiction to Joy: Constant pleasure depresses us Health and Wellness
Saxophonist, composer and conduc tor Donny McCaslin collaborated with David Bowie on his final album, “Blackstar.” Now as artistic director and co-music director, he’s collaborating with the Charlotte Symphony on their produc tion of “Blackstar Symphony,” which stages September 16-17 at the Belk Theater Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. The renowned musical artist’s introduc tion to David Bowie came during McCaslin’s high school years, when he first heard
DAM: Tell us about that house in New Orleans.
Photo by Matthew Placek.
The presentation, a live staged homage to Bowie and his final album, will include music from “Blackstar,” as well as some of his earlier Mitchellrecordings.isagayman who also identi fies as non-binary, but usually only when asked and typically with a slight chuckle.
Donny McCaslin Photo Credit: Jimmy Fontaine
by David Aaron Moore Qnotes Staff Writer by David Aaron Moore Qnotes Staff Writer
JCM: Well, I grew up in a military family. We moved around in the states and in Europe, so we didn’t have regular American TV or music or what was in the theater. We got some top 40 pop music now and then and that was my way in as a kid during the seventies. There really was an eclecticism that was welcome. Anything could sort of be a hit. I had this very soulful funk side, which was just part of growing up in the military and being ex posed to so many different kinds of music. But by the end of the decade people were starting to draw lines and started move ments like Disco Sucks and Rock Rules. There was a lot of homophobia involved in that. Now rock is out and dance music is in, even for the straight kids that might have called you a fag when you were a kid! I love all kinds of dance music but with contemporary stuff, lazy use of electronics feels like fascism to me. My dance music comes out of funk and soul and disco and Brazilian music.
DAM: Tell us about some of your own earlier musical influences.
As part of the Charlotte International Arts Festival, actor, singer, com poser, DJ and artist John Cameron Mitchell will perform with the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra in “Blackstar Symphony: the Music of David Bowie” on the Belk Theater stage at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center, September 16-17.
John especiallyrealthankfully,controlledoneYork.WestapartmentMitchell:CameronI’minmyintheVillageofNewIt’salittlebedroomrentunit,becauseestateisdestiny,inNewYork.
JCM: I think coming out in the early ‘80s really connected me more to performers like Bowie and Iggy Pop and Lou Reed, but I lived in Scotland in the ‘70s during the glam era and I was allowed to watch this show called “Top of The Pops.” I remem ber back then seeing all these perform ers like Bowie, Marc Bolan, Sweet and all these other bands, but Bowie was head and shoulders above them all because he was an artist. In 1979 I [saw] Bowie was on Saturday Night live and Klaus Nomie and Joey Arias were singing back up in this insane performance with clothes by Thierry Mugler. Bowie was doing “Boys Keep Swinging” with a marionette body, and “The Man Who Fell to Earth.” That was it for me – the beginning of finding my way through Bowie. For more details on The Charlotte International Arts Festival and Blackstar Symphony, visit https://www.blumen thalarts.org/. : :
JCM: It used to be a cult church and I like that it’s got a lot of energy in it. It’s got a ballroom and I want to have salons and I want to have events there that are not necessarily money making, not money making at all I’m sure, and just add some community. It’s just a very special place. New Orleans is one of the few cities that really still has its soul intact. It’s definitely affected by all the same housing shortages we have everywhere else, but it’s almost like its own city state and it has so many elements of the old French, the Spanish, the Cajun, the Caribbean and the Creole.
It’s just it’s exactly the melting pot that ev erything else was supposed to be. In many ways it’s kind of falling apart or be ing held together by hair pins, but it’s very livable in certain ways. It attracts a lot of creative people. New York is about making it. LA is more about fame, looks and money. In New Orleans you get people who are making art for art’s sake, which is the right reason to do whatever it is an artist wants to do.
‘Hedwig’ star John Cameron Mitchell performsin David Bowie tribute Mitchell to sing with Charlotte Symphony in ‘Blackstar Symphony’
DAM: Did you know or work with David Bowie previously?
JCM: Steven Handel, who is a Broadway producer reached out. He’s just a very pure producer. He realizes the work is much more important than the money. It’s exciting to be doing the music of David Bowie. I’m not trying to imitate David Bowie, I’m doing them my way, but I am definitely Bowie inspired in the way I perform.
Bowie’s recordings of “Modern Love” and “Let’s Dance.” “Those were both huge hits and I remember dancing to them at my high school prom,” he re calls. “That was my introduction to his music, but over the years I became aware of who he was and his other recordings.” It was through McCaslin’s friend Maria Schneider, also a musician and composer, that he would come to work on Bowie’s “Blackstar” album. When the two, met McCaslin instantly felt a connection. “He was such a remarkable person. His overall demeanor, his humility, he was just a very good person and you could tell he knew what he wanted to do with his Throughoutmusic.” his career, Bowie has maintained a steady fan base in the LGBTQ com munity. As a young man, Bowie came out as gay in the January 22, 1972 issue of Melody Maker magazine just weeks after the December 1971 release of the album “Hunky Dory.” “I’m gay,” Bowie said in the pages of Melody Maker. “And I always have been. Even when I was David Jones.” On that album Bowie released the song “Queen Bitch,” which was sang in the pre dominantly used British gay vernacular of the time. Another song entitled “John, I’m Only Dancing” tells the story of a bisexual man at a dance club who encounters a gay man he has feelings for while “Hallo Space Boy” is an autobiographical look at Bowie’s own sexuality – which he would come to identify as Bisexual in his later years.
DAM: How did you come to be involved in the Bowie project?
18 Qnotes Sept 2.-Sept. 15, 2022
McCaslin agrees that Bowie’s music often had a message in it for the LGBTQ community and the struggles that so many faced during the 1970s.
JCM: Actually, Bowie asked me to look at “Ziggy Stardust” before he died to adapt for the stage, which I stupidly did not pur sue because I had just finished “Hedwig” and I was kind of burned out on rock and roll. I did reach out to his estate later and they were very sweet, but they said that they felt his intentions were not to do that.
John Cameron Mitchell: ‘Bowie was an artist.’
But I also bought a house in New Orleans last year and I’m kind of collecting things for that. I just got back from Canada where I commissioned a stained glass piece of my favorite gospel singer Mavis Staples. I did a crazy road trip because I couldn’t really fly it because it is so delicate. The artist is one of the best stained glass people I’ve ever heard of, his name is Haydyn Butler. He also did a David Bowie “Black Star” piece – totally independent from the video, and I bought that from him, too.
DAM: When did you discover the music of David Bowie?
David Aaron Moore: Where are you right now? What part of the planet are you on?
“I think the music and lyrics speak for themselves, but there is something that is just kind of innately built in to many of the songs he recorded. It’s a beautiful thing.”: :
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“Somebody asked me if I identified as nonbinary, and I liked the way it sounded, so I said sure. The quote just kind of took off from there,” he says with a laugh. A man of many talents, Mitchell captured the world’s attention and was thrust into the spotlight with his lead role portrayal of a transgender female rocker from East Germany suffering from botched bottom surgery in the film “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.” When Mitchell performs at the Belk Theater, he won’t be performing any of the music from “Hedwig.” “There will be three different per formers doing Bowie’s music,” Mitchell explains. “Myself, Gail Ann Dorsey who worked with Bowie for a long time – she’s wonderful – and David Poe. I don’t know him, but I’ve listened to him and he is incredible. We’ll break up the material into four or five each and one together.” Mitchell is genuinely excited to talk about the project and what’s going on in his life at the moment. The enthusiasm in his voice is practically palpable when we’re able to connect by phone.
Donny McCaslin works with Charlotte Symphony on ‘Blackstar’ Grammy-nominee combined talents with Bowie on artist’s final release
Sept 2.-Sept. 15, 2022 Qnotes 19
Our People: Danny Knaub
Danny Knaub was born and raised in Long Island, New York, but is quite pleased to call Charlotte home. While still in high school, Knaub’s fam ily moved from New York because they wanted their children (Danny and his older brother and older sister) to know life existed outside New York City. Fast forwarding to present day, Knaub is now a well-traveled adult with a day job he thoroughly enjoys. Currently, he serves as Vice President of the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center where he couldn’t be happier having a hand in promoting and sharing art with enthusiasts from Charlotte and surrounding areas. Most importantly though, he lives a life guided by love and acceptance. “We’re better off together, than separate,” he believes. “If we’re united as a team, we can get more accomplished.”
After being in line at the DMV, what’s sure to put a smile on your face? Traveling. I’m a big fan of exploring other cultures. I’ve been very lucky to travel to many many countries. Hands down Croatia is my favorite. It’s where my extended family is from and I’ve always felt at home when I visit that country. When you’re unable to travel, what are you doing when you’re not working? Spending time with my boyfriend, fam ily and friends. And I love cooking. Cooking is how I relax after a long day. I feel very meditative while I’m doing it. My favorite type of food to cook is Thai food. When I was in college, I worked for a Thai restau rant and the owner was nice enough to teach me her ways. So, I learned how to make a mean curry, it’s delicious. Would you mind sharing something most folks would be surprised to know about you? I’m a huge horror movie fan. My favor ite is the Scream franchise. I’ve seen those movies over 100 times. I’ve visited filming locations, most in Sonoma California and have signed movie posters. Funny story, there’s this house where the entire third act of the first film took place. I purchased tickets to view the movie with a bunch of fans in that house. It was two days before the world shut down [due to the COVID-19 Pandemic] so I didn’t get on the plane (from NYC to San Francisco). I was so mad. What’s life like for Danny Knaub 15 years from now? What do you see your self doing in the future? My ultimate dream would be to be a CEO for a performing artist center. That and happily married.
Aside from theater, what or where is your happy place? My parents’ Lake Lure home. That’s where I go to decompress. That’s where I go to feel like a kid again, water skiing and tubing. It’s also where my [siblings and extended] family goes to get together and I’m happiest when I’m surrounded by my family.
Having lived, left and returned to Charlotte, what inspired your to move back to the Queen City? “I moved back to Charlotte in 2021 from New York,” explains Knaub. “I had been working in New York City for about five years but when the pandemic hap pened, I was laid off because I worked in theatre. So, I returned to North Carolina, staying with my parents in Lake Lure. My passion is theater [even with the New York layoff] I knew something good would come out of the pandemic, I just felt it. I was applying for various organizations when I got a call from the Blumenthal. It was an embarrassment of riches. Moving back to Charlotte was good because it was an opportunity to reconnect with my family. My sister lives in Charlotte with her children, my niece and nephews.” Where in Charlotte do you live? I live in Uptown. I just bought a condo. I’m currently in the process of renovating my kitchen. My best friend from college is visiting. He’s a contractor and it’s been a lot of fun. I’m thrilled about the renova tion. I feel like I’ve rebounded from the pandemic, a year where I felt like I was at my lowest. Now I have my dream job, my dream house and my dream part ner. It just brings tears to my eyes, I’m so happy. Incredibly happy. So, a partner is part of all happiness?that Yes. We’ve been together for seven months. His name is Cristiano Gains and he is an amaz ing partner. When I met him, I just knew something was different. I was in a place in my life where I was finally accepting of love. I’d spent many years alone after a rough breakup. My favorite part is, we actually met in person. Very rare today [not meeting via a social media site or app]. He supports, loves and encourages me. He’s my biggest fan and I’m his. What do you do for the Blumenthal? I am the Vice President of Marketing. The Blumenthal presents the best of Broadway as well as concerts and plays. My job is bringing the Blumenthal to the masses. Informing everyone on what’s coming to our venues and even outside of our venues. Right now, we’re in the pro cess of launching the Inaugural Charlotte International Artist Festival [September 16 – October 2, 2022]. It is 17 days, takes place from Uptown to Ballantyne with over 200 attractions, many offered for free. The festival will feature a blending of local and international artists. We want to highlight local artists, but we’ll also have art, instal lations, thought leaders and immersive experiences with art from Charlotte to England, Scotland, Australia and other places. We really hope to reinvigorate the city by bringing families, couples and individuals together to celebrate art with a spirit of playfulness. Sounds cool. What’s the best thing about working for Blumenthal?the I know that the ater has the ability to change someone’s life for the better. So for me, I always love to be able to experi ence theater through someone else’s eyes. Whenever I’m at the Blumenthal for a show and see a little kid, I recognize myself in that kid. There’s no better feeling than expanding someone’s mind and bringing joy and celebration to them through theater.
Sounds like your family is nurturing and affirming, are they? Yes, my family is very accepting of who I am. They accept me, they accept Chris. My niece and nephews are now getting to the age where they are understanding the dynamics of a gay relationship. It’s truly a testament to my sister and my parents who have always accepted me for who I am and never once tried to change any part of that.
A Blumenthal V.P. shares his love of theater, cooking and travel
You’re fortunate to have work and home as places of support that you enjoy. Where do you not enjoy being? Well, I never want to be in line at the DMV <chuckles>
BY L’MONIQUE KING QNOTES STAFF WRITER
Says Danny Knaub: ‘Theater has the ability to change someone’s life for the better.’ Facebook
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Any final thoughts for QNotes readers? The Blumenthal has an LGBTQ+ social group called Out On The Town. I’d love for readers to visit our website and join us for our upcoming cocktail reception. It’s a safe group for us to come together and mingle over cocktails. ::
CHARLOTTE INTERNATIONAL ARTS FESTIVAL PRESENTS THE WORLD PREMIERE OF THE MUSIC OF DAVID BOWIE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR: DONNY MCCASLIN Part of CharlotteArtsFest.com GUEST ARTIST: JOHN CAMERON MITCHELL SEPT. 16-17 • BELK THEATER BLUMENTHALARTS.ORG • 704.372.1000 AT BLUMENTHAL PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
