LGBTQ Local News, Voices and Community
DEC. 24 - JAN.6, 2022|VOL 36, NO 18
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SUPERHERO FOR EQUALITY LEE ROBERTSON
Having Parties, Barhopping & Special Events. It’s That Season
Jerk Of Year Lt. Govenor Mark Robinson
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contributors this issue
Writers: Bil Browning, L’Monique King Jack Kirven, David Aaron Moore Cristal Robinson, Terri Schlichenmeyer Gregg Shapiro, Trinity
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The focus of QNotes is to serve the LGBTQ and straight ally communities of the Charlotte region, North Carolina and beyond, by featuring arts, entertainment, news and views content in print and online that directly enlightens, informs and engages the readers about LGBTQ life and social justice issues. Pride Publishing & Typesetting, Inc., dba QNotes P.O. Box 221841, Charlotte, NC 28222 ph 704.531.9988 fx 704.531.1361 Publisher: Jim Yarbrough Sales: x201 adsales@qnotescarolinas.com Nat’l Sales: Rivendell Media, ph 212.242.6863 Managing Editor: Jim Yarbrough, x201, editor@qnotescarolinas.com Copy Editor: Bailey Sides Production: Natasha Morehouse, x205, production@qnotescarolinas.com Printed on recycled paper.
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2021 Person of the Year
news
4 Former CLT Mayor and NC Gov Pat McCrory Wants to be Senator 6 Carolinas LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce Announces Partnership with NASCAR 6 Supreme Court Suspends All Candidate Filing, Moves 2022 Primary to May 17 6 NC Democrate Party Releases List of GOP Politicians Tainting the Spirit of the Holiday Season 7 Senior Gay Man, 81, Spent Almost Two Years in Prison For Having Sex
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Apperently Lt. Gov and White House Resident Donald Trump share a love for the novel “How Small Minded Men Can Make a Big Ol’ Mess.” In this article we cover how.
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2021 A Year in Review
This year, the LGBTQ Community has faced many challenges as it relates to the Equality Act. In this article we unpack this topic
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Tell Trinity Out in Print
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8 Steer Clear of COVID and Avoid Overdoing for the Holidays
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Jerk of the Year 2021 Year in Review
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news
Former CLT Mayor and NC Gov Pat McCrory Wants to be a Senator Despite Years of Intense Conservatism, Trump Supporters Are Attacking Him
by David Aaron Moore qnotes Staff Writer
T
hese days, Pat McCrory looks like a man without a home. Although he’s toted the Republican party line for decades, in his current race to seek election to the senate, he’s finding opposition from the very people he thought would support him: radical conservatives. Former White House occupant Donald Trump, viewed by most as the de facto head for the tattered remnants of the Republican Party has already endorsed Ted Budd for the senatorial position McCrory is vying for. Consequently, Trump supporters, AKA radical conservatives, have turned their standard tactics of hate campaigning on McCrory. After years of evangelical-tainted conservative behavior from McCrory, one is inclined to ask, why don’t Trump supporters like Pat McCrory? Here are some interesting facts to chew on that might shed some light as to why no one from any party really seems to support Pat McCrory: • According to another former Charlotte mayor, Patrick Cannon, McCrory was a Democrat when the two – once
good friends – were young men and neither had attempted to run for office yet. • In May 2001, McCrory signed off on a letter welcoming attendees to the Charlotte Gay and Lesbian Pride Festival. Former County commissioner Bill James seized on the opportunity to attack McCrory. “The mayor used bad judgment in issuing a letter welcoming [these] individuals ... in essence endorsing the lifestyle, the goals and aspirations of the group,” said James. That, apparently, was a pivotal turning point for McCrory. • In the summer of 2003 McCrory promptly turned down a proposal that would provide domestic partnership benefits for the city’s gay and lesbian employees, using a particularly weak excuse for such a wealthy city and county: “Such an undertaking would be too expensive for the city.” • In early 2005 he refused to issue a letter of welcoming to the visiting Human Rights campaign dinner, which attracted over 1,000 people to the city and generated significant income. His response: “I have every right as mayor not to show any visible support for the political perspectives of the cause they support ... In this case I do not agree with almost all of the political agenda they’re supporting.” • Later that year, McCrory an-
A troubled Pat McCrory on his way to a fruitless meeting with Donald Trump.
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nounced he wanted to block the city’s local LGBTQ community from celebrating the annual Pride event in a standard outdoor setting. “I do not want that festival in a park setting,” McCrory said. “If they need to do it I think it belongs in a hotel or other private setting.” He even went so far as to discuss the matter with the city’s legal team, who quickly informed him that his desired actions would not be legal. • The most likely reason McCrory lost his bid at capturing the governor’s office for a second term? HB2. It turned North Carolina into a national embarrassment and robbed the state of billions in revenue. That left a very bad taste in the mouths of many voters in North Carolina. McCrory’s reason? Trump supporters voted for a libertarian candidate and didn’t support him. • Shortly thereafter McCrory paid a visit to Donald Trump in New York City. The two reportedly met briefly, although it has never been revealed what took place during their conversation. Considering he blamed Trump supporters for his loss and McCrory walked away with no job offer in the Trump administration, it seems likely a former television reality show host was harboring some resentment. So now McCrory thinks he can run for senator. Based on his history it sounds like
he’s got a lot of the makings of a perfect candidate that Trump supporters would happily support. But apparently it’s just not enough. The conservative action group Club for Growth recently released another negative attack (the initial barrage started back in April) against Pat McCrory, characterizing him as a “Trump hater” and “liberal faker” for supporting Mitt Romney and criticizing Trump. The ads, a website and flyers are intensifying an already nasty primary season and sparking a heated back and forth between McCrory and Budd allies. McCrory advisor Jordan Shaw called it “desperately deceptive” and “bought and paid for by the DC swamp,” while Club for Growth said “most Republicans support President Trump, McCrory was and still is a Romney Republican” and that “the association is nothing short of toxic.” Club for Growth has already spent tens of thousands of dollars attacking McCrory for his losing record, crediting his gubernatorial loss to his comments “publicly trashing” former President Trump, and calling him a “disloyal, liberal, loser.” With so much division in the Republican Party, their future is starting to look a bit questionable. : :
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news Carolinas LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce Announces Partnership with NASCAR The Carolinas LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce announced Tuesday, Dec. 14, at their sold-out Annual Awards Ceremony and Holiday Soirée that NASCAR (National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing) will become the Chamber’s Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) partner for the 2022 term. This is the first time NASCAR has partnered with a chamber of commerce that exists specifically to serve the LGBTQ community. The Chamber’s annual DE&I partnership funds and supports all of its training and programming in diversity, equity and inclusion and allows the organization to have a more expansive reach throughout the region. “NASCAR has a rich history in our region and continues to be one of the most popular sports in the nation,” said Tiffany
Keaton, Vice Chair of the Carolinas LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce. “The intentionality of their partnership will allow the Carolinas LGBT+ Chamber to leverage relationships and increase our work in the area of diversity, equity and inclusion. The distinct brand that NASCAR brings to the chamber validates their commitment to equality and nondiscrimination both on and off the track. It is an honor to name the league our ‘DE&I Partner’ for 2022, and I look forward to developing this amazing relationship.” The Carolinas LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce’s work to support change and growth helps strengthen organizations large and small – and the Carolinas region as a whole. Promoting DE&I training and education programming is a critical component of change and progress for NASCAR
Supreme Court Suspends All Candidate Filing, Moves 2022 Primary to May 17 As of 6:12 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 8, the North Carolina Supreme Court suspended candidate filing for all offices for the 2022 primary election. This includes filing for rescheduled municipal contests and any separate filing period in January for those contests. The Supreme Court also pushed the date of the primary and rescheduled municipal elections back more than two months – to Tuesday, May 17, 2022. It had been scheduled for March 8. If you’d like to get a look at the specific details, go here: N.C. Supreme Court Order No. 413P21 (PDF). For any candidate whose filing has been accepted by the State Board of Elections or any county board of elections, that candidate “will be deemed to have
filed for the same office” in the May primary, subject to any court rulings that would impact that candidate’s eligibility, according to the Supreme Court order. Those candidates would be able to withdraw their candidacy during the new filing period. Any individual who withdraws their candidacy is free to file for any other office for which they are
NC Democratic Party Releases List of GOP Politicians Tainting the Spirit of the Holiday Season As North Carolinians across the state light candles and deck the halls, most will spend the holiday season spreading cheer to others during a time of giving, community and joy. Not everyone, however. Some prominent members of the North Carolina Republican Party have lost sight of the reason for the season and landed on a list of elected Republican officials who have refused to condemn hate and bigotry in 2021: Lieutenant Governor Mark Robinson, Representative Tim Moore, Senator Phil Berger, Representative Larry Yarborough, Senator Paul Newton, Representative Diane Wheatley, Senator Michael Lee,
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Representative John Bradford, Senator Lisa Barnes and Representative Jon Hardister Robinson has said he is “95% sure” he will run for governor in 2024 and is widely considered the GOP favorite to win the Republican primary. If he does, he will do so despite running on a platform of hate that could cost our state billions of dollars. North Carolina Republicans have failed to stand up to his harmful rhetoric, worrying GOP consultants who have admitted that “to win in North Carolina, the numbers show you cannot have an anti-LGBTQ platform.” When the discriminatory House Bill 2 was passed under failed Republican Governor and current candidate for
and in the communities it operates. “NASCAR is excited to partner with the Carolinas LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce,” said Brandon Thompson, Vice President of Diversity & Inclusion. “With NASCAR offices and much of our industry based in the Carolinas, we look forward to working with [the Chamber] in support of its mission to foster equity, inclusion and economic prosperity for the LGBTQ community.” NASCAR is the sanctioning body for the number one form of motorsports in the United States and owner of 16 of the nation’s major motorsports entertainment facilities. NASCAR produces and maintains multiple series of international, national and regional events, as well as one local event. With offices in eight cities across North America, NASCAR sanctions more than 1,200 races in more than 30 U.S. states, Canada, Mexico and Europe. For more information visit www.NASCAR. com and www.IMSA.com, and follow NASCAR on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Snapchat. The Carolinas LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce is an organization of lesbian,
eligible during the reopened filing period. Dates for a new filing period have not been set. Candidate filing had begun on Monday at the North Carolina State Fairgrounds for state and federal level contests and at all 100 county boards of elections for local contests. As of Wednesday evening, more than 1,400 candidates had filed statewide. This latest decision comes after years of Republicanled efforts to capture and maintain control of the state, by any means possible. From the website Democracy Docket: “In the 2010 elections, the Republican Party won control of
United States Senate, Pat McCrory – business leaders fled North Carolina. PayPal cancelled a $3.5 million global operations center that would have employed 400 people, film production moved away, and the NCAA boycotted the state, among other lost opportunities that damaged North Carolina’s reputation and cost jobs. “Under Governor Cooper’s leadership HB2 was repealed and North Carolina has been able to attract impressive new businesses like Toyota and Apple Inc. who said that the repeal was ‘important in their decision making,’” said NCDP spokesperson, Rachel Stein. “Yet, the Republican Party’s embrace of hateful anti-LGBTQ rhetoric sets our state back and risks losing out on thousands of good-paying jobs. Republicans need to condemn [such] remarks and send a message that North Carolina is a place where all people are welcome, valued and accepted.” info: https://bit.ly/33IpwV5 — QNotes
NASCAR representatives Brandon Thompson and Michelle Byron (center) flanked by the Chamber’s Chad Turner (far left) and Ciara Lilly (far right). gay, bisexual, transgender and allied businesses, corporations and professionals throughout western North Carolina and most of South Carolina. Their mission is to foster equity, inclusion and economic prosperity for the LGBTQ community through strategic policy, professional enrichment, ally partnerships and economic development. info: https://bit.ly/3J1zv7X — QNotes
the North Carolina General Assembly for the first time in over a hundred years. This gave the party complete control over the redrawing of North Carolina’s congressional and state legislative districts, as thengovernor Bev Perdue (D) did not have the power to veto redistricting plans passed by the General Assembly.” As one would expect, Republicans used the ability to redraw maps to maximize their advantage in the state and have largely maintained control since that time. Even though Democratic Governor Roy Cooper is currently in office, the former governor, Pat McCrory, colluded with other Republicans in an effort to strip incoming Governor Cooper of the very powers that had been afforded McCrory. Despite demands to redraw the districts to reflect the diversity of the population in a logical and fair manner, the battle continues. info: https://bit.ly/3mgDBiQ — QNotes
NCDP Spokesperson Rachel Stein: ‘Republicans need to … send a message North Carolina is a place where all people are welcome, valued, and accepted.’
news Senior Gay Man, 81, Spent Almost Two Years in Prison for Having Sex Leroy Martin Spent 22 Months in Jail Before Charges Dropped
A
BY BIL BROWNING | CONTRIBUTING WRITER
n 81-year-old gay man with Parkinson’s disease spent 22 months in jail for having sex in his nursing home before the charges were finally dropped by prosecutors. He is confined to a wheelchair. While nursing home staff said he forced himself on two other men at the facility, Leroy Martin asserts it was consensual – and one of the men agrees. The other man has since died. The case highlights the difficulties LGBTQ seniors face as they age. LGBTQ elders are more likely to need help from social services as they get older, partly because they are less likely to have children and more likely to have no relationship with their families of origin. Many LGBTQ people get help from people who aren’t related or married to them, which means that the caregivers have limited legal power to help if they’re not a designated
health care proxy. Martin’s lawyer, civil rights attorney J. Conor Corcoran, says that if the encounter the staff witnessed had been heterosexual, employees would have likely overlooked the sexual activity. Because it was between two men, he asserts, the home decided to call the police. A staff member found Martin giving oral sex to a 43-year-old resident at Southampton Manor Nursing and Rehabilitation Center in Shippensburg, Penn. The younger man told police it was consensual, despite staff’s assertions that he wasn’t able to give consent due to a brain injury. The man, however, told officers that he had consented “because I hadn’t been with a woman in 21 years.” The other man said he woke up to find Martin performing oral sex on him. He said the senior, his roommate at the facility, had also repeatedly groped him. He told police that he was straight and didn’t
want anyone to find out because he was ashamed of getting oral sex from a man. He said staff at the facility forced him to speak to the police. “They were hell-bent on falsely painting Mr. Martin as a sexual predator, and with a pink brush, to boot,” Corcoran said. “The nursing home lied to the state police that the men with whom Mr. Martin had sex were incapable of consent.” Pennsylvania State Police charged the Navy veteran with involuntary deviant sexual intercourse and indecent assault. He was held in prison without his medication, Corcoran added. As thousands of staff and prisoners contracted COVID in the state, it was other inmates who looked after Martin, he says. “There [are] some real angels in the Cumberland County jail who looked after him.” Prosecutors were willing to drop the charges up to a year before he was finally released, Corcoran said, but the nursing
home wouldn’t accept him back and other facilities in the rural area wouldn’t either. Martin has filed a lawsuit alleging false arrest, emotional distress, and negligence by the nursing home staff. He seeks unspecified damages. “The Plaintiff’s homosexuality was outrageously, egregiously…and unlawfully treated as a crime by the Defendants herein,” the complaint reads. “This was consensual with both men,“ Corcoran said. “If it had been an Adam and Eve story instead of Adam and Steve, they wouldn’t even have called the police.” According to a report in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Martin has since been accepted as a resident at a facility in Alleghany County, Penn. This story appears courtesy of our media partner LGBTQNation. Please visit their website for more national news. info: https://bit.ly/3GZj0Yv — Bil Browning
Leroy Martin is confined to a wheelchair.
Connie J. Vetter, Esq. Attorney at Law PLLC Your LGBTQ+ Law Attorney
Talk/Text 704-333-4000 or online
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life
Steer Clear of COVID and Avoid Overdoing for the Holidays From House and Dinner Parties to Special Events and Bar Hopping, it’s Tough to Avoid Indulgence and Also Stay Safe During the Season
by David Aaron Moore qnotes Staff Writer We’ve all done it. It’s hard to resist. Especially when you’re younger, full of energetic exuberance and particularly when you’re part of the LGBTQ community. For us, the holiday season begins with Halloween. Usually there are multiple parties at private homes and themed celebrations at bars, along with a handful of see-and-be-seen presentations at special events facilities, upscale hotels and historic sites. It’s one long party that begins the last week of October and stretches throughout November and December. It doesn’t really come to an end until sometime around January 2. And who are we kidding? It’s all about fun and over indulgence. We won’t bother to deny the blending of cocktails and party favors (that typically leave us all pretty blended) and other recreational activities (wink, wink) can be a lot of fun. The old saying “everything in moderation” doesn’t mean you can’t have a good time. But it could be the difference between a ticket or arrest on the way home and a revoked license; a nasty hangover the following day, or something even worse; an automobile accident that could change the course of the future (that’s a nice way of avoiding saying exactly what you know is being insinuated). Reviewing Best Policies and Procedures for the Holiday… If you’re prepared to go bar hopping and/or ready to hit various parties, either hire (if you share the cost with friends it’s a lot cheaper) or designate a driver and be prepared for a hangover the next day.
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Note: the darker the liquor the heavier the hangover and the same goes for the sweeter the mixer. Something like vodka and club soda with a twist of lemon can lessen the deleterious impact of alcohol the next morning. Also – if you’re currently taking medication for anything, be certain imbibing won’t cause any unexpected consequences. If you’re a holiday foodie and you’re planning on chowing down on hors d’oeuvres and multi-course meals in your social circle’s dinner party round, watch your carb intake. If that leaves you scratching your head, put simply, it means don’t go too heavy on the sweets and stay away from overindulging with edible items that
It happens. In fact, a 2016 survey by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) found that LGBTQ adults are more than twice as likely to face challenges with recreational drug use and addiction than their heterosexual counterparts. With no judgments being made, the advice is cut and dry: the decision to partake is up to you. Do you know what you’re putting into your body? What impact will it have? Are you adequately hydrated? Do you know when it’s time to stop? If you are currently on any type of prescription medication are there any dangers if you mix one with another? These are all valid
fall in that category and are commonly associated with this time of year, like cakes and pies and candies. It’s hard and it can be a challenge, especially when all those things taste so good. Here’s another case where moderation is key: keep in mind, the more you consume, the more your fat cells expand. While the use of illegal substances as party favors is something no one ever wants to talk about, it is a reality.
questions to consider before making the decision to go down this path. Now let’s talk COVID… This year, like last year, social protocols remain in a state of limitation because of the ongoing COVID pandemic. The list of variants is seemingly endless: Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Mu, R1. L, S, Epsilon, Omicron, Theta and Zeta. The initial variants that robbed us of so many lives (and now going on two
years) initially are known as L and S, followed by Delta. And now: Attack of the Omicron! According to experts at the CDC (Centers for Disease Control) and the World Health Organization (WHO), things are about to get really bad again, especially if you haven’t received any kind of vaccine. But, if you have been fully vaccinated, there is a good chance you will not be infected by additional variants. Health authorities are encouraging individuals to follow up with a booster shot to increase immunity. The Biden Administration released the following statement: “Our vaccines work against Omicron, especially for people who get booster shots when they are eligible. If you do get COVID, your case will likely be asymptomatic or mild. For the unvaccinated, you’re looking at a winter of severe illness and death for yourselves, your families, and the hospitals you may soon overwhelm.” So, if you’re completely vaccinated and you got a booster shot, your seasonal celebrating doesn’t have to come to a complete stand still. If you choose to go to parties or bars or any crowded event, take some sensible precautions. You know what they are: wear masks, remain a safe distance, if you’re running a temperature or you don’t feel well, stay at home. If you’re the host of a party or an event, you might even consider requiring people to show proof of vaccination. The responsibility you take for the remainder of the holiday season is yours. But don’t forget the decisions you make impact not just your health and well-being, but those around you, as well. : :
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2021 Person of the Year Attorney Lee Robertson
BY L’MONIQUE KING QNOTES STAFF WRITER
O
nce again qnotes is excited and proud to present our annual choice for Person of the Year. With so many community members making positive contributions and having resonating impacts on the lives of others, the selection of just one person is always difficult. When Attorney Lee Robertson learned he’d been selected this year he modestly shared his shock and surprise while humbly adding, “There were lots of other people I thought of who deserved this.” qnotes spoke with some folks who couldn’t disagree more and also found Robertson worthy and deserving of the recognition. Born in Winston-Salem, N.C., Lee Robertson has lived in Charlotte for 30 years. He’s not a big fan of cooking and often stops at Bojangles for breakfast before beginning a typically busy day. During those days he’s missed by his two feisty Chihuahua mixed breed dogs
Life partners Britton Alzarez and Lee Robertson (Photo Credit: Monica Hancock/ Silver Monkey)
and a loving partner, Britton Alvarez, who keeps him laughing. A graduate of North Carolina State University with B.A.s in History and Religious Studies, Robertson is a prominent Business Litigation Lawyer [Charlotte school of Law, J.D.] who is deeply ensconced in legal problem solving. With numerous bar admissions and a focus on business litigation and non-profit organizations, he’s served in many capaci-
ties for the Mecklenburg County Bar (10 positions since 2014). Queer Activist, Attorney and Episcopal Saint Pauli Murray once said, “True community is based upon equality, mutuality and reciprocity. It affirms the richness of individual diversity as well as the common human ties that bind us together.” The work and contributions of Robertson, a Pauli Murray LGBTQ+ Bar Association Member, truly epitomizes Murray’s quote. Bethany Corrigan, Executive Director for Transcend Charlotte, agrees. In fact, she spoke to qnotes about Robertson rather enthusiastically. “Lee is without vice or ulterior motive or bureaucratic approach. [He’s] just truly one of the most selfless advocates in the Charlotte community that I’ve ever come across. “I think the Charlotte community can be a bit fragmented at times and Lee has crossed over and provided equal support to everyone and every organization he’s been involved with. He’s the legal counsel for Transcend and also a good friend.” When not practicing law for paying clients, Lee is an avid volunteer and has provided pro bono legal counsel to over 30 organizations. Carolinas LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce, Inc., Carolina Piedmont Athletic Association, Inc., Phi Gamma Delta, Davidson College Chapter, Savannah River Academy and Time Out Youth, Inc., are among them. What motivates an attorney with such a lucrative skill set to volunteer his time and services? According to Robertson, “It’s something that I’ve always been passionate about and as a lawyer, I have a unique set of skills that our organizations really need. Legal advice and guidance are often out of financial reach. Volunteering allows me to contribute by using something I know.” Whether it be governance, organization formation or the day-to-day operations of employment, contract formation or occasional disputes, the organizations Lee Robertson assists aren’t the only ones benefiting. The contributions Robertson makes move him as well. His involvement with Charlotte’s Rain, Inc., (which works towards empowering persons living with HIV and those at risk to be healthy and stigma-free) is but one example. Robertson describes how personally rewarding helping others with his time and talent can be: “The most impactful thing that I’ve experienced so far has been in my work with Rain. The Havens, an affordable housing apartment complex was historically for people living with AIDS [and] built in the 1990s by a group of community members who wanted to provide a safe and loving place for people dying of AIDS. “For the past two years, Rain has been carrying the torch for the Havens. They’ve taken ownership of it, expanded the programs and expanded the financial support for the Havens to be able to continue
to provide support for people living with AIDS and other chronic conditions. “So, I chaired the committee that worked on the transition from a community member run organization to one run by a HIV Prevention organization. It’s very important work and I’m really excited to have been a part of it.” Seniors, young people, LGBTQ+ or otherwise, many Carolinians have experienced the benefit of Lee’s time and talent. Stan Schneider met Lee Robertson through Judith Jeffries. The two are both members of the Charlotte LGBTQ Elders, a group formed in 2018 with the goal of serving as a resource for LGBTQ individuals in the Charlotte area who are 55 and over. According to Schneider, a University of North Carolina-Charlotte Biology Professor and Elders member, Lee has helped the group from the very beginning with the writing of bylaws and acquiring 501c3 status. “Without Lee, we would not be an independent organization like we are now. He’s always been a supporter. He’s helped us with IRS issues, donations and other things. He’s just great, I can’t say enough good things about him. He’s just a decent human being. He deserves this award.” Fellow Elders member, Judith Jeffries, described Robertson as tireless. “The man is tireless. [He’s] dedicated and smart as a ding dang whip. Lee is like an angel that’s floated down from a cloud and landed.” In addition to his probono work, Robertson also has found time to volunteer with the Plus Collective/Charlotte Lesbian and Gay Fund; serve as a managing board member for the Keith Family YMCA and serve as the Wesley View Town Homes Owners President, while contributing to publications for the North Carolina Bar Association, and so much more. Despite his full calendar of work and volunteer commitments, Lee recognizes and values quality down time. He’s looking forward to going on a couple of trips, attending a few weddings and spending time with his family for Christmas. He even has a 2022 wish list and at the top is something
many may share: “To see our community emerge from the pandemic stronger and more connected than before,” he says. : : Editors note: Lee Robertson is an occasional contributing writer for this newspaper. He is also a QnotesCarolinas donor and member of our Local News Team which supports local journalism. You can join the Team also at QnotesCarolinas.com.
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Thank you for an awesome year of service, support, and solidarity, Charlotte! Over the past two years, Charlotte Pride has proven resilient — bringing important and essential services, programs, and assistance directly to Charlotte’s LGBTQ community despite the hardships and restraints of the continuing pandemic. In 2021, we looked forward to a return to some kind of in-person festival and parade. And, though that ultimately wasn’t possible, Charlotte Pride continued to make community service, support, and solidarity a priority. This year — with your help — we rallied the support of more than 300 volunteers to host a city-wide Weekend of Service. We collected over 50 bags and bins of literally thousands of pieces of clothes during the Charlotte Pride Clothing Drive — and then distributed those essential items to community members in need. We granted over $38,000 in direct emergency financial assistance to assist community members struggling with housing or unemployment due to the pandemic. With a wide range of partners, along with community matching support, we provided $20,000 in direct emergency support for Charlotte’s transgender community. We hosted a job fair and skills-building conference, film screenings, local history research projects, and so, so much more. Your end-of-year donation will mean we can continue this kind of support in 2022 and every year! And, you’ll have the opportunity ensure we begin 2022 strong, with eyes toward a return to full-scale, in-person events, including the annual festival and parade in Uptown. You can give today, in any amount! Whether your gift is small or large, we know that it comes from your heart, and we thank you!
Jack Kirven: 704-969-5195 www.INTEGRE8Twellness.com In Home & Mobile Personal Training
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Jerk of the Year: Mark Robinson
He’s Brash, He’s Delusional and He Might Be a Nut Job: He’s North Carolina’s Lt. Governor to learning how to read instead of teaching them how to go to hell. Yeah, I said it and I meant it.” – from an October appearance at the Upper Room Church of God in Christ in fter four years of constant lies, conRaleigh. tradictions, made-up nonsense and “It’s not about being against anybody behavior bordering because of their sexual on psychopathic from preference. This is an former White House effort again to intimiresident Donald Trump, date voices on the right there’s a new kid on the into silence … it’s just block. But this time he’s another effort to try and specific to North Carolina. intimidate me … from Clear-headed, progresspeaking out on this issive and non-brainwashed sue. It doesn’t matter to individuals were willing me what the definition to climb over mounds of hate speech is. I said of broken glass to vote what I said, and I believe Trump out of office. what I said, and many people across the state But wait! That wasn’t feel the exact same way.” enough. – during an interview Just when you thought with Spectrum News in backwards political thinkOctober. ing was ramping down During a November a bit, along comes a speaking engagement at political Tiny Tim bent on Berean Baptist Church in remaking our state into Winston-Salem, Robinson his interpretation of a told the story of a gay “Christian” fiefdom. man who asked him the North Carolina’s following question: Lieutenant Governor “So you think your Mark Robinson clearly wife and you, you think stole a page, pages, your heterosexual relamaybe? Hell, multiple tionship is superior to my chapters (!) from the husband and my homobook Trump could have sexual relationship?” easily written: “How a “Yes!” Robinson reSmall Minded Man Can sponded. “These people Make a Big Ol’ Mess.” are superior because Despite the fact Mark Robinson agrees we don’t live in a theocracy: ‘I think it’s about time for some religious fanaticism.’ So how did we they can do something these people can’t do. get here? Because that’s the way For over 100 years Representative Madison Cawthorn and God created it to be. And I’m tired of this North Carolina was referred to as the posed to say. Ain’t but two genders. current U.S. Senator Thom Tillis aren’t society trying to tell me it’s not so.” voice of reason between Virginia and Two genders. Ain’t nothing but men and embarrassing enough, now we have “Everything that God made serves a South Carolina. women. You can go to the doctor and get Robinson flapping his trap with one ignopurpose. Will somebody please explain Then, Republicans captured Congress in rant rant after another. cut up. You can go down to the dress shop to me the purpose of homosexuality? ... 2010. That majority gave them the opporAnd lucky us! The LGBTQ community and get made up. You can go down there What does it create? It creates nothing.” – tunity to gerrymander and redraw districts is whom he’s chosen to take aim at. That’s during the same speaking engagement at and get drugged up. But at the end of the throughout the state, making it possible for why qnotes is returning the recognition Berean Baptist Church in Winston-Salem day you just a drugged up, dressed up, the Republican party to take control of elecand selecting him as Jerk of the Year for in November. made up, cut up man or woman. You ain’t tion outcomes for the foreseeable future. 2021. Unlike the other honoree featured “I think it’s about time for some relichanged what God put in you, that DNA. In essence, the state was hijacked. in this issue, the decision wasn’t hard. gious fanaticism.” – at the November 2021 You can’t transcend God’s creation. I don’t Twelve years later, the battle continHere are some of his most choice Rockingham County Reagan-Helms Dinner. care how hard you try. The transgender ues, but the fight hasn’t ended: Candidacy words over the past year: If that isn’t enough to capture the title movement in this country…is demonic, filing and the actual voting dates have “I want to be that person at the track of Jerk of the Year, take a casual perusal and full of the spirit of [the] antichrist.” meet that stands up and says … ‘Them two been pushed back to a later time, pending through YouTube, Facebook and Google. – from an October appearance at the fellas that won this track meet, they’re not a court decision on the currently drawn North Carolina’s Lt. Governor has left his Upper Room Church of God in Christ in girls. Why are they out there?’” he said. repugnant and offensive remarks all over districts, which are being challenged yet Raleigh. “That’s two boys. I don’t care what you call the place. It’s obvious how he likes to again in an effort to restore the state to them. They’re painted-up, striped-up jack“It is time for grown-ups and time for think he feels, especially considering he’s a progressive, sensible minded and safe asses. They’re not women.” – in reference Christians to stand up and start telling the so fond of using the phrase quite often: “I place to live. to transgender athletes at a June rally in don’t care.” truth. Come out to me if you want to. I But that’s not what Mark Robinson Greenville, N.C. We’ll see how well those words work don’t care. Here’s my head. Come and get wants. In fact, he’s been quoted as say“There’s no reason anybody, anywhere for him should he decide to run for goverit. I’m not afraid to stand up and tell the ing the United States is a specifically in America should be telling any child about nor. For the past few weeks, likely at the truth. They’re dragging our kids down into Christian nation. transgenderism, homosexuality, any of that behest of Republican colleagues, Robinson the pit of hell trying to teach them that In September of this year, at an event has become decidedly less vocal. Chances filth. And yes I called it filth. And if you don’t known as the “Salt and Light Conference,” mess in our schools. Tell you this, that ain’t are he’s been told what the rest of us like that I called it filth, come see me and held by the North Carolina Evangelical got no place in our schools. Two plus two already know: You can’t win a North I’ll explain it to you.” – Robinson speaking group Faith and Freedom Coalition, doesn’t equal transgender. It equals four. Carolina election with an anti-LGBTQ at Asbury Baptist Church in Seagrove, N.C. Robinson had this to say: [We] need to teach them how to get back platform. : : this past June. “As for this not being a Christian na-
by David Aaron Moore qnotes Staff Writer
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tion, yes, it is. If you don’t like it, I’ll buy your plane, train or automobile ticket right up out of here. You can go to some place that is not a Christian nation.” As if disgraced former Charlotte Mayor turned former North Carolina Governor Pat McCrory, current House
“I will not be silent. And I will not be bullied into submission. I will continue to fight for the rights of our children, free from sexual concepts that do not belong in the classroom. And I don’t care who doesn’t like it.” – from a September Facebook post. “Here’s something else I’m not sup-
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2021 Year in Review-A Legal Perspective Legal Eagle: Several Important Issues Are Currently Before the Court BY CRISTAL ROBINSON | CONTRIBUTING WRITER
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he COVID-19 pandemic has shown the many challenges still faced by LGBTQ Americans and the reason for the non-discrimination ordinances and the passage of the Equality Act. Since many states began initiating reopening policies, it is 50% more likely for white LGBTQ people to have experienced a pay cut, compared to the general population. LGBTQ households are experiencing food insecurity with over a third having difficulty paying for usual household expenses. It hurt LGBTQ people of color even harder with many having work hours reduced at a much higher rate than white LGBTQ people and the general population, and they became unemployed at a much higher rate and experience pay cuts were 1.5 times the other two populations. The hardest hit population were transgender people who more than half lost work hours in the pandemic no matter their race. Also this year was the deadliest year for transgender, nonbinary, and gendernonconforming Americans. At least 50 have been killed in acts of violence with many of them Black women. Three of them were in North Carolina with two being in Charlotte: Jaida Peterson, Remy Fennell, and Jenna Franks. The increase in violence tracks with the rise of the statements like Lt. Governor Mark Robinson’s church rant and the anti-trans bills. There are currently three anti-trans bills in committee that must be fought: • SB 514 (Youth Health Protection Act): This bill seeks to limit medical treatments for transgender people under 21, • SB 515 (Health Care Heroes Conscience Protection Act): This bill seeks to allow medical practitioners, health care institutions, and health care payers to discriminate based on their religious, moral or ethical beliefs or principals. • HB 358 (Save Women’s Sports Act): This bill seeks to prevent transgender youth playing in sports. There are several court cases of interest currently. The federal lawsuit Campos v. Cohen challenging the North Carolina’s discriminatory policy requiring transgender individuals who want to obtain an
accurate birth certificate to have “sex reassignment surgery.” The state lawsuit M.E. v. T.J. is at the N.C Supreme Court challenging the NC discriminatory law denying same-sex couples the right to obtain a domestic violence protection order, otherwise known as a Rule 50(B). Charlotte based Pauli Murray LGBTQ+ Bar Association along with Legal Aid of NC and the NC Justice Center filed an Amicus Curiae brief in support of the Plaintiff-Appellee, M.E. supporting the ruling of the NC Court of Appeals ruling that Domestic Violence protection must apply equally to unmarried same-sex relationships. The Judiciary has been very good with LGBTQ+ rights the last two years. A 2014 federal case found that a Charlotte Catholic school wrongfully fired a gay employee. In another federal case the Court upheld that North Carolina can be sued for state health plan for teacher’s and employee’s discriminatory anti-transgender provisions. The new federal administration is also increasing awareness and enforcement of rights of the LGBTQ+ community not only within the courts. The Social Security Administration withdrew its appeals on several cases allowing all surviving samesex spouses across the country who were barred from being married for at least nine months by discriminatory marriage bans to get social security survivor benefits. The Veteran Administration stated that servicemembers discharged from the military under Don’t Ask Don’t Tell (and the previous policy) for sexual orienta-
tion, gender identity, or HIV status can get their discharge status upgraded so that they now receive full military benefits. Admiral Rachel Levine, MD became the first openly transgender federal official when she was confirmed as the nation’s Assistant Secretary of Health of the Department of Health and Human Services. At the start of the school year, three federal government agencies issued a joint statement to transgender youth. The message was clear that if a student is bullied for being transgender that the federal government will act on their behalf just like they will for all protective classes of people. Even President Biden honored the lost on Transgender Day of Remembrance in a statement “This year, at least 46 transgender individuals in this country — and hundreds more around the world — were killed in horrifying acts of violence,”…. “Each of these lives was precious. Each of them deserved freedom, justice, and joy.” Even though the current federal government and the courts are increasing sexual orientation and gender identity rights, the state governments are pushing back in the same way as the State of North Carolina did when Charlotte passed the 2016 nondiscrimination ordinance. Since the state moratorium was lifted in January, about 14 local governments in North Carolina have passed LGBTQ-inclusive non-discrimination ordinances. It started with the Town of Hillsborough on January 11. The City of Charlotte passed its ordinance in August. It prohibits discrimination in employment even for companies with less than 15 employees, passenger vehicles for hire
and procurement, and public accommodations based on sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, and natural hairstyle. It also added veteran status, pregnancy, familial status. Mecklenburg County passed its ordinance on November and included housing. The local government ordinances are necessary even after the Supreme Court case Bostock v. Clayton County ruled that “based on sex” included sexual orientation and gender identity as it relates to employment, because the federal government’s act covering public accommodations does not include the word “sex.” This prevents the court and federal governmental agencies from interpreting sexual orientation and gender identity in public accommodations like it can with employment, housing, education, and any public funding such as some health care. The Equality Act and the Equal Rights Amendment are greatly needed to expand rights to all people no matter where they work, play, eat, drive, learn, or live. Cristal Robinson (she/her) is the attorney at Robinson Law who loves helping people with special education and employment disability and discrimination law, as well as business law and asset protection law. As a seasoned attorney, business owner, and educator, she is passionate about advancing the rights of neurodivergent and LGBTQ+ people and business owners. In addition to the rights of the neuroqueer community, she is also involved in helping many other diverse communities. Prior to Robinson Law, Cristal Robinson was a business owner of American Real Estate Services in Amarillo, Texas and a certified Montessori teacher. She has a Juris Doctor, Master of Business Administration, and Bachelor of Business Administration in finance. Outside of the office, Cristal Robinson enjoys watching her autistic son experience life, growing older with her autistic spouse, and figuring out her true self as a late in life diagnosed autistic professional. For more information, www. CristalRobinson.com.
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Finding Your Own Wisdom and Common Sense Tell Trinity
BY TRINITY | CONTRIBUTING WRITER Dear Trinity, I’ve been following your column for years now. You’re so wise! How can I acquire wisdom and common sense like you? Love, Wanting Wisdom Spokane, WA Dearest Wanting Wisdom, While age and experience should bring wisdom and common sense it also brings stubbornness, righteousness and negative reactions to unfamiliar ideas. If you want wisdom and common sense, then: a) study “it” in school, b) take risky adventures in search of “it” and/or c) go on a spiritual journey to find “it.” You must also be willing to d) unlearn all that you have learned about “it,” e) let yourself relearn what you’re learning about “it” and f) get burned on your journey finding “it!” Pumpkin, you didn’t really think this was gonna make sense or be easy, did you? Love, Trinity Dear Trinity, I’m having an awful time dealing with my partner’s jealous outbursts. She says, “We Latin women are typically jealous!” OK, I used to think it was cute, but now it’s making me insane! Help! Sincerely, Jealousy Jail Philadelphia, PA Dear Jealousy Jail, Many cultures thrive on jealousy. Yet jealousy can destroy lives and complicate relationships. Besides jealousy being cultural, maybe your partner has insecurity, or maybe it’s just that she has too much time on her hands. So Honey,
if you’ve tried letting her know she’s “too much” and letting her know she’s “out of line” then… threaten to take her to a place where obsessive, insecure people play together, like the psych ward of a mental hospital! DATING DILEMMA #572 Hey Trinity, I’m going on a second date, and I don’t want to act too excited or too nervous. Any second date suggestions so I don’t blow it? Thanks, Second Date Oklahoma City, OK Hey Second Date, Going on a first date means being inquisitive, polite and calm. Going on a second date means all that as well, plus this time be even more comfortable about what you say and do, testing the waters a little. Oh, and slipping in a little kiss this time wouldn’t hurt either. Also Sweetie, remember don’t talk excessively about your problems, don’t act overly selfassured and don’t give away all your financials just yet!
Good Luck, Trin. Hello Miss Trinity, My partner says I worry too much. I think it’s hereditary. Any thoughts on how to worry less? Yours, Worrying Less Green Bay, WI Hello Worrying Less, Worrying is a deep genetic tradition passed down from generation to generation. It is not easy to erase centuries of worrying unless of course, Darling, you try:
TRINITY’S TROUBLE-FREE TIPS FOR DEALING WITH WORRYING 1. Listen to Pharrell’s’ “Happy.” And don’t listen to depressing love songs like Miley’s “Wrecking Ball!” 2. Worrying creates negative possibilities! When you worry you manifest negative karma and scenarios for the universe to bring into fruition. 3. Let your mother worry for you. That’s why we have mothers! 4. Take deep breaths, exercise, get plenty of rest and have a glass of wine now and then. It’ll do you wonders! 5. Don’t think about what worries you! If you can distract a child, you can distract yourself. 6. If your troubles today won’t matter a year from now, then why the hell are you worrying about it now? 7. Get physically away from what worries you. Go to the beach, the movies or take a walk in the park. Get your mind away from your troubles. 8. You don’t really think that by worrying you will change the outcome. Give your worries away to a higher power. Let it go! 9. Don’t let your thoughts take you on an insane journey alone! Talk to friends about what worries you. Get support. 10. Lastly, instead of using words like “I hope,” use “I’m sure,” instead of “I wonder,” use “I know,” and instead of “I’ll kill him for staying out,” use “I trust that bastard!” With a Masters of Divinity, Reverend Trinity hosted “Spiritually Speaking” a weekly radio drama, performed globally and is now minister of WIG: Wild Inspirational Gatherings. Sponsored by: WIG Ministries, www.wigministries.org Gay Spirituality for the Next Generation! Send e-mails to: Trinity@telltrinity.com
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“Runner’s High: How a Movement of Cannabis-Fueled Athletes is Changing the Science of Sports” Out in Print
BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER CONTRIBUTING WRITER Title Josiah Hesse ©2021, Putnam $28.00 / $37.00 Canada
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he top of the mountain is well above your head. You can’t see it from the bottom, but you’ve been there a time or two. You’re going up there again, in fact, on a trail that’s filled with rocks and branches, streams and trees, and seems to go straight up. You’ll run it, all of it, and as in the new book “Runner’s High” by Josiah Hesse, you’ll go high. For most of his life, Josiah Hesse looked at exercise as something like punishment. He hated the very idea of competition, and any kind of physical effort reminded him of high school “locker rooms” and “homophobic meatheads who threatened my safety.” These thoughts were drifting through his mind when, in 2015, he was waiting for the start of a marathon and noticed discarded edibles wrappers in a garbage
can. He’d brought edibles along and had planned on “discreetly consuming” them; by the end of the race, he was joyful and “giddy” and had discovered something he believes is “underreported.” He thought he was alone in his enjoyment of running high, but Hesse found a surprise: many athletes – particularly distance runners, he says – use CBD, THC, and marijuana to enhance performance. It’s quietly common in amateur sports and, he avers, though most organizations ban or discourage it, marijuana use is also wellknown in pro sports. Science, he says, has proven in many ways that marijuana and its derivatives
can actually help athletes. The human body contains cannabinoid receptors; it’s well-known that marijuana works to eliminate pain and induce relaxation, and it can decrease anxiety. Hesse noticed that “ripping a bong” before he ran made running more like “play”; if couch-potatoes could tap into that feeling, then maybe, Hesse posited, they wouldn’t
be sedentary. So why isn’t marijuana legal and easily available, then? Says Hesse, “Enter Big Tobacco, Alcohol and Pharma.” Getting any useful information out of “Runner’s High” is very clearly, purely and simply going to depend on your stance on
the use of marijuana. If you’re steadfastly negative, you can stop here and page ahead. Lean toward the positive, and author Josiah Hesse still won’t make things easy for you. Readers, for example, will quickly notice that several iterations of the word “play” show up in this book really often, which is generally distracting and doesn’t, until toward the end of it, leave much room for serious discussion on what he’s found. While there is a good amount of science-and-businesslike dialogue here, the antsy insistence on “play” overshadows it. Others, particularly those who are specific in their usage, may find deep offense in labels like “stoner,” “pothead runners” and “dirtbag.” Casual use of user slang also changes the tone of this book, from investigative to impudent. For athletes who want to make their daily run fun, or for “couch-monsters” who need impetus to get up and go, there’s a lot of solid science to be had inside “Runner’s High.” If you aren’t anywhere convinced, though, this book could be a mountain of controversy. : :
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“Eyes” Wide Open Screen Savor
by Gregg Shapiro Contributing Writer
B WANTED Danny Downs
I am looking for Danny Downs or his son, who would be about 25 years old now. We knew each other before. I moved to Atlanta in 1993. Please email me or call me with any information about Danny. Thank You FrankieLesterATL@aol.com 404-876-5111
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ased on the acclaimed 2000 documentary of the same name by gay filmmakers and World of Wonder (RuPaul’s Drag Race) masterminds, Fenton Bailey and Randy Barbato, Michael Showalter’s Tammy Faye Bakker biopic “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” (Searchlight Pictures/20th Century Studios), now on Blu-ray + Digital, with a screenplay by gay screenwriter, Abe Sylvia, is one of the gayest movies you’ll see in 2021. This is in despite of the cast of characters including notorious Christianist homophobes Jerry Falwell, Sr. (played with pure vitriol by Vincent D’Onofrio) and Pat Robertson (portrayed by Gabriel Olds). Known as “the Ken and Barbie of televangelists,” Jim (Andrew Garfield) and the titular Tammy Faye Bakker (Jessica Chastain giving an Oscar-worthy performance) fell from grace following a series of scandals during the late 1980s. Before that, in 1952, we see a young Tammy Faye (Chandler Head) being raised in the rural Minnesota household of her divorced, remarried, and devoutly religious mother Rachel (lesbian actress Cherry Jones), and the impact it had on her.
Dec. 24-Jan. 06, 2022
In 1960, as a student at the North Central Bible College in Minneapolis, Tammy Faye (Chastain) meets charismatic classmate Jim (Garfield), and their whirlwind, but chaste courtship results in marriage, as well as being kicked out of school because marriage between students was frowned upon. Tammy Faye’s mother is less than thrilled with both pieces of news as well as the revelation that they plan to be traveling preachers “like Oral Roberts and his wife.” Uplifting each other on their journey, the pair experiences divine providence early on when, after having their car repossessed somewhere in Virginia in 1965, they meet a man who works for Pat Robertson. By 1969, The Jimmy and Tammy Show on CBN is one of the religious broadcasting network’s biggest earners. Soon after, Jim’s show, The 700 Club, elevates their profile. But a 1971 social event at Robertson’s palatial estate, where they cross paths with the hateful Falwell, who is consumed with fighting the liberal, feminist and homosexual agenda, and his disapproval of Tammy Faye’s openness, leads the duo to create the PTL (Praise The Lord!) network. Even if you weren’t an evangelical, it was hard to avoid the waves being made by the Bakkers who were seemingly unstoppable. In addition to Rachel’s stinging criticism of her daughter and son-in-law, the couple were being rightfully hounded by the secular press. But all the Bakkers had to do was go on the air, ask for finan-
cial assistance from their followers, and they were “blessed” with unlimited cash. But all was not right in their world. Despite all the incoming funds, PTL was running a deficit. Jim, who had a secret history of same-gender attraction, was maintaining a special friendship with assistant Fletcher (Louis Cancelmi). Feeling neglected, a pregnant Tammy Faye began her own fling with music producer Gary (Mark Wystrach). Add to that Tammy Faye’s developing pill addiction, money trouble during the construction of the Heritage USA religious theme park, Jim’s shaming of Tammy Faye on the air, Falwell’s ongoing dislike of the Bakkers, Tammy Faye’s embracement of Steve (Randy Havens), a gay man with AIDS, and derailment was imminent. When all the scandals became public, led off by Jim’s affair with Jessica Hahn, the downfall was swift. Falwell reveled in their demise, taking control of their network, and humiliating them every chance he got, mighty Christianist of him! All in all, “The Eyes of Tammy Faye” is a portrait of truly unlikeable people. However, for all of her flaws, Tammy Faye maintained some of her integrity, not an easy thing to do in that den of vipers, and her story is one for the ages. The Blu-ray + Digital bonus extra is the featurette titled “A Look inside The Eyes of Tammy Faye.” Rating: B-
How Your Yard Can Be a Gift to the Planet Health & Wellness: Alternative Landscapes
BY JACK KIRVEN QNOTES CONTRIBUTOR
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he colder and darker days of winter are here again. I’ve found that pushing back against them is easier when I’m being creative. As I seem to come back around to it every year at this time, I suppose it bears repeating yet again: The holidays aren’t necessarily the most wonderful time of the year. Contending with the regular seasonal stressors is complicated by the ongoing pandemic, so it becomes ever more important to check in with yourself. At this moment, I’m personally feeling an oppressive sense of defeat and jealousy as it pertains to the successes of dancers and choreographers I’ve known. That’s no good! If, like me, you need something interesting to redirect your thoughts toward, perhaps you might play a thought experiment with me? In the coming year, I hope to buy a house for the first time (fingers crossed during these strange real estate markets). I’m imagining all the uses for each room, and I’m also keenly interested in the outside space. I’ve felt for years that I absolutely don’t want any grass at all in my yard. Firstly, I hate mowing it, and secondly it seems like a colossal waste of resources. Grass is a food desert for the residents living all around us, and I want my home to be a welcoming habitat. I want my home, and particularly my yard, to be a gift to myself, my neighborhood, and my planet. Reduce your use of water, fertilizer, energy, and greenhouse gases by jettisoning your grass. With this in mind, let’s consider the ways we can reimagine a typical outdoor space. I want to mention ideas about ground cover, flower gardens, kitchen gardens, borders, and features. I think we could make some truly impressive neighborhoods all across the region. It’s a delight even imagining it. Ground Cover I have in mind a variety of options to replace grass. Artfully sectioned portions
of yard allocated to gravel, river rocks, low growing plants with lots of flowers (e.g. creeping thyme for a purple yard??), and ivy around the bases of trees perhaps? I’d like to leave two feet of pebbles around the perimeter of my house: I want the habitat to be the center and periphery of the property, not the foundation of my house. Give the bunny-fluffles, creepy things, and various other beasties safe cover away from my safe cover. Anything to replace grass. Literally anything. A yard including strategically shaped sections of meadow flowers might be a nice contained touch of wildness. Flower Gardens I plan to have a wide variety of flowers that bloom throughout the seasons, so that my itty bitty neighbors have a nice variety of food. I’m thinking I’d prefer potted plants. They use less soil, need less water, and it practically eliminates the need for weeding or pesticides. Plus they can be rearranged on a whim, or easily switched out as the plants move through their cycles. Edible Yards As I’ve mentioned before in this column, I strongly suggest square foot gardening for your vegetables and herbs. It eliminates nearly all waste of any kind, including space itself. I’m going to have fruit trees and berry bushes at the edge of the yard. Again, keep the banqueting guests away from the house. There’s also the possibility of nut trees, which I enjoyed growing up. Borders and Features Boulders with sphagnum moss would be beautiful in shaded areas. You can encourage the soft, incandescently green stuff to grow by putting a little of it in a blender with yogurt, mixing it together, then painting it onto surfaces where you want it to appear. There are so many forms of creative yard art that require no maintenance: Interesting stone, wood, glass, or metal features. Perhaps a shallow water feature trickling in the shade to give your pollinators a reliable source of hydration? I want
a chess board and a meditation labyrinth. If you prefer living borders, many plants are easily shaped. I’ve seen gorgeous ideas using bricks, lavender, rosemary, pavers, and stones. Borders themselves can be a fantastic expression of creativity unto themselves.
Now I really cannot wait for spring! I have something to look forward to, something to direct my creativity toward. Do you have any encouraging strategies like this you want to share? Mention them in the comments below, and let’s all feel happier despite any wintery moods. : :
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