QNotes, March 13-26, 2015

March 13-26 . 2015

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March 13-26. 2015

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qnotes news & features arts. entertainment. news. views.

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News Notes: Regional Briefs Ordinance fails, what ‘s next?

The ones who stood opposed Charlotte youth’s suicide evokes emotion News Notes: U.S./World Briefs

a&e / life&style 15 15 16 18 19

Jane’s World Tell Trinity One Voice Chorus celebrates 25th anniversary Q Events Calendar Our People: Non-Discrimination Coalition

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TOY expands youth support, opens new cyber center

opinions & views 4 Spiritual Reflections 4 TalkBack 5 Editor’s Note

FULL COVERAGE: Indepth commentary and analysis on Charlotte’s failed LGBT ordinances, pages 4-5, 8-11, 19.

March 13-26 . 2015

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qnotes connect March 13-26 Vol 29 No 23

arts. entertainment. news. views. goqnotes.com twitter.com/qnotescarolinas facebook.com/qnotescarolinas

contributors this issue Paige Braddock, Matt Comer, Isai Efuru, Lainey Millen, Trinity

front page

Graphic Design by Matt Comer & Lainey Milen Photography: digidreamgrafix Mission:

The focus of QNotes is to serve the LGBT 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 LGBT life and social justice issues.

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upcoming issues: 03.27.15: Young LGBT Professionals Advertising Space Deadline: March 18 04.10.15 Six Months After Marriage Advertising Space Deadline: April 1

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March 13-26. 2015

spiritual reflections

by Isai Efuru :: guest contributor

Back to Life About a year ago, I was diagnosed with adenomyosis, a condition impacting the uterus. Consequently, I would need a hysterectomy, considering my extremely low hemoglobin levels. Naturally, I questioned God’s motives and wanted to know why I had to lose my womb in order to heal.

God’s response to me knocked me off of the cracked pavement I trod en route to home base.

God let me lament, and then quietly told me a truth that made me weep all the more. God said to me, “In order to bring you back to life, I needed to take the dead places from within you. ”You need a makeover, and this is only the beginning of the rest of you.”

I was stunned silent and my tears continued to cascade as I folded the words over in my mind. Was I really living like an emotional zombie and exhausted at the point of death? Yes, I was. I had grown comfortable in the sting of my skin. In a way, that reality kept me in a casket of safety that blocked the light that God was offering.

Sometimes it takes a loss, death, burial and removal to bring a soul back to life. Since we aren’t born surgeons and don’t have all of the knowledge it would take to comprehend what it is we really want or need, the Creator shows us in our natural life exchanges that he knows the secret to eternal life on earth. Eternal life translates into a state of being that

includes 360 degrees of love and light. When we allow God to craft us, and surrender our egos and human intellect, we experience a divine existence that places us directly in the Master’s hands for further exploration.

I smiled later in the evening when I caught on to what God’s words revealed to me. God was bringing me back to life because he loved me and needed me to live so that I could continue my divine assignments. I needed to lose to win, as Fantasia put it. The wonderful thing about losing my womb is that I had a treasure of memories from it, along with a beautiful daughter, that I could take into the future.

I would need certain things removed, and would need time to heal before I took off running again toward my destiny. God further declared that I would experience some pain, but not nearly as much as I would if I stayed in the condition I was in. Staying in the comfort zone would surely mean the end of me.

Faith tells me that I can bet on it. If we can release dead things and trust God, we can trade in a troubled past for a bountiful present, a swollen heart for a thriving soul, a weary mind for an empowered resolve. As I approach my surgery, I am encouraged to know that God knows me best, and knows how to trim the excess. Though I do acknowledge some fear, it doesn’t overshadow the joy that comes with knowing the power that God has to make me over and hand me a new purpose to live for. : :

talkback Comments from goqnotes.com. and facebook.com/qnotescarolinas. Web comments are not edited for grammar or punctuation.

Readers responded with a variety of emotions after Charlotte City Council defeated LGBT-inclusive non-discrimination ordinances on March 2 (goqnotes.com/34468/). The vote, an editorial over the “compromise” package stripping out restrooms (goqnotes.com/34484) and separately reported incidents of harassment by anti-LGBT activists of transgender people at the local government center (goqnotes.com/34460/) resulted in hundreds of comments on our website. Here are some of these responses.

On the Council vote I’m sad to see it fail, but as a gay man I wouldn’t want to see it pass without the strongest possible transgender protections anyways which seemed to be what that amendment was about. Step one is to try to change minds and win the vote. If that fails, step two can always be to vote out the minds you couldn’t change in favor of equality.

— Jake Gellar-Goad, March 3, goqnotes.com Although this doesn’t affect me in any way, I am very disappointed that this important piece of legislation failed. To me it doesn’t say much for the humanity of the present council members. Hopefully the public will see fit to replace these individuals who refuse to accept the facts of life.

— Carole Hart, March 3, goqnotes.com On the ‘compromise package’ I’m sorry but I disagree. Before this vote we had no protections.

Transgender people had to be careful about restroom use. We could have had protection for everyone with the exception of transgendered peoples bathroom use unresolved. Today nobody has any protection and transgendered people will still need to be careful when using the restroom. That is not progress. If I wanted my representatives to be inflexible and not find common ground I would have voted for Republicans. I believe that progress sometimes takes many steps to get to the end result. If we refuse to move forward when we don’t get all we want, then progress will be long coming. If you don’t believe the restroom issue will be resolved down the road, then you must believe your community doesn’t care about transgender people. I will continue to fight for their inclusion, and I think many in the community will too.

Accepting a compromise does not end the debate and does not stop progress. It is one step further towards the ultimate goal. I believe

these people made a mistake that will hurt our community for years. I’m sorry for that.

— John Bean, March 4, Facebook No. The amendment was not an attempt at a compromise. It was not a “restroom issue.” It is not protection of anyone when it is protection of everyone “except...” It was an act of discrimination behind a filthy glass veil of progress. If we refuse to stand in solidarity with all members of the community we are no better than those who attempt to oppress any in our community. I’m glad it means that “nobody has any protection” if it means that a collective urgency ensures the continued fight for any group that would otherwise be othered in the name of progress. “We’ve got ours... we’ll come back for you.”

— Micah Paul, March 5, Facebook On the harassment What these people need to see is a very masculine trans man going into the women’s restroom. And when confronted, he should say, “Hey, this is what you wanted.”

— Z, March 2, goqnotes.com Creepy old man stalking kids, hanging around outside ladies restrooms and they’re the perverts? Welcome to Alabama on steroids and the pottie police. Lost the marriage equality need a new shtick to fill the declining money grab. Mother and trans girl should file police report for harassment and stalking. Lovely city you have there one, I’ll never set foot in again.

— Melanie, March 2, goqnotes.com The fear that imaginary perverts will suddenly start lurking in washrooms pretending to be women is completely ridiculous, especially when you consider that the same religions that are so concerned about this have many real perverts lurking in their organizations pretending to be priests etc. Go deal with real problems and leave us alone!!

— commonsense, March 3, goqnotes.com I’m much more concerned about a 60-something male adult with a stalking conviction harassing a minor as they come out of the restroom while their accomplice records it on video.

— Cheshire, March 3, goqnotes.com

we want your opinions and feedback Whether it’s letters to the editor, web comments, general suggestions, comments or ideas, qnotes staff welcomes your input. See, without you we’d really have no reason to be here. So, we delight in hearing what our readers have to say.

Be sure to send in your thoughts, praises, criticisms and more to editor@goqnotes.com for general feedback or letters@goqnotes.com for letters to the editor. Thank you!

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editor’s note

by Matt Comer :: matt@goqnotes.com

The Charlotte that is, not the feel-good myth we wish to see A progressive city that isn’t nearly as progressive as we thought

❝ We tell ourselves we are a progressive, can-do, forward-thinking city that comes together to amicably solve our problems. It is the Charlotte Way, we exclaim. ❞ “Today, we look like an old Southern town, not a New South city. And it didn’t have to happen. … Today, we look like the city we’ve long tried to convince others we’re not.“ That’s The Charlotte Observer’s editorial take on Charlotte City Council’s rejection of LGBT-inclusive non-discrimination ordinances on March 2.

The problem is that the daily newspaper’s analysis is pure myth; more correctly, it is a perpetuation of an old Charlotte myth that makes us feel better, but certainly has never reflected reality.

The Charlotte Observer has a stake in perpetuating this purely homegrown Queen City phenomenon, telling ourselves one thing while turning a blind eye to the truth. The newspaper and our city have played out this myth for decades, from the days of newspaper owner and racist “New South” booster D.A. Tompkins to the present.

In Tompkins’ day, we stood up for progress in engineering and education while denying access to that progress to black citizens. Today, we stand up for progress in business, civic and social life while denying it to LGBT citizens.

We tell ourselves we are a progressive, can-do, forward-thinking city that comes together to amicably solve our problems. It is the Charlotte Way, we exclaim.

It is a lie.

But that’s what the Observer and what a great many others across this city strongly believe to their core, and that’s how they’ve reassured themselves the days following Council’s rejection of the ordinances.

Charlotte is a progressive city, they’ll tell you. They’ll say we’re a city that has moved forward in the past and could have continued moving forward with, as the Observer calls it, a “pragmatic,” “incremental” step toward better progress — all halted, that is, by LGBT allies LaWana Mayfield and John Autry.

But it’s all rhetoric, and slim on facts, shifting blame for Council’s 6-5 rejection of LGBT-inclusive non-discrimination ordi-

nances to Councilmembers LaWana Mayfield and John Autry — two who truly stood for progress — while giving a pass to those who truly stood for discrimination.

Charlotte’s LGBT-inclusive ordinances didn’t fail because of Mayfield’s and Autry’s stand for full inclusion; their stands would have fully constituted the very meaning of progressive if they had been heeded by the rest of Council.

Rather, the ordinances failed because Charlotte City Council lacked the political and moral courage, fortitude and conviction to do something simple, something undertaken by nearly all of our peer cities and those larger than us.

Council lacked the will to fully protect all LGB and T citizens. They cowered to fear and discrimination and forced an absolutely unnecessary and dangerous compromise that stripped out protections primarily for transgender people.

This compromise was neither “pragmatic” nor “incremental.” It has existed in no other major city that’s passed similar ordinances.

And, rest assured, if the compromise had passed, the restroom carve out wouldn’t have been touched or modified anytime soon.

Transgender people, as has often been the case, would have been left behind, unprotected in places where they often need it the most.

Instead of directing anger and blame at Mayfield and Autry — as the Observer and others in our community have done — we should direct the blame squarely where it belongs: to the Council members who stood determined to maintain Charlotte’s discriminatory status quo and deny full equality and inclusion for all her citizens.

If Council and all of its nine Democrats — primarily Michael Barnes, Claire Fallon and Greg Phipps — had stood for the original, fully inclusive package, there would have been no need for the compromise. There would have been no need for allies like Al Austin, Patsy Kinsey and Vi Lyles to bend to pressure and,

“with great trepidation,” Austin explained, support the imperfect package — in itself a desperate bid to save the city’s so-called progressive reputation.

“To anyone who doesn’t care to learn the details of what transpired Monday,” writes the Observer, “Charlotte merely looks like a city that doesn’t seem particularly bothered about discrimination.”

The Observer and others should look more closely at the details themselves — and all the underlying wishful thinking that prompted us to believe we could and should move forward for some, but not for all.

We can tell ourselves we live in a progressive, New South city. We can say we’re moving forward. But the ordinance rejection proves we’re not. The arguments used in November 1992, when Council last voted on and rejected similar protections, won the day again nearly 23 years later. Then, the opposition — religious leaders from Charlotte’s and North Carolina’s leading anti-LGBT churches and organizations — painted gay men as sexual perverts and predators. This time, their arguments targeted transgender people. The result? The same.

Our Charlotte Way myth might make us feel better, but it’s a false reality. The truth is harder to hear. It is time, particularly for LGBT people and our allies, that we finally face facts. This is not a politically LGBT-friendly city and it has rarely ever been.

To change that, we’ll have to get angry, get active, get involved. Vote out the Council people who stood against our equality. Hold institutions and agencies — from media to political parties to businesses — accountable for their anti-LGBT prejudices, biases and actions.

Stop associating with companies or institutions that work against our humanity and equality and throw our support behind those that do.

That is how we will make change.

Demanding it. Every day. All day. Without exception. Without compromise. Without the myth and wishful thinking. : :

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news notes: carolinas compiled by Lainey Millen & Matt Comer

Charlotte Senior softball league reg open

CHARLOTTE — The Sassy Softball Sisters league is now accepting players for its upcoming season. Registration deadline is March 15.

Those who register after the deadline will be wait-listed.

This league is for women who are 50-years-old and above and identify as lesbian or straight. Players must be 50 plus as of December 31, 2015. Women, age 45-49, who have registered and played prior to July 1, 2012, still qualify to play.

In order to be eligible, applicants must complete a registration and attend a preseason practice at Park Road Park, 6220 Park Rd. Dates available are March 14, 19, 21, 26 and 28. Times and fields are available online. Game play begins on April 2 at 7 p.m. and 8 p.m. on Field #2 and continues through June 13. League payments of $45 are due by March 19 in order to secure a spot on a team. Fee covers team uniform, game balls, field use and practices.

The fall season runs from Aug. 13-Oct. 29.

Registration opens on June 1 and continues through July 26.

League teams will be newly formed for the spring and the nucleus of these teams will be used for the fall. info: carolinaseniorsports.com/sassy-ladiessoftball.html.

— L.M.

Seniors plan for future

CHARLOTTE — The Aging Solutions Network will hold its monthly meeting on March 16, 7 p.m., at PACE, 6133 The Plaza.

This date is a rescheduled one due to weather conditions on two previous occasions.

Topic of discussion will be planning for the remainder of the 2015 year. Organizers want to know what participants would like to see accomplished. They also are curious about what entices one to make the meetings, in addition to what would attract participants to make time in their schedules to attend.

RSVPs are due immediately to allow for proper head count. rsvp/info: clt.lgbt.elders@gmail.com — L.M.

ASO holds benefit

HUNTERSVILLE — Different Roads Home is bringing singer/songwriter and breast cancer

survivor Cindy Alexander to the Queen City on March 28, 7 p.m., at Monteith Park Clubhouse, 15239 Waterfront Dr. A tax-deductible contribution is requested to attend at $50/person or $95/couple. Monies assist DRH with providing support for those living with HIV/AIDS and cancer. A raffle will be held at the end of the evening.

Alexander has toured with groups such as the Bacon Brothers, Rick Springfield, Suzanne Vega and more. Her music has been featured on both the big and small screens, as well as film. info: differentroadshome.org.

— L.M.

Boaters set practices

CHARLOTTE — One World Dragon Boat has announced its spring training and practice schedule.

New and returning paddlers put oars in weekly at 10 a.m., beginning April 4 at Ramsey Creek Park, 18441 Nantz Rd., in Cornelius at the boat launch area. This will be the maiden voyage for the team’s newly acquired boat named Triumph. Rev. Robin Tanner will perform a boat blessing prior to launch.

For those who are new to the sport, Dragon Boating 101 training is available on the first and third Saturday each month at 9 a.m., commencing with the April 4 practice date.

During the opposite weeks, new paddlers are welcome. The boat holds 20 people. Pending

TOY expands youth outreach, opens cyber center

CHARLOTTE — Time Out Youth Center, a local LGBT youth services agency located at 2320 N. Davidson St., is expanding their outreach to transgender youth and partnering on a new program for those youth who have experienced sexual abuse.

The group has announced it is re-opening its Q-tribe program for youth who are 12-20 and identify as transgender or are gender questioning or non-comforming.

Meeting on Thursdays at 7 p.m., this group helps to “promote personal growth and discovery through shared experiences, education and respect with a goal of providing a safe space where transgender youth can be their authentic selves in a judgment-free environment,” the center said.

“Trans-identified youth have a different set of needs and should have a safe space for them to be themselves and find support,” said Executive Director Rodney Tucker. “We are excited to offer this group for trans youth in our region.”

Trey Greene serves as the Q-tribe facilitator. He is a student at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte pursuing a Masters of Social Work. He serves as the center’s Masters of Social Work intern. As a

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trans-identified person, Greene is tasked with helping “individuals move toward self-acceptance and greater authenticity, especially for those struggling because of their identity or traumatic experiences,” the center added.

As an open group, Q-tribe requires no prescreening to attend.

In other news, the center is teamed up with Safe Alliance to host an eight-week skills-building group workshop that began on March 10 for LGBT youth who had traumatic sexual abuse experiences.

Additionally, Time Out Youth Center celebrated the opening of a new computer lab made possible by a grant from the David Bohnett Foundation. The celebration and open house was held on March 6.

The cyber center includes several new iMac desktops and a printer.

Center leaders said the foundation’s support will expand tech access for the youth they serve.

“The David Bohnett CyberCenter is a tremendous asset and resource to Time Out Youth Center and the youth we serve,” said Steven Wilson, TOY board chair. “Thanks to the generosity of the David Bohnett Foundation, the CyberCenter has experienced tremendous growth in programs, budget and staffing, allowing us to serve over 270 youth annually through Center activities. All told, the CyberCenter will be a thriving and central place for LGBT youth in Charlotte, greatly supporting our efforts to connect, inform and enrich our vibrant community.”

The David Bohnett Foundation has opened and funded 62 other similar cyber centers.

“In establishing the CyberCenters, technology entrepreneur and philanthropist David Bohnett’s vision was to provide LGBT communities with a ‘wired’ hub through which its members could connect with each other and explore educational, professional and recreational opportunities,” a press release read.

The first David Bohnett CyberCenter opened at the Los Angeles LGBTQ Center in 1998. info: timeoutyouth.org.

— L.M. & M.C.

spot availability, new paddlers are welcome at the regular practice time. Filling a seat is up to the discretion of the coaches and whether the team is preparing for a race. The practice sessions are more geared toward rigorous and intermediatelevel members or experienced paddlers. New paddlers may not get the personalized attention they require during this time slot.

“It is a great opportunity to experience the energy, excitement and power in the boat, as well as the nature on the lake. However they may not get the personal one on one attention they would in the 101 practice,” team founder Denise Bauer said. She added that it is recommended since participants learn basic commands and other important issues.

Some team members are taking basic first aid, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and automated external defibrillator courses at the U.S. National Whitewater Center, 5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy., on March 15. info: oneworlddragonboat.org.

— L.M.

Roller Girls kick off season

CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte Roller Girls have kicked off their 2015 season schedule with an away bout against the Carolina Roller Girls in Raleigh, N.C., on March 7.

The first home match up will be on April 18 when the Girls take on the Greensboro Roller Girls at the Grady Cole Center, 310 N. Kings Dr. “This should be a great season,” Public Relations Director Liz McLaughlin said. “The All-Stars were undefeated at home for two years in a row now, so we are headed into 2015 with momentum.”

A complete season listing is available online with team match-ups and times. The season ends on Oct. 10 at home.

Season tickets are $55.95 plus tax and fees available online and entitle the purchaser to VIP status with reserved seating, lanyard and other Charlotte Roller Girls merchandise.

Individual tickets are $12/adult, $7/child in advance and $16/adult, $9/child day of.

Community partner for the 2015 season is the Coalition to Unchain Dogs who will receive a portion of the proceeds from the games.

The team also has new skater skills workshops for those newbies who want to explore roller derby skills prior to newbie practices with the Roller Girls. Visit the website to learn more. tickets/info: charlotterollergirls.com.

— L.M.

Indie artist hits the Queen City

CHARLOTTE — Lesbian indie artist Brandi Carlile will perform on June 11, 8 p.m., at The Fillmore Charlotte, 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd.

Carlile’s style embraces both folk rock and alternative country. The singer/songwriter who is originally from Ravensdale, Wash., is self-taught on piano and guitar. She has been performing onstage since she was eight years old.

“The Firewatcher’s Daughter” album dropped on March 3.

“The Story,” her second album, included a collaboration on “Cannonball” with Georgia’s Indigo Girls. Her music has been featured in commercials and on the small screen.

Carlile was a previous GLAAD Media Award nominee for Outstanding Music Artist for her “Give Up the Ghost” album.

While music is her first love, she also spends time working with her Looking Out Foundation charity which supports initiatives for which she has passion She is married to Catherine Shepherd and has one child.

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Tickets are $40.23 and are available online.

Her tour shows have been selling out quickly.

Attendees are encouraged to purchase quickly.

Carlile also performs on June 12, 8 p.m., at the North Carolina Museum of Art, 2110 Blue Ridge Rd., in Raleigh, N.C. Her appearance at The Orange Peel in Asheville, N.C., on March 14 was sold out. info: livenation.com/Brandi-Carlile.

— L.M.

Triad Film screening upcoming

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Out at the Movies Winston-Salem will screen the awardwinning “Boy Meets Girl” on March 14, 7 p.m., at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts’ ACE Theatre, 1533 S. Main St. The movie tells is a romantic comedy that explores being in love and the importance of living courageously fighting against fear in order to achieve one’s dream. It’s characters include Robby and his childhood best friend Ricky, a transgender girl, in addition to debutante Francesca. When Robby and Francesca strike up a friendship, Robby is forced to face his feelings for Ricky.

Tickets are $7/regular, $6/seniors and students, and will be available in the lobby beginning at 6:15 p.m. info: outatthemovieswinston.org.

— L.M.

who ran a school for girls. It was based on the 1934 play.

After a malicious young girl starts a lesbian rumor about the two women, the rumor soon turns to scandal. As the girl comes to understand the power she wields, she sticks by her story, which precipitates tragedy for the women, organizers of the event said.

It is directed by Sally Kinka.

The production may not be suitable for those under age 14 due to its mature content.

Tickets are $15/adult, $12/students and seniors and are available online. info: nract.org.

— L.M.

Western Film fest around corner

ASHEVILLE — The Fourteenth Annual F*-Word Film Festival will be held on March 17, 7 p.m., at the University of North CarolinaAsheville, Laurel Forum, Karpen Hall, at 1 University Heights.

The event is part of the university’s Women’s History Month and is sponsored by the Women, Gender and Sexuality Studies department.

Filmmaker Jennifer Lee will discuss “The Women’s Liberation Movement and American Cultural Memory.” This will be followed by

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her film “Feminist: Stories from Women’s Liberation” and a Q & A session.

“It is a film exploring the significance of the second wave of the women’s liberation movement on our lives. Interviewees include author and NOW founder Betty Friedan, authors and activists Frances M. Beal, Robin Morgan, Sonia Pressman Fuentes, Betita Martinez and many other feminists who are not well-known but should be,” Lee said.

Some of the films she has worked on previously included “Forrest Gump,” “Ghost,” “Back to the Future 2” and others. Her foray into inde-

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Center seeks volunteers

WINSTON-SALEM — North Star LGBT Community Center, 704 Brookstown Ave., is searching for volunteers who are willing to work on target initiatives.

North Star Initiatives include: resource development; support groups (leaders needed, as well as those with counseling experience); center enhancement (seasonal decor, in-house marketing, cleaning, supply maintenance, etc., as well as regular center staffing during operational hours); potluck with a purpose (bi-monthly potluck meal gathering with a speaker or workshop attached, plus setup/cleanup help, as well as potentially identifying speakers or those who could hold a workshop); university and outreach; programming; and open mic events.

North Star is also conducting its 2015 Needs Assessment Survey designed to assess current needs of the LGBT community in WinstonSalem (and the surrounding Triad area) to determine what programs community members would like to see implemented at the center.

Individual responses will be kept anonymous and confidential. Upon completion of this survey participants will have the chance to enter a raffle for a $50 gift certificate to Mooney’s Mediterranean Cafe. Visit bit.ly/1A9MR6Z to be included. info: Ele Parker, volunteering@northstarlgbtcc. com. northstarlgbtcc.com.

— L.M.

Triangle Hellman work hits stage

RALEIGH — The North Raleigh Arts & Creative Theatre, 7713-51 Lead Mine Rd., will mount a theatrical production of Lillian Hellman’s “The Children’s Hour,” from March 13-29, 8 p.m.

The groundbreaking film of the same name was one of the earlier pieces with lesbian themes on the big screen dating back to 1961. It starred Audrey Hepburn and Shirley MacLaine

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Where do we go from here?

After Charlotte’s failed vote on LGBT ordinances, attention and debate turns to transgender inclusion, community education and fall elections

by Matt Comer :: matt@goqnotes.com

A

The Council’s two Republicans were largely written off, The NC Values Coalition, the group which led the push for fter nearly six hours of fiery rhetoric and sermon-like though early statements from Republican Ed Driggs seemed to North Carolina’s anti-LGBT constitutional amendment, shifted their speeches from almost 120 citizen speakers, occasional have indicated he would at least not actively work against the operations into high gear. First Baptist Church Pastor Mark Harris outbursts of audience emotion, and near a full hour proposal. Two Democrats — Michael Barnes and Greg Phipps and his new advocacy group, Faith Matters NC, did, too. Franklin of City Council debate, Charlotte’s government cen— had already come out against the proposals.

Graham spoke out. Radio ads were placed. Thousands of emails — ter chambers fell silent with anxious anticipation. Mayor Dan That left three Democrats up for grabs, and gaining the adupwards to 40,000 to all Council members — were generated.

Clodfelter called for the yeas and nays on what LGBT advocates ditional two votes necessary for passage took further conversaIt became clear to me, as I know it did for others, that no matter had hoped would be a landmark and historic package of nontions and lobbying. the weeks or months of planning, our side wasn’t going to be able discrimination ordinances, protecting Charlotteans on the basis Eventually, it seemed to pay off. to match the reach or volume of our opponents. Not, at least, with of sexual orientation and gender identity.

“When I went to bed Friday night [before the vote], I was the quiet, behind-the-scenes strategy that had been chosen from With six votes against and five in favor, the ordinances failed. confident we had the six votes,” Councilmember John Autry the outset. Like many times before, this effort to undertake LGBTIf you were watching from home, you would have heard a told me. “But it was pretty obvious to several Council members inclusive change had been worked reservedly, out of the communireserved, but clearly audible “wow” on the televised version. that there was some shift in support over the weekIt was a quick and shocking letdown end. I don’t know when it happened, but that’s when it after a raucous night of debate and weeks became apparent.” worth of lobbying and media frenzy — Austin, too, had noticed the shift. surprising even those who had opposed “We had those six votes initially and things kind of the ordinances. changed over the weekend and we lost one of those “I was totally shocked,” said Flip votes for whatever reason,” he said.

Benham, perhaps the city’s most wellBy 11 a.m. on the morning of the March 2 meeting, known anti-LGBT activist. “I knew we what had seemed a close, but done deal started to weren’t going to win and, then, I don’t know unravel. what happened. I don’t know how they Austin said he met that morning with voted it down.”

Councilmember Vi Lyles, reportedly by that time supSimilar emotion filled local LGBT advoportive of the full, original package of non-discriminacates’ minds in the hours and days after tion ordinances. They came up with a strategy to try the March 2 meeting, when after months and salvage the proposal, bringing along Kinsey. of discussion and planning, Charlotte City They approached Councilmember Claire Fallon, too, Council rejected a suite of four nonwho voted later that evening for an amended version of discrimination ordinances that would the ordinances that stripped restrooms and other facilihave added sexual orientation and gender ties like shower rooms and locker rooms from the public identity, among other characteristics, to accommodations ordinance. protections in public accommodations, Rumors shared on Facebook all point the finger passenger vehicles for hire, city commerfor the lost vote at Fallon, but no one was willing to cial contracting and the city’s community go on-record with me to confirm those rumors. Fallon relations committee’s regulations.

Supporters of the non-discrimination ordinance hold up signs inside the Charlotte-Mecklenburg emphatically denies it, telling me and others that she “I was bummed out,” Councilmember Government Center prior to the start of the Charlotte City Council on Monday, March 2. was never asked to support the full package, despite Al Austin said two days after the vote. “I Photo Credit: David T. Foster/Charlotte Observer what seemed like her own enthusiastic support for the don’t know if you saw my expression when I measure in preliminary meetings leading up to the March 2 vote. ty and media spotlight. It is a strategy that I’d venture to guess most looked around and counted the votes. I was just blown away.”

“I don’t know,” she told me when I asked her if she would believe now was unwise — for several reasons, whether it be the have voted for the original proposal. “It would be easy for me to now clearly demonstrated need for broader community education, Weeks of planning say yes, but you want me to be honest? I don’t know.” particularly on transgender people, or the showing-up opponents I had begun covering the proposed non-discrimination Fallon has an entirely different theory on why the proposal gave to our lackluster community mobilization strategy. effort in November. That’s when Scott Bishop, chair of the failed, pointing the finger squarely at LGBT advocates themselves.

Hindsight is, well, hindsight. But I hope our community will Mecklenburg LGBT Political Action Committee (MeckPAC) and “We went down there with five definite votes and a possible be able to find some lessons from the past few months of work a local member of the Human Right’s Campaign’s national board sixth and the LGBT people did it to themselves,” Fallon told radio on the ordinances. That’s why I thought it was important for this of directors, called together a variety of community leaders and talk station WBT the morning after the vote, views she shared newspaper to take an indepth look at many of the questions we organizations for a discussion to push the ordinances through again with me. “One of their advocates got up and he called now now find ourselves facing.

Council. Bishop had been having conversations with Council anybody who didn’t agree stupid and ignorant which ticked off I spent hours in the days after the failed vote speaking to members beginning in July, culminating in an eventual Council one Council man. One lost vote. The other Council man, after a community members and advocates involved in the ordinance briefing on the proposal at a dinner meeting on Nov. 24. diatribe of a Council person, stated his views and immediately effort, along with leaders from City Council. All agreed more The weeks and months of planning had been intense for the tweets started of calling him names, nasty names. And he education is needed. But there’s still strong, and some might say those involved — conference calls and meetings, media interturned to me and said, ‘That’s it. I’m not voting for it.’ They did it bitter, disagreement over strategy and direction. views and strategy sessions. For the most part, I stood on the to themselves, and it will not come back to this Council because March 2’s debate and failed vote had ricocheted through the sidelines, up until the Council decided to finally move forward they will never get the six votes to put it on the agenda again, not entire community — with leaders and community members takwith the package of ordinances in February. That’s when my after last night.” ing to social media and their circles of friends to ask questions, publisher and I decided the newspaper needed to stake its claim Fallon’s taken the most heat for her comments, but other express outrage and, at times, point fingers. Just how did this — taking a position in favor of the ordinances and putting the Democrats on Council are in the spotlight, too — particularly happen? Just where did the plan or strategy go wrong? Who or paper’s weight behind their passage. I began sitting in on most David Howard, Barnes and Phipps. what was to blame? There are lots of possible answers and even planning calls and sessions.

Barnes and Phipps weren’t ever likely to vote for any LGBTmore tough questions to ponder.

By that time, the Charlotte Non-Discrimination Ordinance inclusive measure, but Howard had the potential. Advocates Coalition, comprised of local, regional and national organizations, worked relentlessly to secure his vote — a move that came only A lost sixth vote? had fully coalesced in support of the ordinances, with repreafter an amended version stripped out bathrooms.

In order to move anything through Charlotte City Council, sentatives from MeckPAC, the Charlotte Business Guild, Clergy Advocates point out that the full package would have passed, you need six votes — the slimmest majority on the 11-member for Equality, Equality NC, Human Rights Campaign, the LGBT if only Council allies had all stood strong on the original language. body. With a 9-2 Democratic majority, an outsider might think Democrats of Mecklenburg County, Genderlines, Straight Allies “I am extremely disappointed that our supposed allies on Charlotte’s LGBT community would have had an easy victory. But Charlotte, Democracy NC and the ACLU of North Carolina. the City Council did not support the language that we proposed that’s not reality for the Queen City.

From the get-go, it was clear to me we’d have an uphill battle. after working with them for many months,” Joyce said. “They “As a coalition, we were confident that we had four votes — We might find the votes to pass the full package — and everyone decided that they could not fully support our community and our two LGBT members of Council and our two strongest allies, was hopeful that was the case — but we’d face stiff opposition that’s not acceptable.”

Patsy Kinsey and John Autry,” said Cameron Joyce, president of from the religious right. Those fears were shared by most leaders the LGBT Democrats of Mecklenburg County and a coalition leader. in the coalition. And they proved true. see next page u

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Compromise package renews transgender inclusion debate The decision to go with a compromise package wasn’t an easy one, Council members and advocates tell me. Allies on Council, like Kinsey, Lyles and Austin, spoke directly on the dais about their own discomfort, Kinsey becoming clearly emotional and Austin saying his support came with “great trepidation.”

“I really hoped we had the political will and the political power to be more progressive,” Austin said from the dais. “We thought we had that earlier today and that changed quite a bit.”

The compromise stripping out the bathrooms had been floated by Barnes the week before the meeting. Leaders with the coalition say they didn’t back the compromise version, preferring instead the original, fully inclusive package. Come the night of the vote, it was Lyles who offered the amendment.

It passed 9-2, with Autry and LaWana Mayfield voting against it — votes that carried over to the final 6-5 tally.

“I will not and I cannot support an amendment that does not protect all of our citizens,” Mayfield said from the dais.

Both Autry and Mayfield have taken heat from some members of the community who think it was their action that prevented at least some protections from moving forward.

Both have stood by their votes.

Autry has said he’s received more positive feedback than negative.

“However,” he added, “the ones who have responded have been pretty disappointing, but I’m comfortable with my position and if faced with the same options tonight, I would do the same thing. In matters of civil rights, who sould be excluded?”

The compromise version and the final vote have re-opened an old, longstanding debate in the LGBT community on how best to move forward with fully inclusive protections for LGB and T community members.

The last major debate on the topic came in 2007, when a version of the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) which excluded protections for transgender people was pushed by Congressman Barney Frank and the Human Rights Campaign. A lot has changed since that time, with groups like HRC coming out in full support for complete trans inclusion. But the debate has still simmered, occasionally bubbling to the surface as it has these past few weeks in Charlotte.

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Paige Dula, founder of transgender support group Genderlines and a coalition leader, said the debate is reminiscent of 2007.

“I don’t think it’s quite as divisive as it was with ENDA, but the conversation has been fairly heated,” she said.

Some members of the community have said the coalition and Council should have moved forward with the compromise package, a position Dula disagrees with.

“I would have been extremely irate if the compromise package would have passed,” she said. “It would have left all the transgender people in Charlotte and the surrounding areas behind. It would have been very unlikely for us to get back in and change the language anytime in the near future.”

David Lari, a longtime community activist, disagrees and thinks an incremental approach would have worked better. He wouldn’t have been in favor of a proposal that completely excluded transgender people, but saw some value in the compromise version.

“The amended proposal still had language in there that was allinclusive,” he said. “It still had gender identity and gender expression language even in the amended proposal, so I think it’s been mischaracterized that it was leaving transgender people behind when it actually would have provided some incremental improvements for transgender people as well as the rest of the LGBT community. So, if a transgender person gets kicked out of a cab, they are going to probably wish we had gone with that incremental step.”

But Dula insisted that it is restrooms which signify one of the most significant concerns for transgender people.

“It’s a major consideration for us,” she said. “While it might be a smaller concern for the gay and lesbian side of the community, it’s definitely not a small consideration for the transgender community.”

Dula added, “That’s an area where transgender people are discriminated against possibly the most and experience a lot of violence as well.

I, myself, have experienced near violence in a bathroom before, due to being transgender.”

And it’s those kinds of differences that have prompted other debate in the community, too, with some believing the LGB and T protections should have been separated out from the beginning.

see Next Steps on 11

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The ones who stood opposed Four Charlotte City Council members who stalwartly opposed LGBT equality

by Matt Comer :: matt@goqnotes.com Two Democrats and two Republicans on Charlotte City Council remained stalwartly opposed to advancing LGBT equality during the past few months’ worth of debate over proposed nondiscrimination ordinances.

In November, they each expressed concerns. In early February, they each voted against placing the proposed ordinances on the agenda. And on March 2, they raised their hands in opposition to a final, amended version. The amended, “compromise” version has attracted disagreement among some LGBT community members, but there’s no doubt that these four Council people stood opposed to LGBT inclusion no matter the ordinances’ wording or language. Two other Council members seemed to offer either full or partial support and later voted for the compromise package.

Michael Barnes Democrat, Mayor Pro Tem, At-Large First elected: 2003 From the beginning of the ordinance considerations, Barnes voiced concerns over transgender people and their use of bathrooms — citing his fears of how the change in policy would effect his children. It was a refrain he used repeatedly in preliminary meetings in and to media through to the March 2 meeting. Despite having allegedly told another Council member he’d vote for a compromise package stripping out restrooms, Barnes instead voted against on March 2. Barnes has long been unfriendly to LGBT people and causes. He’s

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never been endorsed by the Mecklenburg LGBT Political Action Committee.

Greg Phipps Democrat, District 4 First elected: 2013 Greg Phipps also voiced reservations about the plan to add LGBT people to the city’s already-existing non-discrimination ordinances. One of Phipps’ main sticking points was a lack of documented evidence of discrimination against LGBT people, something city staff told him they aren’t able to track since local ordinances do not empower them to do so. Phipps also criticized the process, saying the city needed more time to discuss the issue.

Phipps was not endorsed by MeckPAC. Kenny Smith Republican, District 6 First elected: 2013 Kenny Smith was, perhaps, the most outspoken opponent of the LGBT-inclusive ordinances, though, in November, he seemed more perplexed than opposed and, like Barnes, cited concerns over his own young children.

Smith found it difficult to wrap his head around issues of gender and gender identity and complained about the process, saying he hadn’t heard of the effort — in

works with some Council members since July 2014 — until the city’s first Council briefing in November. On March 3, Smith let the rhetoric fly, calling the non-discrimination effort a “radical left agenda” and an effort to impose the “political whims of the minority on the majority.” Smith did not receive an endorsement from MeckPAC. Ed Driggs Republican, District 7 First elected: 2013 Like Smith and Barnes, Driggs spent a great deal of time concerned with the safety of children and women, despite having noted in November that he didn’t intend to “erect barriers” to the passage of the ordinances.

In February, Driggs latched onto the bathroom predator myth, saying the proposed ordinances could open the door to “bad actors” who would abuse the law. On March 2, he again cited a “lower[-ing] of the bar” that would allow “creeps” to take advantage of children and women. He also pushed back against the idea that discrimination against LGBT people existed. Driggs did not receive an endorsement from MeckPAC.

more: See all of our past coverage on the ordinances, including coverage from the night of the vote, in our archive at goqnotes.com/in/cndoc/.

goqnotes.com/to/news

The wild card: Claire Fallon Democrat, At-Large First elected: 2011 Claire Fallon has proven to be the one member of Council the most difficult to pin down on this particular issue.

She initially spoke out forcefully for full equality. At the end of February, she wavered, telling the Charlotte Observer the public needed more time to weigh in on the issue. And, at the March 2 meeting, she voted for the compromise package, saying she couldn’t vote to protect transgender people in restrooms. After the vote, she’s repeatedly claimed she never spoke out in favor of the full package and blamed LGBT advocates for the failure. Fallon was a MeckPAC endorsee in 2011 and 2013. qnotes endorsed her in 2011. There are rumors that Fallon’s slip caused the full package to fail; read our full story on page 8 for more.

The concerned one: David Howard Democrat, At-Large First elected: 2009 David Howard consistently expressed concerns over the non-discrimination ordinances’ effects on bathrooms.

Similar to Barnes and Smith, Howard cited his fears for his own children.

But, Howard also remained seemingly compassionate to both sides of the debate. Repeatedly, Howard told media and the public that he was weighing both sides and found it a tough vote. He also repeatedly tried to find work-arounds and compromises that could get some provisions advanced while addressing concerns over restrooms. On March 2, he voted for the compromise package. Howard has received several endorsements from MeckPAC and was endorsed by qnotes in 2011.

Next Steps continued from page 9 “I honestly think that this would have been a better fight from the LGBT community perspective if the LGB portion was done in one phase and the T portion taken care of in another,” said community member Jon Repp. “I don’t necessarily think my approach would be leaving people behind.”

Repp thinks LGB and T people face different and unique challenges.

“The community as a whole can’t move forward as a whole because they each face different challenges and it’s incredibly complex to move all of that at once,” he said. “I think it’s a little bit of wrong thinking to think you can move the whole thing at once.”

Dula and other transgender people I spoke to the night of the vote and in the days following all believe the compromise version was problematic.

“I didn’t think that made sense at all,” said Andraya Williams, a transgender student who was harassed last year after using the restroom on the campus of Central Piedmont Community College. “I felt as though they should have passed the whole bill, bathrooms included.”

Dula said the mere presence of a debate on trans inclusion itself signifies the need for more education — both for the broader community and inside the LGB community.

“I think it’s something we can move past as a community eventually with a little bit of education,” she said.

Joyce, too, thinks LGB community members will need to learn more in order to become better allies.

“We need to make sure that lesbian, gay and bisexual cisgender people are allies of the transgender community and can advocate for them in a way that helps straight cisgender allies understand the needs of the community so the bathroom issue won’t be a problem when it comes up again,” he said. “It will come up again very soon, so we have a relatively short time period to get our community on board,

news

as well as introduce the broader community to transgender people. These people are a part of our community and deserve protection just like everybody else.”

Next steps turn toward election Coalition leaders and elected officials all agree on the need for more education. Dula is already in the thick of planning it, with a social mixer to bring together transgender and LGB people slated for March 27.

At the same time, everyone agrees that attention, time, effort and energy must turn to this fall’s city elections.

“It starts at the ballot box,” Autry said. “Continue outreach, focusing on the election, talking to candidates, quizzing them, looking at their backgrounds.”

Several positions on Council will open up — at least two members will depart to run for mayor. Advocates are hopeful they’ll be able to back candidates who can be stronger, more stalwart allies — with hopes of bringing the non-discrimination ordinances back to a new Council in December or early next year.

“The LGBT Democrats and organizations like ours, MeckPAC included, will do our best on the political side of things, campaigning and identifying candidates and getting the two solid LGBT supporters on Council that we need,” Joyce said.

Joyce also wants to hold accountable local Democrats — the majority on Council — who didn’t stand in full solidarity.

“We have a clear indication of who are not our allies and we can’t support them,” he said. “As members of the Democratic Party, they know our party platform. The platform is for equality for LGBT civil rights. They stood against our platform. We’re going to ask the Democratic Party how they can choose to support people who can’t support our platform.”

Joyce called Barnes’ and Phipps’ votes, in particular, an “outrage.”

see Elections on 19

March 13-26 . 2015

qnotes

11

Carolina News Notes continued from page 7 pendent filmmaking was directing “Mary Jane Colter: The Desert View,” narrated by actress Ellen Burstyn.

The event is free and open to the public. info: Lee Horvitz, lhorvitz@unca.edu.

— L.M.

Stacks support youth

ASHEVILLE — SisterCare Western North Carolina and the Asheville Prime Timers are holding a flapjack fundraiser to support the work of Youth OUTright on April 4, 8-10 a.m., at Applebee’s in either Asheville, 1655 Hendersonville Rd., and Hendersonville, 1635 Four Seasons Blvd.

Participants will be able to enjoy pancakes, sausage, coffee and juice.

Tickets are $7 which serves as a contribution and are available online. Those who attend must have a receipt for the transaction with them in order to be included. Names will be on a list at the door. tickets/info: sistercarewnc.weebly.com. ashevilleprimetimers.com. youthoutright.org.

— L.M.

Kate Clinton to visit High Country

ASHEVILLE — The Queer Studies Conference 2015, “Navigating Normativities, Queering Institutions and Challenging Inequalities,” will be held on April 2-4 at the University of North Carolina-Asheville.

“The biennial event established in 1998, attracts an international audience of activists,

academics, and artists who showcase a range of creative and scholarly pursuits related to the investigation of genders and sexualities,” organizers shared.

The conference will welcome comedian Kate Clinton on April 2, 7:30 p.m., at Lipinsky Hall Auditorium, 1 University Heights.

Clinton will serve as a keynote presenter.

Her satirical political commentary is used to educate audiences about LGBT issue and more.

Tickets are $22 and are available online.

The event is open to the public. info: wgss.unca.edu/queer-studies-conference.

— L.M.

Prom date announced

ASHEVILLE — Pride Prom 2015, “Speakeasy,” will be held on April 11 at Toy Boat Community Art Space, 101 Fairview Rd. This straight-friendly event is for LGBT adults 21-years-old plus is hosted by Anam Cara Theatre.

Attendees will be treated to a night of live music, entertainment, DJ, “merriment and libations” while supporting the local avant garde, social justice-oriented theatre company. The night’s festivities will also include a silent auction, cash bar and photo booth. Dress recommended for attendees is 1920s attire.

Tickets are $20. info: acamcaratheatre.org.

— L.M.

Pride launches new system

ASHEVILLE — Blue Ridge Pride has recently unveiled its new constituent management system that will serve to enhance its connection to those it serves.

Available to visitors are event registration, volunteer sign-up, Pride merchandise purchase, donations management and more.

The community is encouraged to visit its secure site at bit.ly/1wfFdvv to complete a personal profile. info: blueridgepride.org.

— L.M. Have news or other information? Send your press releases and updates for inclusion in our News Notes: editor@goqnotes.com.

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news

Charlotte youth’s suicide prompts support, evokes emotion Local LGBTQ youth services organization offers free therapy, safe space drop-in center

by Matt Comer :: matt@goqnotes.com CHARLOTTE — Local LGBT community leaders are responding with messages of support and encouragement, following the death in late February of a transgender student.

Ash Haffner, 16, died by suicide on Feb. 26.

In an interview with WSOC, Haffner’s mother, April Quick, said Ash had been bullied in school, despite receiving support at home and at groups like Time Out Youth.

Time Out Youth’s executive director, Rodney Tucker, said his organization, which serves LGBTQ youth ages 11-20, is responding with support for other clients who knew Haffner.

“We have counselors and we’ve already reached out to school officials, the GSA [advisor] and the principal at the school,” Tucker said, adding that a counselor at the school will also be on hand.

Suicide risks for LGBT youth are significantly higher than those for straight peers, according to advocates. Transgender youth, in particular, face higher risks, including risks of violence and bullying.

Tucker says TOY has responded with services to support transgender youth.

“It’s a rising population group in the space,” Tucker said. “We’ve added a transgender intern and started the Q-Tribe [transgender youth support] group.”

Additionally TOY is engaged in safe zone trainings at local schools, Tucker said. The trainings include trans-specific language and issues.

Paige Dula, founder of transgender support group Genderlines, was shocked to hear of the youth’s death.

“My initial reaction was one of horror,” Dula said. “I always hate hearing of a young trans person taking their life. It breaks my heart.”

But Dula cautioned there are “a lot of factors that contribute to feelings of suicide.”

Mara Keisling, executive director of the National Center for Transgender Equality, also said she was taken aback by the news.

“I’m just heartbroken about all this violence of different kinds we’re seeing,” Keisling said, referring also to a recent increase in reports of violence against transgender people.

Keisling said her group is working on antiviolence programs, as well as services to help train local law enforcement and policies to end harmful conversion therapies.

Most important, Keisling said, is that people speak up and support each other.

“I think people, trans or not, queer or not, need to be there for each other, need to stand up for each other,” she said.

Keisling added, “I am so broken hearted over this. Ash’s mom, April, from the news reports clearly loved and supported Ash. I can’t imagine what she’s going through and can’t imagine what Ash was going through. A lot of people around the country have broken hearts over this.”

News of the youth’s passing came as the city of Charlotte engages in a tense debate

over LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinances.

Leaders aren’t linking the two incidents together, calling them an “unfortunate coincidence.”

“We don’t know what was going through his mind,” Tucker said.

Tucker hopes that youth in need will reach out for support. TOY, he said, provides free therapy, support specifically for transgender youth and safe-space dropin center.

“We can get them the help they need,” he said.

Ash’s mother has asked that donations be made in memory of Ash to Time Out Youth. Condolences can be left online. : :

Photo Credit: Facebook

Need support?

Those youth in need of support are encouraged to contact Time Out Youth, timeoutyouth.org, 704-344-8335. Their center is located at 2320-A N. Davidson St. Those youth in need of immediate support can call the Trevor Project helpline at 1-866-488-7386 or access resources online at thetrevorproject.org.

news notes: u.s./world.

Flood of briefs support marriage before Supreme Court

United States Supreme Court.

A flood of briefs have been filed with the U.S. Supreme Court supporting marriage equality. The nation’s highest court is set to hear arguments on what could be a landmark civil rights decision in April.

Los Angeles’ city attorney authored the brief, filed at the Supreme Court on March 6.

“Municipalities, as the level of government most closely connected to the community they serve, bear a great burden when a target sector of their populace is denied the right to marry,” the brief reads in part. “When the freedom to marry is denied, municipalities are the first level of government to suffer the impact.”

Carolinas mayors signing onto the brief include: Durham’s William Bell, Chapel Hill’s Mark Kleinschmidt, Carrboro’s Lydia Lavelle, Asheville’s Esther Manheimer, Creedmoor’s Darryl Moss, Hillsborough’s Tom Stevens and Sarah Sherwood, mayor of Abbeville, S.C. Additionally, the towns of Carrboro and Chapel Hill also signed the brief.

Another brief filed with the court includes some 379 companies supporting a decision in favor of marriage equality. Big name compaPhoto by Matt H. Wade, via Wikipedia. Licensed CC. nies like Google, Facebook, Apple, Among the briefs is one filed by more Coca-Cola and Microsoft signed onto than 200 mayors across the country. Forty that brief, along with North Carolina brands cities also signed onto the brief, organized like Bank of America, Replacements, Ltd., and

by Freedom to Marry and its Mayors for the Wells Fargo, among others. : : Freedom to Marry coalition.

— Matt Comer

QUICK HITS —————————— A major survey finds that a clear majority of Americans now favors same-gender marriage.

Support has risen eight points in the past two years and 45 points since the question was first asked in 1988. more: bit.ly/18YcTnx The U.S. Army has taken a step toward protecting transgender troops, according to LGBT military advocacy group SPARTA. Discharges of transgender servicemembers will now be made by an assistant secretary of the army instead of local unit commanders. more: bit.ly/17YJ3ho Lawmakers in Slovenia have approved a bill legalizing same-gender marriage and adoption by gay couples. The move comes amidst opposition from conservative groups and the Catholic Church. more:bit.ly/1BPVubr U.S. Vice President Joe Biden invoked the memory of the Civil Rights Movement when discussing LGBT rights at the Human Rights Campaign’s spring leadership conference.

“Selma and Stonewall were basically the same movement,” Biden said. more: bit.ly/1DTx5OQ

March 13-26 . 2015

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tell trinity

by Trinity :: qnotes contributor :: trinity@telltrinity.com

Public display of affection: yea or nay?

Dear Trinity, When I go to my friend’s house, he and his lover always kiss and hold each other right in front of me. It really hurts! Why don’t they understand how it feels to be single and have that in your face? How can I get them to understand that it’s not comfortable unless I have someone to do it with myself?

Sadly Single, Milwaukee, WI Dear Sad, That’s easy, just tell your friends that you’re neurotic, alone and depressed and that you would like them to act loveless and joyless around you. You can also add that you’re slightly loosing your mind! Pumpkin, sorry to sound so hard, but it’s time you went out and

got laid, loved and a life. After you do that, I promise you’ll once again love seeing people in love, especially your friends! What bothers you about others is the real issue. It’s your psyche trying to get you to deal with your own issues.

Hello Trinity Do you think having fantasies that involve more than one lover are wrong? Ever since the AIDS epidemic, I’ve tried to avoid thinking about group sex, but I used to love it. If I can’t have it, can’t I at least fantasize about it? How about in animation?

Animated Orgies, Portland, OR Hello Animated Orgies, Having fantasies, fetishes and animated dreams

a&e

are not only normal and healthy, but you deserve them. Safe sex has put the fire out on orgies at least for some. So, darling, if you’re more comfortable having high risk adventures in your head rather than in real life, I say, “You go, baby!” (Be it a fairy tale or a Walter Mitty moment, you can pretend however you wish.

Check out my cartoon to see how I do it.”)

Hey Trinity, My last date ditched me because I was 30 minutes late a few times. It wasn’t always my fault. Why are people so selfish? And what happened to giving someone a chance?

Late, Chicago, IL Hey Late, Unfortunately, being late with an excuse still means you’re late, unless you call 30 minutes or more ahead to move the time up. In dating and in life you must start being early or on time or accept the consequences. Have you ever held your breath or stared at a clock for three minutes never mind 30 minutes? It’s awful!

Honey, your word must be treated like a contract, like the word of G-d, otherwise your word is meaningless, which is what your last date must have thought about dating you. Try again!

Dearest Trinity, I’m having an awful problem meeting other women. Every time I meet a girl who I really like, she ultimately has issues with drugs, alcohol, low self-esteem, depression or all of the above. Help!

Sowing My Seeds, Miami, FL Dearest Sowing Your Seeds, Finding a good woman or man is like finding… a good woman or man. For whatever divine reason, dating is challenging, disheartening and risky just like life. Dating, also like life, sweetie, takes time and patience, but for today start reading: Trinity’s Poetic Tips For Dating 1. Who we choose to date is directly related to how we see ourselves!

2. People who have good relationships with their parents often have good relationships with others.

3. Low self-esteem needs therapy not compulsive dating.

4. Communicating communication communicatively is our greatest ally.

5. W hen our problems become our conversation, dinner alone becomes our occupation.

6. Too much work and not enough play makes Jacqueline a dull girl!

7. W hen one substance abuser dates another substance abuser it’s time for a documentary not a relationship.

8. A little mystery evokes intrigue and flair, but too many secrets evoke trouble in the air.

9. Dating someone exactly like us promises a date with the most boring one on the bus.

10. Lastly, if you’re looking to find that perfect mate who’s at their ultimate potential then… become a necrophiliac! info: With a Masters of Divinity, Reverend Trinity hosted “Spiritually Speaking,” a weekly radio drama performed globally, and is now minister of sponsor, WIG: Wild Inspirational Gatherings, wigministries.org. Learn more at telltrinity.com.

March 13-26 . 2015

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Celebrating songs of passion, community and history One Voice Chorus marks 25th anniversary with concert tour and community outreach

by Matt Comer :: matt@goqnotes.com

I

n 1989, there wasn’t much happening in Charlotte — not in the LGBT social scene anyway. Dan Kirsch had just moved to Charlotte from Philadelphia. Other than the bars, a few events here and there and a couple politically-minded affairs, there wasn’t much opportunity for LGBT people to come together and celebrate the community.

“It was small. It was closeted,” Kirsch recollects of the community at the time.

Back in Philadelphia, Kirsch had been involved with that city’s gay men’s chorus.

He’d first gotten involved needing a social outlet.

“I was working in a suburb of Philadelphia, doing arts management as my career,” he says. “I went, auditioned and was accepted and it was just a transformative final coming out stage and an experience to be with open people and kind of shut the fear of coming out of the closet.”

Kirsch envisioned a similar group for his newfound home in the Queen City. In the fall of 1989, he attended a game night held by a local

LGBT group. There, he found a few other folks interested in the idea.

“If you start a chorus, we’ll be there the first night,” Kirsch recalls the folks saying.

A few weeks later, One Voice Chorus — celebrating its 25th anniversary this year — held its first rehearsal.

“Somewhere between 25 to 30 people showed up that first night,” Kirsch says. “We sang and word got out and it kept growing over the next year.”

The turn out surprised Kirsch, and he says many others were astonished, too.

“Everybody was surprised,” he says. “I was new to the community, so I didn’t have any real expectations, but everybody else had been living there for a while. Everybody was surprised that many people came out.”

From the get-go, One Voice was a coed chorus. Kirsch and his fellow choristers wanted the group to be a place where all were welcome — a place where other people could have the same kind of transformative experience he had in Philadelphia.

Kirsch’s original vision for the group has remained true throughout the years — attracting dozens of singers each year and keeping longtime singers engaged.

Liz Fitzgerald is one of them. She’s been involved for nearly half of the chorus’ existence now, and for the last four years, she’s served on the group’s board of directors. She’s also serving on the chorus’ 25th anniversary committee.

Like Kirsch, Fitzgerald was a newcomer to Charlotte when she first got involved.

“I had sung with another GALA [an international association of gay and lesbian choruses] chorus before I moved to Charlotte,” Fitzgerald says. “One of my good friends was coming out. She wanted a way to connect with other people, but didn’t want to go by herself, so she invited me along for the ride.”

As a straight ally, Fitzgerald sees her involvement as a means of support and social justice work.

“I believe change doesn’t happen without broad, widespread support,” she says. “When you’re talking about securing the rights for a group in the minority, that means that you have to have allies that can do the work alongside to help create the change that’s needed for everyone.”

Fitzgerald had long been involved in feminist movements, working on issues like domestic violence. She knows that the rights she now has a woman is the result of support from others in the LGBT community.

“It’s my turn to give back in the same way,” she says. “It requires that kind of community support to be able to see the change that we want for everyone.”

And change is part of One Voice’s mission, Fitzgerald stresses.

From it’s early inception, that change might have simply been providing a safe, affirming

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One Voice Chorus, led by artistic director Gerald Gurss, performs at the Regional AIDS Interfaith Network’s 2013 Voices Project.

Photo Credit: Jack Stutts/RAIN.

community in some of Charlotte’s outlying towns and communities.

“It matters because our fate is connected,” Fitzgerald says. “That’s where we see our work in the next 25 years — not just serving Charlotte, but extending out into some of our surrounding communities.”

Both Fitzgerald and Kirsch see a lot of personal and community meaning in the chorus’ landmark anniversary this year.

For Kirsch, it’s a sign of a dedicated and passionate community.

“It comes down to individuals,” says Kirsch, who worked with the group for a couple years before moving on to other community endeavors in the early ‘90s. “It’s kind of right time, right place and then the people with the passion to get it through the beginning stages and maturing stages.”

The anniversary also marks a local LGBT community that, more and more, seems to be coming into its own.

“One Voice Chorus is one of several organizations that will be celebrating their 25th anniversaries. We’re at the leading edge of that,” says Fitzgerald, noting other longstanding groups, like Time Out Youth and the Regional AIDS Interfaith Network, that will soon celebrate similar milestones.

Fitzgerald finds it encouraging that so many of the groups founded in the late 1980s and 1990s are still around serving the LGBT community today.

Above and beyond the historic anniversary, Fitzgerald thinks the true value and meaning of the chorus will always be personal — from those who still find the courage to come out through Celebrate with their experiences with the chorus to One Voice Chorus others who simply need an artistic One Voice Chorus will host a series of and creative outlet in an affirming space. For herself, the chorus gives concerts from March 14-21. On March 28, her the space to make a difference they’ll host their 25th Anniversary Silver while enjoying the art of music.

Celebration at the Levine Museum of the “Singing with the chorus is just New South. For more information on the a fantastic coming together of my events, see our event calendar on page passion for being involved in social justice work and my love for the arts, 19, online at goqnotes.com/calendar/ or singing and being part of creating visit onevoicechorus.com for more details music,” she says. “I get to do those and ticket purchases. two things at the same time and that’s a fantastic experience.” : :

space for those in the LGBT community. She points out that many people had their first coming out experiences with the chorus. Some, she said, were able to bring their parents or friends to concerts.

“The chorus was really able to serve as a place where people could see that they had community,” she says. “It gave people a place where they could be out when otherwise they couldn’t.”

In the early days, concert program books were full of folks who went by their initials or only by their first names. As the LGBT community has grown, that has changed, but the chorus’ drive for a better, more affirming community for all hasn’t. Today, the chorus reaches out to the broader community, bringing messages of hope, healing, welcome and inclusion.

“More and more, it’s not just about having our close friends and family come to chorus performances to be able to share in those experiences with them, but the chorus being able to go out into the community and engage others in that experience, that we’re all in this together,” Fitzgerald says. “There’s a commonality in our hearts and a need for love and relationships that transcends however we identify.”

One Voice Chorus’ 25th anniversary concerts this month will themselves represent that mission of outreach. The group will perform in Charlotte, as well as in Charleston, S.C., Fitzgerald says, which hasn’t had an LGBT chorus for quite some time. They’ll also perform in Wadesboro and Gastonia. The chorus wants to extend support for the LGBT

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EVENTS March 2015 Spades & Dominoes Red@28th 2424 N. Davidson St., Suite 112A, Charlotte 6-9 p.m.

Charlotte Black Gay Pride hosts a Spades and Dominoes night. $20 per team. Cash bar, hookah and snacks available. Register online. charlotteblackgaypride.com –––––––––––––––––––– Flip Cup Tournament Petra’s 1919 Commonwealth Ave., Charlotte 7 p.m.

Stonewall Kickball Charlotte presents a Flip Cup Tournament, with proceeds benefitting Time Out Youth. $10 admission. Event details are available online. facebook.com/events/796243060457931/

SEP MAR MO

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You can submit your event to our comprehensive community calendar presented by qnotes, the LGBT Community Center of Charlotte and Visit Gay Charlotte. Submit your event at goqnotes.com/eventsubmit/ and get a three-for-one entry. All Charlottearea events will appear on each of the three calendars at qnotes (goqnotes.com), the LGBT Center (lgbtcharlotte.org) and Visit Gay Charlotte (visitgaycharlotte.com).

Giving Gala SEP MAR MO Label Charlotte 900 NC Music Factory Blvd., Suite B6, Charlotte 6:30 p.m.

The Charlotte Business Guild hosts its annual Giving Gala and Awards Ceremony, featuring speakers Charlotte City Councilwoman LaWana Mayfield and state Sen. Jeff Jackson. Entertainment by Tenya Coleman of the Tenya Coleman Quartet.

Tickets start at $70 for members, with a range of options for students, couples and more. Information and tickets are available online. cltbusinessguild.org –––––––––––––––––––– Center forum North Star LGBT Center 704 Brookstown Ave., Winston-Salem 2-4 p.m.

The board of directors of the North Star LGBT Center in Winston-Salem invites community members to share their feedback, ideas and suggestions to keep the center growing. northstarlgbtcc.com

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‘Wishes: Dreams into SEP MAR MO Reality’ The Great Aunt Stella Center 926 Elizabeth Ave., Charlotte 7:30 p.m.

Continues on March 21 Redeemer Lutheran Church 1915 S. New Hope Rd., Gastonia 7:30 p.m.

As part of their continuing celebration of its 25 year history, One Voice Chorus asks those who attend to consider what wishes for the community and world one has for the next 25 years. Tickets are $25 in advance online and $30 at the door. onevoicechorus.com –––––––––––––––––––– Continues through April 4 The Normal Heart’ Theatre Charlotte, 501 Queens Rd., Charlotte Award-winning production about the early days of the AIDS crisis. Different Roads Home is presenting sponsor. Tickets are $27 and available online. theatrecharlotte.com

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Submit your event to our calendar!

TOY Mimosa Party SEP MAR MO JB’s on the Greenway 2128 Greenway Ave., Charlotte 8 a.m.-12:30 p.m.

Time Out Youth hosts a fundraising event while cheering on runners in the Elizabeth 8K Road Race. A donation gets you access to bottomless mimosas. In 2014, the event raised close to $10,000 for Time Out Youth. Event details are available online. facebook.com/events/1528473724078345/ –––––––––––––––––––– Dancing for Life Levine Museum of the New South 200 E. Seventh St., Charlotte 6 p.m.

The PowerHouse Project presents its second annual Dancing for Life, a dance theatre event featuring several Charlotte dance companies and styles, including ballet, West African, hip hop, vogue, jazz, mime and liturgical genres. A family-friendly event with admission and parking with complimentary dinner catered by Mert’s Heart and Soul. Free HIV testing will also be available onsite. powerhousecharlotte.org –––––––––––––––––––– Equality NC Conference Durham Technical Community College 1637 E. Lawson St., Durham The AdvaNCe Equality Conference, hosted by Equality NC Foundation, is the largest gathering of LGBTQ activists in North Carolina. Conference keynoter includes North Carolina-native Jacob Tobia. Information and registration are available online. equalityncfoundation.org/conference/

To see more upcoming events, visit goqnotes.com/calendar/

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Trans Pride LGBT Mixer Forté!

SEP MAR SEP MAR MO MO Charlotte Pride Center Stage @ NoDa 1900 The Plaza 2315 N Davidson St., 7 p.m.

Charlotte Genderlines and Charlotte 6:34 p.m.

Pride team up to host an event centered Gay Men’s Chorus of Charlotte’s annual black tie gala. Tickets $65 available online. around the Charlotte area transgender community — a great place to meet gmccharlotte.org new friends and allies and help bring together the LGB and T communities.

Sweet Tooth Festival Refreshments including wine and hors SEP MAR MO Omni Charlotte Hotel d’oeuvres will be served. 21+.

132 E. Trade St., Charlotte The Regional AIDS Interfaith Network (RAIN) hosts its 25th Anniversary Silver SEP MAR MO fourth annual drop-in celebration of all Celebration things sweet, featuring the Charlotte Levine Museum of the area’s best purveyors of cupcakes, New South candies, cakes and sweet treats. All 200 E. 7th St., Charlotte proceeds benefit RAIN. 7 p.m. carolinarain.org Enjoy hors d’oeuvres, cash bar, a cabaret and DJ. Alumni will be in attendance.

Additionally, participants can also tour the Matthew Vines SEP MAR museum. Tickets $15 and available online.

MO Hughes Main Library, onevoicechorus.com 25 Heritage Green Pl., –––––––––––––––––––– Greenville, S.C. Guilford Green Foundation 7-8:30 p.m.

Gala & Green Party BJUnity presents a speaking engageProximity Hotel, 704 Green Valley Rd., ment with gay, evangelical Christian Greensboro author 7 p.m.

Matthew Hors d’oeuvres, cocktails, live entertainVines, ment and silent auction. Tickets are $150 author of before March 2 and $175 afterward.

“God and ggfnc.org the Gay –––––––––––––––––––– Christian: The Biblical Case in Support Cindy Alexander/DRH Fundraiser of Same-Sex Marriage.” Vines is also Monteith Park Clubhouse the founder of the Reformation Project, 15239 Waterfront Dr., Huntersville a non-profit group dedicated to training 7 p.m.

LGBT Christians and allies to reform Spend an evening with singer Cindy church teaching on sexual orientation Alexander and Different Roads Home. $50 and gender identity. The event is free but per person or $90 per couple donation. requires registration online.

Open bar, food and live performance. bit.ly/17YDwHz differentroadshome.org

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OUR PEOPLE:

Meet the Charlotte Non-Discrimination Ordinance Coalition

by Matt Comer :: matt@goqnotes.com

A landmark coalition of local, regional and national LGBT and ally organizations came together over the past several months to work on Charlotte’s proposed LGBT-inclusive nondiscrimination ordinances. The provisions were rejected by Charlotte City Council on March 2.

It’s not the first time Charlotte’s LGBT community has worked together toward a common cause, but the Charlotte Non-Discrimination Ordinance Coalition represents one of the largest, wide-ranging ad-hoc efforts to address LGBT equality in the Queen City. Groups in the coalition, which will certainly grow with new members over the next few months, intend to continue their push for the ordinances. Read more about that in our cover story on page 8.

For now, here’s a brief shout out and introduction to the groups that worked diligently on the ordinances package.

Equality NC North Carolina’s statewide LGBT education and advocacy organization. equalitync.org

Mecklenburg LGBT Political Action Committee (MeckPAC) Charlotte’s and Mecklenburg County’s local LGBT advocacy group, which evaluates candidates for local offices and offers endorsements and voter guides during elections. The group also works on local policy advocacy. meckpac.org

Genderlines A Charlotte support group for transgender people and their allies. facebook.com/groups/1517872788441656/

Charlotte Business Guild Charlotte’s local LGBT Chamber of Commerce. The group offers trainings and educational events for local LGBT and ally business owners, as well as social events and advocates for LGBT inclusion in business. charlottebusinessguild.org Clergy for Equality A coalition of local LGBT-affirming clergy members advocating for and promoting equality and justice from a faith perspective. facebook.com/clergyforequality

Human Rights Campaign The nation’s largest LGBT civil rights organization. hrc.org LGBT Democrats of Mecklenburg County The local county caucus of the LGBT Democrats of North Carolina. The group works to raise awareness of LGBT inclusion in the Democratic Party, support the election of Democrats and promote the Democratic Party’s platform for equality and inclusion. facebook.com/LGBTDMC

Straight Allies Charlotte A coalition of straight allies advocating and mobilizing for their LGBT friends, family and loves ones in Charlotte. facebook.com/StraightAlliesCharlotte Democracy NC Statewide, non-partisan research, organizing and advocacy organization devoted to voter participation and democracy. democracy-nc.org ACLU of North Carolina The state affiliate of the national American Civil Liberties Union. acluofnorthcarolina.org

Elections continued from page 11 “There’s no reason for them not to support the LGBT community,” he said. “They voted against the morals of our party. I think that reflects the place where our city is on progressive issues. We like to see our city as a progressive city in the New South, but as our state has moved further to the right, I think we have to realize what the reality is for Charlotte.”

That reality necessitates more education and increased civic involvement, Joyce insisted.

“I think that the LGBT community should understand the importance of being politically active,” he said. “It’s easy to say that politics is stacked against us and we have no reason to be involved, but, as we see, every vote counts.”

Joyce said community members will have to be involved in the upcoming elections — particularly the primary election in September, where traditionally low voter turnout means increased clout for LGBT and ally voters.

“We have to be excited about LGBT friendly local elections and local representatives, because these are the people who vote as they did on [March 2] on things that will directly affect our lives every day,” he said.

Austin, too, agrees the election will be important, but he also wants to see a more comprehensive strategy that includes community education.

“As I said in my statement from the dais, this is a civil rights revolution for 2015,” he said. “In any war or revolution, you’re going to lose a few battles. … Let’s retreat, let’s think of our next steps and our strategy moving forward.” : : more: See all of our past coverage on the ordinances, including coverage from the night of the vote, in our archive at goqnotes.com/in/ cndoc/.

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