QNotes, March 19, 2021

ARTS | ENTERTAINMENT | NEWS | VIEWS

REPEAT OFFENDER: MARCH 19-APRIL 1, 2021 | VOL 35, NO 24 | FREE | GOQNOTES.COM

LGBTQ BAR AT CENTER OF COVID CLOSURES

PAGE 10

LGBTQ PROJECT IS PART OF THE SOLUTION PAGE 9

SUPPORT FREE LGBTQ PRESS - DONATE ONLINE AT GOQNOTES.COM

ANTIQUING IN TODAY’S WORLD

HOW IT HAS CHANGED WITH COVID-19 AND GENERATIONAL DIFFERENCES PAGE 8

Connect with us

@qnotescarolinas March 19 - April 1, 2021

qnotes

1

2

qnotes

March 19 - April 1, 2021

March 19-April 1, 2021 Vol 35 No 24

connect goqnotes.com

twitter.com/qnotescarolinas facebook.com/qnotescarolinas instagram.com/qnotescarolinas

contributors this issue

L’Monique King, David Aaron Moore, Gary Pearce, Julianna Peres, Lee Robertson, Jr., Chris Rudisill, Terri Schlichenmeyer, Trinity

front page

Graphic Design by Chris Rudisill Photography: Montrose Center Mission:

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@goqnotes.com Nat’l Sales: Rivendell Media, ph 212.242.6863 Managing Editor: Jim Yarbrough, x201, editor@goqnotes.com Copy Editor: Bailey Sides Production: Natasha Morehouse, x205, production@goqnotes.com Printed on recycled paper.

Material in qnotes is copyrighted by Pride Publishing & Typesetting © 2020 and may not be reproduced in any manner without written consent of the editor or publisher.

Advertisers assume full responsibility — and therefore, all liability — for securing reprint permission for copyrighted text, photographs and illustrations or trademarks published in their ads. The sexual orientation of advertisers, photographers, writers, cartoonists we publish is neither inferred nor implied. The appearance of names or photographs does not indicate the subject’s sexual orientation. qnotes nor its publisher assumes liability for typographical error or omission, beyond offering to run a correction. Official editorial positions are expressed in staff editorials and editorial notations and are determined by editorial staff. The opinions of contributing writers and guest columnists do not necessarily represent the opinions of qnotes or its staff. qnotes accepts unsolicited editorial, but cannot take responsibility for its return. Editor reserves the right to accept and reject material as well as edit for clarity, brevity.

charlotteobserver.com/1166/ a local news partner of The Charlotte Observer

inside this issue

feature

10 ‘Eased Restrictions’ Executive Order 195 Allows Longer Hours for Bars and Restaurants

Mobile Clinic in Raleigh, N.C. Catering to LGBTQ Individuals

news

6 LGBTQ Scholarship Accepting New Applicants 6 The Compass Center for Women and Families to Offer LGBTQ-Inclusive Sex Education 6 Briefs 7 Mobile Clinic in Raleigh, N.C. Catering to LGBTQ Individuals 7 Guilford Green Foundation and LGBTQ Center Reopens

a&e

8 Antiquing and Thrifting: How is it Changing?

12 Tell Trinity 13 Out in Print: ‘Gay Bar: Why We Went Out’

Railcare Health is striving to reach people who do not have access to adequate healthcare by comikng directly to them. Their focus is on needs specific to the LGBTQ community and they hope to eventually be able to provide medical attention to people across the East coast.

PAGE 7

How Do I Find a (Great) Contractor?

Hiring a contractor for work on your home can be a daunting and risky task. Follow these tips and tricks to help avoid hiring someone who may do poor work and leave you with undesirable results.

PAGE 11

life

11 How Do I Find a (Great) Contractor?

15 Our People: Marco Reed

views

5 The 16-Year Itch: It’s Due in 2024 9 Fighting Gentrification

events

For event listings, visit goqnotes.com/events-calendar.

March 19 - April 1, 2021

qnotes

3

4

qnotes

March 19 - April 1, 2021

views

The 16-Year Itch: It’s Due in 2024

What It Could Mean for the Political Future

BY GARY PEARCE | GUEST CONTRIBUTOR

U.S. politics go through a 16-year cycle, which theorizes that the nation alternates between leaning liberal and conservative. (Photo Credit: Victor Moussa via Adobe Stock)

T

here’s a 16-year cycle in modern politics. If it holds, the 2022 and 2024 elections will be good for Democrats — ­­ nationally and in North Carolina. But that’s a big if.

In 1960, 1976, 1992 and 2008, Democrats won the White House. Each time, North Carolina went, or nearly went, Democratic for President. Each time, Democrats did well in state elections. Each time, Democrats did well in the preceding congressional elections — 1958, 1974, 1990 and 2006.

Each time, Republicans had been in the White House at least eight years. The GOP had gone stale or seemed out of touch.

Democrats nominated appealing candidates who promised change and presented a strong contrast to the past.

In 1960, President Dwight Eisenhower’s Republican Party seemed old and stodgy.

Democrats nominated candidates who represented a new generation and new energy — John F. Kennedy for President and Terry Sanford for Governor.

In 1976, after eight years of Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford, Vietnam and Watergate, Democrats nominated a Southerner and Washington outsider, Jimmy Carter, for President and 39-yearold Jim Hunt for Governor.

In 1992, after 12 years of Ronald Reagan and George H. W. Bush, Republicans didn’t seem to feel Americans’ economic pain. Democrats nominated another Southerner and Washington outsider, Bill Clinton, and Jim Hunt, again, for Governor.

In 2008, after eight years of George W. Bush, wars in the Middle East and a financial crisis, Democrats nominated Barack Obama. His message of hope and change stirred minority voters and young voters, a surge that helped elect Kay Hagan Senator and Bev Perdue Governor.

Kennedy, Carter and Obama all carried North Carolina. Clinton came close — losing by less than 1%, after Reagan won here by 24% in 1984 and Bush, by 16% in 1988.

Democrats hope the cycle repeats itself again in 2024. But there will be one obvious difference: The incumbent President won’t be a Republican.

That may not be such a big difference, though. If Donald Trump runs again, he’ll be like an incumbent. Even out of office, he looms over the political landscape. He still dominates the Republican Party.

Looking back, his presidency wasn’t good for Republicans. In 2018, they lost the House. In 2020, they lost the White House. On Jan. 5 this year, they lost two Senate races in Georgia and lost the Senate — a huge political story that was overshadowed by the Capitol attack on Jan. 6.

But Republicans can take heart from another political cycle. They do well when they run against Democratic overreach. Reagan ran against the welfare state in 1980. Newt Gingrich & Co. ran against the Clintons’ healthcare plan in 1994. The Tea Party rose up against President Obama and Obamacare in 2010. Trump ran against Obama and the Clintons in 2016.

In 2024, Democrats will ask: Do you want four more years of Trump?

Republicans will ask: Do you want four more years of Biden/Harris?

The battle lines are being drawn.

Biden is pushing a $1.9 trillion pandemic relief bill. A Morning Consult poll said 77 percent of Americans support it, including 59 percent of Republicans. But Republicans in Congress unanimously oppose it.

Will voters think Republicans are obstructionists — or that Democrats are overreaching?

Or, if the pandemic recedes and the economy recovers, Biden could reach back 40 years and reprise Reagan’s 1984 reelection campaign: “It’s morning again in America. Our country is prouder and stronger and better. Why would we ever want to return to where we were less than four short years ago?” : :

March 19 - April 1, 2021

qnotes

5

BRIEFS

news LGBTQ Scholarship Accepting New Applicants

Charlotte

LIFE SKILLS: A SERIES OF WORKSHOPS FOR LGBTQ YOUTH (AGES 13-24) OFFERED BY TIME OUT YOUTH

The Time Out Youth Center (T.O.Y.) in Charlotte is offering two LGBTQ individuals $5,000 each as they embark upon their freshman year of college in the fall of 2021. This scholarship is also available to those who will be attending university or vocational school. The Tonda Taylor Scholarship was established in 2007. This scholarship came about as a way to financially support any LGBTQ youths who reside in the counties of Mecklenburg, Union, Iredell, Cabarrus, Lincoln, Gaston or in York in South Carolina. Applicants must be a current high school senior, high school graduate or GED graduate who is under the age of 21, as of April 26.

These scholarships are possible only through the generosity of TOY volunteers, employees and donors. Tonda Taylor is a Charlotte native who founded Time Out Youth in 1991. The very first meeting of TOY was attended by educators, members of the clergy and other professionals who wanted LGBTQ youth to have a safe space. Should anyone like to donate to the scholarship fund, they may contact Director of Development and Communications David Samson at dsamson@timeoutyouth.org.

According to Time Out Youth Student Advocacy Coordinator Haeley Rimmer, the scholarship’s primary objective is to help those who have financial barriers toward higher education. Although the monetary value of the scholarship will not be enough to cover four Fund Will Provide $5k for Freshman College Students. years of tuition, it will make an enormous difference in the lives of (Photo Credit: timeoutyouth.org) those who have very modest economic means.

“LGBTQ+ students likely have other obstacles in their way that makes higher education harder or impossible,” Rimmer added. “Including a lack of support from families, medical debt due to transition costs, more demands with their finances or generally fewer resources overall.”

Past recipients of this scholarship have attended the University of North Carolina (UNC) at Chapel Hill for Political Science and Statistics, Davidson Community College for Aquarium Sciences, Gaston College for Business and Culinary Arts and UNC Chapel Hill for Public Health and Chemistry.

All parts of all applications are due Monday, April 26 at 5 p.m. For queries regarding the scholarship, email Rimmer at hrimmer@ timeoutyouth.org. info: timeoutyouth.org/scholarships.

— Compiled by Julianna Peres

The Compass Center for Women and Families to Offer LGBTQ-Inclusive Sex Education

North Carolina state law mandates that some form of sex education be taught in public schools to students in grades seven, eight and nine. The parameters, however, are not strict. Many schools teach abstinence-only sex education while other schools utilize visual aids to teach STD prevention and contraceptive use.

These mandates are often completely forgone in the more rural areas of North Carolina and especially in those that are extremely conservative. Private Christian schools are also more likely to teach abstinence-only sex education without even including an anatomy component.

Unfortunately, these conversations between teachers and students do not often welcome further investigation beyond the classroom or local community. The Compass Center for Women and Families, based in Chapel Hill, has made it their mission to supplement the gaps within sex education.

In the past, Compass has provided aid for survivors of domestic violence, those who are unemployed, and persons who require mental health counseling. Hundreds of individuals have received legal counsel from Compass for divorce, child custody and separation.

The Compass Center has made it their mission to supplement the gaps The educational aspect of Compass stems from their service to within sex education. (Photo Credit: Valerii Zan via Adobe Stock survivors of domestic violence. These instructions were not only for survivors, but for community members and professionals as well.

Compass maintains that all persons within society should know how to interact with domestic abuse survivors and connect them to local domestic violence crisis services.

The Teens Climb High (TCH) empowerment program is a subsection of the Compass education initiative. Since the law mandates that schools must provide some sort of sex education to students by ninth grade, the TCH program endeavors to accomplish that in a much more comprehensive manner.

LGBTQ inclusivity is a central tenet of the program, which means that educators should use gender-neutral language, refer to students by their preferred names and pronouns, and emphasize the importance of consent across gender and sexual orientation.

While their accomplishments are admirable and have helped many, Compass is at a place today where assistance from able parties could be extremely beneficial.

In the area of education, for example, the materials utilized by Compass are in desperate need of updating. Even though the TCH program receives some funds from the Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative, they continue to use instructional pieces from the 1990s. The goal of the Compass Center is to create a space that is more open to LGBTQ students and more detailed in their teachings.

For more information on the Compass Center for Women and Families and their LGBTQ education initiative, visit them on Facebook or at their website at compassctr.org. : : info: compassctr.org.

— Compiled by Julianna Peres

6

qnotes

March 19 - April 1, 2021

These workshops are open to LGBTQ individuals and allies alike who may not have been taught common life skills.

The presenters for each week will differ based on the topic at hand. The sessions are as follows: March 9 (Finances 2: Taxes and Credit), March 16 (Finances 3: Big Purchases), March 23 (Balanced Cooking on a Budget), March 30 (Resume Building & Interview Skills), April 6 (Employment & Housing), April 13 (Navigating Public Transportation).

T.O.Y. is also offering a $25 gift card to those who attend 5 or more sessions and a $50 gift card to those who attend 10 or more sessions. Contact Haeley at hrimmer@timeoutyouth.org or Noah at ngranade@timeoutyouth.org.

info: timeoutyouth.org.

North Carolina

DINE IN FOR LIFE WITH THE WESTERN NORTH CAROLINA AIDS PROJECT Donations are being raised for HIV prevention and care. The WNCAP is collaborating with Asheville Independent Restaurants (AIR) on April 29. In the past, this event has been a way for Participating Restaurants to make donations to WNCAP projects. However, due to the COVID-19, WNCAP has decided to ask community members to support local restaurants. This is the best way to thank these Participating Restaurants for their aid in the past and keep the acts of kindness and supporting going. WNCAP is also holding a drawing for anyone who donates to support the organization. Grand prize is a private film screening and a $500 cash card.

info: bit.ly/3bxwjCw. National

FAMILY EQUALITY HOSTS ZOOM PARTY FOR THE PREMIER OF YES DAY The Zoom session will commence at 11:00am on Saturday, March 13 and will continue until 2:30pm. The pre-show party will be hosted by drag superstar Nina West and DJ Ryan Skyy.

There will also be giveaways and a chat feature for participants. This is an event created especially for LGBTQ families, but is open to all who enjoy a G-rated fun time.

info: bit.ly/3rCAWk7.

National

THE LESBIAN HEALTH FUND GRANT APPLICATION 2021 IS OPEN NOW THROUGH JULY 16 Facilitated by the GLMA: Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality, this will be the 29th year since the grant’s establishment. There will be three to eight grants doled out vacillating between amounts of $1000 to $10000 each. Candidates would ideally pursue this grant if their project focuses on intersexuality, bisexuality, BIPOC individuals or other intersectional approaches to gender and sexuality studies.

Applicants may be graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, junior/senior scholars, faculty, and even nonprofit organizations. Email lhf@glma.org for more information.

info: bit.ly/38u4Hw1.

— Compiled by Julianna Peres

Mobile Clinic in Raleigh, N.C. Catering to LGBTQ Individuals

Guilford Green Foundation and LGBTQ Center Reopens

Railcare Health is a Chapel Hill-based group that travels North Carolina with the sole commitment to help those who do not have access to adequate medical care. On March 26, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Raleigh at St. John’s Metropolitan Community Church, Railcare Health will be offering services specific to the LGBTQ community.

Their primary focus will be on mental health care, gender-affirming treatments (including Hormone Replacement Therapy) and HIV testing as well as remedies for STIs. The program will be hosted by Railcare Health in tandem with the LBGT Center of Raleigh.

Appointments can be made online.

The location of this drive will be at St. John’s (Photo Credit: adragan via Adobe Stock) MCC in a precautionary effort to create a safe space for all potential patients. The Metropolitan Community Church was the first religious organization to perform public same-sex marriage ceremonies, beginning in 1969.

The purpose of this LGBTQ-centric Railcare Mobile Clinic and Health Drive is not based around COVID-19, but stems from community needs that have been denied as a result of COVID-19. Railcare Health, the LGBT Center of Raleigh, AASC (the Alliance of AIDS Services: Carolina) and St. John’s MCC recognize the limitations of access to LGBTQ-related treatments during the pandemic restrictions. In response to quarantine and stay-at-home orders, mental health treatment and consultation will be available for LGBTQ individuals who have experienced isolation or been forced to remain in stressful environments.

The staff at Railcare Health are volunteers who are currently enrolled in universities and practicing physicians. Since the service is not a full-time career for volunteering health care professionals, options available to patients are not always the same. At any given time, these health drives may be made up of a mix of mental health professionals, dentistry students or others within various fields spanning public well-being.

Currently only touring North Carolina, Railcare Health has made it clear their aim is to delegate Mobile Clinics to all rural areas within the East coast, eventually reaching the entirety of the United States’ info: railcarehealth.com.

— Compiled by Julianna Peres

The Guilford Green Foundation (GGF) reopened their LGBTQ Center on March 1.

Their hours of operation remain Monday through Friday from 11:00 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. This Greensboro-based community organization works to financially support nonprofits across North Carolina. Until further notice, in-person events will continue to require masks and social distancing. For information regarding upcoming events, email center@ggfnc.org or call 336-790-8419.

Among the various programs they offer are Gay & Gray, Rainbow Yoga, Power Beyond Pride Community Forum, TransRainbow yoga, trans-vocal therapy and more.

Vocal Group Therapy and Youth Leadership (Photo Credit: guilfordgreenfoundation.org) Council. The Gay & Gray program is for LGBTQ individuals over the age of fifty-five and meets on the second and fourth Tuesdays of each month. There are upcoming Gay & Gray virtual coffee talks, in-person “walk and talks” and even online movie screenings. In the past few months, the youth programs have also taken off, with programs such as the Youth Wellness Initiative and the Name Change Clinic.

The most recent Name Change Clinic was offered Feb. 27 in a completely virtual capacity. This event was created for transgender, non-binary and genderfluid individuals who are seeking to legally change their names. The interactive presentation was facilitated by the University of North Carolina at Greensboro’s Office of Intercultural Engagement and the Elon Law Pro Bono Board, which provided the necessary paperwork for name change procedures in North Carolina.

One of GGF’s most important upcoming events is the virtual LGBTQ Job Fair. This fair will take place April 16. Several small business owners, nonprofit organizers and North Carolina professionals will be available to speak with prospective LGBTQ and allied employees. GGF will also discuss equality in LGBTQ hiring practices and appropriate etiquette toward LGBTQ employees and employers. To sign up for the job fair, go to bit.ly/3ewAnoq. info: guilfordgreenfoundation.org.

— Compiled by Julianna Peres

March 19 - April 1, 2021

qnotes

7

a&e

Antiquing and Thrifting: How is it Changing?

Today’s Retro Market is a Different Place

BY DAVID AARON MOORE | QNOTES STAFF WRITER

F

rom the impact of an international pandemic to the changes of generational taste, the world of today’s antique and retro collecting and shopping wears a different face. Things that were once highly desirable or sought after may not be so as of late, and the way we go about shopping has changed, too.

A major impact on the business and the hobby, the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted practically about every aspect of our lives. Even if you’ve been fortunate enough to escape it physically unscathed, chances are you still find that the overall impact is felt constantly.

For everyone, but especially those of us whom have not experienced the virus through infection or a loved one coming down with a case, there are still times when our desires for yesterday’s normalcy make us forget about today’s responsibilities.

It’s easy to think about going shopping or to a movie or stage show. Just like the old days. No worries about masks, social distancing, capacity limitations or businesses closing earlier than expected.

Overheard, or perhaps absent-mindedly, maybe you’ve even started a conversation with a friend like this yourself: “Wanna go somewhere for lunch, check out that new antique mall or maybe hit a few thrift stores?”

If you’re a habitual collector, you’re forgiven.

Antique hunting and collecting and picking through thrift stores, or going to yard sales and finding something unusual and distinctive, has been a favorite pastime for many people in the LGBTQ community. Now that we can’t go out and play as easily as we used to, how are we handling that favored method of enjoying the world around us?

“It’s definitely different now,” says Kathleen Metzler, a native of Charlotte who left the city in her teens, but returned later in life to spend more time with friends and family after a long term relationship with her former partner came to an end.

“When I first got back here, things had changed so much it was like I was in an entirely different city. So it was fun exploring and finding things all over again,” Metzler recalls.

“I would get together with siblings or old friends and we would go antique shopping and hunting for unfound treasure in some of the small towns surrounding Charlotte. Then we’d hit an at-the-time undiscovered diner for lunch. That kind of fun and spontaneity isn’t something that happens very much anymore.”

So just what does Metzler do now when she wants an antiquing fix?

“Well, it certainly isn’t the same, but I do most of my antique and vintage shopping over the internet,” Metzler explains.

“I’m in a high risk category because of some health issues, and I just don’t want to take that kind of a chance. So more often than not I’ll purchase something off eBay and it gets shipped to my house, or I’ll go shopping online using apps like OfferUp or Facebook Marketplace. Sometimes I even go back and check out websites like Craigslist.”

8

qnotes

Old but not obsolete: select vintage electronics are both visually decorative and entertaining.

(Photo Credit: BrAt82 via Adobe Stock) Most local sellers will allow a purchaser to pay online and in advance using apps like Venmo and PayPal, among others.

“Then they’ll do this thing called contactless pickup. The item is usually left wrapped up in a plastic bag. You know, something like you get at the grocery store, with your name written on a piece of tape and attached to the bag. You pick it up from the seller’s front porch, go and never come in contact with the individual you just bought from.”

“Even some thrift stores who advertise their items online will allow you to pay ahead of time and they’ll bring it out to your car.”

“I have to admit it’s sterile. I miss the human contact and conversation and the recreation of picking, but it still allows me to acquire unique items I might want to add to my collection without putting myself at risk.”

Metzler enjoys collecting a variety of things from vintage household items as old as the turn of the 20th century to mid-century modern collectibles like lamps, art and various unusual incidentals.

She’s a Gen Xer but with each new generation, items that are considered collectible change. And so is the way people go about acquiring them.

“I’ve found that a lot of people from my age range collect things that are far smaller and less expensive,” says Gil Zukowski, a millennial, LGBTQ ally and a former long time Charlotte resident.

“Younger people are collecting things like Pokémon cards, 1990s memorabilia, Lego Sets and Polly Pockets. And they’re much more comfortable shopping out in public and buying reproductions just to capture ‘the look.’ Much more so than our older counterparts.”

Zukowski, however, doesn’t collect any of the things she mentioned. She considers herself different from many of her peers. “I’ve always had a passion for nostalgia,” she says. “I like antique sewing machines from the turn of the 20th century and old cameras from the 1960s. I also like older musical instruments. But most of all,

March 19 - April 1, 2021

I like things to be in working order. I enjoy the history of them, but I also want them to be fully functional.”

Clearly, what people buy is different for each generation and individual.

Seniors tend to buy with less frequency.

They’ve already done most of their collecting (which — for this generation — is often a mix of Victorian and Depression era items) and many are downsizing as they choose to move into smaller spaces with less responsibility, but most still want to hang on to at least some of their history.

Those who are in the middle-age range seem to favor mid-to-late 20th century items, although some enjoy collectibles from the late 1800s and early 1900s, not unlike their Boomer Generation counterparts.

Younger people, perhaps because of economic challenges, space limitations and the desire to relocate with ease, tend to go for things that are less expensive, smaller and more easily accessible.

One thing they all have in common: The items usually have a connection to the individual’s past and are generally related to personal and positive memories.

From a market perspective, what’s interesting are the items that are currently deemed as hot goods by antique collection authorities and auction houses.

They vary widely and frequently have no real rhyme or reason as to why they are currently raging in popularity.

At the top of the list is mid-century modern everything. Some people just refer to it as “1950s stuff,” but that’s actually inaccurate. You’ll find good examples of mid-century modern in the 1960s and even some in the early 1970s.

World War I memorabilia has always had a committed band of collectors but has suddenly jumped to the hot list. Don’t ask why. Haven’t a clue.

All types of costume jewelry, once available for pennies at thrift stores, are currently commanding outstandingly high prices.

Vintage barware of any era, toys from the 1980s and objects made from bake-

lite are all currently popular collectibles with a high resale value.

Other sought after collectibles include vintage film, travel and advertisement posters, vinyl records, antique cookie jars (especially the highly glazed 1940s and 1950s editions that resemble cartoon strip animals), telephones, televisions, cameras, clocks and more.

Some things that people collect, as evidenced by groups on Facebook and other places on the internet, are things you’d never dream anyone would really want.

And that’s not meant as a judgment, only an observation.

There are groups on Facebook that celebrate the importance of the VHS videotape and 8-track audio cassettes.

In other places on the net, there are collector groups for things like back scratchers, soap bars, vintage aerosol spray cans, older non-smart mobile phones and so much more we could potentially fill up multiple print issues with a simple list.

While antiquing may not be what it once was, collecting and selling goods from the past will likely always be with us. In the end, the vintage collectibles you decide to incorporate into your life are strictly up to you. There’s no right or wrong. It’s a personal form of creative expression. It will likely develop organically and make you inexplicably happy.

Whatever it ends up being, it’s your own special piece of history.

GO, SEE, DO AND BUY:

Sleepy Poet Antique Mall 4450 South Boulevard, Charlotte www.sleepypoetstuff.com 704-529-6369 Catawba River Antique Mall 406 Catawba St., Belmont www.catawbariverantiquemall.com 704-825-2383 Main Street Antique Mall 500 South Main St., Mooresville www.mainantiques.com 704-746-3636 Piccolo Antique Mall 14 Main St., Belmont www.piccoloantiquemall.com 704-825-5656 Antique Alley 1325 Matthews-Mint Hill Rd., Matthews www.antiquealleync.com 704-847-3000 : : qnotes is part of six major media companies and other local institutions reporting on and engaging the community around the problems and solutions as they relate to the COVID-19 pandemic. It is a project of the Charlotte Journalism Collaborative, which is supported by the Local Media Project, an initiative launched by the Solutions Journalism Network with support from the Knight Foundation to strengthen and reinvigorate local media ecosystems. See all of our reporting at charlottejournalism.org.

views

Fighting Gentrification

An LGBTQ Project in Houston is Part of the Solution to Affordable Housing

S

tories of Houston’s Third Ward and Charlotte’s Historic West End read nearly identical. Rapid development and gentrification are common in nearly every conversation about the historically Black neighborhoods.

Even their histories with mass transit, and the development that typically comes along with it, have been interestingly similar. By the mid-1980s, both Charlotte and Houston leaders were grappling with strategies to address growing population needs and expanding development.

In 1984, Charlotte Planning Commission recommended a light rail connecting Uptown and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Funds for a feasibility study were dropped however due to lack of city council support.

Houston’s path also met early hurdles when voters rejected a 1983 rail plan by referendum.

Ground was broken on the projects in 2001 for Houston and subsequently in 2005 for Charlotte. Now, as there are plans for Charlotte’s CityLynx Gold Line streetcar and expansion of Houston’s METROrail, the two historically Black neighborhoods continue to grapple with added development along transit lines and neighborhoods struggle with how to ensure affordable housing for their residents while preserving their important history.

Close to downtown (or in Charlotte terminology “Uptown”), the areas have already attracted townhome developers, increasing average home prices. According to a 2018 report by Rice University’s Kinder Institute for Urban Research, median home values in Houston’s Third Ward increased 176 percent between 2000 and 2013.

Some plans are seeking to curb that lack of affordability.

Federally-funded, city-administered down payment assistance programs, coupled with the city’s Land Assemblage Redevelopment Authority that took vacant tax delinquent property and sold it cheap to developers who agreed to produce homes at affordable price points, have been part of the solution, according to Leah Beinkovitz with the Kinder Institute.

Low-income housing tax credits have also been put to use and community-based development groups have been dedicated to providing low-income housing.

The federal housing tax credit program directs private capital toward the creation of affordable rental development. Owners and investors can use the credits as a dollar-for-dollar reduction of federal income tax liability and the value associated allows residences to be leased at below market rate rents.

According to Beinkovitz, neighborhood advocates in Houston argue that more is needed – “something that doesn’t just provide subsidies for affordable homeownership but that changes the game entirely.”

The City of Houston set about creating its own Community Land Trust in 2016.

“Like many major metropolitan areas in the United States, the nature and scale of

BY CHRIS RUDISILL| QNOTES STAFF WRITER

Houston’s Montrose Center will provide affordable housing for seniors aged 62 and above.

(Photo Credit: Montrose Center) affordable housing needs in Houston vary considerably by geography,” states a report from Grounded Solutions Network, a national organization working on inclusive housing initiatives that the city contracted to investigate the feasibility of the project.

The report noted that Third Ward was a neighborhood where the strategy could be particularly effective. “In these neighborhoods, new development is quickly obliterating housing affordability, dramatically reshaping local demographics and radically altering the character and culture.”

That need for maintaining a city’s neighborhood culture is something that Jeffrey Lowe, an associate professor of urban planning and environmental policy at Texas Southern University points out. “It’s a values question,” said Lowe in the Kinder Institute’s report. “The CLT (Community Land Trust) model is one that does not lend itself to the maximum that the market can bear, it lends itself more to giving away the maximum in a way that those who need assistance the most, those persons who are lower-income, for example, have an opportunity to have shelter that they can afford.”

Land makes the difference.

After seven years of planning, collaboration and construction, a project for LGBTQ older adults launched in 2018 and is helping ensure more inclusivity into the mix as well. The Law Harrington Senior Living Center is a project of the Montrose Center, Houston’s LGBTQ community center, and will provide 112 one- and twobedroom independent living apartments for low-income seniors ages 62 and above in the Third Ward community. Apartments

are limited to single older adults and couples whose annual income is below certain amounts based on an annual calculation from the Houston area. Income levels range from 30 to 60 percent of the city’s area median income.

The project, which saw its first residents move in this past January was born out of some thought leadership with former Mayor Annise Parker, the Montrose Center and other key players throughout the city.

“We really recognized there was a need for LGBTQ seniors to be able to have affordable housing,” says Austin Davis Ruiz, communications and marketing manager for the Montrose Center.

Buy-in from the city housing authority, the business community, private foundations and the city’s leadership have been key to the project’s success.

Sitting a mile away from the city’s LGBTQ community center and surrounding neighborhood of Montrose, the project is not only helping to address needs for more affordable housing options in Third Ward, but is addressing similar gentrification of gayborhoods, or areas that are predominantly inhabited or frequented by LGBTQ people.

In 1977, Ray Hill organized a protest against the anti-gay activist and singer Anita Bryant. An estimated 1,200 people showed up and galvanized the LGBTQ community in Houston. A year later, coalitions formed, most notably the Montrose Center, which was then called the Montrose Counseling Center. “As Montrose grew and continues to grow, the attraction of the location invites a phenomenon that affects ethnic and minority

neighborhoods around the country,” says writer Dana Jones in explaining the history of the city’s gayborhood.

Like historically Black communities, these gayborhoods face a gentrification of their own that includes affordability, but also the loss of gay culture and businesses. Ruiz points out that the project is not exclusively LGBTQ, but LGBTQ-affirming. “We specifically wanted it to be open to Third Ward residents, because there’s such a dearth of affordable housing in the city, let alone in Third Ward,” he said. “It’s a community that’s really struggling. We wanted to make sure it’s not just taking care of our LGBTQ seniors, but also taking care of people in the neighborhood.”

Land in Montrose is very expensive and the neighborhood’s development has pushed a lot of its LGBTQ residents out. The Law Harrington was able to acquire land that was donated by the Midtown Redevelopment Authority with close proximity to the heart of the LGBTQ community.

Unlike Houston, Charlotte has never had a specific gayborhood. The Dilworth neighborhood is likely the closest thing the Queen City had, but by the early 1990s the neighborhood started to change, and by 2000 many LGBTQ residents were also priced out.

More than a third of all households in Charlotte are “cost-burdened,” meaning they spend more than 30 percent of their income on housing, according to a city report. With a growing number of LGBTQ seniors, there is no doubt that many fall into that category and with historic lack of protections in housing discrimination, they face additional barriers to safe and affordable options.

“They’re twice as likely to live in social isolation and they’re four times less likely to have needed money for retirement saved up,” says Ruiz speaking of the national LGBTQ older adult population. With most senior living facilities in Houston and beyond being religiously affiliated, LGBTQ seniors are more likely to have to go back in the closet.

As we grapple with finding solutions for affordable housing in Charlotte, what does that mean for the LGBTQ community and where we define our neighborhoods? How does Charlotte incorporate the inclusivity of LGBTQ identities into projects to address the issue, or do we need our own? : : qnotes is part of six major media companies and other local institutions producing I Can’t Afford to Live Here, a collaborative reporting project focused on solutions to the affordable housing crisis in Charlotte.

It is a project of the Charlotte Journalism Collaborative, which is supported by the Local Media Project, an initiative launched by the Solutions Journalism Network with support from the Knight Foundation to strengthen and reinvigorate local media ecosystems. See all of our reporting at charlottejournalism.org.

March 19 - April 1, 2021

qnotes

9

views

‘Eased Restrictions’ Executive Order 195 Allows Longer Hours For Bars and Restaurants Decrease of Time Restraints and Businesses’ Disregard for Regulations Raises Safety Concerns

BY JULIANNA PERES | QNOTES STAFF WRITER

N

orth Carolina Governor Roy Cooper’s recently enacted (Feb. 26) Executive Order 195 (EO195), which allows restaurants and bars to remain open and serve alcohol until 11 p.m. The order still requires face coverings in all public indoor settings and limits indoor capacity for bars, restaurants and other businesses to 30 percent.

Restaurants have offered indoor dining opportunities for several months, but with continued limited seating capacity. EO195 allows bars to now increase their indoor areas. Like dining establishments, the number of customers allowed inside is still far less than pre-COVID-19.

While the order will help financially struggling businesses, the question arises: Will it put their clientele in jeopardy when owners and managers disregard guidelines and allow markedly increased attendance at popular queer watering holes?

The LGBTQ community in North Carolina is substantial, however, designated safe spaces for LGBTQ individuals are sparse. The Bar at 316 is one such safe space. This bar and club has been a staple of the queer Charlotte scene for over two decades. Because of the COVID-19 pandemic and the 2020 State of Emergency declaration, 316 nearly ended up in bankruptcy and out of business.

The bar is just one of many local businesses that have suffered as a result of the pandemic. After keeping their doors locked for upwards of six months, the decision was made to reopen.

Since that time, however, many Charlotteans and members of the local police department have confirmed the business has not maintained a safe environment. Dating back to January 2021, The Bar at 316 has received at least three citations for not adhering to the executive orders.

While some employees of The Bar at 316 spoke out, claiming the business was both a restaurant and bar, a perusal of the internet shows no dining-in or take-out options and no mention of a menu on

10

qnotes

COVID-19 still poses a threat and lessening restrictions could have negative consequences, but some businesses are not financially able to close. (Photo Credit: charmedlightph via Adobe Stock) their specific site or anywhere else online.

It is important to note, however, references to brunch can be found. Bar 316 owner Jeff Edwards was contacted, but did not respond to questions.

Considering the consequences, one asks, why would a business risk these citations?

The answer may be in the repercussions themselves.

According to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD), common consequences for those not adhering to the business mandates are fines up to $1000, being temporarily shut down and being permanently shut down.

The threat of being indefinitely put out of business may have an impact on entrepreneurs, but that threat has yet to be enacted by the CMPD. In fact, most bars and clubs have been receiving citations as low as $100 per infraction. The amount of revenue accrued by remaining open for longer hours with a large clientele far outweighs the price of such a citation. Although restaurants have had a few run-ins with the CMPD, it is pri-

March 19 - April 1, 2021

marily smaller spaces that have had such difficulty upholding the COVID-19 Business Mandates.

Clubs and bars, particularly those that are the size of The Bar at 316, are significantly smaller than restaurants.

Restaurants must maintain socially distant service, ensuring that each table available for dine-in to be a minimum of six feet apart. The restaurants that contain bars have been required to prohibit seating within the bar area, but were able to offer alcoholic beverages at the tables.

The guidelines for delivering these drinks have also been extremely stringent. Only one drink may be purchased per customer, meaning that each member of the party must be present to purchase an alcoholic beverage even if they are ordering to-go.

The bar or restaurant must also keep a detailed list of all alcoholic beverages being delivered (including the names, addresses and telephone number of the purchaser and the deliverer’s delivery permit number).

These restrictions have also put a damper on the atmosphere of clubs and bars.

The Bar at 316 was closed for more than six months because of COVID-19 and, once it became clear that they were on the brink of bankruptcy, they reopened, despite having the ability to social distance.

The typical hours for The Bar at 316 are 6:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m., which does not correspond with the executive order that prohibits liquor sales past 11:00 p.m.

The Bar at 316 was once a large twostory home. There is a covered outdoor seating, which is not much more spacious than a typical residential backyard. While it does offer a comfortable environment that attracts customers, the increasing clientele of the club/bar continues to be discouraged by the current COVID-19 safety guidelines.

Most recent reports show that The Bar at 316 was shut down again on Feb. 19.

This begs the question: Are these restrictions something that only truly affects small businesses? What about groups that are already unwilling to abide by state regulations?

Not unlike the tight spaces, alcoholic beverages and late hours of clubs or bars, fish tables (aquatic video-themed gaming and gambling establishments) are currently running rampant in Charlotte. The law surrounding fish tables are murky at best.

State regulations maintain that games of luck are considered subcategories of illegal gambling. However, the fish table arcade games have yet to be scrutinized by any North Carolina court of law. During COVID-19, there have been minimal reports of fish tables being penalized at the same rate as bars or clubs.

For many of these small businesses, the citations will not deter them from reopening their establishments.

Is this blasé attitude harmful towards patrons or does it only seem a careless approach to those who are not struggling business owners?

What should be the correct reaction from LGBTQ establishments in response to the COVID-19 business mandates? : :

life

How Do I Find a (Great) Contractor?

Legal Eagles: How to Avoid Common Pitfalls When Hiring for a Home Renovation

BY LEE ROBERTSON, JR. | GUEST WRITER

I

f there’s one thing that the gays like, it’s a home improvement project. From a whole house remodel to a bathroom or kitchen renovation, every LGBT person I know has tried it at least once.

And, for most of them (except for the lesbians), it’s a disaster. Complete.

Utter. Disaster. Because, really, who has time to learn the difference between a flat head screwdriver and a Philips head screwdriver, and even if you do, who cares?

That’s why contractors are so important — they know how to do the stuff we don’t. You’ve probably heard more than one horror story about a contractor who is really good at making a mess, but not so good at fixing it, or worse, a contractor who took the money and ran. Finding a reputable, reliable, honest contractor can be hard work. After all, you’re trusting this person with your dreams, and more than likely, not a little money. It’s a daunting challenge.

For almost a decade, I’ve represented contractors and homeowners alike in a range of disputes. Along the way, I’ve developed a list of things that homeowners can do to make sure that, when it’s time to hire a contractor, they find the right one. I’ve outlined some of the most important considerations in this article. Of course, this isn’t legal advice — and if you’re about to start a home improvement project with a contractor and have questions about this (or if you’re in the middle of a project and are having trouble), you should reach out to your lawyer for advice relative to your specific situation.

CHECK THE CONTRACTOR’S QUALIFICATIONS

Under North Carolina law, in order to complete a project that costs more than $30,000, the contractor must be a general contractor licensed by the North Carolina Board of Licensing for General Contractors. $30,000 seems like a lot of money, but when it comes to a renovation project, it goes faster than you think it might. And, sometimes, what starts off as a small project quickly turns into a much, much larger one. The first question you should always ask is whether or not the contractor is actually licensed. Or, if the contractor is licensed, whether or not there have been any complaints filed against it (or him or her). The best way to do this is to give the North Carolina Board of Licensing for General Contractors a call (919-571-4183) or check online (nclbgc. org). The board can confirm both a contractor’s licensure and complaint status.

The board will let you know if the contractor has ever had disciplinary action taken against them. Just because there’s been a complaint doesn’t mean you shouldn’t hire the contractor, but it’s a good place to start your investigation.

BONDED AND INSURED?

You’ve probably seen contractors who advertise that they’re “licensed, bonded and insured.” But what does that

withhold until the final payment, the better. That will ensure the contractor comes back to finish your job.

LIEN RELEASES

Make sure to do your research before hiring a contractor, especially for costly renovations.

(Photo Credit: Photographee.eu via Adobe Stock) actually mean? Ask to see certificates of insurance. Make sure the contractor carries general liability coverage and has a completed operations endorsement.

Insurance policies aren’t warranties — so they won’t warrant the contractor’s work. But, a good insurance policy may be useful to you if the work turns out to be defective and has to be torn out and reconstructed. Usually, you can activate a contractor’s insurance coverage to fund at least some of those costs.

INSIST ON A DETAILED CONTRACT

Contractors aren’t always the best at preparing contracts. But it’s probably the most important part of the project, because the contract answers questions about the type of work that will be completed, the timeline, the costs and the frequency of those payments. The bigger the project, the more important the contract. Most construction disputes revolve around a consideration that should be controlled by the contract. If the dispute isn’t resolved, a court will use the contract (in whatever form it is) to decide who is right. Even if the contractor doesn’t have a contract for you to sign, you can always provide your own. It’s worth spending time and money at the outset developing a contract that protects your rights.

ASK FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

A good contractor should have a history of satisfied customers. Ask for a list — and then call those people.

Explain that you’re interested in hiring their former contractor and if they’d be willing to share their experiences with you. Ask candid questions of those references, and whether or not they’d hire the contractor again. You’ll be surprised what you can learn. Good or bad, most people will be willing to share their experiences. Just keep in mind that if the contractor is providing the list, chances are those references will have mostly positive comments.

ONLINE REVIEWS

Check out online reviews. It’s a great way to learn about a contractor’s general reputation. If there are bad reviews, don’t be afraid to ask the contractor to explain why. Sometimes it’s a legitimate concern and sometimes it’s just crazy. Online reviews, in my experience, aren’t always the most accurate indicator of a contractor’s skill — but if more than one review makes the same complaint, there may be something to it.

HIRE A CONSULTANT

In large projects, hiring an independent consultant to provide you with an honest assessment of the progress and quality of the work is really important.

Most of us don’t know the first thing about construction, and a consultant (often another general contractor) will be a great resource. Typically, in projects funded by a lender (like a bank), consultants are a part of the deal, and the consultant will inspect the contractor’s work before authorization payment from the lender. Even if there isn’t a lender involved, a consultant can provide a neutral assessment of the contractor’s work and progress and will help you understand if the work is proceeding according to the schedule.

DON’T PAY EVERYTHING AT ONCE

Only agree to a contract that provides for regular progress payments as work is completed (and approved). You’ve probably heard the expression “robbing Peter to pay Paul.” Often, that’s the case with contractors, especially the unscrupulous ones — they’re using the money they receive from you to finish up the project before yours, and they’ll use the money they receive from the next job to finish yours. The best way to avoid this trap is to ensure that you only pay for work as its completed (and approved). Don’t agree to use a contractor that requires total payment up front, no matter the size of the job. And, the more money you can

Make sure that a condition of each progress payment is the contractor’s waiver of liens. A good attorney can help you create a strong lien waiver form — and in exchange for each payment, the contractor should waive its lien rights and the lien rights of any of its subcontractors. And while you’re at it, you should consult with an attorney familiar with North Carolina construction law before you undertake any sizeable project to your home. Liens can be complicated, and often take owners by surprise. Even if the contractor is performing the work itself, there are still a number of other people involved in the contractual chain, including materials suppliers and vendors — all of whom may have a lien right on your home. A lien waiver, on receipt of each progress payment, protects you from hidden or surprise liens.

TALK TO THE CONTRACTOR

Make sure you’re staying in regular contact with your contractor. You’ve probably heard that the squeakiest wheel gets the grease. The same is true with contractors. A contractor is going to have a number of projects going on at the same time. Make sure your project is always its priority. The best way to do that (other than withholding payment) is to talk to them, ask questions and stay involved.

SEE A LAWYER

Sometimes, despite your best efforts, and the contractor’s best efforts, things just don’t work out. That’s okay. But don’t waste time — as soon as you feel like the relationship with your contractor is souring, go see a lawyer. A good construction lawyer can help assess the situation and guide you on what you can do. If the project can be salvaged, the right lawyer may be able to navigate you through the process. But if the relationship is too far gone, then you’ll already be ready to take things to the next level if necessary. The larger the project, the higher the stakes and the more likely people turn to litigation to sort out their disputes. Don’t wait until there’s litigation before you hire a lawyer — have a good one on your side from the start.

There are some excellent contractors in the area; many of whom support LGBT causes or are led by LGBT-identifying people. Chances are, you also know someone who is involved in contracting themselves — that’s always a good place to start. : : Robertson is a partner at Robertson & Associates, a boutique business litigation law firm that represents businesses and non-profit organizations in a variety of disputes. Robertson is a lifelong Charlottean.

March 19 - April 1, 2021

qnotes

11

a&e

At Least Acknowledge Me Tell Trinity

BY TRINITY | CONTRIBUTING WRITER Dear Trinity, After seeing your wonderful performance in Wilton Manors, FL a few years back, I went backstage to see you. You greeted everyone, but me. Why didn’t you acknowledge me?

Ex-Fan, Saint Paul, MN Dear Ex-Fan, Why didn’t you just say, “I love you!” I might have married you on the spot! I always travel with a rabbi! Seriously, I’m truly sorry. It’s common to be overwhelmed by people vying for someone’s attention, and leaving can seem the best alternative. It happens to me every time I see Bill Goldberg, a former WCW champion. After I finally get near him, I get so tongue-tied that he thinks I’m some psycho-stalker and runs away grunting. But honey, with forgiveness and acknowledging the complications of each situation I pray you will release me and move on.

Hugs, Trinity

Dearest Renters Woes, Do you mean that he won’t let his close friend slither his way out of paying the rent on time? I have one word for you, INTEGRITY, which means “when your word is better than a binding contract, better than the word of God.” If I was you, I would, a) take a cash advance from my job or credit card, b) start sleeping in my new Jeep or c) find some other friends, cause sweetie, in my book, money and friendship requires one thing, INTEGRITY! Kisses, Trinity

Dearest Trinity, I rented a room from a close friend and promised to pay the rent by a certain time.

Recently, I had to ask him to let me slide for a while because I unexpectedly changed jobs and bought a new Jeep. He freaked out on me. How do I get him to let me slide?

Thanks, Renters Woes, Santa Fe, NM

Q-mmunity

connections

qnotes

Hello Separate Bedroom Love, Celibacy, the life of monks, priests, eunuchs and some drag queens has been practiced for millenniums. But pumpkin, I smell trouble outside the church walls and you’re part of it! If you really want this to work, then send her off to a Celibacy Summer Camp and when she returns, if

you’re still not living in a healthy, passionate, sexually fulfilling relationship then... send her back. You deserve more!

Love, Trinity Hey Trinity, I’ve been hanging out a lot with this guy who I can’t quite figure out if he’s gay or not.

When I went to his house, I looked for clues, but I’m still clueless. Any thoughts?

Clueless, Baltimore, MD Hey Clueless, Sometimes it’s hard to tell who is and who isn’t. So I asked all of my sources and darling, here is:

TRINITY’S UNDERCOVER TIPS FOR TELLING IF SOMEONE IS NOT GAY BY SEARCHING FOR CLUES IN THEIR HOME (SPECIAL THANKS TO HOUSE AND NO GARDEN MAGAZINE.) 1. Living room: no throw rugs, throw pillows nor throw fabrics, not gay.

2. Kitchen: no pesto, gourmet crackers nor sun dried tomato jars, also not gay.

3. Bedroom: no matching lamps, bed skirts nor Warhol knockoff’s, not even close.

4. Bathroom: no hand towels, soap dispenser nor decorative sculptures, not gay.

5: Music playlist: no Bassey, Streisand, Gaga nor Broadway musicals, no way!

6. Wall decor: Street signs, beer signs, and signs of old wallpaper, not gay (thank Goddess).

7. The bar: does not have a Cabernet or martini glasses but does have really cheap vodka. NG! 8. Voice Message: uses words like, “Stoked,” Hell ya” or “Hey man,” not even close!

9. Cutlery drawer: only has plastic forks, cafeteria spoons and steak knives with Denny’s logo, not even human!

10. L astly. no signs of anything Marilyn Monroe, retro, faux fur or sequins, NOT gay enough!

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, Gay Spirituality for the Next Generation! Learn more at telltrinity.com.

Send emails to: trinity@telltrinity.com.

space starting at $22: call qnotes for details 704.531.9988

12

Hello Trinity, Recently, my girlfriend of just over a year announced that she wants to “practice celibacy.” I’m now thinking of letting her move in, even if it means separate bedrooms. Do you think this could work?

Separate Bedroom Love, Madison, WI

March 19 - April 1, 2021

a&e

‘Gay Bar: Why We Went Out’ Out in Print

BY TERRI SCHLICHENMEYER | CONTRIBUTING WRITER “Gay Bar: Why We Went Out”

by Jeremy Atherton Lin ©2021, Little, Brown and Company $28.00 320 pages

T

he stool over by the window is all yours.

Might be because you’ve spent a lot of time there. It’s the right height, you can easily watch the door from there, and the bartender knows your favorites, so why not? As in the new book “Gay Bar,”

by Jeremy Atherton Lin, it’s one of the best places to be.

Long before it was legal for him to go there, Jeremy Atherton Lin, like most teenage boys, imagined going to the bar ­— though in his case, Lin imagined what it was like in a gay bar. Ironically, he says, “I can’t remember my first.”

As someone with a foot in each of two continents, he does have favorites, places that are now closed, re-named or been moved. He’s danced in them, had sex in them, drunk and moved through gay bars with his “companion, the Famous Blue Raincoat,” and anonymously, and with friends-not-friends.

Some bars were carved out of a back room or basement, or a place that used to be something else, maybe another bar. They’re cavernous; or they’re small and packed with men dancing or doing drugs; or they’re thick with bachelorette parties and tourists, to the annoyance of the gay men who’ve claimed that bar.

Those usurpers don’t know the legacy of feeling gay, but “[I]t goes pretty deep.”

Some bars have opened just for the night.

Others were raided once upon a time or will close before a month has passed.

Overall, they’re an important part of being a gay man, pre-Stonewall, pre-AIDS, postepidemic and now.

And yet, says Lin, “... there does remain something embarrassing about a gay bar.” Still, try to stop him from fondly remembering nights in the Castro or Los Angeles or London...

Absolutely, you could be forgiven for wondering what you got yourself into while reading the first couple dozen pages of “Gay Bar.” Unabashedly, without preamble, author Jeremy Atherton Lin leaps right into a hazy description of a night out or two in a chapter that seems fragmented, like a broken strobe light. Clarity comes, but later, and it’s fragile.

Part of the haze might be due to the autobiographical nature of Lin’s story: There are bars in his tales, but the focus here is more going to bars, with the implied assumption that readers are familiar with those he mentions or others exactly like them. This, of course, may not be true; still, Lin’s sex-and-booze-filled tales of drag, dance and la dolce vita are compelling, woven with gay history, interesting then-andnow comparisons, and blisteringly explicit tales of being a young gay man.

And then again, while these stories take readers through the doors of a gay bar, once we’ve literarily entered, there are times when we’re abandoned, the music’s too loud, and we want to just go.

Like a song you don’t particularly like, though, that won’t last long. Really, the surreality of “Gay Bar” is not insurmountable; in fact, if you wait it out, you’ll be mostly glad you did. So look for it — and take a seat. : :

Author Jeremy Atherton Lin. (Photo Credit: Jamie Atherton)

March 19 - April 1, 2021

qnotes

13

* * * SPONSORED CONTENT * * *

Dudley’s Place Helps Ensure Clients Have Access to Food Clients Can Also Meet With a Nutritionist

By Dale Pierce that many clients may not have the resources or funds to Food is essential, food is life. Dudley’s Place is always access as part of their food budget.” helping clients fill their pantries with the food voucher proLast year Dudley’s Place assisted over 600 clients gain gram, as well as linking them to community resources that additional resources to battle food insecurity. Alone, their may be available. In addition, clients of Dudley’s Place and emergency food voucher program distributed over $65,000 Rosedale Health and Wellness can meet with a nutritionist, in vouchers to local grocery stores to help clients in need.

Kim Kinnear, RD, who is on staff full time at the nonprofit.

Clients are given as many resources as possible to assist Kim can help the clients manage dietary side effects of them with their nutritional needs, from shopping plans, to medications, help them lose/gain weight, take clients on a menu planning, nutritional information and much more. “supermarket tour” and so much more.

The program does all it can to encompass assistance In February of 2021 Dudley’s Place received a generwith education. ous and amazing gift from three little girls in the Charlotte Dale Pierce, Executive Director of Dudley’s Place said, area. Lola (5), Mila (7), and Tessa (8), used the benefit they “Lola, Mila, and Tessa are such a blessing to the clients of received from their Girl Scout cookie sale to help brighten Dudley’s Place. Last year they made PRIDE bracelets for the day of some of the clients at Dudley’s Place. “Scouting our LGBT clients and donated them for us to distribute at is not just teaching my girls life skills, they are also learnCharlotte Pride. They said that they wanted everyone to feel ing the importance of how to give back”, says Annie Fu, special and accepted.” the girl’s mom. The girls tackled their cookie sale this year March is also National Nutrition Month. There are many with enthusiasm and drive. Based on their sales they earned things you can do to help yourself get on the right path to “cookie credits” in the form of product. They told their better overall health regarding nutrition. Move: even the mom, Annie, who works at the Walgreen’s pharmacy on smallest of physical activity will help you better obtain your the Rosedale Health and Wellness campus in Huntersville (L to R) Lola Fu (5), Tessa Fu (8) and Mila goals. Think of taking a walk each evening after dinner, or where Dudley’s Place is, that they wanted to give back.

Fu (7) generously donated boxes of Girl try a Zumba class or anything that gets you moving. Inspire They wanted their extra cookies to be given to Dudley’s Scout Cookies to Dudley’s Place. yourself: many people say they get into a boring routine in Place staff so that they could add a little “sweet surprise” to menu planning. Try buying a new cookbook this month or the clients who could use a little something to smile about. looking online at a blog for new ideas. See a dietitian: they can help your menu Even Kim Kinnear (dietitian) said, “occasionally we all deserve a little treat, and plan, find creative solutions and offer guided advice to a better plan. what a great gift the girls gave our clients with these cookies. It is something

14

qnotes

March 19 - April 1, 2021

life

Our People: Marco Reed

Gay Charlotte Police Officer Tries His Hand at Acting and Producing

BY L’MONIQUE KING | QNOTES STAFF WRITER

W

I learned so much, like how to edit film and do interviews. Leaving broadcasting school required finding a Charlotte based non-profit and a person to interview. I found Charlotte Angels, an adoption agency and a great organization, and interviewed the President, Jacqui Bryant. If it was good, it would air on WSOC-TV, and it did.

[Since then], I’ve worked with some really cool people, like Benjamin Coffey, a young cinematographer.

Together we worked on his films “Jonah” and “Missed Call.” I was a production assistant. “Jonah” won awards. In 2020 it won [the] Festigious International Film Festival Awards for “Best Experimental Film” and an honorable mention for Indie Film. It also won some FilmCon awards.

hat do you get when you combine a police officer with a film creator?

You get Marco Reed.

Reed, 29, is one of those rare Charlotte gems. If you’ve lived here or visited Charlotte for any length of time, you know how difficult it is to meet a native Charlottean. It’s especially exciting when you come across someone like Reed: passionate, creative, driven, a multitude of talents and a native.

Marco has overcome many obstacles and continues to push the envelope by way of inclusion and advocacy through creativity and visibility. As an openly gay Black man, he’s one of the very few Charlotte Transit Police Officers who does not shy away from his identity.

As if that’s not enough accomplishments for one individual, our interview with Marco reveals so much more.

From his growing up and being labeled an EC student (an Exceptional Child with a learning disability), to finding his way into the film industry as an actor and producer, Marco Reed is an up and coming force to be reckoned with.

Who in the film industry inspires you?

Whoopi Goldberg, she can become any character and never even change her clothes or her look and you believe she’s that character. And Johnny Depp, his transformative abilities still amaze me.

How does a day typically start for you? Do you eat breakfast?

Yes. What did you have for breakfast this morning? [giggles] Yogurt.

Okay, let’s talk about a different type of fuel now. What prompted you to get into law enforcement?

When I was growing up I was in a program called EC at the time. I was considered mentally limited. It took me a very long time, and a great mom who wanted to get me to focus on my education. So I worked my way out of the program.

Never thought I would go to college, but I did, got my degree in Criminal Justice [from ITT Technical Institute] and now anytime I hear about a book or have the opportunity to learn anything I’m very excited about it.

What was it like being in the police academy?

In the police academy they sent me to, I was one of only five people of color out of about 20 candidates. There was one woman and two hispanics. I was the only one [candidate] that was gay.

Why become a police officer?

I wanted to get into law enforcement to create the change I wanted to see, and I truly believe it’s through conversation, that’s how you create change. I’m a lot of people’s first experience with a gay person. They’re often nervous to ask a lot of natural curious questions that people just wonder about.

As wild as some of the questions are, I’m not offended by them. Mainly because they’ve asked if they could ask me a question, and I said sure — because that’s how you push the conversation forward. Even if the language wasn’t correct, I’m not upset by it. I feel like I’ve really changed the perspective of a lot of people in my proximity especially when it comes to LGBTQ rights and Black Lives Matter.

Have you ever had any negative or positive police experiences as an openly gay police officer?

I thankfully haven’t experienced any negative experiences as an openly gay, now pansexual, police officer. I have always believed that an open-door policy for anyone who had questions is how we moved forward from the idea of something being taboo when it is just different.

In fact, I ended up learning that many of my fellow brothers and sisters in blue truly didn’t know anyone that was LGBTQ and their experiences and perceptions came from stereotypes. This led to a lot of questions being asked and not always in the right way.

But I didn’t get offended, and I didn’t get mad. I just listened. Because if someone has the courage to ask, then why can’t I give them grace and teach.

As an actor, have you or would you play a gay character?

I played as a closeted gay man who edited straight adult films for a living. My character was named Lamar from the YouTube series called “The Jadasburg’s Water Crisis.”

To find it, search Crisis by Kevin Anthony. It is a fun little short that was filmed about 2 years ago. But beware of the content.

What led you to get into the film industry?

After leaving the police academy, I said to myself, if I can do this, I can definitely be an actor. I always wanted to act, but in high school, with the learning disability, I took an aptitude test and was told I could be a police officer. After leaving the academy, I made a profile online [for acting], made a web series and got signed to an agency in Hickory, N.C., but was still policing full time back then. I worked with the agency in Hickory for two years but didn’t want to continue to have to pay an agency for gigs that I found on my own. Around that time, I met someone, started to work on a script with him and before I knew it, I was actually producing, finding actors and scouting locations.

How’d all that work out for you?

I’ve done two short films and worked from New York to LA. I went to the Carolina School of Broadcasting for Digital Media. I took classes in podcasting, commercial production, TV operations, broadcasting and social media.

Do you have any advice for upcoming creatives who want to enter the film industry?

Be aware of what the world is expecting of you and networking. It’s really all about networking and doing some private research. When I first started, I was learning as I went along. I couldn’t always answer questions that I was asked, so I started researching to familiarize myself with the industry on the indie side.

Any upcoming projects? What are you working on?

Yes. I’m a member of Stonewall Sports, and I’m working with a fellow member who started the first ever eSports with them due to the [COVID-19] pandemic. We want to do a Stonewall Sports podcast. Of all the U.S. Chapters, there’s not a single podcast that connects the community in that way. In addition to that, I’m developing another podcast, BCT: Black Cop Talk.

Are you in any Stonewall Sports leagues?

Yeah, I played in their kickball and dodgeball leagues. I want to get into their bowling [league] next.

Ok, random question. Cats or dogs?

Both.

Do you have any furbabies?

Just the family dog, Savannah. She’s a pug mixed with a miniature lab. She’s a little cutie. She lives with my mom and brother.

How often do you visit and hang out with Savannah?

Pretty often now. I’m planning to move back home for a little while to save up for a possible out of-state-move later in the year to Atlanta. But right now, opportunities keep flowing for me here, so I may not move at all. We shall see though.

If only one thing could be said about you, what would you want the world to know?

I am empathetic to all causes, to all people, and I try to truly learn as much as I can from any experience, good or bad, because that’s how I become a better person. When you become a better person, the people around you do too. : :

March 19 - April 1, 2021

qnotes

15

16

qnotes

March 19 - April 1, 2021