QNotes, May 6-19, 2016

May 6-19 . 2016

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inside

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Splish, splash!

qnotes news & features

arts. entertainment. news. views. Briefs 18 News Notes: Regional 21 News Notes: U.S./World Briefs 22 Moogfest hits the Triangle 25 Researchers seek participants

a&e / life&style 12 12 13 14 16 23 26 27

30 years of community journalism What has qnotes meant to you? qnotes milestones Summer swimear Water fun Tell Trinity Q Events Calendar Dishing with Buff Faye

opinions & views 4 5 11 17

Someone to hate on?

Going back to Egypt Publisher’s 30 year reflections Spiritual Reflections

It’s getting hot and what better way to be cool than to go to a fun-filled water getaway. We’ve got a host of options for everyone to enjoy! page 16

more news & features

30 years and counting!

It’s time to take a drag quiz!

Our coverage is packed with everything one needs to know about the history of qnotes from its inception. pages 11-13

Test your knowledge on everything “RuPaul’s Drag Race’ and see how many you can get right. page 27

May 6-19 . 2016

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qnotes connect May 6, 2016 Vol 31 No 01

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

contributors this issue

Buff Faye, Stan Kimer, Lainey Millen, Rabbi Judith Schindler, Jeff Taylor, Jim Yarbrough

front page

Graphic Design by Lainey Millen Photography: qnotes archives 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.

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, editor@goqnotes.com Assoc. Editor: Lainey Millen, specialassignments@goqnotes.com Social Media Editor: Jeff Taylor, socialmedia@goqnotes.com Production: Lainey Millen, x205 production@goqnotes.com Printed on recycled paper.

a local news partner of The Charlotte Observer

upcoming issues: 05.20.16: LGBT Sports in the South Advertising Space Deadline: May 11 06.03.16: Gay & Gray - LGBT Seniors Advertising Space Deadline: May 25

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qnotes

May 6-19 . 2016

by Stan Kimer :: guest contributor

There has been so much written recently about the horrific anti-LGBT bill that passed in North Carolina, I decided to write a blog about the larger systemic societal and political issue that has led to this.

As a diversity consultant, as a Christian, and as an overall positive upbeat person, I cannot understand why a huge segment of the American population needs “someone” or “some group” to “hate on.” It is a very sad fact that many people run for public office on platforms of what group we are going to punish or kick out. In the distant past, AfricanAmericans were often demonized, as well as business-oriented women who wanted equality in the workplace. Then after that it was gays and lesbians, and in a way, they are still a target in many locations. But lately, it seems the heat of hatred has been really turned up on undocumented immigrants (often referred to as illegal aliens — I thought all people were created and loved by God so how can they be “illegal?”), Muslims, and especially on transgender people.

Transgender people are indeed a very small segment of our population, but have been increasing in visibility as high profile ce-

lebrities such as Chas (formerly Charity) Bono and Caitlyn (formerly Bruce) Jenner have come out and undergone gender transition.

Now over half of US Fortune 500 companies include non-discrimination protection for transgender individuals, and many now include gender transition medical benefits. (see totalengagementconsulting.com/ blog/2015/09/perfect-trans-storm/ about the increasing visibility of transgender people.)

But now in many states, legislators are proposing new laws that would be very harmful to transgender people, including not allowing them to use the public restroom of their presenting gender, or not being able to change official records such as drivers licenses if their current gender does not match their gender assigned at birth. Some politicians are causing a frenzy of hate against transgender people by shamelessly scaring people with totally fabricated and non-factual statements

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Material in qnotes is copyrighted by Pride Publishing & Typesetting © 2016 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.

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Spotlight on HB2

such as transgender people going into restrooms to molest children.

Now in my state of North Carolina, our state Republican leaders called a hastily convened, expensive special session of our state assembly and in one day, with minimal reviews and discussion, passed a state law forbidding municipalities to include protections for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people in their own non-discrimination ordinances. In addition, this new state law dictates that transgender people must use the restroom of the gender on their birth certificate.

Recently, my letter to the editor (see newsobserver.com/opinion/ letters-to-the-editor/ article66188647.html) of our local newspaper [the Raleigh News and Observer] was published where I shared the true factual information. Namely: 1. T ransgender women are truly women and transgender men are truly men, and the medical profession will support that.

2. Transgender women and men go into the restroom of their presenting gender to “relieve themselves,” period.

3. There has never been a single recorded incident of a transgender person attempting to molest someone in a restroom. Never.

Not one.

So what are these politicians afraid of?

Sadly, they must feel the only way to get elected is to appeal to humanity’s base side and give them someone to hate. How sad!

ACTION: All people who want to stand up against hate need to reject all politicians who operate out of that mindset and elect officials who want to treat all people fairly and humanely. : : — Stan Kimer, Total Engagement Consulting

by Kimer, is a Raleigh, N.C.-based business consultant who provides corporate and organizational training on a wide range of diversity topics including transgender diversity.

Get your posters, logos for your business and more and show the community that they are “always welcome” at your businesses.

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Spotlight on HB2

Going back to Egypt

by Rabbi Judith Schindler :: guest contributor

[This homily was delivered at Charlotte’s Multifaith Service Calling for the Repeal of HB2 on April 24, 2016, at Myers Park Baptist Church.]

We come together for a multi-faith service. We all come from different faiths and some of us come from no formal religious faith at all. I can understand. Sometimes having faith is hard, especially in recent weeks living in North Carolina.

We all come from different faiths. My faith community, the Jewish community, is celebrating the holiday of Passover. We are meant to spend this week remembering the oppression of 400 years of Egyptian slavery as told in the book of Exodus and we are meant to celebrate our journey to freedom.

As we welcomed our holiday this past Friday night and Saturday night, we sat for hours around our dining room tables recalling the oppression and the plagues and our crossing through the sea to freedom. The essence of that meal, called the seder, is this teaching from nearly 2000 years ago: B’chol dor vador chayav adam lirot et atzmo k’ilu hu yatzah mi-Mitrayim — In every generation a person should see him or herself as having gone forth from Egypt.

Errata 05.06.16

In our last print issue edition, we wrongly identified the individuals in the photograph caption for the story entitled “New Charlotte mural honors late drag queen Brandy Alexander.” The caption should have read: Artists Matt Hooker and Matt Moore at work on the Brandy Alexander mural, part of ‘The Drag Queens of Queen City’ in Plaza-Midwood in Charlotte, N.C. It should have said: Artists Nick Napoletano and Matt Moore at work on the Brandy Alexander mural, part of ‘The Drag Queens of Queen City’ in Plaza-Midwood in Charlotte, N.C. We regret this error.

—————— We also omitted the photo credit for the images in the story entitled “Home & Garden 2016: Secret Gardens offer a glimpse of life in the 4th Ward.”

They should have been attributed to Austin Caine. We regret this omission.

Commentators teach that the Hebrew word for Egypt, Mitzrayim, means a narrow place. We do not need to read from the book of Exodus about slavery to know about narrow places of oppression, for all of us currently find ourselves in the narrow place not of Egypt, but of North Carolina. One month ago, our North Carolina legislature passed a law that Rev. Dr. Barber labeled not House Bill 2 but “Hate Bill 2.” Our city spent a year putting together a comprehensive anti-discrimination ordinance that represents the best practices in the nation. Our State legislature hastily (and in some cases hatefully) put together a bill that is the worst in the nation, spending $42,000 bringing our legislators back to Raleigh for a special session. The state senators were given only five minutes to read the law and 30 minutes to debate it before it was voted upon. The vote in the Senate and House was complete within 12 hours leaving little, if any, time for public comment. North Carolina has become a narrow place that legislates people out.

As part of the Passover seder, the youngest child asks four questions about the ritual recalling our journey from servitude to liberation.

“Mah nishtanah halailah hazeh mikol halaylot — why is this night different from all other nights?” the youngest child asks.

This year, many of us at our Passover tables asked four questions about HB2. Mah nishtanah hachok hazeh m’kol hachukim? — Why is this law different from all other laws?

Why is this law different from all other laws? North Carolina’s HB2 takes away power from the people. It takes away the rights of local authorities to create their own anti-discrimination ordinances, to raise the minimum wage to a living wage in their counties and to pass more progressive policies.

Why is this law different from all other laws? North Carolina’s HB2 writes discrimination into our state structure. This law nullifies a 1977 state law protection that allows employees to file lawsuits against their employers for all forms of discrimination including race, religion, national origin, age, sex or handicap. This law leaves our trans brothers and trans sisters vulnerable forcing them to enter the bathroom of the gender noted on their birth certificate rather than the gender with which they identify.

(It is interesting to note that there is not one incident where a transgender individual has entered a bathroom and committed a crime, yet there are many incidents where senators have committed crimes in public restrooms).

Why is this law different from all other laws? Because this law takes us back in time from the New South to the Old South, to one that supports the rights of some building upon the oppression of others.

Why is this law different from all other laws?

Because this law has caused businesses and musicians and conferences to turn away from our state: PayPal in Charlotte, Bruce Springsteen in Greensboro, 13 conventions have cancelled plans to our Queen City, and more cancellations are made each and every day.

In every generation a person should see themselves as having gone forth from Egypt, but sadly here in North Carolina, we are still stuck in the narrow straits of a metaphoric Egypt. Our challenge as people who of faith, whether it is faith in God or in a higher power or

simply faith in humanity, is to lead our community forward from the oppressive place in which North Carolina finds itself to a more open place — where those from other states and other countries will feel free and safe and good about coming to visit and do business here and where we will all feel free and safe and proud to live.

How does one lead a community out of Egypt? We can learn from Moses. In the midst of the most painful period when plagues were overwhelming the Egyptians, Pharaoh’s heart began to soften. After the plague of locusts, Pharaoh said to Moses, “You can go and worship your Lord with the men.”

But Moses said, “We will not leave without the young and the old, without our sons and our daughters.”

After the plague of darkness, Pharaoh said to Moses, “You can go and worship your Lord with the men, women and children.”

But Moses said, “We will not leave without our flocks and herds.”

Moses would not leave until he took everyone with him along with their possessions.

Last year, our City Council could have passed an anti-discrimination ordinance if its members had left the transgender community behind, but our council members who understood and valued inclusion refused. Last week, Virginia’s Fourth Circuit Court ruled in favor of transgender students having the right to be treated in accordance with their gender identity. We could breathe easy now that our students are protected and we could give up our fight, but we will not.

Like Moses, those of us opposed to HB2 will not leave anyone behind. We will not leave the transgender community behind. We will not leave the broader gay and lesbian community behind. We will not leave the working poor behind. We will not leave the elderly, or the disabled or any victim of discrimination based on race, religion, national origin, or sex behind.

We will not stop our protest until the entire law is repealed.

We will not allow the hearts of those who lead our state to become hardened and legalize closed doors to human rights. We will not leave till our call is heard for an open political process — where laws will be appropriately read and understood and debated to ensure they are ethical and constitutional before they are passed. We will not stop until North Carolina is the welcoming and warm state of southern hospitality — providing inclusion and justice for all of its citizens. This is our home. This is our city. This is our state. This is our country. This is our democracy for which we will pray and fight and work in partnership to create.

We come together today as people of faith.

Rabbi Mordechai Kaplan taught, “A theology which is not a plan of social action is merely a way of preaching and praying. It is a menu without the dinner.”

Our task is to rise from this multi-faith table and put our faith into action as we fight for equality.

Now I love traveling.

But I did not save up my money and just pay my taxes last week to travel to a metaphoric Mitzrayim — an ancient Egypt that oppresses. I paid taxes to ensure our schools and our healthcare system and our law enforcement will be here for our betterment and keep all our kids and citizens healthy and safe. Yet, last month our legislators and governor caused pain and harm.

We do not want to be in a metaphoric Egypt. It would be far easier to leave or to become apathetic or disengaged but like Moses, we cannot leave and we cannot stop our protest and prayer until all have the basic freedoms our democracy demands.

Leaving Egypt is exhausting for our bodies… but staying drains our souls. Some of the Israelites in Exodus were so tired that they suggested maintaining the status quo of slavery.

Their spirits were crushed by the oppression they knew.

We will not allow our spirits to be defeated.

We are here at this multi-faith gathering to gain strength. We are here because we have faith — in the place of promise that North Carolina can be. The great leader of protest and prayer Dr. Martin Luther King said that “faith is about taking the first step even when you can’t see the whole staircase.”

Today the staircase is quite clearly in view. Repeal HB2. I cannot even call it House Bill 2 because no house of which I am a part would cause such shame — nationally and internationally — and whether we like it or not, the North Carolina House and Senate are our houses. If they think they are speaking for us as our representatives in any way, then let us make sure they hear us loudly and clearly day after day after day.

In this case, the staircase to justice is unmistakably clear: do not debate parts of the law simply repeal all of the law.

I close with a reading by Michael Walzer that is part of our Reform movement prayer book: Standing on the parted shores of history We still believe what we were taught before ever we stood at Sinai’s foot.

That wherever we go, it is eternally Egypt That there is a better place, a promised land That the winding way to the promise Passes through the wilderness That there is no way to get from here to there Except by joining hands, marching together.

May we hold hands together. May we march together. May we reach across religious and political aisles to work together and give each other reason to have faith in God or in the higher power we individually affirm and in our state government. May we give each other reasons to have faith in humanity so that our State of North Carolina can be a state that makes us proud and our home that is a place of promise for all. : : — Rabbi Judith Schindler is senior rabbi at Temple Beth El in Charlotte, N.C.

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life

staff commentary

by Jim Yarbrough :: qnotes publisher

30th Anniversary retrospective Thirty (30) years. I can’t believe it!

I will never forget the two-story brick “house” at 2322 E. 7th St. in Charlotte. This office space housed Grassroots Leadership.

Queen City Quordinators (QCQ) met there at least once a month.

It was 1986 and Robert Sheets, president of QCQ, asked me to take the Robert Sheets, treasurer position on the left, and Don King board of directors. I did. I did not know what to do, but I figured it out rather quickly.

At one of my first meetings, Robert talked about reviving the qnotes newsletter which had ceased publication into a monthly newspaper. The board liked the idea and we got the ball rolling by hiring Don King as our first editor. Don worked at The Charlotte Observer as did one of our board members, Dean Gaskey. The two of them took charge of editorial content, production, delivery and helped with ad sales. I handled the finances — billing and collecting for the ads and paying all the expenses. We had to do fundraisers to make it work. That is because we had no seed money. What we did have was a group of hard-working, dedicated people who worked as a team and got the job done.

Our first big story was on the Carolina Drummer ’86 regional contest that took place at Park Center (now the Grady Cole Center). The event, a fundraiser for and produced by QCQ, was a huge undertaking and received national attention.

There has been so much covered in the pages of over 600 issues of qnotes. We have covered stories of joy and sadness, beauty and horror, progress and setbacks, new beginnings and deaths. All have their place in the LGBT history of Charlotte, North Carolina, South Carolina and the nation.

We have had some great people on staff. The longest serving staff person, other than myself, is Lainey Millen, our graphic designer and associate editor. She has been a rock with a work ethic like no one I have ever seen. Thank you, Lainey!

We have had some great editors, too. David Stout was the longest serving — over eight years. The next longest serving was Matt Comer and next was David Moore. In order of service was Don King, Dean Gaskey, Craig Epson-Nelms, Joel Smith, Jim Yarbrough, Dan Kirsch, David Stout, Clay Ollis, Leah Sepenwol, David Moore, Matt Comer and O’Neale Atkinson. I thank them for their hard work and dedication to the paper and our community.

Additionally, we have had lots of support staff over the years.

There is no way to name all of them, however, some of them are Dean Gaskey, Joel Smith, Arlene Robbins, David Prybylo, Dan Van Mourik, Gordon Rankin, Connie Vetter, Tony Tattoo, Brian Myers, Monika Simpson, Gordon (Marcelo) Roque, Brad Ward, Bob Ballentine, Kat Read, Jack Kirven, Jeff Habberstaff, Bill Gordon and many more. All of our staff volunteered in the first few years.

Then we were able to pay staff once we got ourselves stabilized.

Many staff members could have found work somewhere else making more money than they made at qnotes. They did it for our community, sometimes at great hardship for themselves.

Speaking of all the people who have been a part of our team, there are a number of them who have passed away. I will always remember Don King, Mark Drum, Curtis Johnson, John Green (Destiny), Richard Epson-Nelms and Jeff Habberstaff.

Rest in peace and I hope you know how much a part of this paper you were. qnotes has gone through a few significant transformations, both in management, physical looks and in financial viability. qnotes started out under QCQ, a not-for-profit organization.

We then were owned and operated by Charlotte Advocacy Network (CAN), a corporation set up so we could issue political

started or made a posviews and make political endorsements. We itive change that led to wanted to do whatever we could to fight people Grand Prix a better organization. like Sen. Jesse Helms. We could not do that as Whether it was with well if we had stayed a not-for-profit. When the our coverage of these management organizations/events structure of or our direct involveCAN failed to ment — from Pride work, I bought picnics in the park to the paper and the Don King awards started running to major changes in it like a busiour organizations like ness. With the One Voice, Time Out only revenue Youth, Metrolina AIDS coming from Project and Pride advertising, Charlotte. it has been a From the beginstruggle, but we nings at a table on have made it. the first floor of that The paper house on 7th St., we has gone have been here to through periods serve our LGBTA community. We have done a very good job of time when we did not know if at times and not as good a job at other times. The difference we would survive. It was a very always came down to financial ability. qnotes has never made challenging time in 2000 and a profit. We get by. We serve you, our readers and advertis2001. We bounced back and by ers. We need advertising support to be sustained. Every little 2007 had the largest staff ever. bit helps. A business card, a display ad or a web ad turns into Things were moving along. arts, entertainment, news and views coverage.

Then the economy tanked in Thank you to all the advertisers over the years who keep us early 2008 and again in early going, to all our readers who support those advertisers and to all 2009 and 2010. For the first time, we had to lay people off. But the people who have been a part of this newspaper, qnotes, and again we made it. therefore been a part of my life. It has been challenging at times, Lots of newspapers and magazines were looking at ways to however, it has been a pleasure to serve our community. : : cut costs. One was to move to a smaller size paper. We did that and most people liked the new look.

Later we stopped folding the paper and left it flat. We have had lots of different columns, lots of interviews and covered lots of Pride events, as well as politics.

Some of the most difficult times in my life with this paper were when we have had to cover so many people’s passing. Six who have worked for qnotes, some leaders and entertainers, like Grand Prix, Rick Wilds and Brandy Alexander and so many people we lost to HIV/AIDS. I can’t even count the people I know who are gone.

Some of the best moments in my life with this paper have been times when others recognized our contributions to the LGBT community. I was elated to receive a U.S. flag in the mail one day in February 2006. The soldier who sent it was a gay man serving in Iraq under “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.”

He wrote a column for us about his thoughts as he served our country at war. He flew the flag in Iraq in honor of qnotes and our staff. Another time is when editor Matt Comer and I got to attend President Barack Obama’s Pride Reception at the White House in June 2013.

In 2015, we gave our entire archive of qnotes to the King-HenryBrockington Archive at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. In the near future the thousands of pages of qnotes will be digitized and searchable for easy research and reflections for generations to come.

Other great times have been when Former Editor Matt Comer, left, and Publisher Jim Yarbrough in the East Room of the White qnotes helped new organizations get House during President Barack Obama’s Pride Reception in 2013.

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life

qnotes marks three decades of community journalism Looking back on 30 years of LGBT coverage in the Carolinas and beyond

by Jeff Taylor :: Social Media Editor

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eflecting on qnotes’ 30 years of LGBT news and views coverage in the Carolinas and beyond highlights how far the LGBT community has come, as well as how much is left to be done.

In 1986, qnotes first year of publication, it covered the first LGBT event in Charlotte without media restrictions, “An American Vigil for Truth and Decency,” held at Independence Park.

In that same year, it covered the very first candidate’s forum and LGBT voter registration drive. qnotes was also there with coverage in 1988 when activists picketed the annual banquet for a conservative political group called Concerned Charlotteans, which was one of, if not the, first pickets staged by the local LGBT community.

The newspaper also covered events like the National March on Washington and displays of the AIDS Memorial Quilt.

The newspaper has seen the formation and growth of political advocacy groups fighting for LGBT rights, like First Tuesday, MeckPAC and TurnOut! Charlotte, which has since expanded to become TurnOut! NC and is involved in fighting House Bill 2 (HB2).

Coverage of local non-discrimination ordinances throughout the years culminated with Charlotte, N.C., finally passing LGBT protections this year after failing to do so in 2015, setting off the battle against the state which would result in HB2.

Progress that was in some cases made decades ago rolled back with the stroke of Gov. McCrory’s pen.

The April 1991 issue featured a story on Cracker Barrel firing gay employees and the activism that followed. Today it is still legal to fire someone for being gay in the state of North Carolina.

The July 1994 issue announced the introduction of legislation to Congress that would prohibit discrimination in hiring and employment on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity.

That legislation, called the Employment Non-Discrimination Act,

or ENDA, has yet to become law, despite being introduced to Congress every year, with only one exception. qnotes were there at the height of the HIV/AIDS epidemic, covering such issues as the debate over anonymous testing, fought between the state and ACT UP. One of the first series of articles was called “A Family Fights AIDS” written by Mark Drum who chronicled his own fight with the disease until just before he died.

An enormous amount of progress has been made since then when it comes to treating the disease, but the community remembers that the epidemic is not over, especially for gay men of color who, as a recent CDC report noted, are at an increased risk. They estimate that approximately one in two black men who have sex with men (MSM) and one in four Latino MSM will contract HIV in their lifetime if current diagnosis trends continue.

Recently qnotes published another series of articles focusing on the issue of living with this diagnosis, called “Young and Positive: A Son’s and Mother’s Journey.” It, like “A Family Fights AIDS,” aims to add a human element to the statistics of an all too often still widely misunderstood condition.

Our “Life, Positively” issue each year is dedicated to the topic, tracking the latest news in treatments and the continued search for a cure for HIV/AIDS. qnotes has also been dedicated to covering topics of lifestyle, the arts and nightlife.

Over the years it has interviewed countless local creatives, as well as household names such as John Waters, RuPaul, Alanis Morissette, Dolly Parton, Lily Tomlin and David Sedaris.

One major news story qnotes covered was the controversy

around the production of “Angels in America,” which led the Mecklenburg County Commission to defund the arts programs in Charlotte/Mecklenburg. qnotes documented the rise of local Pride events, gay film and arts festivals and performance arts groups such as One Voice Chorus and the Gay Men’s Chorus.

The creation and expansion of LGBT affirming churches and religious organizations, such as the Metropolitan Community Churches and the Unity Fellowship Church Movement, were also highlighted over the years. Not only have these groups given LGBT Christians a welcoming place to worship, they have helped destroy the stereotype that Christians have to be anti-gay and anti-trans. qnotes reported on the need for an LGBT community center, which the community saw come and go, leading it back to where it started.

The newspaper saw sodomy laws Mark Drum overturned with Lawrence v. Texas and it saw Amendment One come and go after a federal judge’s ruling allowed for same-sex marriage in the state. qnotes ran a series of articles from a soldier serving abroad who was forced to stay closeted and it celebrated when the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy was done away with at last. qnotes covered the recent opening of an LGBTQ Archive, housed at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, allowing LGBT history to be preserved. The digital archiving of qnotes’ back catalogue also ensures the many accomplishments and struggles of the LGBT community in the Carolinas are not lost to time.

It is an honor to be part of documenting that story and qnotes remains dedicated to doing so with continued coverage of the expansive and ever growing LGBTQIA family.

We thank all of you for your continued support of our efforts and for trusting us with your stories. May the community and the paper continue to grow together for many more years to come. : :

What has qnotes meant to you?

Community leaders share their thoughts on 30 years of community journalism compiled by Jeff Taylor :: Social Media Editor

A

s we look back on 30 years of coverage, we reached out to local LGBT leaders and asked them what our paper has meant to them and to the community at large.

Here is what they had to say.

“Congratulations on 30 years of being a steady and constant in the LGBT community.

Thank you for supporting and sharing the stories of the many different non-profits in the Carolinas, including RAIN. Happy anniversary and I am excited to see what you do for the next 30 years!”

Nathan Smith Director of Development & Marketing Regional AIDS Interfaith Network

“qnotes is very important to the LGBT community in numerous areas. It provides very important information about current issues that affect the LGBT community including health. It provides interviews with important LGBT lead-

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ers and information about affirming businesses and churches in Charlotte. It provides important information regarding upcoming events that are of interest to the LGBT community. Along with those items, qnotes gives comic relief with some light articles. None of this information is provided to the LGBT community through any other source, therefore it is, and has remained, vitally important to the LGBT community over 30 years. Thank you for the wonderful job you do.”

Rev. Dawn Flynn Pastor, New Life MCC “qnotes and Jim Yarbrough were how I first connected to the LGBT community in Charlotte when I moved here in the early 1990s. Long before becoming an attorney I did newspaper production back when newspaper pages were laid out by hand and I helped out at qnotes for a time. Through qnotes I learned the news and happenings in the community and through Jim,

I met a group of organizers and activists working on LGBT issues. Without qnotes, then and now, there would be a huge hole in information and connection. Even today with so much information online I still pick up qnotes every other week. Congratulations on 30 years!”

Connie J. Vetter Attorney at Law “How time flies. It’s almost unbelievable that qnotes has been with us for 30 years. I picked up my first copy of qnotes when I lived in Greensboro in 1990 and have been reading both online and hard copy ever since. When I moved to Charlotte seven or so years ago, I decided to advertise my business in qnotes and have been ever since because I believe in supporting our community and qnotes is a big part of that. qnotes brings us the most up-to-date LGBT news when we need it and it’s always a pleasure to read Buff’s (Buff Faye) column. Thank

you to all of the staff, and of course Jim, for your dedication to the LGBT community and I will be looking forward to the 50th Anniversary Party that Jim will throw. I am sure it will be a blast.”

Janice Covington Allison Transgender Activist “As the President and CEO of Different Roads Home, as well as helping to found Rosedale Infectious Diseases, I find it remarkable the impact that qnotes has on the LGBT community. Jim and the staff are always there to help support our organizations, as well as help cross promote a better understanding of HIV education in the community. Many of our clients have found us from seeing our ads in this wonderful publication. Thanks qnotes for 30 years of serving Charlotte’s LGBT community and here’s to 30 more.”

Dale Pierce CEO and President, Different Roads Home

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life

Milestones in the life of qnotes 30 years Marked occasions that chronicle this newspaper compiled by Jim Yarbrough :: qnotes publisher

First as a newsletter… qnotes began as a newsletter. Here’s what happened when it was created.

September 1983 — qnotes founded in its first incarnation as a monthly newsletter of the non-profit Queen City Quordinators (QCQ). (Associate Editor Lainey Millen designed its first logo/ nameplate.)

October 1983 — The newsletter reports on the first case of AIDS in Charlotte. …Then as a newspaper for 30 years qnotes has provided near-continuous coverage of LGBT news, views, arts and entertainment for three decades. It has used both local talent, interns, freelance writers, as well as national columnists, cartoonists and more to catalogue the story of the LGBT community. Take a look at some significant mile markers along its journey below.

June 1986 — QCQ, under the leadership of President Robert Sheets, establishes qnotes as a monthly print newspaper. Hires Don King as the first editor.

January 1987 — Dean Gaskey was elected president of QCQ. June 1987 — Gaskey resigned as president of QCQ and Vice President Jim Yarbrough assumed the post.

September 1987 — Don King resigned as editor of qnotes.

QCQ continues publication Gaskey, Yarbrough and Joel Smith take on the production of the paper.

January 1988 — Gaskey becomes editor.

May 1988 — qnotes is published using a desktop publishing system for the first time.

“qnotes has been an essential part of our agency in getting news and information out to the youth and community. Their unique reporting has made our agency stronger.”

Rodney Tucker Executive Director, Time Out Youth “At 30, qnotes is Charlotte’s second oldest LGBT institution (only Scorpio’s has been around longer). That’s over 700 bi-weekly issues of news and information about Charlotte’s dynamic LGBT community. qnotes was a pioneer.

When no other media outlet could be bothered, qnotes consistently covered issues central to LGBT people. By doing so, the paper has played an important role helping to move our lives and concerns from the sidelines to the mainstream.

“Congratulations on reaching this milestone.

And thanks for your perseverance and vision.”

John Quillin Managing Artistic Director Gay Men’s Chorus of Charlotte “The Big Q consistently provides a composite reflection of the gifts and leadership LGBTQ citizens offer.”

Debbie Warren President & CEO, RAIN

July 1988 — The board of QCQ votes to dissolve the organization and authorizes qnotes to begin operating independently under the for-profit umbrella of Charlotte Advocacy Network, Inc. (C.A.N., Inc.).

October 1988 — Spot color (purple) was used for the first time in qnotes.

December 1989 — qnotes purchased by current publisher Jim Yarbrough.

June 1996 — qnotes celebrates its 10th anniversary and begins publishing bi-weekly.

May 2001 — qnotes published its first issue using full color.

July 2005 — qnotes is the first-ever business recipient of The Charlotte Business Guild/Don King Community Service Award.

February 2006 — qnotes receives via United States Postal Service, a U.S. flag flown for qnotes over the Coalition Forces Compound at Camp Taji, Iraq, by a gay N.C. military person who had been writing a column in qnotes about his thoughts as a gay, active duty soldier serving in Iraq.

May 2006 — qnotes and The Front Page, a Raleigh, N.C. LGBT newspaper founded in 1979, announce a merger at qnotes 20th anniversary.

April 2008 — qnotes debuts its new website using a content management system instead of traditional, static HTML as its platform. The HTML version was used for nearly a decade.

July 2008 — qnotes changes the traditional quarter fold of the newspaper to a flat layout, reflecting the layout more typical of an average, weekly tabloid newspaper or news-magazine.

June 2009 — qnotes holds its first annual QList

“qnotes has been an invaluable asset to our community. Through the years, it has kept us informed of our history, our organizations and support groups and has given us an insightful look at current happenings. It truly has been a blessing having qnotes as our family newspaper.”

Frank Kalian Owner, Sir Speedy “qnotes has provided and continues to provide news, information, and entertainment for the LGBT communities in Charlotte, the region, the state, and even the world. For its advertising partners, it helps the LGBT community connect with and support other members of the LGBT community and its allies. Through qnotes, we not only create, but sustain our sense of community. Through qnotes, we share our ideas, our experiences, our victories, and our losses. Without qnotes, we would otherwise be isolated individuals with little shared support.”

J. Wesley Thompson, MHS, PA-C, AAHIVS, DFAAPA Ballantyne Family Medicine “When considering what part of North Carolina my then fiance Gwen and I would

Best of LGBT vote and publishes the winners.

January 2010 — qnotes rebrands, dropping the dash from its name and promoting a new website, goqnotes.com.

October 2010 — qnotes partnered with The Charlotte Observer by joining its Charlotte News Alliance, a network of papers and blogs that share its content with the Observer and visa versa.

November 2010 — qnotes publishes its first “Life, Positively” issue to coincide with World AIDS Day. December 2010 — Editor Matt Comer attends President Barack Obama’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” repeal signing ceremony.

September 2012 — Under the leadership of Editor Matt Comer, qnotes develops a consortium of some half-dozen LGBT publications and bloggers from around the U.S. and serves as lead and disseminator in the coverage of the Democratic National Convention, held in Charlotte, N.C. June 2013 — Comer and Yarbrough attend President Obama’s LGBT Pride Month Reception at the White House.

Both President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden spoke to the group.

May 2016 — qnotes celebrates its 30th anniversary. qnotes wishes to thank its advertisers and contributors for their overwhelming support over the years.

Without them, the privilege of chronicling the LGBT experience would not be possible. We would also especially want to acknowledge the tireless work of its past editors who piloted the process over the years: Don King, Dean Gaskey, Craig Epson-Nelms, Joel Smith, Jim Yarbrough, Dan Kirsch, David Stout, Clay Ollis, Leah Sepenwol, David Moore, Matt Comer and O’Neale Atkinson. We apologize in advance if we inadvertently omitted anyone from the list of editors. : :

move to to start the Unity Fellowship Church Movement’s first church in the Bible Belt , Charlotte edged out other cities partly because of the professionalism and content provided in qnotes. Since that wonderful decision was made in 2000, I have seen the publication go through many challenges, and while I have not always agreed with its approach to the news, I have always appreciated the fact that it exists.

In the absence of a Community Center, qnotes has helped us build a community forum for trans, queer, lesbian, gay and bi voices to be heard. Thank you, Jim Yarbrough, for starting this paper and for your service to the region.

May the next 30 years be blessed. will start that ball rolling by placing an ad this week!

Who will join me?

Bishop Tonyia M. Rawls Pastor Sacred Souls Community Church Executive Director The Freedom Center for Social Justice “qnotes is part of a proud tradition of local queer publications coming out of Charlotte.

Over the years, qnotes has been the place where the community learned about itself, helped people connect, and has served as the

storehouse of information about groups and events big and small. Here in 2016 as part of the King-Henry-Brockington LGBTQ Archive, qnotes will take on a new role as a source of information for researchers, students, faculty and staff at UNCC. Likewise the information contained within this publication will give the entire community access to our history in a way that does not exist anywhere else. I am excited for the 30th anniversary of qnotes and look forward to what the future brings.”

Joshua Burford Assistant Director for Sexual & Gender Diversity University of North Carolina at Charlotte “I am thrilled to celebrate this auspicious qnotes anniversary. When I think about the tragic number of LGBT publications we lost from coast to coast in the last decade, many of them boasting staff and resources that far outstripped ours, it highlights the real triumph of this milestone. I cherished my time as editor and was pleased to watch my successors take qnotes to even greater journalistic heights. No pressure, but I can’t wait to be asked to comment on the newspapers’ 40th anniversary.”

David Stout qnotes Former Editor

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Summer Fun

Hot weather…Hot men…Hot swimw

Make a fashion statement this season, whether at the pool, lake, beach or an adventuro

by Jim Yarbrough :: qnotes publisher

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Andrew Christian Almost Naked Zip Bikini Andrew Christian Momentum Trunk Rufskin Firenze Swim Brief Andrew Christian Champion Trunk C lever Karia Swim Brief, Andrew Christian NanoFit Paint Splash Bikini, Clever Tilos Swim Brief

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Andrew Christian Impulse Trunk with Show-It Andrew Christian Champion Maui Swim Shorts, Andrew Christian Impulse Trunk with Show-It, Andrew Christian Almost Naked Zip Bikini

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(left and right) Andrew Christian Varsity Trunk, (center) Andrew Christian Division Bikini

Photos: Deonté Wilbourn & Tevin Baskerville with Art&Eye Photography Models: D. Sings, Trey Love, Brandon Reid, Andrew Christian product model Murray Swanby Location: Vistas @ 707 Swimwear: Provided courtesy White Rabbit

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life

Summer Fun

Water fun in North Carolina Water parks, waterfalls, swimming holes and more

by Jeff Taylor :: Social Media Editor

A

s the weather heats up and summer appears just over the horizon, it is the perfect time to take a look at some of the top water attractions in North Carolina.

Man-made attractions Across the state there are a host of options to satisfy the thirst of those who seek some fun in the water and a little bit of splish-splash in less rustic or natural environments.

Carolina Harbor at Carowinds amusement park 14523 Carowinds Blvd.

Charlotte, N.C. carowinds.com.

Carowinds’ water park has expanded to include four new attractions and has undergone a name change. Carolina Harbor, as it is now known, can say it is home to a new multislide complex, an interactive children’s area, a multi-level play structure and a new 27,000-foot wave pool.

Carolina Harbor is included with the price of admission to Carowinds.

U.S. National Whitewater Center 5000 Whitewater Center Pkwy.

Charlotte, N.C. usnwc.org.

The U.S. National Whitewater Center enters its 10th year of operation. The outdoor training facility offers canoeing, kayaking and white water rafting for amateurs and professionals alike. It is used as an Olympic training center and periodic races are held for all skill levels. Rock climbing, zip-lines, mountain biking and hiking trails and more are also available.

The U.S. National Whitewater Center offers a fun and challenging experience.

Photo Credit: U.S. National Whitewater Center

Ray’s Splash Planet 215 N. Sycamore St. Charlotte, N.C. bit.ly/1hIyWPg. One of the largest indoor water parks in the Carolinas, Ray’s Splash Planet is over 29,000 square feet and features water slides, a lazy river, a current pool, lap lanes for swimming and water basketball and volleyball, and a kiddie play area. It is operated by the Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department and is ideal for families with young children. On the

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second floor is a fitness center with a dance studio, as well as an indoor gymnasium.

Great Wolf Lodge 10175 Weddington Rd. Ext. Concord, N.C. greatwolf.com/Concord_NC. Great Wolf Lodge is an indoor water park resort with 11 water slides, four pools and a tree house featuring a 1,000-gallon tipping bucket. Water park passes are included with room accommodations. It might spoil you for all other hotels, with their five-foot-deep-in-thedeep-end pools.

Wet ‘n Wild Emerald Pointe 3910 S. Holden Rd. Greensboro, N.C. emeraldpointe.com.

Greensboro’s Wet ‘n Wild is the largest water park in the Carolinas and the 12th largest in the country. Water slides, including freefall body slides, pools, children’s areas, a wave pool and a lazy river are some of the attractions at the park, which sees around 500,000 visitors each year.

Natural attractions: swimming holes, waterfalls, lakes Swimming holes, waterfalls and lakes are abundant in North Carolina. They are a nice alternative if you are looking to avoid the crowds of water parks, although some of the more popular spots can draw a lot of people on hot days.

Just remember that lifeguards are not on duty in most of these spots and you swim at your own risk. Obey signage and do not swim alone or while intoxicated. Do not enter water above falls, as the force may pull you down.

Here are some of the places you should put on your “to see” list this spring and summer.

Sliding Rock along U.S. 276 Brevard, N.C. 1.usa.gov/1qYZP9Q. Located in Pisgah National Forest near Brevard, this 60-foot natural water slide is so smooth you go down it without a raft, landing in eight-footdeep, 50-60 degree water. It is so popular that on weekends and during the summer it is not unusual to have to wait through a significant crowd to have your turn, but it is worth the wait. Lifeguards are on duty late May through late August and intermittently on weekends through the middle of October.

Looking Glass Falls along U.S. 276 Brevard, N.C. 1.usa.gov/1SNtkor.

While you are in the area, check out Looking Glass Falls, just two miles from Sliding Rock. The 60-foot waterfall has a shallow wading pool at the bottom.

Skinny Dip Falls Blue Ridge Pkwy.

Canton, N.C.

visitwaterfalls.com.

In the Blue Ridge Parkway southwest of Asheville sits Skinny Dip Falls, a waterfall and swimming hole with a small jumping-off rock into water about six feet deep. Unlike at Sliding Rock, there is no lifeguard on duty here. And don’t be fooled by the name, Skinny Dip Falls is not clothing optional.

Nantahala River Beach, Jump Off Rock 13077 W. Hwy. 19 Bryson City, N.C. noc.com.

Rafters along the Nantahala River can stop off at Jump Off Rock, just a few miles away from a beach with the Nantahala Outdoor Center, where they can sun themselves and relax before heading back out. Parking is available along U.S. Highway 74.

Silver Run Falls N.C. County Road 1007 Cashiers, N.C. 1.usa.gov/23az1zm.

Silver Run Falls is a 25 foot waterfall just outside Cashiers, with a small, shallow wading pool and a beach spot at the bottom. There is a small parking area on N.C. County Road 1007, off U.S. Highway 64. Expect it to be crowded on hot weekend days but otherwise it is less popular than some of the other swimming holes.

Cashiers Sliding Rock N.C. County Road 1007 Cashiers, N.C. bit.ly/1SNvHaL. Along the Chattooga River. Not as big or exciting as Sliding Rock, but without the lines.

There is also a bigger swimming area at the bottom. This is a nice option for families.

Shacktown Falls Styers Mill Rd. Yadkinville, N.C. shacktownnc.com.

In Shore-Styers Mill Park in Yadkinville lies the lesser known Shacktown Falls. The falls are small but pretty nonetheless and have plenty of room underneath them to sit, wade and swim.

Lake Norman I-77 North near Charlotte, N.C.

Sliding Rock near Brevard, N.C., is a favorite for outdoor adventure with ‘sliders’ braving the mountain stream chill.

Photo Credit: U.S. Forest Service

visitlakenorman.org.

The largest man-made fresh water lake in North Carolina, it is home to Duke Power State Park as well as other outdoor options.

Boating, swimming and more are just a short drive from Charlotte, N.C., as is nestled among Cornelius, Lake Norman, Davidson, Mooresville and Huntersville, as well as other smaller communities.

Lake Wylie N.C./S.C. State Line York County, S.C. Gaston and Mecklenburg Counties, N.C. lakewyliechambersc.com.

This two-state man-made lake offers boating and other recreational options. Nearby are campgrounds, and the lake offers boat ramps for those who do not have permanent access.

Mountain Island Lake Highway 16 in North Charlotte mountainislandlake.org.

This little treasure is situated so close to Charlotte, N.C., that it only take a short drive to get there. It supplies drinking water for Mecklenburg and Gaston Counties and is a fun spot for fishing, camping and boating.

Lake James 2785 N.C.-126 Nebo, N.C. 1.usa.gov/24naxWm. At the base of Linville Gorge, Lake James offers swimming, a beach with over 150 feet of shoreline and a pavilion with changing rooms.

Boating, fishing, hiking and mountain biking are all available as well.

Lake Lure 2948 Memorial Hwy. Lake Lure, N.C. townoflakelure.com.

Near Chimney Rock, Lake Lure allows for a relaxing day at the beach with a view of the mountains. Boats, canoes and kayaks are available for rent at the marina.

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views

spiritual reflections

by Rev. Dr. Chris Ayers :: guest contributor

God, Thongs and Sex I’ve met a few asexual people. Some My Dad was a flirt, a harmless flirt, but a counselors think asexual individuals are just flirt nevertheless. His flirting got on my mother’s repressed. Maybe, maybe not. The asexual hunerves, along with a lot of other things he did or man beings I’ve known, and there are just a few didn’t do, but she knew he was faithful, which of them best I can tell, seem to be very healthy, he was until the end. although God knows, due to the church, many Before dying a pretty nasty death of people have been sexually repressed. prostate cancer, my father and mother lived in The “Education of Shelby Knox” is a an oceanfront condo in Daytona Beach, Fla. documentary about They visited Daytona a “good Southern Beach on a whim a Baptist girl” who long time ago and has pledged my family ended up abstinence until making the 10 to 12 marriage. Shelby hour trip to Daytona learns her homeBeach (speed limit town, Lubbock, was 55 back then) Texas, has some of every year for 20 the highest rates years, except the of teen pregnancy year my father was and sexually transsick and out of work mitted diseases and we couldn’t in the state, and afford to go. So it her county’s high was only natural Rev. Dr. Chris Ayers’ parents schools teach that when Mom and abstinence as the only safe sex. The movie Dad retired they retired to their favorite beach, opens with Butch Hancock, guitar player for Daytona Beach. They lived in one of those the Flatlanders, saying, “life in Lubbock, Texas, condos for seniors. Dad said his favorite part of taught me two things: One is that God loves you, the day was “the thong patrol.” My two other and you’re going to burn in hell. The other is that brothers and I always thought he was kidding sex is the most awful, filthy thing on earth, and until we went down for a visit and he showed you should save it for someone you love.” proof. Dad pulled out a photo of him standing God knows we’ve been given mixed messages beside two gorgeous, shapely, big hipped/ about our bodies and sex. It’s as if the Christians buttocked, busty females in thongs. He was really don’t believe God took on human form grinning from ear to ear, even though he was (incarnation). It’s as if they haven’t figured out pelike a dog chasing a bus. nises and vaginas are for more than procreation.

Are you ready to put what your mama gave I’m not saying we can’t do great harm to you into your bathing suit? Are you prepared to another person’s body. I’m not saying our bodstrut your God created stuff at the pool or beach? ies and our hormones can’t get us into a lot of God created you and gave you a body. trouble, even create havoc for us and make us God either gave you a body with a penis and believe (incorrectly) our lives are forever messed testicles or a body with a vagina and boobs or up. I’m just saying God created us with bodies, an intersexed body or a body that does not fit lusting is not optional unless you are asexual, and your gender identity or a body that fits you bithat life is too short and too difficult to let some of gendered identity. We’ve got a pretty neat God the confused and wrong Christians mess up your just based on body diversity. view of yourself, your life, your sexuality, and your Think about it. God could have made things time at the pool or beach. a lot more boring. To be sure, I often think God My only other advice comes from my wife: is like a mad scientist. There are so many things some people shouldn’t wear Speedos. in life and nature that are messed up. Heaven It’s time to stop reading this article and put seems like a chance for God to get it right, to do on your bathing suit. : : a better job the second time around. However, — Rev. Dr. Chris Ayers, is the pastor at when it comes to the human body — why, God Wedgewood Baptist Church in Charlotte, N.C. deserves a slap on the back. Bravo!

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news notes: carolinas compiled by Lainey Millen :: qnotes staff

Charlotte Fund hosts ‘happening’

Senior housing options planned

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte Lesbian and Gay Fund will hold its 9th Annual Happening on May 11, 12 p.m., at The Westin Hotel, 601 S. College St. Networking will begin at 11:15 a.m.

Emcee for the event is radio personality Sheri Lynch from the nationally syndicated “Bob & Sheri Show” on 107.9 The LINK. Lynch is also an author and speaker.

The luncheon event presented by Wells Fargo is held to raise awareness and support for the fund while highlighting its grant program and 2016 grant recipients.Grant recipients have used the grant money to shore up the efforts of which they are charged.

Tickets are $40/person and $400/table and are available online.

The fund is an initiative of the Foundation For The Carolinas, 220 N. Tryon St. info: fftc.org.

Band concert upcoming

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Charlotte Pride Band (CPB) closes its fifth season with “A Pops Matinee” on May 21, 5 p.m., in Heaton Hall of Myers Park Baptist Church, 1900 Queens Rd. The program features the music of stage and screen. CPB performs selections representing stories and characters that Hollywood has created over the years. Featured pieces include music from “Doctor Who,” “Star Wars,” “Jurassic Park,” “Into the Woods,” “Fiddler on the Roof,” “The Muppet Show” and James Bond movies.

Tickets are $10 from band members and $13 online or at the door. Tickets may be purchased at the door or online. info/tickets: charlotteprideband.org.

Eastern Drag brunch announced

GREENVILLE, N.C. — On May 8, 11:30 a.m., a PiCASO Drag Brunch will be held at The Scullery Coffee House and Creamery, 431 Evans St. During the event a show will be held beginning at 12:30 p.m.

Cost to attend is $10 plus tax and tip and features a buffet including tea or water.

Specialty beverages can be ordered at an additional cost (including alcohol). An additional $10 contribution to the organization is requested at the door. Reservations are encouraged as seating is limited. Contact the restaurant at 252321-1550 to reserve a table. info: thepicasohouse.com.

Triad Foundation mounts ‘mothers’ campaign GREENSBORO, N.C. — Guilford Green Foundation is asking the community to speak out against HB2 this Mother’s Day on May 8 by publicly proclaiming that the measure is not representative of the community or the culture in which “we want our children to be raised.”

An ad with this message will run in the Greensboro News & Record on May 8 with names of those who took a stand against intolerance. The full page ad was made possible by a $35 contribution to the foundation collected earlier this week. info: ggfnc.org.

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DURHAM, N.C. — Village Hearth Cohousing has announced plans for the construction of an LGBT-focused senior living community located 20 minutes from the downtown district on a 15-acre wooded site.

Finding a safe place to thrive in one’s twilight years can often be challenging for those from the LGBT community. The developers are working to close that gap by creating one of the first LGBT elder communities on the East Coast. It will be the first LGBT senior cohousing community in the U.S. and will also welcome allies and friends in a supportive neighborhood of active adults choosing to age together.

The facility will be conveniently located to shopping and more. It will be open to all those who are 55-years-old and above. Its aim is to provide its residents with frequent interactions with others in a secure environment.

Cohousing is a concept brought to the U.S. in the late 1980s by architects Charles Durrett and Kathryn McCamant. It provides an inherent sense of community reminiscent of a small village. Specific to aging in community, houses tailored for seniors create easy transitions throughout each individual home and pedestrian paths diminish the need for driving. Most importantly, each individual in the community has a voice, and the neighborhood is co-created.

Village Hearth Cohousing has hired McCamant & Durrett Architects for the architectural design and CoHousing Solutions for development consulting, two companies with a strong track record of starting successful cohousing communities in the U.S. Cohousing provides a place for people with a similar history to come together. For many LGBT individuals, this aspect is key, especially in a time when other alternatives, such as traditional senior communities, may have discriminatory practices and immediate families may be indifferent.

Many LGBT seniors do not have children on whom they may rely, so creating a community of peers and friends makes perfect sense to co-founders Margaret Roesch and Pat McAulay.

“I am motivated to set this group up for success because cohousing is a real solution for the housing challenges that plague LGBT seniors,” Chuck Durrett said. info: villagehearthcohousing.com. villagehearthcohousing@gmail.com. 561-714-8009. cohousingco.com. cohousingsolutions.com.

‘4 Moons’ screening slated

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Out at the Movies Winston-Salem will screen “4 Moons” on May 14, 7 p.m., at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts ACE Theatre Complex, 1533 S. Main St. “4 Moons” is four stories about love and self-acceptance. An 11-year-old boy struggles to keep secret the attraction he feels towards his cousin. Two former childhood friends reunite and start a relationship that gets complicated due to one of them fearing getting caught. A long-lasting relationship is threatened when a third man comes along.

An older family man is obsessed with a young prostitute and tries to raise the money to afford the experience.

Tickets are $7/general and $6/seniors and students and are available in the lobby beginning at 6:15 p.m.

The film is in Spanish with English subtitles

and contains nudity and recommended for mature audiences. info: outatthemovieswinstonston.org.

Award noms sought

SALISBURY, N.C. — Salisbury Pride is seeking nominations for its annual Ketner Ally Award which recognizes an individual who has contributed to progressing equality and acceptance for the LGBT community in and around Rowan County.

Nominees can come from all walks of life and are not limited to LGBT and allied individuals.

Submission is due by May 30 and will be reviewed by the Pride board. The recipient will be presented with the award at the 6th annual festival to be held on June 25 in Historic Downtown Salisbury. info: bit.ly/23i2fMN. salisburypride.com.

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Savings card push on

WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Pride WinstonSalem is currently selling their Ultimate Saving Card which helps to raise funds for the organization while giving the holder access to savings at 16 local businesses.

The participants in the program were hand picked to offer the holder diversity. The card is good through April 30, 2017. Funds generated from the card go to support LGBT initiatives.

Pick up cards at local events or at Twin City Hive, 391 Brookstone Ave., on Mondays from 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. and 5-7 p.m. Cost is $10 plus $1 shipping and handling if ordered online.

Email marketing@pridews.org to learn more. info: pridews.org.

Triangle May bingo sets sail

RALEIGH, N.C. — May Day Getaway Bingo will be held on May 14, 7 p.m., at Holiday InnState Capital, 320 Hillsborough St. The event is a fundraiser for Alliance of AIDS Services-Carolina.

During the evening, the “cruise ship” will depart on an adventure with Vivica C. Coxx serving as its ship directress.

Participants will be able to have a chance at winning the grand prize which is a twonight Bahamas cruise for two aboard one of Bahamas Paradise Cruise Line ships.

Accommodations are in an ocean-view cabin.

There is a June 3 departure.

Doors open at 6 p.m.

Tickets are $30/single (available as a single seat, a two- or a four-pack option) and $240/

table of eight and are available online. info: aas-c.org.

Comedian kicks HB2

DURHAM, N.C. — Comedian and actor Joel McHale contributed proceeds from his recent show at the Durham Performing Arts Center to the LGBTQ Center of Durham as a way to counter the effects of HB2 on the community.

Center organizers said, “We are humbled by and very grateful for the gesture by Joel, to stand with us, in solidarity, and to support our community.”

Hale had considered canceling his show like other performers had been doing but decided that he would prefer making a statement instead and support a local LGBT organization. info: lgbtqcenterofdurham.org.

The album was re-issued in 2014 by Carborro-based record label Paradise of Bachelors. The release captured a new set of fans, bringing the experiences of Lavender Country and its songwriter, guitarist and singer Patrick Haggerty, 71, to a new generation.

Album notes shared that the LP “stands as

Texas. And, he recently performed in Nashville, Tenn., for the first time.

The group’s appearance, at the Hopscotch festival, its first in North Carolina, is considered a response to North Carolina’s HB2.

Tickets go on sale on May 12 at 10 a.m.

Three days beforehand, the festival lineup will be released. info: hopscotchmusicfest.com. sxsw.com.

NCSU holds LGBT grad event

Country band to play Hopscotch

RALEIGH, N.C. — WRAL has reported that Lavendar Country will play at the upcoming Hopscotch Music Festival on Sept.

10 at Fletcher Opera Theatre, 2 E. South St. The band is the first openly gay country band in the U.S. In 1973, it released what was considered to be “the first openly gay country music album…according to the Country Music Hall of Fame,” the station shared. “The album fought back against homophobia with tracks like ‘Back in the Closet Again.’ It struggled for airplay and one Seattle [Washington] DJ even had her FCC license revoked for playing one of its tracks [‘Cryin’ Those Cocksucking Tears’]” WRAL added.

news

Patrick Haggerty at Seattle Pride in the early 2000s.

nothing less than an artifact of courage, a sonic political protest document of enormous power, clarity, and grace.”

Haggerty was brought up on a tenant dairy farm in rural Washington State. Due to his sexuality, he was dismissed from the Peace Corps, WRAL reported. He struggled as a young gay man in the immediate aftermath of Stonewall while navigating the Pacific Northwest.

A documentary, “These C*cksucking Tears,” about his life was screened in April at the South by Southwest festival held in Austin,

RALEIGH, N.C. — The GLBT Center at North Carolina State University held its Lavender Graduation on April 19.

In doing so, it acknowledged the achievements of 23 undergraduate and four graduate students, the Technician reported.

Senior agricultural science student Ian Pike “reminded the audience that the journey of self-discovery concerning sexual orientation and gender identity is ‘special and unique to everyone,’” and added, “We must be cognizant of this and not put people down for where they are or how they got there. As an institution and a community, we must meet people where they are without causing them to move on before they’re ready…Now’s a time for celebration but not a time for complacency.” info: ncsu.edu.

Tech interest accessed

RALEIGH/DURHAM/CHAPEL HILL, N.C. — Annette Horan and Terry Mehlman are currently asking the community if it is interested in creating a Lesbians Who Tech group in the Triangle.

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Carolinas News Notes continued from page 19 The work would center around hosting eight events a year, six as a social gathering and two with speakers and/or panel discussion.

Members would be invited to attend the national summit in New York, N.Y., from Sept. 22-23 and San Francisco, Calif., in February 2017.

Lesbians Who Tech is a global community of over 11,000 queer women in and around the technology field. It is currently seeking a 501c non-profit status. And, it is offering 12 coding school scholarships Email LesbiansW.hoTechRDU@gmail.com to express interest in being involved with the project. info: lesbianswhotech.org.

Redman-Gress, executive director of Alliance for Full Acceptance.

Cocktail attire and masks are suggested.

Attendees must be 21-years-old and up.

Tickets are $80 and are available online.

Charleston Pride Parade and Festival has announced its 2016 theme — “Stand Out” — to be held on Aug. 13. Complete details on all the events during the week’s festivities will be detailed at a later date.

The organization has just completed its third Paint the Town fundraising party and now has hit its halfway mark. Green, blue and purple parties will be held leading up to the festival week. info: charlestonpride.org/masquerade.

South Carolina

Bigoted bill dead

Masquerade quickly approaches

CHARLESTON, S.C. — The inaugural “A Night for Pride” fundraiser for Charleston Pride will be held on May 7, 7 p.m., at The Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon, 122 E. Bay St. The masquerade event is hosted by Brooke Collins and Patti O’Furniture. It includes an open bar, silent auction, DJ, entertainment, dancing and live music.

Honorees include Britney Nesbit, a graduate assistant at the Medical University of South Carolina in the Office of University Chief Diversity Officer and a pharmacy intern at CVS; Lee Anne Leland, a We Are Family board member and co-facilitator for the Charleston Area Transgender Support Group; and Warren

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COLUMBIA, S.C. — The South Carolina legislature’s SB1203 was officially stopped on April 30 when the state’s Senate allowed its crossover day to pass without moving on the action that was aimed at LGBT discrimination.

The “bathroom bill” posed by Sen. Lee Bright will not be considered this year and has been deemed dead.

SC Equality Executive Director Jeff Ayers said, “South Carolina told the nation it will not make the mistakes of its northern neighbor.

We applaud the Senate, our friends and ally organizations, and we join our state in proudly saying South Carolina does not stand for discrimination or wasting taxpayer dollars on unnecessary legislation, and that we open for business.” The organization went

on to thank nearly 75 activists groups, churches, non-profits and businesses and more.

Included, but not limited to the list, were various chambers of commerce, the state’s hospital association, Target, Inc., Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, AFL-CIO, South Carolina and the Campaign for Southern Equality.

“While we celebrate this monumental victory today, we caution South Carolinians that Sen. Lee Bright has noted his intention to attempt to include a version of the language of S.1203 as a proviso in the state’s budget to be considered by the Senate very soon. We caution opponents of this bill to steadfastly continue to speak out about such discriminatory efforts,” Ayers added. info: scequality.org.

Community leader dies

CHARLESTON, S.C. — Thomas Engelhard Myers, Jr., founder of We Are Family, a founding board member of Alliance for Full Acceptance (AFFA) and a key figure in the creation of a PFLAG chapter in the coastal city died on April 25 at his home of causes related to Lewy Body with Alzheimer’s disease. Funeral services were held

on May 1 at St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church, with interment at St. Philip’s Churchyard.

AFFA shared in a release that Myers was known for his generous spirit and dedication to social justice issues, particularly for the LGBT community. He was seen by many as the “godfather” of the LGBT movement in the Lowcountry having introduced, connected or encouraged LGBT persons to join together working for equality in South Carolina.

He championed LGBT youth and was a friend, mentor and guide who would be “terribly missed.”

Myers was a graduate of The University of the South and Harvard Business School. He led an active life and over his lifetime he climbed mountains, scuba dived and sky dived.

Memorials to his memory can be made to We Are Family, 29 Leinbach Dr., Charleston, SC 29407, Charleston Respite Care, 405 King St., Charleston, SC 29403 and/or the Bishop Gadsden Resident Assistance Fund, One Bishop Gadsden Way, Charleston, SC 29412. info: affa-sc.org.

goqnotes.com/to/news

news notes: u.s./world compiled by Lainey Millen :: qnotes staff

Mayfield to attend national brunch WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Hon. LaWana Mayfield, a member of the Charlotte City Council, will be among 12 special guests at the Victory Fund’s National Champagne Brunch 2016 being held on May 15 at the Omni Shoreham Hotel.

Victory is celebrating its 25th anniversary and is using this event to bring attention to its successes over the years.

Mayfield will present an update on what is being done in North Carolina since the passage of HB2.

Joining Mayfield are Hon Chiris Abele, Sen. Tammy Baldwin, Mayor Muriel Bowser, Angie Craig, Rep. Ruben Gallego, Matt Heinz, Denise Juneau, Mayor Annise Parker, Rep. Jared Polis, Rep. Brian Sims and Rep. Mark Takano.

It will also honor Emily’s List, an ally in the fight for equality.

For those who wish to attend, registration is being accepted online. info: victoryfund.org.

Christian group’s exec meets with leaders

NEW YORK, N.Y. — Gay Christian Network Executive Director Justin Lee spent time in late April at a convening of LGBT-affirming Christian leaders at Union Theological Seminary discussing pro-LGBT work’s future in conservative and evangelical communities.

The group included Bishop Gene Robinson, Bishop Yvette Flunder, Pastor Danny Cortez, Dr. Christine Wiley, Eliel Cruz, Jane Clementi, and over thirty other pastors, organization heads and thought leaders. They discussed matters ranging from public policy to shifting church attitudes.

At the convening was a two-hour panel discussion which focused on the Church’s role in creating a better world for LGBT individuals.

In other news, the network is working to educate and change the minds of influential Christian thought leaders in the aftermath of HB2. Through this work, they are changing the narrative around what it means to be an LGBT person in the church. info: gaychristian.net.

news

QUICK HITS —————————————————————————————— HBO has announced that “SUITED” will air on June 20 at 9 p.m. Lena Dunham and Jenni Konner are the producers of the documentary that showcases the clients of Bindle & Keep, a Brooklyn-based and LGBT-focused tailor. info: getsuitedhbo.com.

Funders for LGBTQ Issues has asked the question, what can funders do to respond to anti-LGBTQ bills moving through the South? info: lgbtfunders.org.

ed a decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fourth Circuit which confirms policy set by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Civil Rights, that ensures Gavin Grimm, a 15-year-old transgender student in Virginia, would be fully respected as a boy at his school including in being able to access the boys’ room. info: nclrights.org.

North Carolina United Methodist Church bishops spoke out against HB2. “We urge all United Methodists to engage in prayer, in study of the issues, in patient listening and persevering conversation with others who hold differing opinion, and in courageous advocacy for what is right, just and good for all people in North Carolina,” they said. info: wnccumc.org.

Transform California, a coalition to support the transgender community and encourage others to follow, kicked off its formation in mid-April. info: transformcalifornia.org.

GLBTQ Legal Advocates & Defenders and the National Center for Lesbian Rights applaud-

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news Moogfest hits Triangle goqnotes.com/to/news

Event a fest for those whose interest is technology

by Lainey Millen :: qnotes staff

DURHAM, N.C. — Moogfest, slated for May 19-22, will take place across the Bull City as it celebrates music, technology and culture.

The free jam-packed festival explores new frontiers in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math), Future Sound, The Future Of Creativity, Transhumanism, Hacking Sound (Systems), Radio & The Radiophonic, Afrofuturism, Technoshamanism, Instrument Innovators and Art & Artificial Intelligence.

Attendees come from nearby, as well as across the country and the globe. Moogfest celebrates the legacy of Bob Moog, a visionary engineer who pioneered the analog synthesizer and other technology tools used by artists like Stevie Wonder, David Bowie, and Kraftwerk. This year’s program will feature over 250 innovators in music, art, and technology from Gary Numan, GZA, Grimes and Laurie Anderson, to virtual reality pioneer Jaron Lanier and transhumanist visionary Dr. Martine Rothblatt. This is the first time the festival will take place in Durham. Moog was a collaborator and believed that true innovation came from it rather than exclusion.

“A community’s hope for any festival is that it will be inclusive and that it will highlight and reinforce for as wide an audience as possible what makes the community so special,” said Shelly Green, CEO of the Durham Convention & Visitors Bureau. “Moogfest’s impressive commitment to free programming, open to one and all, spread throughout our thriving downtown, delivers on that hope.”

“Moogfest recently received support from the City of Durham and Durham County to help make this range of festival programming possible, “Moogfest Director Marisa Brickman shared. “At it’s core, Moogfest is a conversation about the future. We are grateful to all our supporters, and especially the City and the County, for helping us propose a more accessible future. As Durham grows and changes, and it surely will, our hope is to be one of many diverse and inclusive events

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that work together to enrich the region.”

GayRVA.com reported, “Moogfest aims to offer some of the most unique and modern music available in the U.S., and a recent law in it’s home state has pushed the event to stress its inclusiveness.

“HB2 has made headlines since businesses, individuals, other states, their own Attorney General, and several legal groups have decried the law which removed protections for LGBTQ citizens within a number of cities and forces transgender people into the wrong restroom.

Robert Moog

“‘Moogfest is proud of its home in Durham, its heritage in Asheville, and our friends throughout the state of North Carolina,’ read a statement sent out following the bill’s passage two weeks ago. ‘But we adamantly oppose this law, and any laws that enable or encourage exclusion and bigotry.’”

Organizers told GayRVA, “We will take every step possible to ensure that Moogfest remains a safe and welcoming space for all festival-goers, especially the many LGBTQ artists and speakers joining us this year.”

The full schedule is available online and includes more than 300 musical performances, daytime workshops, conversations, masterclasses, film screenings, live scores, durational sound installations and multiple interactive art experiences.

Tickets are $249/full and $499/VIP. Day passes are $129 for Thursday, Friday or Saturday and $69 for Sunday. All are available online. info: moogfest.com.

goqnotes.com/to/arts

tell trinity

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

Cheating: Give in or get out Hello Trinity, In your last few columns, you talked about “cheating” as if it was OK. Why do you make it seem acceptable and common?

Cheating Etiquette, Tulsa, OK Hello Cheating, Relationships are long, tumultuous journeys, which will almost always have issues of monogamy, fidelity and sexual promiscuity, especially in today’s sexually charged culture. So sorry to burst your bubble, but while cheating is very unacceptable, it is, however, very real and something that must be discussed. While I do not advocate cheating at all, I do say, never “simply” give up five, 10, 15 or 20 years of work just because of a biological desire or human error. Honey, all I’m saying is if the one you love, “screws up,”, don’t be so quick to “give up.”

Hey Trinity, I’m thinking of joining a dating service, but what should I ask a date besides, “What do you look for in someone?

Confused Applicant, Coral Gables, FL Hey Applicant, Most dating services have forms with lots of other questions besides “beauty or beast?” A

good question you can ask an applicant (but never in person) is “income.” But, pumpkin, when you’re face to face, you’ll have to x-ray his/her surroundings to figure out their dollar amount! (I look inside to see what’s up with my dates like the cartoon shows.)

Dear Trinity, When I was 25, I always dated my own age group. Now, I’m approaching 50, but my taste hasn’t changed. Is it immature to date people half my age?

Young At Heart, Reno, NV Dear Young At Heart, Wanting and having it all is what life’s all about!

And healthy, harmless attractions that make two people happy are worth toasting to! Be young and free for as long as you can. My ex’s grandmother of 50 married herself a 25 yearold-man and, sweetie, 30 years later she still smiles with a twinkle in her eye!

Dearest Trinity, It’s been six years and our sex life has become sexless. Have you some suggestions?

Sex Lifeless, Charlotte, NC Dearest Sexless, Baby, ask and you shall receive with:

Trinity’s Alternative Tips For Keeping The Flame Burning In Your Relationship 1. Foods like chocolate sauce, whip cream, honey, plus flavored lubricants, give “eating out” a whole new meaning!

2. Adult videos have been around since Disney videos and for a reason.

Watching people do what you are trying to get in the mood to do helped even Snow White get up and off to work.

3. Setting the mood with a massage, hot bath, sensual music and candles could turn a moody day into a sensually moon filled night.

4. S &M doesn’t only mean straps and muzzles. Light role playing, leather accessories and alluring undergarments could give a boring, “Friday Night at the Movies” it’s academy award.

5. “ Our best sex was after a big fight!” doesn’t mean create a fight. But creating fiery, exciting, hot and sweaty fantasies or situations may give you something worth fighting for!

6. S ome couples practice threesomes or even invite other couples to “play” with them. It’s been done, it’s being done and it may stop you from saying, “I’m done!”

7. Toys keep kids occupied and free from boredom for hours, sometimes even days.

So guess what it can do to your sex life for hours, and if you’re lucky, sometimes days!

8. Medical or psychological problems really do exist which means getting medical or

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psychological help really can cure sexual problems.

9. Researching other couples to see what they do to keep their sex life alive, as well as reviewing books or tapes like the “Joy Of (any) Sex” can keep you informed and in bed.

10. Lastly, healthy, happy couples need sex or, at least, to be touched, so if you’re not giving a little then your partner may need to get a little… somewhere else. : : 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.

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hey! what’s happening?

We want your news and event notices today. We also welcome your letters to the editor (200 or words or less) and guest commentaries (600 words or less). Be sure to send them to editor@goqnotes.com. Thank you!

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news

Community input needed for story project and research studies Focuses on trans individuals, parents, elders, youth

by Lainey Millen :: qnotes staff

Trans project underway

NEW ORLEANS, La. — Former South Carolinian Basil Soper has taken on the mantle of bringing transgender stories to the forefront that are more representative of the individuals that make up the community.

Soper has done this as a response to North Carolina’s HB2 and other bills being proposed in other states.

“In lieu of this legislation and as a Carolinian, I feel it’s necessary to create Transilient as a way to humanize transgender people and break some of the dreadful stereotypes created around transgender identity. This is not only to further transgender rights, but as a means of slowly chipping away at the suicide rates that the community faces,” he said.

The project is both photography and interview-based. Soper is in the process of raising funds and is traveling across the country so that interviews can be conducted and documented with transgender individuals.

Fundraising goal is to react $2,000. Funds can be given online at bit.ly/1Ur39X8. info: ncqueer.com.

Parent survey underway

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Caswell Martin, a University of North Carolina at Charlotte counselor and doctoral student, is conducting a research project designed to increase knowledge about the parenting experience of LGBT parents.

The study is open to those who either parent or co-parent children under 18-years-old.

The survey takes between 5-10 minutes and is confidential and is available online at goo.gl/ cVjNcs through May 31. info: amarti@uncc.edu.

Research on elders mounted

BOONE, N.C. — Dr. Emily Dakin and Dr. Kelly Williams, who are with Appalachian State University, Department of Social Work, are conducting a research study on elder LGBT individuals who are 60-years-old and older that centers around aging and healthcare services.

LGBT adults are less likely to utilize services than their straight peers research shows.

The two researchers are hoping to ascertain how High Country LGBT adults stack up.

Contact Dakin at dakinek@appstate.edu or 828-262-8205 and Williams at williamska3@appstate.edu or 828-262-7942 to set up a confidential interview.

Canadians seek survey participants

TORONTO, Ontario, Canada — Project #Queery is searching for participants for its survey on online activities and health of queer youth and young adults.

The project is open to those who are 14-29 and identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, genderqueer, pansexual, asexual, genderfluid and/or any other member of the LGBT community.

Participants will be entered into a chance to win one of two $250 Amazon or iTunes gift cards, one of five iPad Minis or one of 100 Amazon or iTunes $25 gift cards. info: bit.ly/24hBjCP.

Elder query sought

ASHEVILLE, N.C. — The LGBT Elder Advocates is seeking to become affiliated with SAGE USA and needs assistance from the community. The organization wants to understand more about the experience of LGBT residents in Western North Carolina who are 60-years-old and above. To access the needs of elders, the organization is conducting a survey which takes 10-15 minutes to complete and will be online through May 15 at bit.ly/24hy8ec Participants who complete the survey will be entered into a raffle to win a $50 VISA gift card. info: lgbtelderadvocatesofwnc.org.

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EVENTS May 2016 Continues through May 14 SEP MAY MO ‘Heathers The Musical’ Duke Energy Theater at Spirit Square 345 N College St., Charlotte Times vary Based on the teen comedy classic, 1989’s “Heathers,” this comedic musical tells the story of Westerberg High, ruled by the three Heathers. Misfit Veronica Sawyer rejects their regime for a new boyfriend, the brooding stranger J.D. Brought to you by the award-winning creative team of Kevin Murphy (“Reefer Madness,” “Desperate Housewives”), Laurence O’Keefe (“Bat Boy,” “Legally Blonde”) and Andy Fickman (“Reefer Madness,” “She’s the Man”). Tickets range in price from $29-$31. More information and tickets are available online. blumenthalarts.org.

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Walk a Mile Asheville Pack Square Park 121 College St., Asheville 10 a.m.

SEP MAY MO

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Submit your event to our calendar!

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

13th Annual Dazzle and SEP MAY MO Denim Fundraiser Laurel Creek’s Magnolia Room 4017 Laurel Creek Dr., Rock Hill 7 p.m.

Affinity Health Center presents its annual Dazzle and Denim fundraiser to help support the work they do providing comprehensive health care to their patients, many of whom are uninsured and/or have low incomes. Tickets are $60 individual, $100 for couples until May 9, after which they increase to $65 for single tickets. Tables can be reserved for $500 for a group of 10. More information and tickets are available online. affinityhealthcenter.org/dazzle.

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Our Voice will once again hold their Walk a Mile Asheville event against rape, sexual assault and gender violence. Participants will walk a mile through downtown Asheville. Men and women of all ages are encouraged to participate. Registration is available online and costs between $15-$30. ourvoicenc.org.

–––––––––––––––––––– Out! Raleigh Fayetteville St., Raleigh 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

The LGBT Center of Raleigh and Workplace Options present Out! Raleigh, an annual festival in the downtown district, which brings tens of thousands of attendees and vendors. All LGBT community members and allies are welcome at this family friendly outdoor event, which Running With Pride: AIDS Walk Charlotte 2016 includes a Kid Zone. This year’s theme is SEP SEP MAY MAY MO MO 3rd Annual Rainbow Run 5K Gateway Village Promenade #GoAllOut and will feature music acts by Washington Park 800 W. Trade St., Charlotte Kristen Ford, Big Mama Shakes, Sayer 228 W. Acadia Ave., 8-11:30 a.m.

McShane, Laila Nur, Chit Nasty Duo, Winston-Salem The 20th Annual AIDS Shadina and 120 Minutes. Food trucks 9 a.m.

Walk Charlotte, one of the largest HIV will also be on hand. More information is The 3rd Annual Rainbow Run 5K will beawareness and fundraising events available online. gin in Washington Park and go through in the Carolinas, will see participants outraleigh.org. the Washington Park neighborhood. walking two miles through the heart of Age group awards will be presented, uptown Charlotte. The walk raises funds as well as awards for Best Male and for Regional AIDS Interfaith Network Female Pride Attire. Entry fee is $25 until (RAIN), who provide services to HIV May 9 and $35 on the day of the race. positive individuals and are involved Proceeds will go to Pride Winstonin numerous education and advocacy Salem. More information and sign-up programs and services. More informaare available online. tion is available online. pridews.org/5k. aidswalkcharlotte.org.

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All Sounds Fair Benefit with SEP MAY MO Lara Americo and Hectorina Hattie’s Tap & Tavern 2918 The Plaza, Charlotte 7 p.m.

Brooklyn-based All Sounds Fair, who describe themselves as a “musical catalyst for LGBT causes,” comes to Charlotte to raise funds for Transcend Charlotte, a non-profit that does work supporting trans people. Lara Americo and Hectorina will perform. Tickets will be available at the door. More information is available online. allsoundsfair.org/events.

SEP MAY MO

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HER HRC Art & Music Festival Various locations in NoDa, Charlotte 2-9 p.m.

The Human Rights Campaign Charlotte hosts a day of music and art in multiple venues in the NoDa neighborhood, including The Evening Muse, Hattie’s Tap & Tavern, The Neighborhood Theatre and The Company Store. Featured bands include Dust & Ashes, Henry River Honey, DJ Little Betty, Christy Snow and Radio Lola. Passes cost $20 in advance, $25 at the door. More information and tickets are available online. facebook.com/events/1705909856288220/ Voter Registration Training SEP MAY MO Asian Library 1339 Baxter St., Charlotte 6:30-8 p.m.

Democracy NC’s upcoming Mecklenburg County Coalition Meeting will function as a voter registration training, where citizens can reflect on the March primary and learn how to get involved in future election efforts. Food will be provided. RSVPs requested but not required.

RSVP to mel@democracy-nc.org.

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SlamCharlotte Poetry Slam SEP MAY MO Booth Playhouse at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center 130 N Tryon St., Charlotte

8 p.m.

A night of slam poetry with Charlotte’s two-time national championship team of spoken word poetry, hosted by Bluz, ranked 13th individual poet in the world. The monthly competitions aim to build community, poetic growth and performance enhancement. Tickets are $10. More information and tickets are available online. blumenthalarts.org.

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dishing with buff faye

by Buff Faye :: qnotes contributor :: info@bufffaye.com

Are you a winner?

Take the RuPaul’s ‘Drag Race’ DQ Quiz D. Charisma, Uniqueness, Nerve & Talent E. Gentlemen, start your engines! And may the best woman win!

6. Who said upon arrival on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 8 “Good morning! I didn’t realize this was happening today?”

A. Robbie Turner B. Thorgy Thor C. Acid Betty D. Laila McQueen Photo Credit: RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 8 Contestants

RuPaul’s Drag Race Season 8 ends this month of May. Every week I have been watching as Ru sends another lady “sashaying away.” For those Drag Race junkies, I compiled this Drag Queen (DQ) Quiz just for you. Let’s see how high your DQ is from Season 1 to Season 8. Start your engines…take out your pen and don’t cheat by looking at the bottom of the column for the answers. Ready. Set. Go!

7. Who has never been a judge on “RuPaul’s Drag Race?”

A. Carson Cressley B. Lady Gaga C. Nichole Richie D. Debbie Harry E. Faith Evans

1. Who was the first All-Star winner of “RuPaul’s Drag Race?”

A. Bebe Zahara-Benet B. Raja C. Bianca Del Rio D. Jinx Monsoon E. Chad Michaels

8. Who on “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 8 wrote their Farewell Message in lipstick saying “Clowns! All of you!! Come to NY — but please take down Bob! She’s terrible!

— anyway — Love you guys!”

A. Thorgy Thor B. Derrick Barry C. Acid Betty D. Robbie Turner E. Chi Chi DeVayne

2. The first Season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” featured how many drag queens?

A. 10 B. 11 C. 9 D. 8 E. 7

9. What “RuPaul’s Drag Race” contestant came out as transgender first on the show?

A. Willam Belli B. Latrice Royale C. Naysha Lopez D. Monica Beverly Hillz E. Sonique

3. What “RuPaul’s Drag Race” queen from Season 8 performed in the Queen City prior to being on the show?

A. Thorny Thor B. Kim Chi C. Bob the Drag Queen D. Derrick Barry E. Both C & D

10. Who is going to win “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 8?

A. Naomi Smalls B. Kim Chi C. Bob the Drag Queen D. Chi Chi DeVayne

4. What “RuPaul’s Drag Race” queen from Season 8 thought New England was overseas?

A. Adore Delano B. Cynthia Lee Fontaine C. Chi Chi DeVayne D. Dax ExclamationPoint 5. What “RuPaul “controversial term or phrase was eliminated after Season 6 by Logo TV after criticism and protest?

A. Bitch please.

B. Don’t fuck it up!

C. Oooh girl, you got She-Mail!

DRAG TIP: Find the answers to the “RuPaul’s Drag Race” DQ Quiz at the end of this column.

How many did you get right?

— Buff Faye calls the Queen City her home and spent Friday night in the Chicago airport writing this (plus she loves to raise money for charities). Find her at your favorite bars and hot spots. Plus don’t forget her monthly Saturday night shows, Sunday drag brunch and regular Friday night party bus.

Learn more at AllBuff.com.

Follow on Twitter @BuffFaye Answers: 1. E / 2. C / 3. E / 4. C / 5. C / 6. A / 7. B / 8. A / 9. E / 10. ?

SHOUT OUTS:

Who’s going to win “RuPaul’s Drag Race” Season 8? You can watch “RuPaul’s Drag Race” in Charlotte, N.C., at Bar at 316 and Chaser’s near NODA every Monday night! Plus come see Kim Chi at Bar at 316 on Saturday, May 28!

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