June 6-19 . 2014
qnotes
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June 6-19 . 2014
inside
Q
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6 News Notes: Regional Briefs 7 News Notes: U.S./World 15 Center faces scrutiny
a&e / life&style 12 Women’s Place Part II 14 Pride Month kicks off Carolina Prides 17 Our People: Rev. Dawn Flynn 18 Tell Trinity
Photo Credit: The Panamerican, via Flickr. Licensed CC.
news & features arts. entertainment. news. views.
20 Leslie Jordan heads back to Queen City 20 New foundation to raise funds, awareness
opinions & views
22 Georgia Equality to award Augusta Pride
4 Editor’s Note
24 Jane’s World
4 QPoll
26 Q Events Calendar
5 Guest Commentary
Maya Angelou ~ 1928-2014 Read more about Angelou’s passing, her life, her work and her support of the LGBT community online at goqnotes.com/29590/.
June 6-19 . 2014
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arts. entertainment. news. views. goqnotes.com twitter.com/qnotescarolinas facebook.com/qnotescarolinas
contributors this issue Paige Braddock, Matt Comer, Lainey Millen, Trinity
front page
Graphic Design by Matt Comer & Lainey Millen Photography: Matt Comer 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 Editor: Matt Comer, x202 editor@goqnotes.com Copy Editor: Maria Dominguez Production: Lainey Millen, x205 production@goqnotes.com Printed on recycled paper. Material in qnotes is copyrighted by Pride Publishing & Typesetting © 2014 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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qnotes
June 6-19 . 2014
Tired of the hubris. Tired of the excuses. After years of missteps, doubt and worry, one singular truth has become more obvious with each passing day: Charlotte’s LGBT community has lost confidence in its LGBT Community Center of Charlotte. More specifically, donors, volunteers, funders and others have lost confidence in the center’s board of trustees, as each incarnation of the board has taken actions which served only to compound upon years of mistakes. Even more specifically, the community has lost confidence in former center Chair Roberta Dunn and Vice-Chair Bert Woodard, two of the longestserving members on the board whose leadership over the past year has resulted only in a bevy of financial errors, board mismanagement and, at times, confrontational engagement with the very people and organizations that could have worked to support and save the center from the crisis it now faces. In order for this current center to survive — or at the very least address their multiple problems before facing a potentially inevitable closure — there is just one clear route remaining. Dunn and Woodard, both of whom at press time were still sitting members of the board, must immediately step down. Additionally, though neither Dunn nor Woodard can be held responsible for all of the center’s troubled history, a review of its innumerable missteps is necessary as the community, donors and volunteers consider their next steps. More than 10 years ago, community members from all walks of life — rich with a diversity of experiences and backgrounds — came together to form the LGBT Community Center of Charlotte. Their work resulted in the organization finding high-profile space on Central Ave., giving visible voice to Charlotte’s LGBT community like never before. The group also created a budding mix of programs and activities, but was never able to find the right combination necessary to support its basic operational needs. Financial troubles soon followed with support beginning to dwindle by 2006. Only when the center partnered with this newspaper’s publisher and other community leaders to produce the city’s annual Pride activities did the organization find the necessary funds to continue supporting itself — in doing so, the center’s first major financial crisis was revealed. The center was some $40,000 in debt and center staffers were found to have been siphoning money out of a reserve account for Pride Charlotte to pay rent and payroll. The money was repaid to Pride activities and the community stepped up to save the center — $20,000 from Southern Country Charlotte, $18,000 from the Charlotte Lesbian & Gay Fund and a $10,000 donation from an individual donor. But, from that point forward the center remained unable to independently pay for its basic operating needs. Its executive director was let go. Center hours were cut. Programs were discontinued and the center’s previous membership structure was abandoned. Board turn-
overs engendered more uncertainty and a new board chair was tapped to lead the organization. While the organization was able to immediately stabilize its budget, the new leadership, soon to include Woodard, made decisions and interacted with community members in such a way as to — intentionally or not — alienate some fellow board members and many staff and volunteers. As some board members, staff and volunteers became disillusioned, support for the center began to drop again. With several board changeovers, new board chairs promised to re-engage the community and rebuild trust, but failed to do so. Promises for transparency and accountability were broken time and time again. The organization exists now — but barely. Its board has experienced constant turnover and instability, with nearly a dozen different members coming onto and rolling off the board over the past two years. Many who remain — with the possible exception of new chair Ranzeno Frazier and board member Jenny Richeson — seem unable or unwilling to commit the time and energy it takes to shepherd an organization that is, quite simply, in full crisis mode. In March, three weeks after the organization came close to shuttering its doors, the board couldn’t even muster quorum. On May 21, half the board was missing in action. The organization is now operating at a deficit — at least $7,500 in negative net income since January. Fundraising ideas and projects — some raising a few thousand dollars, others raising only a few hundred — have failed to meet the need. As of June 1, the group had just $617 in the bank and owed the federal and state governments at least $7,000. Dunn’s and Woodard’s responses to these crises have been to shift blame, point fingers, feign ignorance, mislead the public and silence much-needed constructive criticism from fellow board members, volunteers, community members and donors. “This isn’t a speaking time,” Dunn responded to this newspaper’s questions at a board meeting on May 21. Woodard found it — though I don’t possibly know how — appropriate to engage in an argumentative confrontation with the chair of the Charlotte Lesbian & Gay Fund, which has existed recently as the center’s single-largest financial supporter. Charlotte’s LGBT community clamors in near-unanimous agreement: We are tired of the hubris. We are tired of the excuses. We are tired of the damage and division this leadership has caused. Trust has been broken, and it will take time for it to be rebuilt. But, Dunn and Woodard cannot be a part of this process. They cannot be part of the center’s reconstruction or its future. It’s time for them to step aside. Fortunately for the center, Woodard’s term ends on June 30. I wish him and Dunn the best in their future endeavors and hope they bow out gracefully and allow this community to heal. : :
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qnotes connect June 6-19, 2014 Vol 29 No 03
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guest commentary by Sarah E. Demarest and Crystal Richardson, attorneys at law
Hide your sexuality, hide your spouse: Judicial bias and the importance of voter education discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity. Can a judge participate in organizations that discriminate against LGBT people? It is true that North Carolina law does not provide adequate protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual, or transgender individuals or families. We lack protections in employment, we have a constitutional amendment banning same-sex marriage and we do not allow second parent adoptions. Because legal protections are scarce, it is critical to elect judges and clerks who will not further disadvantage LGBT people by intentionally or unintentionally acting on their personal bias or by being uneducated on LGBT issues. How can we prevent this from occurring? The first step is to educate yourself and your families about who is running for office and understand the role they play in your life. This November a new clerk of Superior Court will be elected in Mecklenburg County and they will oversee matters of probate, adoption and name changes. Additionally, there are several important District Court races that may impact criminal court and family court. You can educate yourself by staying up to date on resources put out by LGBT publications and organizations like qnotes, Equality NC and MeckPAC. We must understand whom we are voting for, even in low profile or non-partisan races. The consequence of not being educated about who is elected in these races is that you may
end up in court one day, appearing before a judge who does not understand or value your relationship or family. You may feel that in order to receive a fair and impartial outcome you have to hide your sexuality, or hide your spouse. : : — Sarah Demarest is the staff attorney at Charlotte’s Freedom Center for Social Justice LGBTQ Law Center. Crystal Richardson is the Freedom Moral Summer Organizer for Equality North Carolina.
goqnotes.com
Few people pay attention to low profile political races like District Court judicial races or clerk of Superior Court. This is problematic because the judicial system touches the life of every LGBT person. Whether you are in the process of divorcing a spouse, arguing about custody, dealing with domestic violence, changing a name, adopting a child or disputing a traffic citation, you will appear before a clerk or judge who will make important decisions about your life using both the law and their personal belief systems as their guide. Although judges have a duty to be impartial and unbiased, it is impossible to eliminate bias and be genuinely neutral. Judges and clerks are human beings with personal experiences and biases that shape their ability to empathize with others. There is no such thing as true impartiality because our families, political beliefs, religious beliefs, racial identities, level of wealth, sexual identities, gender and other identities provide a lens through which we see the world. We all have biases that we need to recognize and overcome. Our families are biased, friends are biased, teachers are biased, lawyers are biased, doctors are biased. Judges have to deal with the most difficult bias of all: believing they are without bias. Judicial integrity and elimination of bias is a cornerstone of the judicial system. It is so important, in fact, that the North Carolina Code of Judicial Conduct (NCCJC) requires judges to be impartial, unbiased and make their decisions in accordance with North Carolina law. However, the bias of some judges is so apparent that a good attorney can predict the outcome of a case before they enter the courtroom. And while the NCCJC even goes as far as to state that Judges cannot “participate in organizations that discriminate on the basis of race, gender, religion or national origin,” it does not appear to exclude
daily news, blog posts and lgbt community event listings Sign up for our weekly e-newsletter: goqnotes.com/subs
Corrections The original version of part one of our feature, “Then & Now: Women’s Place in Charlotte’s LGBT Movement,” on May 23, 2014, mistakenly identified Don King and Billie (Stickle) Rose as cofounders of Metrolina Community Service Project. The organization’s founder is John Quillin. We regret this error.
June 6-19 . 2014
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news notes: carolinas compiled by Lainey Millen & Matt Comer
Charlotte Seniors meeting approaches
CHARLOTTE — The Aging Solutions Dinner will be held on June 16, 7 p.m., at Flying Biscuit Cafe, 4241 Park Rd. Topic for the June meeting is “Unique Care Giving Issues in the LGBT Community – Where to Get Support.” Presenter will be Lyndall Hare. The group’s goal is to provide information and support for LGBT seniors. Professional and non-professional providers, as well as allies are encouraged to attend. Thirty-six people attended the May meeting. Email RSVPs to clt.lgbt.elders@gmail.com. Due to facility size and available seating, only the first 50 to reply will be honored. — L.M.
MeckPAC seeks supporters
CHARLOTTE — The Mecklenburg LGBT Political Action Committee, MeckPAC, held an interest meeting on June 3 in order to engage the community to join its steering committee. The committee meets on the first Tuesday of each month. While convening, participants are given the opportunity to evaluate candidates for local office and provide endorsements based upon whether or not they are LGBT inclusive. They can also work with elected officials to advocate for policy and ordinance changes to make CharlotteMecklenburg more LGBT inclusive. Over the past few years, MeckPAC worked with the school board to get sexual orientation and gender identity added to CMS’s anti-bullying policy in 2008. It was instrumental in getting domestic partner benefits for Mecklenburg County and Charlotte city employees in 2009 and 2012 respectively. Additionally, MeckPAC worked with elected officials to get sexual orientation and gender identity added to the county’s nondiscrimination policy in 2005 and 2014 and sexual orientation and gender identity added to the city’s non-discrimination policy in 2010 and 2012.
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Current steering committee members are Scott Bishop, chair; Jerry Ancrum, vice chair; Larry Ferri, treasurer; Sarah Demarest; Jamie Hildreth; Roberta Dunn; and Crystal Richardson. To learn more or to attend a meeting, email meckpac@gmail.com info: meckpac.org. — L.M.
Festival celebrates freedom
CHARLOTTE — The 17th Annual Juneteenth Festival of the Carolinas will be held June 12-15, 10 a.m.-10 p.m., at Independence Park, 1601 Park Dr. The celebrations embraces freedom for all people — for those who have been enslaved at some point in history. It is imbued with an array of cultural traditions and diversity through food, arts and music. Vendors will be on hand showcasing their wares like unique arts, crafts and clothing from around the world. Music will keep the party going with selections from R&B, blues, jazz, reggae, hip-hop and other soul-stirring sounds. Dance troupes will be on hand as well. More than 20,000 are expected to attend. Volunteers are welcome. info: juneteenthofthecarolinas.com. — L.M.
Charlotte nightclub to close
CHARLOTTE — Another local LGBT nightlife establishment is joining the growing list of local gay bars and clubs to close. The move will leave one non-profit fundraising group without a home. Marigny Dance Club announced on May 24 that it would not be renewing its lease. The club closed at the end of last month. Southern Country Charlotte recently moved to Marigny to host its weekly line-dance lessons, soon before its previous host, Hartigan’s Irish Pub, closed in March. Southern Country’s annual Queen City Stomp was also held at the club earlier in May. The group awarded the funds it raised to beneficiaries Time Out Youth and One Voice Chorus
at a “Farewell to Marigny” event on May 28. The dancing club has not publicly announced where it will move next. Marigny’s closure follows a string of recent closures for other establishments. Along with Hartigan’s, Lake Wylie’s Rainbow In also announced its closure in March. During the weekend of May 17, Greensboro’s 22-year-old Warehouse 29 also said it was closing at the end of May. Warehouse 29’s closure leaves Greensboro and Winston-Salem with just two nightlife establishments catering to LGBT community members. In Charlotte and surrounding areas, 10 such businesses remain. — M.C.
Triad Film series slates screening
WINSTON-SALEM — OUT at the Movies will screen the 2014 romantic comedy, “The Ten Year Plan,” on June 14, 6 p.m., at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, ACE Theatre Complex, 1533 S. Main St. The film tells the tale of two best friends who make a pact together if they are still both single in ten years’ time. It stars JC Calciano and Jack Turner. Immediately after the 90-minute showing, there will be a Q&A via Skype from Honolulu, Hawaii, with the stars. Ticket price is $7/regular, $6/seniors and students and will be sold beginning at 5:15 p.m. in the ACE lobby. For advance and discounted tickets, call Rex at 336-918-0902. For those who have made plans to attend the Triad Pride Men’s Chorus “Deja Vu - Music of the ’80s” concert at 8 p.m. at HanesBrands Theatre, Milton Rhodes Arts Center, 209 N. Spruce St., the early screening will allow attendees to make both events. Concert ticket holders will receive a $2 discount on movie admission. Other concert venues are: June 7, Greensboro Day School, Sloan Theatre, 5401 Lawndale Dr.; and June 10, High Point, Centennial Station, 121 S. Centennial St. info: outatthemovies.org. triadpridemenschorus.org. — L.M.
GGF hires new ED
Triangle
GREENSBORO — The Guilford Green Foundation (GGF) has announced that it has hired a new executive director. Brenna Ragghianti will join GGF on Aug. 11, replacing Shane Burton who will step down on June 30. Ragghianti was recently graduated from Elon Law School and holds a Master’s degree in Public Administration from the University of Memphis. Prior to moving to the Triad to attend law school, she served as the development and donor relations manager at the Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis. “I am incredibly excited to continue the great work of the Guilford Green Foundation, uniting the community and pushing for positive social change for LGBTQ individuals and our allies. Guilford County and our surrounding areas have made great strides, but there is still an incredible amount of work to do. No single person or organization can take it on — that is why GGF will continue to be at the forefront of this important work, Ragghianti said. The foundation continues to hold fundraising events throughout the year, including its Green Queen Bingo series, as well as hosting its Gala & Green Party held in late winter where community leaders are honored and recognized. info: ggfnc.org. — L.M. and releases
Same-sex military spouses get in-state tuition
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June 6-19 . 2014
CHAPEL HILL — The University of North Carolina (UNC) system has made the decision to follow federal law and grant in-state tuition to same-sex spouses of U.S. military personnel. The decision was announced by a spokesperson at Fayetteville State University, where a wife of an active-duty Fort Bragg soldier was earlier denied in-state tuition (see goqnotes. com/29510/). The spokesperson told The Fayetteville Observer on May 28 that UNC system officials had directed the school to comply with federal law. “The guidance we have received is that active duty military service members and their spouses, without regard to whether the marriage is between persons of the same or opposite sex, qualify for in-state tuition rates as long as the marriage occurred in a jurisdiction that recognizes the relationship as a valid marriage,” college spokesperson Jeff Womble told the Fayetteville newspaper via email. The American Military Partner Association (AMPA) commended the decision. “We applaud the leadership of the UNC system for making the right decision,” Stephen
Peters, president of AMPA, said in a release. “Gay and lesbian military spouses make the same sacrifices and face the same challenges as our heterosexual counterparts, and we certainly deserve access to the same benefits. All we are asking for is to be treated the same, no more and no less. We implore the leadership of other university systems in non-marriage equality states to comply with federal law which requires them to grant in-state tuition to ALL military spouses.” AMPA was involved in an earlier local case, when Ashley Broadway was barred — and later allowed to join — the Fort Bragg Officer’s Spouses club. Fayetteville State University was put in a tricky spot with the student’s request. North Carolina’s Constitution bars recognition of same-sex spouses, conflicting with federal law. The college asked the UNC System for guidance. The Fayetteville Observer was unable to reach a spokesperson for the UNC system. — M.C.
Network opens nominations
RALEIGH — The Raleigh Business and Professional Network has announced that it is seeking nominations for its board of directors and officers. Final date for submission is June 30. Candidates who are active paid members should be committed to serving one hour a month to attend board meetings on the third Wednesday, plus any other time that individuals wish to contribute. Networking socials and dinner meeting attendance is not required, but encouraged. For those who serve, the organization wants to ensure that the network remains a viable resource for LGBT professionals in the Raleigh area. The network’s next meeting is June 11, 6:30 p.m., at 18 Seaboard, 18 Seaboard Ave., Suite 100. A full cash bar will be available for beer, wine, well drink and non-alcoholic beverage purchase. Guest speaker will be Chris Srgo, executive director for Equality North Carolina. He will share the fast-paced national events toward same-sex marriage equality and recognition and it’s potential impact of the 4th Circuit Court ruling on rights in the Tar Heel State. He will also share what his organization has on tap for the coming year. nominations/registration/info: raleighnetwork.org. info@raleighnetwork.org. — L.M.
Association sets trans policy
CHAPEL HILL — A new rule on transgender student athletes adopted by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association in late April could cause confusion and discrimination, say advocates for transgender students. But, officials at the statewide association — given authority to oversee all sports at public high schools across the state — say they were attempting to take a proactive step to address similar questions considered across the country. The North Carolina High School Athletic Association (NCHSAA) met on April 28 to adopt the new rule, clarifying in which gendered sports programs students may compete. “A student’s gender is denoted by what is listed on the birth certificate,” the rule states simply. NCHSAA Commissioner Davis Whitfield told qnotes the association is following state law. “When I look at what’s going on across the country and I look at some of the things being
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put in place, I think ours is probably as least restrictive as it possibly could be,” Whitfield said. “We were just simply going by state law, in terms of what it states on your birth certificate as your gender and that’s what you would compete as as a member of one of our high school teams.” But, advocates for transgender students say the new rule joins Georgia’s as among the most restrictive and might likely cause confusion and discrimination. “When states use the birth certificate for eligibility, that means for transgender student athletes that is the very most restrictive policy they can use and they are basically not allowing any transgender student to participate in their gender identity,” said Helen Carroll, director of the National Center for Lesbian Rights (NCLR) Sports Project. Since it is unlikely that a high school student would have undergone sex reassignment surgery and thus be permitted to change his/ her name legally, the situation will present challenges under the new policy and may cause discrimination. National Center for Transgender Equality Director of Policy Harper Jean Tobin said the new rule also brings into question potential violations of Title IX, a federal law banning genderbased discrimination in education. Recent guidance from the U.S. Department of Education has said gender-based discrimination “extends to claims of discrimination based on gender identity or failure to conform to stereotypical notions of masculinity or femininity.” To read the complete article, go to goqnotes.com/29224/. — M.C. & L.M.
news
news notes: u.s./world. Houston approves LGBT ordinance
HOUSTON — City leaders approved a new, expanded anti-discrimination ordinance on May 28, including sexual orientation and gender identity in a law that protects against public discrimination in housing, employment and services. Critics of the measure said it would infringe upon religious leaders, but proponents — including openly lesbian Houston Mayor Annise Parker — argued such protections were needed to protect the rights of those who face unjust treatment. The measure was passed 11-6 after a more than seven-hour long public hearing. Parker said passing the ordinance was the “most personally meaningful thing I will do as mayor.” more: bit.ly/1gFevEN
Kentucky city passes ordinance
DANVILLE, Ken. — The city commission in this Kentucky town has advanced an ordinance that would make it illegal to discriminate based on sexual orientation or gender identity in cases of employment, housing or public accommodations. The measure was approved by a vote of 3-2 on its first reading Tuesday after altering the proposed ordinance to exempt religious groups. more: bit.ly/1mwpJcP
Restaurant: ‘We don’t serve fags’
PITTSBURG, Texas — A restaurant in Texas is coming under fire for refusing to offer any
Houston skyline. Photo Credit: Hequals2henry, via Wikimedia Commons. Licensed CC.
future service to a gay couple they say were “touching legs.” The owner of Big Earl’s, Earl Cheney, said his business’ rules are plain. A sign on the door reads, “Welcome to Big Earl’s where men act like men, women act like ladies, no saggy pants and we reserve the right to refuse service to anyone.” more: bit.ly/1pBS5o4
Census will recognize families
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The U.S. Census Bureau will begin recognizing married, same-sex couples as families in its 2013 American Community Survey report, due out in September. The report marks the first time the
census plans to integrate an estimated 180,000 married, same-sex couples with statistics concerning the nation’s 56 million families, according to The Washington Post. more: bit.ly/1ozo2Ab
South Africa appoints gay official
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — South African President Jacob Zuma has appointed the country’s first openly gay, black Member of Parliament (MP). Zakhele Mbhele, 29, was sworn in on May 22 as part of South Africa’s fifth democratic Parliament, and is thought to be the first gay black MP on the African continent, reports Mamba Online. more: bit.ly/TXPw5L
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life
Then & Now
Women’s Place in Charlotte’s LGBT Movement Part Two of Two: With groundwork laid, today’s leaders shape city by Matt Comer :: matt@goqnotes.com Read part one of our two-part series exploring women leaders in Charlotte’s LGBT community. Part one details experiences of the 1970s through the early 1990s. The piece is available online at goqnotes.com/29530/.
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waiting a meeting with Charlotte City Councilmember LaWana Mayfield, local attorney Connie Vetter looks out from the government center’s 15th floor lobby, taking in the panoramic scene of a bustling Uptown centuries in the making. Like all who stand upon the shoulders of those who built Charlotte from its roots in the 18th century, Vetter and Mayfield — today two of the most influential female and LGBT community voices in the city — are shepherding a tradition of strong female leadership decades in the making. Starting in the 1970s, women and lesbians in Charlotte began organizing, speaking out and advocating for change. Leaders like Concetta Caliendo, Billie (Stickle) Rose, Tonda Taylor and Sue Henry created new spaces for women to grow community and take the reins of power and influence. Vetter and Mayfield are keeping that work alive today — the next generation of women making their mark and leading the community into the future.
LaWana Mayfield and Connie Vetter.
‘It was time’ Vetter moved to Charlotte in the early 1990s. She had just finished law school in Boston and was on her internship here. She says she’d always had the good fortune of a supportive family and never “being in the closet.” And, it didn’t take her long to dip her toes in community work in Charlotte. For a time, she volunteered with this newspaper — back when print editions were still constructed by hand, by copying and pasting, literally, pieces of paper on paste-up board. She met other community members at First Tuesday, a monthly meeting of community minds. In 1993, she was present as Charlotte geared up to host the 1994 NC Pride march and rally. And, professionally, her work was community-driven, guided by a desire to see change and offer support. “I had gone to law school as a part of my activism,” Vetter says. “When I got to Charlotte, I already knew what kind of practice I wanted to have and what I wanted to do.” Her law practice opened in 1994, focusing on the distinct legal needs of the LGBT community. Since that time, she’s been recognized as a foremost leader in LGBT legal issues and awarded for her service in advancing equality. Not long after she began her practice, Vetter became a leading figure for change in Mecklenburg County. In 1996, controversy exploded over a staging of the AIDS-era-themed play, “Angels in America.” Anti-LGBT activists, religious leaders and politicians condemned the play for its gay themes and, in particular, a short fully-nude scene. The following year, the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners voted 5-4 to strip all public funding from local arts programs. Vetter says the community — both in Charlotte and elsewhere — had been slowly evolving. “It was just time,” she says, for the community to take a stand — and it so happened it coincided with the “Angels” controversy.
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“I think there was a progression,” Vetter says, tracing the activism and growth that emanated from the 1980s AIDS Crisis. “Out of HIV and Metrolina AIDS Project forming, men and women of the community were taking care of the community. There was a lot of politics and law around all of that. People became activists and then with ‘Angels in America,’ I think even the heterosexual community saw the attacks through what was happening around ‘Angels’ — the protests, the counter protests, what the county commission did in response.” The Mecklenburg LGBT Political Action Committee (MeckPAC) formed out of that controversy — hoping to unseat the “Gang of Five” commissioners who’d voted to strip the arts funding. Vetter attended the some of the first planning meetings for the group. She’d go on to serve on the board for a number of years before co-chairing the group with local leader Phil Wells. Under their leadership, the group took larger public stands for inclusion. They pushed for domestic partner benefits for county workers, and Vetter put her legal expertise to work — going toe-to-toe with now-former County Attorney Mac McCarley, who was arguing against the benefits. ‘Where I’m supposed to be’ Vetter and Mayfield first met in 2007. That chance meeting — at a community event at Mayfield’s church, Unity Fellowship — would blossom into a lasting friendship. Mayfield had moved to Charlotte when she was just 18. She wasn’t out. She says she hadn’t even yet realized her identity. “I didn’t come out until I was 27,” Mayfield says. “I wasn’t in denial. It was just never even a thought until I met the person who, like in the movies, made my heart skip a beat.” Though not yet identifying as a member of the LGBT community, Mayfield got involved. She saw an advertisement for volunteers needed at the Gay & Lesbian Switchboard. A third
shift slot. There, Mayfield counseled callers, many of whom were contemplating suicide. “I would sit there and help, just talk to people, encourage them to make it through because it will get better,” she says. It would be years more before Mayfield stepped further into LGBT community leadership — working meanwhile to address issues of racial equality and advocating for the African-American community. Though her later coming out was delayed, Mayfield doesn’t regret it. Life as it unfolded for her happened for a reason. “I am where I am right where I’m supposed to be. No more. No less,” she says. “If it had happened any sooner, it wouldn’t have ended up this way.” Finally, in 2005, Mayfield took the plunge into LGBT leadership and didn’t look back. “Tonyia Rawls had won a Human Rights Campaign award. The gala was in Greensboro,” Mayfield says. “That was my first introduction to the community as a member of Unity Fellowship Church.” Mayfield says she was shocked to see so few black community Staff Photo members in attendance. “I looked around and there were so few African-Americans there,” she recalls. “I could literally count on my hand how many other African-American people I saw outside of those of us who went up in support of now-Bishop Rawls.” On the way out of the dinner, Mayfield approached a gentlemen to discuss the problem. “That ended up being Phil Wells,” she says. Mayfield would go on to become the Charlotte diversity chair of the state’s HRC activities. Later, she’d co-chair a dinner. She continued her service with groups like the CharlotteMecklenburg Community Relations Commission. In March 2011, Vetter’s and Mayfield’s friendship — and Mayfield’s public service — would take an unexpected turn. Over lunch on that spring day, Vetter asked Mayfield if she might consider running for City Council. Mayfield had never really thought about elected service before, but said yes. The rest is history. Later that year, Mayfield became the city’s first openly lesbian or gay elected official — more than two decades after Robert Sheets’ first openly gay run and more than a decade after the 1996 mayoral campaign of Sue Henry. And, when it came time for the swearing in ceremony, the symbolism of Mayfield’s and her partner’s presence was powerful. Behind the Council dais, she and her partner stood side-by-side, her partner holding the Bible upon which Mayfield would take her oath. It was an historic moment for the community — led by a lesbian woman and her partner, assisted by her lesbian friend and colleague. But, Mayfield says she and her partner were simply living honestly. “I did what everybody else did,” she says. : : — Read more from LaWana Mayfield’s and Connie Vetter’s interview, including their thoughts on the future of the community and their advice for young women, online at goqnotes.com.
June 6-19 . 2014
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life
Pride Month kicks off Carolina Prides 45 years after Stonewall, Pride grows across the region This month, LGBT community members across the world celebrate the 45th anniversary of the riots at the Stonewall Inn. On a fateful early morning on June 28, 1969, abused and intimidated LGBT patrons at the Stonewall rose up against police brutality and oppression. One year later, the first Christopher Street Liberation Day Parade was held and within just a few years LGBT activism exploded across the continent, inspiring similar actions across the globe. In the Carolinas, Pride continues as strong as ever. Over the past few years, a variety of locales have begun their own Pride festivals and parades — building upon the legacies of the region’s first and longest-running Prides in Durham and Columbia, both of which are also celebrating landmark anniversaries this year. SC Pride takes place on Sept. 20 in Downtown Columbia, celebrating 25 years. At Duke University in Durham, N.C., Pride will mark their 30th annual celebration on Sept. 27. Unlike other major national Pride events in New York City, Chicago or San Francisco, the Carolinas’ several Pride activities are spread throughout the year. Check out our run-down of upcoming events in Pride Season 2014. Salisbury Pride June 21 Downtown Salisbury Salisbury Pride returns for its 2014 festival and celebration. The main stage will be emceed by Roxy C. Moorecox, with headlining entertainment from She N She. Join with Salisbury Pride in asking their mayor to issue a Pride proclamation. Learn more about their #ChangeYourMindWoodson campaign and other event details at salisburypride.com SC Black Pride June 25-29 Columbia Featuring an annual expo, parties and other events, including “The Know Ball,” SC Black Pride comes to Columbia. Their theme this year is “Glowing with Pride, Embracing all that was, is and yet to come…” More information is available at southcarolinablackpride.com. Augusta Pride June 26-29 Augusta Pride brings a variety of events, including a Friday-night concert and Saturday parade along with a day festival, to downtown Augusta. On Sunday, a Pride pool party will close out the celebrations. Learn more at prideaugusta.org. Charlotte Black Gay Pride July 17-20 The Queen City’s premier Pride celebration
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hosted at Barnet Park in Spartanburg. Food, musical performances, guest speakers and a kids’ zone will be featured at the festival. More information is available at upstatepridesc.org. Catawba Valley Pride Sept. 20 Downtown Hickory A day festival and main stage entertainment will light up the valley. Featuring a variety of local and regional vendors and entertainers. For more information, visit catawbavalleypride.org.
The Queen City hosts its annual Charlotte Pride Festival & Parade Aug. 16-17. Last year, organizers said 80,000 or more attended over their two day event. A variety of other Pride festivals and parades are also scheduled throughout the summer and fall. Photo Credit: Brandon Schauf (anopenwindowphoto.com), courtesy Charlotte Pride.
for the African-American and other diverse communities will light up the city with a variety of events, including a pre-Pride reception, a town hall, meet and greet social and their annual Expo, featuring entertainment and vendors. A Sunday Mardi Gras Jazz Brunch will close out the weekend. Get more infomation at charlotteblackgaypride.com.
Charlotte Pride Parade on Sunday. Their twoday street festival will be held Saturday and Sunday, with a variety of vendors from across the region and entertainment on its S. Tryon St. stage. The Charlotte Pride Week is filled with a variety of community events starting Aug. 8 preceding the weekend festival. For more information, visit charlottepride.org.
Triangle Black Pride July 25-27 Raleigh With workshops and seminars, a free film festival and an annual expo featuring vendors and entertainment, Triangle Black Pride presents their annual “Shades of Pride.” Their theme this year is “New Day, New Way.” For more information, visit triangleblackpride.org.
OBX Pridefest Sept. 12-14 Nags Head/Manteo You know what they say! From Murphy to Manteo! OBX Pridefest brings the celebration to North Carolina’s most eastern shore, with cruises, evening parties, a comedy show and their annual OBX Pride festival on the beach. The three-day event schedule is packed full of fun events. For more information, visit obxpridefest.com.
Charleston Pride Aug. 2-10 Charleston brings Pride to the bay! It features a full slate of events, including nightlife happenings, a community symposium, drag shows, meet and greet social, a night of LGBT short films — all culminating with the annual Pride parade and rally on Aug. 9. For more details, visit charlestonpride.com. Charlotte Pride Aug. 16-17 Uptown Charlotte Join Charlotte Pride for their annual festival and parade in Uptown Charlotte. For the second year in a row, the group will host its
Greensboro Pride Sept. 13 Festival Park, Greensboro Formerly known as Triad Pride, the new Greensboro Pride returns to downtown Greensboro with a day-time festival featuring local entertainers and fun for kids and adults. For more information, visit greensboropride.org. Upstate Pride SC Sept. 13 Barnet Park, Spartanburg Join the Upstate South Carolina LGBT community for their annual Pride festival and march
SC Pride Sept. 20 Downtown Columbia One week after the Upstate celebrates, folks from across the Palmetto State will flock to their capital city to celebrate 25 years of SC Pride. A parade and festival will be hosted on Main St., featuring Deborah Cox on the main stage. Visit scpride.org for more information. NC Pride Sept. 27 Duke University East Campus Durham North Carolinians will join together to celebrate NC Pride’s 30th anniversary, with a parade, guest speeches, vendors and a night festival featuring local LGBT nightlife establishments across the Triangle. The NC Pride 5K Run will be hosted in the morning prior to the day’s parade and festival. For more information, visit ncpride.org. Blue Ridge Pride Oct. 4 Pack Square, Asheville The hills are alive! With the sound of Pride! Asheville hosts its Blue Ridge Pride at Pack Square, with a festival packed with vendors and main stage entertainment. For more details, visit blueridgepride.com. Pride Winston-Salem Oct. 17-19 Downtown Winston-Salem The Twin City hosts its growing Pride Winston-Salem for the fourth year in a row. A variety of events, including a drag pageant and Rainbow Run 5K precede the main events the weekend of Oct. 17-19. On Friday, a kick-off party will be held, with Saturday hosting a street festival with live entertainment, food trucks, rodeo and after party. On Sunday, a drag brunch kicks off the day with the city’s Pride parade in the afternoon. More information is available at pridews.org.
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CENTER OF CONTROVERSY
A Center History
Charlotte LGBT center faces tough questions, scrutiny
and accountability mounted. Nearly 100 people attended the December meeting, but despite promises of transparency and change, the center’s situation didn’t improve. In January, the center announced it could close at the end of February. Enough funds were raised to keep the doors open, but sustainability had all but collapsed by the end of May. On May 30, qnotes reported that the center had just $650 cash on hand. Additionally, the center had failed to pay its sole employee, Operations Director Glenn Griffin, on time, and the center owed at least $7,000 in outstanding payroll taxes. What’s more, center leaders — in particular, former chair Roberta Dunn — knew about the payroll tax issue. A day earlier, Dunn had told her board she intended to resign as chair. She did so on May 30, but remained on the board. Board member Ranzeno Frazier, who came onto the board in February, was elected the center’s new chair.
1998 — OutCharlotte conducts a strategic planning process. Community members attend forums and a repeated desire to create a community center are heard. 1999 — Community members set out on feasibility study for a community center. Three town meetings are held. 2000 — The Lesbian & Gay Community Center Project is established. More community meetings and town halls are held. 2001 — The current Lesbian & Gay Community Center of Charlotte is founded. 2002 —The center’s first executive director, Dan Kirsch, is hired. Jan. 17, 2003 — The center opens its first location on Central Ave. Aug. 13, 2005 — The center hires Laura Witkowski as executive director. 2006 — This newspaper’s publisher, the center and other community members announce they’ll partner to produce the new Pride Charlotte. January 2007 — Center debt, some $40,000, is revealed as the center announces it is close to closing. It is also revealed that center staff had siphoned some money from a reserve account for Pride Charlotte in order to pay rent, utilities and salaries. Center hours and staff are cut. Witkowski later resigns. The center will not hire another executive director. June 2007 — It is reported that several donations enable the center to come out of debt, including $20,000 from Southern Country Charlotte, $18,000 from the Charlotte Lesbian & Gay Fund and $10,000 from an individual donor, who promised to donate an additional $30,000. Center board members, then chaired by Joe Campos and vice-chaired by Denise Palm-Beck, do not follow-up on the additional donation. August 2007 — The center and neighboring White Rabbit announce they will have to leave their Central Ave. location due to rising rents. Denise Palm-Beck later takes the reins of the center as board chair. Some time in 2007, the center drops its membership structure, at that time a fundraising mechanism having raised nearly $134,000 for the group from 2002-2006. The center’s various fundraising efforts outside of Pride, along with rental income and program income decreases dramatically. April 2008 — Center moves to the NC Music Factory. July 2010 — Denise Palm-Beck steps down as chair of the center, but remains briefly on the board. John Stotler assumes the chairmanship. May 2011 — The center changes its public name to “LGBT Community Center of Charlotte,” though all official documents continue to retain its official name. July 2012 — Scott Coleman becomes chair, with Roberta Dunn stepping up as vice chair. December 2012 — Center announces move to NoDa. January 2013 — Volunteers with Pride Charlotte and the center jointly announce that the annual Pride event will spin off as an independent organization, Charlotte Pride. April 2013 — Glenn Griffin is hired as operations director at the center. July 2013 — Roberta Dunn becomes chair of the center. November 2013 — Glenn Griffin notifies Roberta Dunn that since May 2013 no payroll tax payments have been made to the federal or state governments. November 2013 — Community members begin discussing publicly on social media and other platforms various concerns with the center. December 2013 — Nearly 100 community members attend a town hall meeting to discuss various concerns about the center’s financial stability, transparency and accountability. January 2014 — New bylaws are released opening board meetings to the public and instituting a new
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Board members grilled over unpaid taxes, salary, financial mismanagement by Matt Comer :: matt@goqnotes.com This is a developing story. Follow the most upto-date news on this subject at goqnotes.com/ in/lgbtcentercharlotte/ CHARLOTTE — Discussions were often contentious, emotional and, at times, bitter, at a last-minute community meeting called for Sunday, June 1 at the LGBT Community Center of Charlotte. Five current board members faced tough questions about their organization’s financial status and accusations of mismanagement after shocking revelations that the center was delinquent on at least $7,000 in outstanding payroll taxes to the federal and state governments. About 60 community members attended the meeting, called by a group of eight other leaders who had previously stepped up to volunteer on the center board — if current board members resigned. The group had said prior to and during the meeting that current leaders could no longer be trusted to lead the organization. A day before the meeting, the group had changed course, instead saying they would start a new organization that could “provide a better option for the community.” But, a meeting between the group and some current center board members might have postponed any efforts to create an entirely new organization — as those involved say they’ll be having broader conversations to determine the next best steps. “We are going to be consulting among each other, consulting with the community center and definitely seeking the input of the community at large,” said Mel Hartsell, a longtime center volunteer and PRISM young adult program coordinator who was among the eight who had stepped up to challenge the center. “I think the consensus is right now to look at the tax liability issue and figure out if the community wants to move forward with the same center, the same 501(c)(3) and see if that can work and to see if even adding new members to the board will change public perception.” In addition to Hartsell, who is a social worker and clinical coordinator, the group of eight included: Edward McCray, director of events and donor relations at the McColl Center for Vision Arts; Joshua Burford, assistant director for sexual & gender diversity at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte’s Multicultural Resource Center; Joyce SaintCyr, an accounting and financial services professional and business coach; Nate Turner, executive chef and owner at Your Custom
Cash in, Cash out Center revenues, 2002-2012...................................... $1,278,132 Center expenses, 2002-2012...................................... $1,164,076 Occupancy expenses, 2002-2012............................. $ 527,613 Highest, 2002...............................................89% of all expenses Lowest, 2005 ..............................................30% of all expenses Average, 2002-2012...................................50% of all expenses
Who supports the center?
The center’s largest financial supporters, 2002-2013: Pride Charlotte................................................................ $225,283 Charlotte Lesbian & Gay Fund..................................... $101,300 Southern Country Charlotte......................................... $ 63,000 White Party individual donors............... (estimated) $ 40,000 Total: (estimated) $429,583
Who is in charge?
The center’s current board of directors and leaders, as of press time: Ranzeno Frazier, chair; Bert Woodard, vice chair; Roberta Dunn; Judson Gee; Chris Gray; Crystal Long, Jenny Richeson. Operations Director: Glenn Griffin Note: Financial data compiled from annual Forms 990 and other sources.
Read and watch more online: Watch full video coverage of the June 1 meeting or read a full archive of past coverage and the most up-to-date news at goqnotes.com/in/lgbtcentercharlotte/ Catering & Events, LLC; marketing professional Colleen Lloyd-Roberts, owner of BrandGarden; Bennett Simonsen, who works as the Pets for Life Coordinator, Humane Society; and Jim Yarbrough, owner and publisher of qnotes and the owner of White Rabbit. [Ed. Note — This newspaper’s publisher, Jim Yarbrough, has been engaged for several months in conversations with the current center board of trustees. Yarbrough was previously asked to assist or join a temporary center board. This writer was not made privy to the contents of Yarbrough’s discussions. Additionally, this writer and Yarbrough have neither discussed nor coordinated together the content of news writings on this issue prior to their publication.] A history of mismanagement The June 1 community meeting was the third similar event held since December. Last fall, community concerns about the center finances, board management, transparency
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Ask Dr. C…HIV and healthcare advice
Helping to keep you in the know with up-to-date information by Frederick Cruickshank ~ Medical Director
After many installments of “Ask Dr.C,” this is yet another opportunity to offer our readers information about HIV from basic questions to in-depth explanations. We are still receiving many of your questions and are working hard to provide responses to as many questions as possible to provide information for you and the community. The questions have provided us a forum to debunk myths and remove stigma from those living with HIV and AIDS. It is important to educate yourself, get tested, and protect yourself. We appreciate every question we receive! Dr. C looks forward to responding to as many emails as possible. How can I tell if someone has a Sexually Transmitted Infection before I sleep with them? — Jeff from Charlotte
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Sometimes STIs can be indicated by sores, swelling, redness, and/or colored drainage. However, there is no way to really know if a person has an STI just by looking at their genitals. Many people have a STI and don’t even know it because they may have no symptoms at all. I always tell my patients that it is important to have an open dialogue with your sexual partners about STIs and STI testing. The only way to know if you and your partners have STIs is to get tested regularly. You can get an STD panel and HIV testing at your local health department, or you can call us to make an appointment at Rosedale at 704-948-8582. Also, the most effective way to prevent the spread of STIs, including HIV, is condom use. Talk to your partners about condom use and find a brand that works best for you. Condoms don’t have to be something that kills the mood. In fact, they can do quite the opposite! They are manufactured in different flavors, colors, and textures. Recently, I even saw glow-in-the-dark condoms. We always have a variety of free condoms at Rosedale. Feel free to stop by and stock up. Be safe, have fun, and protect yourself! I recently found out that I had Gonorrhea and my provider treated
me for Gonorrhea and Chlamydia even though I didn’t think that I had Chlamydia. Is this standard practice? — Adam from Charlotte Adam, this is standard practice. The US Center for Diseases Control and Prevention (CDC) found that patient who are often infected with Gonorrhea are usually also co-infected with Chlamydia. In order to combat this problem, they have suggested it be standard practice for providers to treat for both infections, even if the patient has only tested positive for one. Also, by treating for both, studies have suggested routine co-treatment might also hinder the development of antimicrobial-resistant strain of Gonorrhea. There is no increased harm or side effects to the patient when they are treated for both infections. I am HIV positive and so is my partner. Is it okay if we have unprotected sex since we are both positive? — Ty from Huntersville There is research that suggests it is possible for two people who are HIV positive to pass along different strains of HIV to each other. When this occurs it is referred to as
HIV superinfection. HIV superinfection can lead to increased harmful health effects and even increased resistance to available HIV medications. It is also important to remember that HIV is not the only thing to worry about being spread during unprotected sex. There are a variety of STIs including Gonorrhea, Chlamydia, Herpes, and Syphilis that can be transmitted. I always encourage my patients to embrace condom use as a way to be safe and protect their health. Always remember that this is an advice column based on your questions and the best possible knowledge out there. We need your questions to help educate the community, so email them to info@rosedaleid.com and be sure to include a first name and location. All respondents will remain anonymous. We will try to do our best to answer, educate and inform from your responses to this column. Don’t forget to visit our website at rosedaleid.com and friend us on Facebook for community and clinical updates. — Sponsored Content —
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life
OUR PEOPLE:
Q&A with the Rev. Dawn Jennifer Flynn Pastor of New Life Metropolitan Community Church by Matt Comer :: matt@goqnotes.com
The Rev. Dawn Jennifer Flynn was called to pastor Charlotte’s New Life Metropolitan Community Church in February. Her return to ministry — she was a previously United Methodist minister — began after a long personal journey. Originally from Michigan, Flynn, 65, has lived in the South since attending graduate school at the University of Georgia. She calls herself “The Bug Lady,” having studied and worked professionally as an entomologist. qnotes recently sat down with the pastor to learn more about her journey and her book, “God Does Love Me: My Trans Journey To Finding My True Self,” in which she tells her story. We also discussed her love for bugs and her return to ministry. Our interview has been edited for clarity and brevity.
Are you originally from Charlotte? I’m originally from Michigan. I now consider myself a southern belle because I moved South to go to graduate school at the University of Georgia in 1970 and never went back.
classes and took a bug class and fell in love with it and stayed with it. I got my bachelors in biology and when I finished that, I wanted to get a masters in an area that would relate to animals. There is a field of entomology called medical and veterinarian entomology which is the study of the control of insects and ticks and mites that transmit diseases to man and animal.
What did you study in school? At the University of Georgia, I got my masters in entomology, which is the study of bugs. I’ve been an entomologist professionally for 40 years.
After studying entomology and working professionally in the field, how did you come about your call to ministry? I moved to North Carolina in 1982. I didn’t have a biology job. I was working in a pension company as a computer support analyst. While I was working there, I got the call to investigate going into the ministry. I started taking classes at Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in Charlotte and I went through the program for the Methodist church in Gaston County. I became a local pastor and was appointed to a church in Lincoln County in 1997. While I was there I went to Duke Theological Seminary on a special course of study for five years. It was while I was in the Methodist church I was asked to leave.
A lot of people are freaked out by bugs. What about them interests you? Yeah, a lot of people are freaked out by them. Originally, I wanted to be a veterinarian. I couldn’t get into the vet school, because, how can I say this, the dean was very closed minded. He only wanted certain kinds of people to be in the vet school at Michigan State. I was trying to find some other allied area in natural history. I took a bunch of biology
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tell trinity by Trinity :: qnotes contributor :: trinity@telltrinity.com
Jealousy: The inevitable destroyer Dearest Trinity, My boyfriend and I have enjoyed a very stable and comfortable year of monogamy, but his part-time job of bartending at a local leather bar is making me very jealous! I’m Brazilian and it’s natural for me to be jealous. How can I deal? Jealous Brazilian, Boston, MA
jealousy destroys. Just like a tornado, jealousy comes out of nowhere, has no course of action except to strike, then damages everything in its path. Listen, sweetie, try focusing on his stable commitment to monogamy, not his job. Wind down your feeling or you may end up forcing him to take cover, somewhere safer and less tumultuous than your relationship!
Dearest Jealous Brazilian, Everyone knows that Brazilians are hot-blooded, jealous types. Everyone also knows that
Dear Trinity, A few years back, I saw you in Provincetown, Mass., giving the sermon, “From Drags to Riches.” You mentioned that you write and syndicate Tell Trinity, do shows, tours and keep a full-time job! How can I do what you do? Amazed, San Francisco, CA Dear Amazed, Any artist, writer and/or actor will tell you that in between our many full-time jobs, we make time for our dreams. When most people are out dancing till dawn, I’m home working on my dreams. But, don’t cry for me Argentina because the truth is I’m living my dreams and living out our dreams means accepting its tedious, backbreaking, impractical work. So, baby, if you want to do what I do, give up your practical life and start working very hard on living your dreams! (See how well I multi-task when you take cues from my cartoon.)
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Hey Trinity, My boyfriend and I had our first big fight. Does this mean it’s over? First Fight, Topeka, KS Hey First Fight, Happily dating couples often think that they’re in “Oz.” Then comes the first fight when someone appears to be the Wicked Witch of the West. But, only a cowardly lion needs to run. When the Yellow Brick Road turns gray, honey, it often leads to a new awakening. Fighting is a normal and it’s often a healthy way two people let it all out. So, let this fight make you two stronger not weaker. Practice communication, compromise and forgiveness! So, until a house falls on your head, remember even Dorothy and Aunty Em had growing pains! Hello Trinity, One minute my boyfriend’s very attentive and the next he’s unaware of my very existence. Help! MEN (ugh!), Glens Falls, NY Hello MEN (ugh!), You’re either very young or very new to the ways and woes of men! So, darling, here’s some hints for getting through the next hundred years or hundred days: Trinity’s Eye Opening Tips For Understanding The Lame Activities Of Men 1. Inconsistency, selfishness and cold mood swings are side affects of MSG and men!
a&e
2. If he’s madly in love with you and can’t stop thinking about you, but acts like nothing’s going on then you’re definitely with a man! 3. Emotional expressions are often found in women, artists and many living things, but as for men, try again! 4. “My needs, my freedom, my sexual desires, my side of the story…” are phrases most often spoken by…guess who! 5. S ome men are extremely kind, sensitive, warm and loving, but these men are mostly found in monasteries! 6. Cooking, cleaning, parenting and taking out the trash are things men find…other people to do! 7. I f you’re (tired of) hearing, “I’m late”, “I forgot our date” or “Blah, blah, blah, it’s not my fault.” then you are surely with a man! 8. Occasional flings and apparent flirting accompanied by puppy dog eyes and expensive presents can only represent one gender! 9. Men often appear clear-headed, practical, passionate types…until the third month of dating! 10. Lastly, now that you know everything about men, don’t fret, because they can also be trained to be incredibly romantic…given time! 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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news
Center board called into question continued from page 15 Griffin, who said he joined Hartsell and others in searching for new leaders and other solutions, told qnotes that center leaders have not been keeping up on payroll. The board, he said, failed to provide two paychecks in April and May. A third scheduled paycheck scheduled for the end of this month had looked unlikely, given the center’s dwindling cash reserves. On May 31, an anonymous donor stepped forward to provide Griffin’s back pay. The outstanding payroll taxes, Griffin said, date back nearly a year. Payroll taxes — including Social Security payments, Medicare payments, unemployment insurance and state and federal income taxes — allegedly stopped being paid after a former treasurer left the board last May. Griffin became aware of the problems in November. After the treasurer’s departure, Griffin was asked to temporarily perform their duties. In November, when attempting to reconcile the center’s accounting and bank statements, Griffin said he discovered no payments had ever been made to federal or state governments. He said he informed Dunn and other board members. “It just didn’t seem to be a huge issue. I know it bothered Roberta somewhat. She couldn’t believe [it] hadn’t [been] set it up to do it,” Griffin said. “Yet, it’s May of the next year and yet nothing has been done to rectify the situation and I have brought it up numerous times.” By the time the June 1 meeting was over, it became clear Dunn had failed to properly communicate with her fellow board members. Still, Frazier defended Dunn’s place on the board. “I’m not going to sit here and say that Roberta has made the best decisions for the board and for the community, but I know she has a heart and a passion for the community and for certain organizations in the LGBT community,” Frazier told those gathered at the meeting. “To ask a person that has a care for it and tell them I don’t want you to be a part of my board, for me, that doesn’t work for me.” Frazier added, “If because of one person on the board that bothers you that much that you can’t come and be a part of something that is going to become positive and get past what is going on at this time, that’s something you’re going to have to take on yourself. I’m not trying to be disrespectful or make it personal, but this community is bigger than one person.” But, questions about the center’s management date back years, with successive board chairs and other board members finding it difficult to stabilize the group. The center’s first major financial crisis came in 2006, when staff was found to have been siphoning money out of a reserve account used by Pride Charlotte. The money, as reported in January 2007, was used to pay the center’s utilities, staff salaries and rent. Discovery of the misappropriated funds resulted in the disclosure of the center’s $40,000 debt. Several organizations and individuals stepped up to assist with the center’s debt, including $20,000 from Southern Country Charlotte, $18,000 from the Charlotte Lesbian & Gay Fund and $10,000 from a private donor, who promised an additional $30,000 to the center. Despite getting out of debt then, the board never followed up with the private donor. Program income, rental income and other fundraising efforts dwindled, culminating in tight cash flows and other problems easily apparent by last fall.
A way forward? The June 1 meeting ended with, perhaps, positive results — even if the meeting itself ran high on emotion. Board member Jenny Richeson erupted in tears, while explaining her commitment to the organization and the challenges it has faced. “I stand here embarrassed because I sit on a board I’m extremely proud of and today I heard a lot that I’m embarrassed over,” Richeson said. “I still stand here today saying to you I want to be a part of this board and I’ve worked very hard for it. I stand proud in my community. I’m going to continue to work hard.” Richeson said she had been part of several conversations, learning more about the community’s thoughts and concerns. “I think we need to acknowledge the conversations that have happened and that we do correct that as a board and we move on from here,” she said. Conversations may very well continue. Representatives from the Charlotte Lesbian & Gay Fund, the center’s largest donor currently, were present for the meeting. Fund Chair Jenni Gaisbauer strongly encouraged the center to come up with a strategic and fundraising plan. “You need a professional fundraiser or somebody who can guide you,” she said. “An event is not fundraising. [Fundraising is] donors, cultivating relationships with people. We have never received a thank you from you at all, your
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Leslie Jordan heads back to the Queen City Jordan’s ‘Show Pony’ prances into Charlotte on June 13 by Matt Comer :: matt@goqnotes.com
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ith his career and stardom has come plenty a good story to tell, says Leslie Jordan, the Chattanooga, Tenn.born actor and playwright known internationally for his roles on “Will & Grace,” Del Shores’ and “Sordid Lives.” Jordan has also had a spate of recent appearances in Europe, Mexico and Canada, as well as recent appearances on the hit film “The Help” and FX’s popular “American Horror Story: Coven.” He’ll bring his high-flying and exhuberant story-telling to Charlotte on June 13. His performance, “Show Pony,” is sponsored by the Hearts Beat as One Foundation, a new organization created to raise funds and awareness for local charities. qnotes recently had a casual Q&A with Jordan, who shared stories from the road, about his family and more, from his home in Los Angeles. The interview has been edited for length and clarity. Matt Comer: Hello, Leslie! Leslie Jordan: Oh, it’s just wonderful to hear your southern drawl. It’s good to hear yours, too (laughs). How are you doing today? Well, I’m having a good day. It’s a little overcast here in Hollywood. I don’t know what that’s all about. And, it’s kind of cool. We’ve had this unseasonably hot weather recently, so it’s kind of nice. It’s all good. I thought Los Angeles was supposed to be the land of sunshine and rainbows? Well, kind of (laughs). We have our gray days. I love ‘em. Because you wake up and think, “Oh, another fucking beautiful day!” (laughs) It’s kind of nice to have a gray day. So you’re coming down to Charlotte, soon. Looking forward to it? Years ago, we did a tour of my show, “My Trip Down the Pink Carpet.” We did about 45 cities in a year. Our two favorite cities — out of all the cities like San Francisco and San Diego — our two favorite cities were Portland, Ore., and Charlotte. Oh, really! What was so nice about Charlotte? They had us in a beautiful old hotel downtown, down by the Capital Grille. The Dunhill. I don’t know what it was, we just really loved it and the people. Of course, I spent the first 25 years of my life desperately trying to get out of the South and the last 25 so far desperately trying to go back any chance I get (laughs).
We do certainly enjoy you here. What can we expect from your show this time? What I’m going to do for this one with the Hearts Beat as One Foundation is “Show Pony.” It’s just me and a mic. I tell stories about what’s going on, starting with stories about “American Horror Story” and some wonderful stories about “The Help.” I did an episode of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” that was sort of disastrous. I have some funny stories about that and, who knows, sometimes I get kind of dirty. Oh, I have all kinds of stories (laughs). You’re in for a busy season here, but I hear you get to see family, too? I’m going to New Orleans for two days and then up to Baltimore for the gay film festival there and then straight down to Charlotte. Then I have a week off, so I said don’t fly me back to Los Angeles. Have those people in Charlotte save themselves some money and fly me down to Atlanta, and I’ll rent a car and go see my momma and then drive up to a show I have in Lexington, Ken. Do you get to see family often? I get to see them enough (laughs.) I love my family. My family consists of just my mother and my twin sisters. You know, my mother had me when she was 19. I’m 59 and, my god, I was thinking the other day that my mother is 79. You’d never know it. I don’t know how this happened, but my mother used to live out in California with us forever and one day my mother said out of the blue, “I’m going to go home, kids.” I said, “To Chattanooga?! My god, you live in Laguna Beach! It’s paradise!” She said, “I don’t care. I want to
go home.” I was able to find her a beautiful condo and she fixed it up. My two sisters went to live back there later. Those three ladies all live together. You think I’m a big talker? I’m the quiet one in that bunch! But, it is always good to go home. So, you say you have a birthday coming up. 60! Looking foward to it? Yes, and my mother will be 80. I told her we were all going to go get face lifts! (laughs) She said she didn’t want a face lift, so we’ll think of something really fun to do. I did take them all to Barcelona on a gay cruise here recently. It was a disaster! (laughs) Oh, why? What did they think? They had been on gay cruises before, but they had been on cruises with maybe 700 or so gay people, but also a lot of straight people as well. This particular cruise was an RSVP Cruise, an all gay cruise. It went from Barcelona, down to Casa Blanca and over to Ibiza. It was swanky. But, my mother had problems traveling all the way from Atlanta. We got to Barcelona at 8 in the morning and the hotel rooms weren’t going to be ready until 3. I had to pull them aside. I said, “I don’t care if you have to find a broom closet. My mother’s got to get some rest. She’s been on a plane for 12 hours.” And la la la, it was just one thing after another. But, we still had a pretty good time. There was a clothingoptional deck that my twin sisters wandered into accidentally. They noticed what I notice — that gay men don’t get completely naked. There is like a lot of decoration down there around their privates! Things you don’t even know what they are — cock rings and carrying on and on!
see Jordan on 22
New foundation to raise funds, awareness Hearts Beat as One begins with flash, hosting Queen City Drag Race, Leslie Jordan by Matt Comer :: matt@goqnotes.com
CHARLOTTE — A new community foundation devoted to raising funds and awareness for local charities in the Queen City is picking up steam after its debut this spring. “When all of our hearts beat as one, people…everyone…thrive,” is their slogan and the group has already made a splash, hosting the annual Queen City Drag Race in May and the upcoming Leslie Jordan performance, “Show Pony,” on June 13 in Uptown Charlotte. Founding board member Suzie Ford says the group grew out of friends’ desires to get involved and make a positive impact in the community. “Just a few like-minded friends and individuals got together and started thinking we’d like to do something to make a difference,” she tells qnotes. Ford is joined in forming the group by Joe Davis, who’s previously worked with Charlotte Pride and the Human Rights Campaign’s North Carolina Gala, among other founding board members, including: Bret Wendel, Tom Feldman, Marty Miller, Mario Newton, Courtney Valve-Lynch, Sara Marie Miller and Troy Shellito. “Our board members are pretty diverse,” says Ford, who with her husband owns NoDa Brewing Company. “We have a good group that has different backgrounds.” Ford, who’s background is in banking, founded NoDa Brewing Company two and a half years ago. Like her passion and vision for Hearts Beat as One, Ford says NoDa Brewing has striven to give back.
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“We treat our brewery like we treat ourselves,” she says. “It’s a responsible citizen in the community. It gives back just like we give back.” That sense of personal and corporate giving, combined with the diversity of Hearts Beat as One’s leadership, says Ford, will help the new foundation bring attract support for an equally diverse collection of charities. “Hopefully, our voice and organization will be able to spread the word about charities making a difference,” she says. The group will focus on event planning and fundraising. With events like the Queen City Drag Race and Leslie Jordan’s show, they hope to attract community members who will have the opportunity not only to give back, but also to participate in community activities. The Drag Race, for example, attracted some 300 race-watchers with six racing teams participating in the fun to raise money for the Battered Women’s Shelter, Campus Pride, Charlotte Royals Rugby Football Team, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Human Rights Campaign and the Leukemia Society. The foundation also signed up as a sponsor of Time Out Youth’s annual fundraising gala this month. Hearts Beat as One also plans to offer an annual scholarship grant. As they fundraise for other charities, they’ll also raise funds to support the new grant. The particulars haven’t yet been ironed out, Ford says, but the group will give to an individual or organization worthy of support. Ultimately, Ford hopes to see more organizations getting the recognition and support they deserve. “It’s all of us coming together and putting our passion for the community to work,” she says. : : — For more information, visit Hearts Beat as One on Facebook at facebook.com/heartsbeatasone and stay tuned for the foundation’s new website coming soon at heartsbeatone.org.
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Georgia Equality to award Augusta Pride Honors to be presented at event in June Sponsored Content
Augusta is Georgia’s second largest city, and the strength of Augusta Pride and our entire LGBT community has not gone unnoticed. This year, Georgia Equality — our statewide organization that works to advance fairness, safety, and opportunity for LGBT Georgians — named Augusta Pride as the 2014 recipient of its Phillip Rush Community Builder Award. This award is given each year to recognize work that brings diverse communities together in support of LGBT issues. Augusta Pride was chosen as this year’s recipient to recognize its excellent work within the LGBT pride movement and its continued leadership to move Augusta-Richmond County officials to implement equality policies to benefit the LGBT citizens of Augusta. Georgia Equality will present this award to Augusta Pride at the President’s Soirée, the elegant opening
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event of Augusta Pride 2014 on the evening of June 26. Georgia Equality’s embrace of Augusta does not stop there! Beginning this year, the Georgia Equality Boards of Directors for both the nonprofit and political organizations welcome two new board members from the Augusta area. This important step provides Augusta area with a strong voice both statewide and in Atlanta, and furthers Georgia Equality’s goal of fighting for all of the residents of our great state. Moving forward together, Augusta Pride and Georgia Equality will work on behalf of all LGBT Georgians and their allies to fulfill the American promise of equality. Please join us in thanking Georgia Equality and celebrating our festival’s 5th anniversary in Augusta, June 26-28. For more information, visit georgiaequality. org and prideaugusta.org. : :
augusta
Jordan “prances” to Charlotte continued from page 20 Well, you’ve been traveling quite a lot lately. I’ve heard you’ve done gigs in Europe and Mexico and Canada. Sounds like you’ve been busy! Oh, I have not stopped. I went to Spain to shoot a sitcom. And, you know, I’m very popular in the U.K. right now, because “Will & Grace” is still popular. I also do my one-man shows in London. I’m a storyteller and they just love that — a little old boy from Chattanooga on the West End of London! (laughs) I did a sitcom there called “Benidorm.” If you want a laugh, I swear I think it’s as funny as “AB Fab.” It’s been on the air for about 8 years. It’s about this kind of white trash family from the north of England and it’s almost like an English version of “Del Shores.” It stars the girl who played O’Brien on “Downton Abbey.” Honey, I couldn’t believe it. I met her and she has all this blonde air and these great, great big ol’ boobies and she plays kind of a trashy, cigarette-smoking mother kind of like Peg Bundy. I kept thinking I know her from somewhere and someone told me she was O’Brien. I thought, my god, they really made her look dowdy, but she’s not. She’s like a show girl! (laughs)
You’ve done lots of TV, films and stage. Which do you prefer? I like I get to do all of it. But, you cannot beat the immediacy of having an audience. I just love performing in front of an audience. But, I love that television money! (laughs) You just can’t beat it. You can make more in three days doing television than you make out on the road for one month or two months. What do you enjoy so much about your personal performances? I get to play myself. I decided a long time ago that I would never be like a Robert De Niro or Meryl Streep, where you just disappear into a role. I’m kind of like Dolly! (laughs) There’s just a lot of me! To tell you the truth, without sounding conceited, I have never played a character or asked to play a character that I didn’t think was more interesting than me in real life. So, I just play me. : : Photos: Kelly Smith, courtesy Reaction Productions
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Center finds way forward? continued from page 19 organization, and that’s a shame on you.” Gaisbauer said the fund is willing to support the center, if center leaders can present a plan for moving forward. “We have sat down with your [former] board chair and Glenn [Griffin] for the last two months working on how we can be supportive,” Gaisbauer said. “But you know what, our stakeholders cannot give money to an empty hole anymore. We are here to help in anyway — if you change boards or if you figure out what you’re going to do, we will help you get out of it. We want to help, but you need a plan. You need leadership.” Gaisbauer said she saw potential in newlyelected board Chair Ranzeno Frazier. He and some other current board members met with concerned community leaders after the public meeting on June 1. “We hashed out a lot of issues they were concerned about,” Frazier said. “We are willing to work together. We just have to get some things settled. I understand their frustrations and concerns about joining the board immedi-
ately. I’m working on my part of the situation.” Mel Hartsell said the group of concerned leaders are worried about the tax liability. Many want to be involved, but do not want to take responsibility for a prior board’s financial mismanagement. Trust, Hartsell said, will also be hard to regain. “I walked away with similar concerns that I had walked away with from every town hall meeting we’ve had on the center,” Hartsell said. “Issues of transparency, issues of whether the community will give the center a chance, whether I’m personally willing to move forward and trust this board. There are questions that still need to be answered.” Frazier said the meetings on June 1 were emotional, but necessary to move forward. “There were a lot of ups and downs and yes, it was very emotional,” he said the day afterward. “I walked away learning more than I knew from the beginning. I want the community to see I am for change. I woke up on the road this morning to get this stuff, this situation handled so I can regain the trust of the community.” : :
Center History continued from page 15 membership structure; members are not given the right to vote in board elections. The center announces that it has just $6,000 cash on hand and may close at the end of February. February 2014 — The center holds a second town hall meeting, where similar questions regarding financial stability are again asked. The center hosts its first public board meeting. A new membership structure and fundraising event are announced. March 2014 — The center board is unable to muster quorum at their monthly board meeting, just three weeks after the board said it might have had to close their doors. May 21, 2014 — The center board is barely able to meet quorum for their meeting, with only four of seven members participating. Proposals are made to raise money, including a potential $25,000 ask to the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners. May 30, 2014 — qnotes reports that the center has just $650 cash on hand, has not been paying its sole employee on time and owes at least $7,000 in payroll taxes. A group of six community leaders announce they will ask the center board to resign. Roberta Dunn resigns as chair but remains on the board. Ranzeno Frazier becomes chair of the board. The board approves new bylaws reinstating member voting rights in board elections. May 31, 2014 — The center board holds a closed-door meeting, announces it will not be resigning, that it has paid Glenn Griffin in full and will be addressing its tax delinquencies. The group of six community leaders
previously asking the board to resign grows to eight and announces they’ll seek to form a new organization. June 1 — The most recent community meeting is held at the LGBT center. About 60 people attend the meeting, with a group of leaders pushing for change meeting with the center board afterward.
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SPONSORED CONTENT
Retirement financial expectations can fall short by Judson Gee | JHG Financial Advisors
hey! what’s happening?
We want your news and event notices today. Be sure to send them to editor@goqnotes.com. Thank you!
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Will retirement meet your expectations or fall woefully short? As you reach retirement, you may find that your financial situation doesn’t quite match your expectations, good or bad. Few retirees actually outlive their money. If this was truly a crisis, we would see federal and state governments and social services agencies addressing it relentlessly. The vast majority of retirees are wise about their savings and income. Health crises can and do impoverish retirees and leave them dependent on Medicaid, but that tends to occur toward the very end of retirement rather than the start. You may not need to retire on 70-80% of your end salary. This is a common guideline for new retirees, but according to some analysts, you may not need to withdraw that much for long. In the initial phase of retirement, you will probably want to travel and explore new pursuits, which means you might spend as much as you did before you retired. After that, you could spend less. JP Morgan Asset Management recently studied U.S. household spending and found that it peaks at age 48. The average U.S. household headed by people aged 65-74 spends only 63% as much as a household headed by people aged 55-64. Additionally, the average household headed by people 75 and older spends only 72% as much as the average household headed by people aged 65 (74.1%). Households run by those 75 and older typically spend about half as much per year as households headed by people in their late forties. 1 David Blanchett, the head of retirement research at Morningstar Investment Management, sees a correlation between career earnings and retirement spending. He notes that higher-earning retirees commonly have to replace less of their income once their careers conclude. Blanchett said that a household that makes $40,000 a year might have an 85% replacement rate, and the household making $100,000 a year might need 60%. 2 The upper-income household is watching its costs fall away in retirement. When the everyday costs of living are reduced, you spend less to live. Blanchett believes that the whole 70-80% guideline may “overestimate the true cost of retirement for many people by as much as 20%.” 2 Your annual withdrawal rate could vary notably. Anything from healthcare expenses to a dream vacation to a new entrepreneurial venture could affect it. So could the performance of the stock or bond market.
You may want to work well into your 60s or beyond — and the longer you wait to claim Social Security benefits after age 62, the greater your monthly payout. Statistics show that most people don’t retire at age 66, 67 or 70: according to Gallup, the average retirement age in this country is 61. You should keep in mind that you may find yourself electing to claim Social Security earlier, if only to avert drawing down your retirement savings too quickly. You don’t have to be a millionaire to have a happy retirement. In a 2011 Consumer Reports poll of U.S. retirees, 68% of respondents were “highly satisfied” with their lives irrespective of their financial standing. The retirement you live may be slightly different than the retirement you have imagined. Fortunately, retirement planning and retirement income strategies may be revised in response.
This material was prepared by MarketingLibrary.Net Inc., and does not necessarily represent the views of the presenting party, nor their affiliates. This information has been derived from sources believed to be accurate. Please note — investing involves risk, and past performance is no guarantee of future results. The publisher is not engaged in rendering legal, accounting or other professional services. If assistance is needed, the reader is advised to engage the services of a competent professional. This information should not be construed as investment, tax or legal advice and may not be relied on for the purpose of avoiding any Federal tax penalty. This is neither a solicitation nor recommendation to purchase or sell any investment or insurance product or service, and should not be relied upon as such. Citations. 1 - reuters.com/article/2014/03/12/us-columnstern-advice-idUSBREA2B1R020140312 [3/12/14] 2 - money.cnn.com/2014/02/26/retirement/ retirement-spending.moneymag/index.html [2/26/14] Judson Gee may be reached at: JHG Financial Advisors, 704-536-3423 judson.gee@jhgfinancial.com Web: www.jhgfinancial.com Twitter: @JhgFinancial Securities offered through LPL Financial, Member FINRA/SIPC
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C A L E N DA R JUNE-JULY 2014
To see more upcoming events, visit goqnotes.com/calendar/ Submit your event at goqnotes.com/eventsubmit/
Time Out Youth Gala Center Stage 2315 N. Davidson St., Charlotte 6:30 p.m. Time Out Youth Center hosts its Platinum Youth Gala, raising funds for the organization and its support of area LGBT youth. The evening’s host is Ben Thompson, an NBC Charlotte anchor and reporter. For more, see our regional news notes at goqnotes.com/29339/. timeoutyouth.org
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LGBT & Allies Diversity Continues through July 20 Generational Diversity SEP SEP JUN JUL SEP JUN Summit Charlotte Black Gay Pride Summit Cone University Center City-wide North Carolina Central UNC-Charlotte University, Durham 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m. Alfonso Elder Student Union The National Diversity Council partners 8 a.m. Charlotte with UNC-Charlotte’s Multicultural The Triangle event, “Leadership Across Black Gay Resource Center to host a two-track the Generations,” is a half-day training Pride reconference focusing on the workplace turns to the and panel discussion on generational and the community. Cost for workplace differences in the workplace. Guest Queen City The Charlotte Lesbian and Gay Fund track is $49 ($24 students). Community with a town leaders will share their experiences hosts its annual The Happening! track is $25 (free for students). hall, meet with attendees. Luncheon, featuring gifts of their annual Information and ticket purchase availand greet ndccarolinas.org grants to local LGBT organizations. able online. and annual extravaganza. Tickets are $40. Table captaincies (10 nationaldiversitycouncilregistration.org/ Check back in with our June 20 print seats) are $400. Sponsorships begin at cl/lgb edition for more details or visit $500. Information and ticket purchase charlotteblackgaypride.com. available online. Salisbury Pride fftc.org/thehappening SEP JUN Downtown Salisbury 110 Lee St., Salisbury SEP JUN 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Leslie Jordan SEP JUN Salisbury Pride returns for Wells Fargo Auditorium its 2014 festival and celebration. Event 550 S. Tryon St., Charlotte details available online. 8 p.m. salisburypride.com The Hearts Beat as One –––––––––––––––––––– Foundation hosts comedian Leslie Drag Queen Car Wash Jordan for his one-man show, “Show Washington Park Pony.” Hearts Beat as One Foundation 228 W. Acadia Ave., Winston-Salem is a new charitable non-profit and community-driven organization striving 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Get your car washed by the best divas to raise funds and awareness in the in town. Supporting Pride WinstonQueen City. Multiple Salem. $10. ticket options, pridews.org including VIP tickets and a private dining opportunity with Jordan are available, ranging from $40 general admission to $500. Recurring Charlotte Events: Information and PRISM Young Adults: Weekly discussion held each Monday, 5 p.m.-7:30 p.m. For young adults ages 18-25. LGBT Community Center of ticket purchase availCharlotte. lgbtcharlotte.org. able online. Men’s Yoga: Weekly yoga sessions for men hosted by certified instructor. Each Monday, 7:30-8:30 p.m. LGBT Community Center of Charlotte. bit.ly/1k1zLUo
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Youth Lobby Day North Carolina General Assembly 16 W. Jones St., Raleigh 9 a.m. Equality North Carolina wants to raise youth voices in the North Carolina General Assembly and equip fair-minded young people with the skills needed to fight for equality in our local communities. Registration is required to participate and is available online. equalitync.org/youth
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Continues on June 20 Hollywood Squares Charlotte Ballet 710 N. Tryon St., Charlotte 8 p.m.
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Time Out Youth Center: Weekly support and discussion groups, Tuesday-Thursday, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Monthly group for youth ages 11-14. timeoutyouth.org. MeckPAC: Monthly meeting of local LGBT political action committee. First Tuesdays of each month, 6:30-8 p.m. LGBT Community Center of Charlotte. StillOut Photography: Local LGBT photography club. Meets monthly on fourth Tuesdays, 7-8:30 p.m. LGBT Community Center of Charlotte. facebook.com/StillOutPhotography. Friends Indeed: Men’s depression support group. Every other Tuesday, 6:30-8 p.m. LGBT Community Center of Charlotte. Weekly HIV & Syphilis Testing: Hosted at the LGBT Community Center of Charlotte each Wednesday, 5-7 p.m. HIV Support Group: Open support group for men and women who are HIV-positive. Hosted second Wednesdays of each month, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Different Roads Home. differentroadshome.org. LGBTQ Adult Education and Discussion Group: Weekly on Thursdays, a safe place for LGBTQ adults to meet and discuss important issues and topics. Hosted at LGBT Community Center of Charlotte. Each Thursday, 6-8 p.m. Men of all Cultures Together: Local chapter of National Association of Black and White Men Together. Every other Tuesday, 6:30 p.m. LGBT Community Center of Charlotte. PFLAG Charlotte: Monthly support group meeting. Second Thursday of each month, 7 p.m., Time Out Youth Center. pflagcharlotte.org. Tradesmen: Monthly social meeting first Saturday of each month. 10 p.m.-2:30 a.m. The Woodshed Lounge. charlottetradesmen.org. Have a recurring weekly or monthly event, social, support or discussion group? Let us know. Submit your event at our online calendar at goqnotes.com/eventsubmit/.
Submit your event to our calendar! qnotes
Celebrate Stonewall
Grab your friends and head out to your favorite LGBT-owned bar or night club! June 28 is the 45th anniversary of the Stonewall Riots.
Hollywood Squares is back and it has Divas! Yes, Gay Bingo’s BVDs (Bingo Verifying Divas) join One Voice Chorus for Hollywood Squares: Divas! Tickets are available online and are $25. VIP tables are $300. onevoicechorus.com
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Photo Credit: EricaJoy
Triad Pride Men’s Chorus SEP JUN Greensboro Day School 5401 Lawndale Dr., Greensboro 8 p.m. Triad Pride Men’s Chorus presents their spring concert, “Déjà Vu: Music of the ‘80s.” Repeat performances on June 10, Centennial Station Arts Center, 121 S. Centennial St., High Point, 8 p.m., and June 14, HanesBrand Theater, 209 N. Spruce St., Winston-Salem. Ticket prices range from $15/$20 advance and $20/$25 at the door. 336-589-6267 triadpridemenschorus.org
The Happening! The Westin Charlotte 601 S. College St., Charlotte Noon-1:30 p.m.
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Our People continued from page 17 How did your transition out of the church occur? I’ve known I am transgender since the age of eight. I knew I was different. But because of growing up in the Lutheran church, I was taught to be who God created you to be and so I constantly did everything I could to try to “be a man.” I got married the first time, didn’t work. We had our first son. It still didn’t work. I had a second son and it still didn’t work. I married a second time and that didn’t work. All these tryings didn’t work because I was trying to be the sex I was given at birth. While I was serving my second church, I was asked to help a friend with the Relay for Life fundraiser in 2007. They had a womanless beauty pageant to help raise money for cancer. She couldn’t get anyone in her church to do it and she asked if I could help her. I had never appeared in public as a woman before, so I was scared, but I agreed to do it and I did well. But, then my next church found out about it. They notified the church and I was reported as, quoteunquote, parading around town as a woman. Of course, that wasn’t true. The church said it was inappropriate activities for a minister. They pretty much bullied me into surrendering my credentials. So, I left the Methodist church in September 2008. How did you handle the situation? My friends left me, my wife was ready to leave me. My church left me and then they said God didn’t love me because I was living in sin. I had
nobody, so I asked why I should even live. In November 2008, I was going to take my life. When did you begin to come out as transgender? I told one person, a friend at work who was totally accepting, when I did the womanless beauty pageant. When I did that, I realized this was who I was and came to embrace it. I was going to commit suicide, but God came to me in a dream and told me to talk to this person I had never met before. This individual happened to be a therapist for transgender people. I saw her in April 2009 and she said, “Dawn there’s nothing wrong with you.” She brought me to the point where I could understand. She restored back to me my feeling that I had value as a person. At that point, I decided to embrace it. The next month, I started hormones and began living as a woman part time. I came out, full time, in November 2009. You’ve written a book about your journey. Why was it important for you to share your story? You’re probably going to ask, “Really?”, but I’m going to say it — God told me to. God said you have to write a book, you have to lay your story down, people need to hear your story, especially those who are transgender in the church that have been rejected and been told that God didn’t love them. The Spirit gave me the title, “God Does Love Me.” I’ve heard from many people who have read the book and others who have heard me speak. Two people told me that they had planned on committing suicide within a few days before coming to hear me and they changed their minds because I gave them hope. More
people need to tell their stories. There aren’t enough people doing that. We all need to do that in our own way. There are too many transgender people because of the persecution we face who stay in the closet. They need to feel the freedom to step out. We can only be who we are meant to be if we are true to who we are. How did you return to the ministry? I was encouraged by my therapist to go back to church. She said it was too big a part of my life. I started investigating some churches that were LGBT friendly. I ended up going to MCC Charlotte. I was totally accepted, enveloped, loved, embraced and supported. I went and stayed there until I came here. While I was there, the minister there, the Rev. Catherine Houchins, told me it was time to go back into ministry again if I felt the nudge. She told me about the position here and told me to apply. She told me, “Dawn, you probably don’t realize it now, but you are not complete until you’re back in ministry again. Once you’re called and anointed, it’s irrevocable.” I had served as pastor of congregational care at MCC Charlotte. Once I was back in the pulpit, I was reaffirmed in Rev. Houchin’s statement. She was absolutely right.
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When you are not working and preaching, what do you enjoy doing in your free time? I study my bugs. I’m one of 14 world authorities on a group of insects. I’ve studied them for 40 years. I’m very much involved. I just published a new paper. I love to be with my bugs. It’s still very much an interest. I tell people when they ask me, “Dawn, how can you be a minister and a scientist? It seems like an oxymoron.” No, it’s not. The more I study science and the more I study my insects, the bigger my God gets, not the smaller. The more I see, the more I understand, I just marvel in it and it strengthens my faith. What is your favorite passage in Scripture? Jeremiah 1:5, where God says, “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart.” That has a very special meaning for me. God knew I was going to be transgender even while I was in the womb and he has provided the opportunity for me to use that as a tool of ministry. The other one that’s really special for me is Galatians 6:10, which says, “Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people.” That’s been my mantra. I feel that as a minister that’s what should lead me, that I should be available to help all people at all times. : : more: Read more from our interview with Pastor Flynn at goqnotes.com, including more about her journey, her love of coffee and her book. You can purchase Flynn’s book online at Amazon.com.
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June 6-19 . 2014