June 29-July 12 . 2018
qnotes
1
2
qnotes
June 29-July 12 . 2018
inside
Charlotte teen actor among four gender-nonconforming youth debuting new play this year page 11
qnotes
qnotes
news & features
Wilmington man wants Orange County to remove rainbow flags arts. entertainment. news. views. June 22 -goqnotes.com/60400/
arts. news.Gay views.Pride 4 entertainment. Charlotte Black
5 Charlotte Royals Rugby 6 News Notes: Regional Briefs 8 News Notes: U.S./World Briefs
a&e / life&style 10 10 11 14 15 16 18 19
Leanna Eden Proud Mary’s theatre Youths star in national debuts Dishing with Buff Faye Tell Trinity Out in Print Q Events Calendar Our People: Alex Aguilar
opinions & views 12 Spiritual Reflections
Q
online
Q
Out on Stage
More N.C. locales recognize Pride Month June 21 - goqnotes.com/60396/ Court to hear motions on ‘HB2-lite’ June 20 - goqnotes.com/60394/
more news & features …
In first, Wake County passes Pride Month proclamation June 19 - goqnotes.com/60377/ Supreme Court declines to hear S.C. Episcopal property suit June 18 - goqnotes.com/60254/ Triangle-area anti-gay megachurch pastor elected Southern Baptist president June 13 - goqnotes.com/60268/
Career and chosen family
Q&A w/ Alex Aguilar
Singer-songwriter LeAnna Eden page 10
Local actor talks life and art page 19
Remembering Pulse Orlando: Two Years Latert June 12 - goqnotes.com/60248/
June 29-July 12 . 2018
qnotes
3
Pride 2018
Stonewall vet, ‘Empire’ star special guests at this year’s Charlotte Black Gay Pride Organizers hope event increases community education, awareness around issues faced by LGBTQ people of color by Matt Comer :: qnotes staff writer
Charlotte Pride hosts its annual Interfaith Service, at Charlotte Black Gay Pride, spirituality is infused throughout the entire week of their events. “Pride is spiritual for us,” Stitt says. “All of our events, most of them at least, have some kind of spiritual backing behind them. Our Jazz Brunch, it has to have a spiritual aspect. In previous years, we would end the event at a church. We always have to have a spiritual part of Charlotte Black Gay Pride.” The focus on black culture isn’t a sign of exclusion, organizers stress. In fact, this year’s Mr. Charlotte Black Gay Pride is white, and Black Pride has a close relationship with Charlotte Pride and its Charlotte Latin Pride program. Black Gay Pride is for the entire community, but it offers a unique chance for people of color to come together, while also offering a unique experience for white and other non-black allies. “We face different obstacles in the world,” Fulton says. “I think it is good that we all can come together and we’re able to share space and have conversations.”
Stonewall veteran Miss Major is a special guest at this year’s Charlotte Black Gay Pride.
C
harlotte Black Gay Pride returns for another year of weeklong events from July 24-28, with special guests including Stonewall veteran Miss Major and FOX ‘Empire’ star Terrell Carter. The main event, the annual Expo, will feature a day’s worth of entertainment and fun, but organizers hope that other events throughout the week help to shine a light on the experiences of LGBTQ people of color in Charlotte. Chief among those events is each year’s community town hall, scheduled this year for Thursday, July 26, at Johnson C. Smith University, 100 Beatties Ford Rd. The topic at hand will be affordable housing and homelessness within the LGBTQ community. Affordable housing and homelessness has been a hot topic in Charlotte over the past few years. The city and county’s Opportunity Task Force identified housing as a key issue. City leaders have been attempting to increase funding for more affordable housing units. It’s even been a topic covered recently by qnotes, in our cover story in mid June. Still, Charlotte Black Gay Pride organizers believe the issue hasn’t gotten the attention it deserves, especially as it relates to LGBTQ people. “It’s a big issue right now that’s not being FOX ‘Empire’ star Terrell Carter
4
qnotes
June 29-July 12 . 2018
talked about,” says Gelissa Stitt, a Black Pride board member sine 2013. The town hall is an opportunity, organizers say, for community members to come together, learn more and take action. “After they leave the town hall, people should have a sense of having the information and recognizing this is an issue going on, in hopes that we can set up steps to help with the issue,” says Charlotte Black Gay Pride President Shann Fulton, a board member since 2014. A more education- and advocacy-focused event is also an opportunity to remind community members of the importance of Pride. “Having a town hall meeting during Pride, for the younger community especially, reminds them what Pride is all about and our historical foundation,” says Director of Communications and Marketing Frank D. Dorsey II, who’s serving his first year on the board. “It’s beyond the parties, beyond the parades, beyond just having a drink in your hand. Sometimes it’s about being able to come together and talk about the issues having an impact in our community.” It’s in this way, and others, that Charlotte Black Gay Pride differs from more mainstream Pride events, like Charlotte Pride. There’s an intense focus on grassroots community organizing and education, for one — the town hall as an example. But for Fulton, Stitt and Dorsey, the event also differs because it highlights a unique sense of culture missing from mainstream events. “What I’ve found missing [at larger events] is our culture,” Fulton stresses. “I also find it’s important to have Black Pride because a lot of people of color don’t feel welcome. We have different events where you can actually see black LGBT people participating, like the theatre event. People can see people like them.” Another important distinction, Stitt says, is spirituality. Though
Special guests mark special week Charlotte Black Gay Pride’s week-long celebration includes several special events and guests. First among them is “CenterStage,” billed as a one-act theatre festival featuring scenes from playwright and Charlotte Black Gay Pride board member Jermaine Nakia Lee’s “A Walk in My Shoes.” Excerpts from four other black LGBTQ playwrights will also be presented. That event is slated for Wednesday, July 25 at the Little Rock Cultural Center, 401 N. Myers St. Tickets are $10. In addition to the town hall on Thursday, July 26, community members will also have a special opportunity to meet and learn more about legendary transgender activist and Stonewall veteran Miss Major. She’ll be the special guest at a kick-off and welcome reception on Friday, July 27, 7-10 p.m., at Le Meridian Hotel, 555 S. McDowell St., North Tower in Uptown. Miss Major is coming to Charlotte in partnership with the Freedom Center for Social Justice, which will host Miss Major for a conversation with elder members of the community on Friday, July 27, 2 p.m., at Sacred Souls Community Church, 2127 Eastway Dr. The main event — the Charlotte Black Gay Pride Expo — will be held noon-5 p.m. at Le Meridian Hotel on Saturday, July 28. Headline entertainers include singer and actor Terrell Carter of FOX “Empire” fame. Carter has also starred in several stage plays by Tyler Perry. T.S. Madison, an LGBTQ activist and transgender entertainer and entrepreneur, will also attend the Expo. Finally, on Sunday, July 29, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., Black Pride hosts its annual Inspirational Jazz Brunch. Tickets are $40 per person or $70 per couple. The event will be hosted at Nest Restaurant and Lounge, 505 E. 6th St. Cocktail attire is requested. With the exception of the theatre night and Jazz Brunch, all Charlotte Black Gay Pride events are free and open to the public. For more information on upcoming Charlotte Black Gay Pride events, visit them on Facebook at facebook.com/Charlotte BlackGayPride/ or online at charlotteblackgaypride.org. : :
goqnotes.com/to/news
news
Sports Scene
Charlotte Royals Rugby wins trophy in Bingham World Cup Charlotte team traveled to Amsterdam for international gathering in June by Craig Maxwell :: Charlotte Royals Rugby
A
SUBSCRIBE!
sides of the field, it was an emotional match as Charlotte pulled out a 19mid-June trip to The Netherlands was quite a ride for the Charlotte 15 win over Atlanta. That 3-2 record put the Royals into the finals for the Royals Rugby Club as they travelled to Amsterdam to compete in Hoagland Plate, squaring up against the Columbus Coyotes once more. the 2018 Bingham World Cup in Amsterdam. The Bingham Cup is Heading into the final match with several injured players taken out, a three-day international tournament between members of International our boys left everything they had on the field as they played their toughest Gay Rugby. It honors Mark Bingham, a founder of New York and San match of the weekend. At the end of the first half, the Royals were ahead Francisco’s teams and one of the brave heroes on Flight 93 [on 9/11]. This 7-5, with points scored by Erik Franklin and Jonathan Kilgore. year, the Bingham Cup played host to 70 men’s clubs and, for the first time, Shortly into the second half, Columbus came back with another try four women’s clubs from all around the world, totaling over 2300 players. (comparable to a Charlotte Royals touchdown) and extra players began making points, setting the their way to Europe score to 12-7 in their over the last couple of favor. With just a few weeks, taking in the minutes left, Arthur sights and preparing Milne of Charlotte for several grueling scored another try and days of rugby. The team Jonathan Kilgore’s took a boat tour of the extra kick put the Amsterdam canals, had Royals back in the a few warmup praclead. In the last play of tices, and took some the match, Columbus time to reconnect with made a break through members of other clubs the Charlotte defense that they’d competed and got within a few against in previous yards of scoring. years. From across the field, Unfortunately, as Michael Wong made a the players descended game-winning tackle upon Amsterdam, they to take the Columbus received word that player out of bounds one of their brothin the end zone ers, David June, had before points could be passed away just days The Charlotte Royals take a victorious pose after winning the Hoagland Plate. scored. And with that, before the games Photo courtesy Charlotte Royals the Royals had won began. They were the Hoagland Plate, the first time ever they’ve brought back hardware heartbroken, but determined to play on in the name of a man who never from the international tournament since its start in 2002. failed to put smiles on faces and points on the board. Each day, the team The sidelines erupted in cheers from teammates, partners, and even wrote simply “June” on their forearms in honor of their fallen teammate. players from other Southeast teams like Nashville, Charleston and Atlanta, When matches kicked off on the morning on June 8, the Royals had the who came to cheer on their friends and rally the team. As the Royals acfirst match of the day against the San Francisco Fog, starting out strong with cepted their trophy, cheers were shouted out for those that played, those a 55-7 win. They kept the intensity up later that day with a 31-12 win over the that supported and for the opponents that challenged them to fight so Columbus Coyotes, ending day one with a 2-0 record. hard. But in the end, the loudest cheers were made for David June, whose Matches on June 9 proved to be more difficult as the boys took on spirit pushed our boys on to just play rugby for the sake of being able to international opponents, taking losses of 12-7 against the Madrid Titanes step out onto the field. and 10-0 versus the London Kings Cross Steelers. With the day ending on During the next few days, as the Royals returned home with their a 2-2 record, morale took a hit but the Royals made sure to rest up with heads held high, they can’t help but be proud of the literal blood, sweat plenty of water, stretching and ice baths to stay ready for the final day. and tears that went into their international trip. It was surely a trip of a The June 10 semi-finals came with Charlotte taking on the Atlanta lifetime for the Charlotte Royals Rugby Club. : : Bucks, a regular opponent for the Royals. With long-time friends on both
These rates only cover a portion of our true cost, however, our goal is to serve our community Mailed 1st class from Charlotte, NC, in sealed envelope. Subscription Rates:
Q
qnotes connect June 29-July 12, 2018 Vol 33 No 05
arts. entertainment. news. views. goqnotes.com twitter.com/qnotescarolinas facebook.com/qnotescarolinas
contributors this issue
Buff Faye, Matt Comer, Torie Dominguez, David Valdes Greenwood, Craig Maxwell, Lainey Millen, Rabbi Eric Solomon, Jeff Taylor, Trinity
front page
Graphic Design by Matt Comer Photography: Terrell Carter Mission:
The focus of QNotes is to serve the LGBTQ and straight ally communities of the Charlotte region, North Carolina and beyond, by featuring arts, entertainment, news and views content in print and online that directly enlightens, informs and engages the readers about LGBTQ life and social justice issues. Pride Publishing & Typesetting, Inc., dba QNotes P.O. Box 221841, Charlotte, NC 28222 ph 704.531.9988 fx 704.531.1361 Publisher: Jim Yarbrough Sales: x201 adsales@goqnotes.com Nat’l Sales: Rivendell Media, ph 212.242.6863 Managing Editor: Jim Yarbrough, x201, editor@goqnotes.com Assoc. Editor: Lainey Millen, specialassignments@goqnotes.com Social Media Manager: Matt Comer, matt@goqnotes.com Copy Editor: Torie Dominguez, torie@goqnotes.com Staff Writer: Matt Comer, matt@goqnotes.com Production: Lainey Millen, x205, production@goqnotes.com Printed on recycled paper.
Material in qnotes is copyrighted by Pride Publishing & Typesetting © 2018 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.
☐ 1 yr - 26 issues = $48 ☐ 1/2 yr - 13 issues = $34
Mail to: P.O. Box 221841, Charlotte, NC 28222
_________________________________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________________________ name:
_______________________________________________________________________________________ address:
state: zip: _______________________________________________________________________________________ city:
credit card – check one: ☐ mastercard ☐ visa ☐ discover ☐ american express _______________________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________________ card #: exp. date: signature:
charlotteobserver.com/1166/ a local news partner of The Charlotte Observer
upcoming issues: 07.13.18: Kind of a Drag Advertising Space Deadline: July 4 07.27.18: Focus on the LGBTQ Family Advertising Space Deadline: July 18
June 29-July 12 . 2018
qnotes
5
news notes: carolinas compiled by Lainey Millen :: qnotes staff
Professor honored for trans healthcare research WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — A professor at Wake Forest School of Medicine has been honored for his research on transgender community healthcare, WRAL reported. Scott Rhodes, who is gay, has taught at Wake Forest for 15 years with a focus on HIV prevention and public health. He has worked with the Latinx transgender community to improve healthcare outcomes. Often overlooked, Latinx transgender women have a strong need for better access to public healthcare, Rhodes asserts. “There is just a need for information, a need for access to care among this population who tends to be isolated, who tend to be pretty hidden,” Rhodes told WRAL. Research efforts have been directed toward the ChiCAS group, where study and safe-sex promotion among transgender women who have sex with men focus on HIV prevention and PrEP. The research shows that Spanish-speakers across the U.S. are “pretty nervous” to welcome care due to the current situation surrounding undocumented individuals. With ChiCAS, Rhodes’ goal is to provide new ways for the Latinx community, who are underserved, to obtain access to public health. His assertion is that barriers can be overcome with public help. Five metropolitan areas in North Carolina are part of ChiCAS’ study and healthcare promotion efforts. info: bit.ly/2tCgfbd. wakehealth.edu. Photo Credit: YouTube screenshot
Coastal Outer Banks readies for Pride
NAGS HEAD, N.C. — The 8th Annual OBX Pridefest will be held from Sept. 21-23 in Nags Head on the Outer Banks and surrounding area. The three-day event includes a day festival, booze cruise, entertainment and more. To kick off the festivities, enjoy a sunset booze cruise and party on Sept. 21, 5 p.m., from Crystal Dawn at Pirates Cove Marina, 2000 Sailfish Dr., in Manteo, N.C. Cost is $50 or Pride Pass purchase. Later that evening at 9:30 p.m., head over to J.J. Brewbakers, 5002 S. Croatan Hwy., in Nags Head for Cliff Warner and the Pride & Joy Drag Show. Cost is $15 at the door or Pride Pass. The main event is on Sept. 21 at the Soundside Event Site, 6800 S. Croatan Hwy. and free to attend. Listen to bands, enjoy local restaurant cuisine via food trucks, beer and wine, and peruse the arts and craft vendors booths, merchant and non-profit vendors. The family-friendly inclusive celebration welcomes the LGBTQ community and its supporters and friends. Transgender performer Jennifer Warner will serve as host. At 9:30 p.m. at J.J. Brewbakers, catch The Judy Gold Comedy Show. The stand-up comedian has appeared on HBO, Comedy Central and LOGO. She has written and starred in two award-nominated Off-Broadway shows. Cost is $25 or Pride Pass. Then head back to J.J. Brewbakers for dancing and clubbing at 10:30 p.m. Cost is $5. The festival ends with a drag brunch at 11:30 a.m. at Avenue Waterfront Grille, 207 Queen Elizabeth Ave., in Manteo. Cost is $25 or Pride Pass. Events held during the weekend come with a cover charge and organizers suggest that attendees purchase a Pride Pass to save $25 over the total of individual cover charges as depicted above. The festival paid events are not offered separately for purchase online.
6
qnotes
However, attendees can pay the cover charge at the door for any event. Daytime events are family-friendly but evening ones are not. Those events held inside restaurants require attendees to be 18 and older with an ID check at the door. Those who book accommodations at the Cameron House Inn, 300 Budleigh St., in Manteo receive the newly instituted OBX Pride VIP Package. Included are reserved front row seats and a free drink for two for the Judy Gold Comedy Show and Pride and Joy drag show on Sept. 21. Be sure to notify the inn upon booking of the intent to purchase the VIP package. Call 800-279-8178 to make reservations. Other events being held prior to the festival include a drag brunch on July 1, LGBTQ social on July 14 and a festival planning meeting on July 22. See the website for more details. info: obxpridefest.com. cameronhouseinn.com.
bor and welcoming all.” A motto of the church is: All are welcome — and all means ALL. The Reconciling in Christ recognition means that the congregation will be listed on a roster of congregations, organizations and synods in the United States and Canada, which publicly welcome members of all sexual orientations and gender identities. “We welcome First Lutheran to the Reconciling in Christ family,” said Aubrey Thonvold, executive director of Reconciling Works. “It is with love we are called to welcome all God’s children into our congregations, communities and our world. We thank First Lutheran for being an active member working for reconciliation and growth within the church so people of all sexual orientations and gender identities can share a lived experience of love, welcome and family.” Reconciling Works is a Christian ministry affirming God’s love for people of all sexual orientations and gender identities. Reconciling in Christ is a program of Reconciling Works. info: firstlutheran.com. reconcilingworks.org.
be awarded in the spring of 2019 to graduating seniors who have demonstrated leadership in the LGBTQ community. info: guilfordgreenfoundation.org.
Grant recipients honored
Church starts caregiver support
GREENSBORO, N.C. — The Guilford Green Foundation will hold its granting ceremony on June 29, 12 p.m. at the LGBTQ Center of Greensboro, 1205 W. Bessemer Ave., Suite 226. This year the foundation will award six local organizations with a total of $30,000. These recipients were selected for their impact on the LGBTQ community. Receiving grants are: One Step Further Family Factor Program, $10,000; Youth Focus Act Together Crisis Center, $5,000; Family Service of the Piedmont LGBTQ Domestic Violence Services, $5,000; Greensboro Mural Project Queer Ancestors Mural, $4,000; North Star LGBTQ Center, $3,500; and PFLAG Winston-Salem Rainbow Conference, $2,500. “We got a wide range of incredible applications this year. We’re excited to be able to help these organizations meet the needs of our community with critical programs to assist teens in crisis and better serve individuals dealing with domestic violence,” said Executive Director Jennifer Ruppe. “We’re also proud to support the creation of a ‘Queer Ancestors’ mural to be painted at the YWCA and an upcoming PFLAG conference in Winston-Salem.” To attend the ceremony, RSVP by calling 336-790-8419 or email info@ggfnc.org.
Triad Church gets recognition
GREENSBORO, N.C. — First Lutheran Church, 3600 W Friendly Ave., has been recognized by Reconciling Works (formerly Lutherans Concerned/North America) as a Reconciling in Christ congregation. This recognition comes after the congregation officially adopted a public statement of welcome for individuals of all sexual orientations and gender identities. The statement read: “As a Christian community, we are compelled to be God’s agents of reconciliation and healing within society, embracing diversity and uniqueness. We are therefore committed to sharing God’s love and Christ’s mission with all people without regard to age, cultural or ethnic background, gender identity, sexual expression, or sexual orientation, economic or life circumstances, physical or mental ability, spiritual beliefs, or any of the things that so often divide us.” The Rev. Jay Hilbinger, senior pastor of First Lutheran, sees this statement as “a way to live out the teachings of Jesus by loving our neigh-
June 29-July 12 . 2018
Triangle SAGE celebrates the 4th
RALEIGH, N.C. — SAGE Raleigh will hold a 4th of July Potluck celebration on July 4, 1:30 p.m., at Umstead Park Pavilion #2, 8801 Glenwood Ave. Dress up in red, white and blue and enjoy Independence Day with the gang. Burgers (regular and veggie) will be provided, as well as hotdogs, brats, buns, condiments, beverages and accessories. Participants are asked to bring a salad, side or dessert to share. Setup begins at 1:30 p.m., and food will be served at 2 p.m. To RSVP, visit bit.ly/2yEHA2v. info: lgbtcenterofraleigh.com.
Western HENDERSONVILLE, N.C. — Metropolitan Community Church Sacred Journey has initiated a new support group for caregivers as part of its ongoing outreach to the community. The caregiver support group, which meets on the third Wednesday of the month, was created to offer a place of solace for those charged with providing the necessary care for someone who is suffering from an extended or even short-term illness or injury, or being the one to provide comfort to someone whose illness is terminal. Caregivers are often faced with multiple doctor’s appointments, daily physical care of loved ones, canceling or adjusting their own plans, and never having enough time to get it all done. Often those who are engaged in ongoing care responsibilities become physically and/or emotionally fatigued. They need to get recharged and nurtured themselves in order to be able to effectively provide the level of care that is required by the injured or ill individual. This peer-led group will assist caregivers in learning about local resources, provide networking with others who understand their stresses and explore strategies for coping with big crisis situations, as well as little day-to-day frustrations. Members are able to enjoy a light supper at 5:30 p.m., followed by sharing time at 6:30 p.m. For more information on the group, call Kay Bachemin at 828-388-1595 or the church at 828-693-9110. info: mccsacredjourney.org.
Regional Faith summit unites community
Lennie Gerber (left) and Pearl Berlin
In other news, the foundation has launched the Pearl Berlin Scholarship Fund to honor a marriage equality fight hero. Pearl Berlin and her partner of 52 years, Ellen “Lennie” Gerber, of High Point, N.C. were plaintiffs that upended North Carolina’s Amendment One, which defined marriage as between a man and a woman, Guilford shared. The couple were the first winners of the Guilford Green Visionary Award. The scholarship is being offered as a way to honor Berlin’s lifetime of work as an advocate for equality and same-sex marriage. It will
WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. — Equality North Carolina (ENC) has announced that Bree Newsome has accepted the invitation to be the keynote speaker at the NC Faith Forward “Uniting For Our Future” summit on July 14 at The Enterprise Center located at 1922 S. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr. Newsome’s activism has been considered a symbol of resistance and empowerment for women. Her story serves as inspiration across social justice movements in North Carolina and nationwide, ENC Director of Outreach Brent Childers said. She is an artist and activist who drew national attention in 2015 when she climbed the
see next page u
goqnotes.com/to/news
Church Movement for Gay and Transgender flagpole in front of the South Carolina Capitol Justice, More Light Presbyterians and the building and lowered the Confederate battle National LGBTQ Task Force. flag. Her action followed the massacre of nine In other news, ENC has announced that the black parishioners by a white supremacist at 2018 Carolina Conference on Queer Youth will be Emanuel AME Zion Church in Charleston which held on Oct. 19 at the University of North Carolina reignited controversy over South Carolina’s at Charlotte’s Student Union. It is being held in display of the flag. partnership with Time Out Youth Center and Newsome’s roots as an artist and activist the university. More details will be shared with were planted early. Her father is a nationallyqnotes’ readers as they are made available. recognized scholar of African-American Then on Oct. 20, the community will gather religious history and how it has impacted social for ENC’s 2018 Equality Gala at the North justice movements. Her mother spent her Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences. More career as an educator addressing the achieveinformation will be provided at a later date on ment gap and disparities in education. the event, costs, speakers and more. Much of Newsome’s activism has focused info: ncfaithforward.org. equalitync.org. on incidents of young black individuals being timeoutyouth.org. unjustly killed and issues related to structural racism. Her activism has included protests and Advocates descend on capitol demonstrations against the killings of Trayvon RALEIGH, N.C. — Patients, healthcare Martin in Florida; John Crawford in Ohio; providers, community leaders and advocates Michael Brown in Missouri; and Keith Scott in gathered on June 12 for North Carolina. HIV Speaks on Jones Registration is still open Street 2018, the annual for the summit online at statewide HIV and AIDS bit.ly/2MYzk07. Cost is advocacy day, to raise $0-$100 and helps to defray awareness and educate the costs of putting on the North Carolina legislators event. Full scholarships are about policies that improve available and no one will be the lives of people living turned away. with HIV and AIDS. NC Faith Forward con“HIV Speaks on Jones sists of seven organizations: Street is one of my favorite Believe Out Loud, Equality days of the year,” said Lee North Carolina, Faith in Storrow, executive director Public Life, The Freedom of NC AIDS Action Network. “It’s vital that Bree Newsome Center for Social Justice, Many Voices: A Black Photo Credit: Facebook legislators hear directly from residents liv-
news
HIV Speaks on Jones Street advocate participants
ing with HIV in our state so that they understand the value of the public health programs that serve our community.” Advocates gathered in the morning at the North Carolina History Museum for a briefing and training on various issues impacting people living with HIV and AIDS. The Alliance of AIDS Services- Carolinas provided free HIV and Hepatitis C testing in the lobby of the museum during the legislative briefing and training. Then advocates spent the day at the North Carolina General Assembly meeting with legislators. During the legislative meetings, advocates urged their legislators to support HIV-related legislative priorities for the year.
“I was really glad to see the high turnout for HIV Speaks on Jones Street 2018 this year,” said Roberto Olmo-Bermudez, data and quality specialist and PrEP counselor at RAIN in Charlotte, N.C. “The progression and advancements in HIV research, care and treatment are all due to the time and sacrifices made by advocates. It gives me a sense of relief to see that we have a growing support network that cares for individuals living with and affected by HIV.” info: ncaan.org. Have news or other information? Send your press releases and updates for inclusion in our News Notes: editor@goqnotes.com.
June 29-July 12 . 2018
qnotes
7
goqnotes.com/to/news
news notes: u.s./world compiled by Lainey Millen :: qnotes staff
NEA bestows awards on former first lady and others
WASHINGTON, D.C. — Former First Lady Michelle Obama and the Know Your Rights Campaign, founded by professional quarterback and racial and social justice advocate Colin Kaepernick, are among the dozen recipients of the prestigious National Education Association Human and Civil Rights Awards to be awarded on July 1 in Minneapolis, Minn. The theme of the awards ceremony is “Many Dreams, One Voice.” The awards also will feature celebrity emcee, political commen-
tator and social justice advocate Angela Rye and entertainer Chaka Khan. The merger of the National Education Association (NEA) and the American Teachers Association (ATA) in 1966 produced the annual NEA Human and Civil Rights Awards. ATA, which represented Black teachers in segregated schools, traditionally honored leaders in the justice and civil rights movement annually. Since the merger, NEA has recognized and honored educators, individuals, community partners, and organizations that are advancing the mantle for human and civil rights. Organizers said that in addition to recognizing Obama and Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Campaign, NEA will recognize the following individuals and organizations for continuing the quest for human and civil rights in America: Dr. Lonnie G. Bunch III, founding director of the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture; Vermont-based Muslim Girls Making Change; North Carolina LGBTQ rights advocate Chris Sgro; Utah advocate to end homelessness Michael Harman; North Carolina educator Rodney Ellis, Sr.; The Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance; Ohio English teacher Lynnette Jimenez; California educator Dr. Cecil Canton; Illinois community activist Jitu Brown; and The Milwaukee Teachers Education Association. info: nea.org.
Culinary Specialist 2nd Class Kyle Toby, from Anchorage, Alaska, cut a cake on the mess decks of the Ticonderoga-class guided-missile cruiser USS Chancellorsville (CG 62) during an LGBTQ Pride Month celebration. Chancellorsville is forward-deployed to the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations in support of security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Photo Credit: U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Sarah Myers/Released
8
qnotes
June 29-July 12 . 2018
news
QUICK HITS —————————————————————————————— Lost-n-Found Youth in Atlanta, Ga. has a new interim executive director, Audrey Krumbach, who replaced its founder and executive director Rick Westbrook. info: bit.ly/2KhlwMO. The NLGJA - The Association of LGBTQ Journalists 2018 National Convention will be held from Sept. 6-9 in Palm Springs, Calif. Registration and the event’s agenda is available online. info: nlgja.org. For the first time worldwide, the queer history of video games will be explored in a major museum exhibition: “Rainbow Arcade” that opens at Schwules Museum Berlin in December 2018. Dr. Adrienne Shaw from Temple University is serving as a curator in her role as the founder of the LGBTQ Video Game Archive. info: lgbtqgamearchive.com. temple.edu. Stage, film and TV star Alan Cumming will join Cunard as part of the luxury cruise line’s Insights program on the Jan. 3, 2019 Transatlantic Crossing on the flagship ocean liner Queen Mary 2. While sailing on the sevennight voyage from New York to Southampton, England, Cumming will offer a Q&A session with guests and hosting a screening of Instinct, his new TV series on CBS in which he plays Dr. Dylan Reinhart. Instinct, which premiered in March and was just renewed for a second season, is an American police drama based on James Patterson’s Murder Games. info: cunard.com. A new report on the state of LGBTQ finances, which takes a look at student debt, retirement savings, and more, provides a window into the unique money challenges faced, but also explores potential ways the LGBTQ community can reduce feelings of financial stress, particularly in the areas of student loans, retirement, income, and workplace advancement. One thing that is a takeaway from this survey is that 60 percent of LGBTQ borrowers regret taking out student loans. info: bit.ly/2KeamIp. In another report, a survey conducted by Experian in conjunction with Pride Month 2018 on LGBTQ financial planning shows that the U.S. LGBTQ community is more inclined to spend money than save it when looking at their habits and attitudes. The respondents came from a pool of 500 LGBTQ and 500 non-LGBTQ individuals. info: bit.ly/2yvlz67.
Alex Iovine and her girlfriend were kicked out of an Uber vehicle over second weekend in June because they were kissing in the backseat. The driver, Ahmad, proceeded to call their actions as illegal and refused to continue their ride. In New York City discrimination is illegal, including against the LGBTQ community. info: queerrising@gmail.com. A YouGov data report suggests that fewer Americans today identify as completely heterosexual. info: bit.ly/2MQXd9U. bit.ly/2yCUUEy. Donna Minkowitz, the original writer of the Village Voice story that inspired “Boys Don’t Cry,” has taken a look back on her reporting — and the sizeable error she still regrets in “How I Broke, and Botched, the Brandon Teena Story.” In her reflection on the story she said it proved to be “the most insensitive and inaccurate piece of journalism I have ever written,” adding that she has been “ignorant about trans people.” info: bit.ly/2to7TEd. A new Care2 petition started by Austin Sailas, cousin of Aaron Salazar, is calling on Amtrak to open their investigation to the FBI to investigate the beating of Salazar who was found injured and unconscious near a desolate set of tracks in Truckee, Calif. as a hate crime. Salazar remains in a coma in a hospital in Reno, Nev. The Care2 petition has gathered over 22,000 signatures. info: care2.com/go/z/ForAaron. There are 559 known openly LGBTQ elected officials in the United States — and America needs to elect 22,837 more to achieve equitable representation — according to LGBTQ Victory Institute’s newly released 2018 Out for America report. The report documents the severe underrepresentation of LGBTQ individuals in key positions of power, along with demographic data that demonstrates the need to elect more LGBTQ people of color, women and bisexual and transgender individuals. The report also found that transgender representation more than doubled since the last Out for America report in 2017 (from six to 13 elected officials), and that fewer LGBTQ Republicans are in office (16 instead of 19) since the last report, despite overall known LGBTQ elected officials rising by 24.8 percent. info: outforamerica.org. victoryinstitute.org/ OFA2018.
June 29-July 12 . 2018
qnotes
9
Queer Arts in the QC
LeAnna Eden builds community, a music career, and a chosen family The singer-songwriter is coming into her own, through sheer force of will by Jeff Taylor :: qnotes contributor
“C
ommunity is work.” That’s what singer-songwriter and musician LeAnna Eden says as we sit in Common Market, one of her two employers, in Charlotte’s Oakhurst neighborhood. Those two key words, community and work, tell you most of what you need to know about her character. When Eden, who moved to Charlotte four years ago, isn’t behind the counter at Common Market Oakwold, she works the door at Petra’s, where she will play on July 21 with her band LeAnna Eden and the Garden Of. She not only fronts the band, serving as the vocalist, guitarist and songwriter, but also functions as its manager. She prides herself on knowing what the band — which also consists of Christian Fuentes on guitar, Ricardo Portillo on bass and Walter Boston III on drums — will be up to three months down the line at any given time. Currently, most of that time is being spent working on a new album, which will be her first, with producer and musician Joel Welden Willis. She is playing with a crew of studio musicians; the project having come together before the current band fell into place. Plus, she is organizing the second annual installment of her festival, the Black Alternative Music Festival, also known as Bla/ alt, set to take place on Oct. 20 in Charlotte. “I’ve been working nonstop,” Eden admits, staring off, absentmindedly fiddling with the paper coffee cup in front of her. “Either doing something with my band, or organizing with other people, or working two different jobs, for like four years
straight, without a break. So, I’m just getting really tired. I’m tired right now.” “I probably sleep for like 15 minutes. Because I have really bad anxiety, so I’ll just sit up and be like, ‘I have to do 25 things right now.’ Then I’ll do them, and then it’s time to go to work,” she continues. “I know it’s not healthy. I’m going to take a break soon… After October.” She says that, in truth, she has always been this way. “If things were more relaxed, I would probably find something to be obsessed with. Probably the chip rack here.” She began playing music at a young age, starting with oboe and piano. She has since left both instruments behind, after teaching herself to play guitar by ear. Her first performances were solo efforts, starting in Milwaukee, Wisc. when she was 21. She drew immediate, obvious comparisons to Tracy Chapman, both being queer women of color using just their voices and an acoustic guitar to come across with songs both political and personal. But there are plenty of other influences in the mix as well, including the likes of Regina Spektor, Lauryn Hill and Corrine Bailey Rae, whom she has cited as favorites, as well as her own inimitable voice, both literally and figuratively. When joined by her full band, the whole mood changes, she relates, filling out her sound and giving her a jolt that she was starting to feel dissipate with all those solo shows. Playing alone was getting boring, she says. But finding the right community, it does take work. In fact, it took her four years to find a band that would coalesce behind her and have the work ethic she was looking for to pull off her vision for the project. The most obvious example of a bad fit came in the form of a drummer who said he supported her, and loved playing with her, but that he wanted her to know it was wrong to be gay. It wasn’t long before he was kicked out of the garden. Yet in most cases, it was much less dramatic, and less biblical. Mostly, it was about Eden’s expectations.
“I had this crazy realization the other day about why I’ve probably had so many different band members,” she confides. “Because the amount of love that I feel for people, and the amount of hope that I have for people, and (for) their dreams and their visions, is a lot more than what normal people have,” she says. “So, I have a really high standard for myself, and I need to learn to stop thinking everyone else can live up to me. Because I am barely reaching and touching what I want, and the closer I get, the higher it goes. Because I’m never satisfied. “So that impossible standard, I can’t give to other people. I just have to love them for who they are, at that moment.” She also knows part of the rotating lineup comes down to an attempt at building a chosen family, after an upbringing that offered little in the way of stability. Placed in foster care at four, she was raised with two brothers and a sister, whom she thought were blood related until they were all adopted together when she was seven, and she was not. “I couldn’t be adopted, because I came from somewhere else,” she says. She was later adopted by another family, whom she left at 15. There were issues at home, which she mostly leaves vague, although she does allude to there being some drug use. Eden then spent time living with a teacher and attended an all queer high school called The Alliance School, in Milwaukee. It was there that she found community, although of course it was inherently short-lived. In addition to building a chosen family, she also hasn’t given up on reaching back into the past for possible connection. Her new album is called “Ease Your Soul, Chapman” — Chapman being her birth mother’s surname. “This album is basically a letter of everything that I’ve been feeling and going through,” Eden explains. She allows that she hopes her mother, with whom she has not been able to establish contact, will hear it. “One, maybe she’ll recognize, and two, she’ll understand.” Whether her mother hears the album or not, it seems destined to find its audience. : :
Proud Mary — a step for LGBTQ voices Theatre group embodies devised performance as its operational model by Torie Dominguez :: qnotes staff writer
J
ust when you’re set to assume Upstate South Carolina would hardly be a hub for LGBTQ community involvement: enter the Proud Mary Theatre Company. The Spartanburgbased 501(c)3 non-profit amateur company is a relatively new arrival — it unveiled the lineup for its sophomore season with a festive cabaret-style event only this past Saturday — but there’s little doubt it’s already made an impression. The Palmetto State is, of course, no stranger to celebration of the arts, despite the friendly sibling rivalry that may lead its North Carolina neighbors to suggest otherwise. For more than four decades Spoleto Festival USA has drawn thousands of patrons to idyllic (well, except during storm season) Charleston, where offerings ranging from classical opera to experiential “physical theater” aim to provide something for everyone. Proud Mary’s founder and artistic director Sandy Staggs, though, had very different ideas about what constitutes “everyone.” What about the person who can’t make the 200-mile trip to the seaside city, or shell out hundreds of dollars a night for hotel rooms at hiked-up festival rates? What about the person for whom art is integral to daily life, and who isn’t satisfied with a few days of bingewatching meant to last all year? What about the person for whom an artist’s world-class curriculum vitae is incidental at best, but who
10
qnotes
June 29-July 12 . 2018
would be enthralled by the appearance of their friends and neighbors onstage instead? And, perhaps most importantly, what about the person who longs to be the one holding the pen, or speaking the lines, or harnessing the movements of their body to convey what cannot be put into words? What about the person who is LGBTQ — who is, in fact, anything other than contentedly cis-het — and who has a story to tell? In Upstate South Carolina, as in every corner of the inhabited world, there is no shortage of stories. The key leadership team behind Proud Mary, consisting of Staggs, Board President Darryl Harmon, and Board Vice President Katherine Rausch, recognized from the beginning the diversity inherent in these previously untapped resources — the well of talent in the Upstate LGBTQ community, and the wealth of personal narratives never shared. With that diversity in mind, the determinedly non-professional company has elected to curate each season with, as it declares in its official mission statement, “compelling dramas, rib-tickling comedies, campy musicals, and local original works and avant-garde pieces that celebrate diversity and tolerance.” Recent productions include Pulitzer- and Tony-winning one-man show “I Am My Own Wife,” NYC International Fringe Festival champion “5 Lesbians Eating a Quiche,” and Proud Mary’s first Southern Fried Pride Play Festival.
Among the festival’s most affecting works was “Movement,” an original composition portraying gay history and the ongoing quest for civil rights in a medium known as devised performance. What does that mean, exactly? Its alternate name will give you more than a clue. Devised performance, you see, is frequently known as ‘collective creation.’ The artists gather around the seed of an idea. Through exploration and improvisation they discover what they wish to share with their audience and how they wish to share it, both individually and as a whole. It’s easy to lose track of whose ideas were whose, because planned proposal followed by deliberation isn’t really how this works. And the process, the evolution, never ends. Devised performance is a striking metaphor for the Proud Mary Theatre Company itself. There was the vital, enduring seed of an idea: that LGBTQI people in Upstate South Carolina have vital, enduring things to say — things that most of us have yet to hear. Everything else, everything Proud Mary is and everything it will become, has grown from that single truth. It is an entity of, by, and for the community. Together, that community has devised a joyful, sometimes painful, always meaningful way to raise its voice. : :
goqnotes.com/to/arts
a&e
Queer Arts in the QC
How four gender-nonconforming youth made their stage debut My play ‘The Mermaid Hour’ asks theatres to cast only trans or gender-nonconforming performers in the lead role. Here’s how they, and the teens, including one from Charlotte, rose to the occasion. by David Valdes Greenwood :: American Theatre
“G
I could go there. I liked going to that place ender-nonconformity and every night. transgender identities are Garcia: I actually think it was harder for often reduced to stereotypes. It me to play 12-year-old Vi ’cause I’m still denies their complexities and humanity.” 12 years old. It was bittersweet kind of, The maturity of that insight belies the because Vi and I are going through the age of its speaker, 15-year-old Toni Reali. same things. Reali, of Charlotte, is one of four young Reali: It was differently bittersweet for people who played trans tween Vi Bardisame. I wish I had been like Vi — at 12, I Nickerson this season in my play “The was a mess. Mermaid Hour,” which follows Vi as she Garcia: Vi and I have a lot in common! transitions from Victor to Violet, and traces First off, we both love mermaids. Second, her family’s varied reactions. we both have a gay best friend. Third, When I wrote the play, I stipulated in we’re stuck on our devices all the time. the casting breakdown that only teens Transgender comes in last. who identify as gender-nonconforming (GNC) be considered for the role of Vi. For Greenwood: Speaking of friends, did your me, fighting erasure and misrepresentapeers come to the show? How did they tion with visibility and authenticity was react to your performances? Was the paramount. response different for older audiences? The National New Play Network Lasentia:•My friends saw it as pretty norfacilitated the four productions of “The mal. They are sexually and gender diverse. Mermaid Hour” as part of their Rolling Kids now are coming out earlier as so World Premiere program. The theatres many different identities. that produced the show this season — Caballero: At talkbacks, the kids of our Borderlands Theater in Tucson, Ariz., generation could relate to everything; Teatro Milagro in Portland, Ore., Mixed they didn’t need it explained. But for Blood Theatre in Minneapolis, and Actor’s older people, there was a lot of “I didn’t Theatre of Charlotte in Charlotte, N.C. quite get this…this wasn’t like life for — all rose to the occasion. As Milagro’s us.” People kept saying, “This was a big producing creative director, Roy Arauz, learning experience for me.” put it, “The primary concern was always ensuring community members truly felt Toni Reali in “The Mermaid Hour” by David Valdes Greenwood at Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte. Greenwood: I’m sure you tapped into some of represented by the person chosen.” their misconceptions. separately shared more thoughts via email. What follows is a Everyone involved knew they’d have to Reali: Some audience members made it a more complicated thing condensation of our conversations. exceed their usual casting processes and forge new conthan it is. Vi has a crush on her friend Jacob, so someone asked me, nections. Borderlands associate artistic director Milta Ortiz “How does attraction work when you’re trans?” [This story earns David Valdes Greenwood: What made you want to take on this recounted reaching out to local LGBT groups, as well as a high laughter from from the group.] And I’m like, “Uh, the same way.” role? school with a trans population. Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte Caballero: An older guy asked me if someone is born gay or Jay Garcia, 12, Borderlands: I knew I could be myself. After readexecutive director Chip Decker said, “We put everything we becomes gay due to media. ing the script, I was like, this is so meant for me. could think of out into the universe,” including connecting with a Reali: How do you even answer that? Azoralla Arroyo Caballero, 17, Mixed Blood: Most movies/ support group for parents of trans youth. Caballero: People often confuse gender-nonconformity with shows/plays give the perspective of the person who’s comEven for Mixed Blood, which has featured trans/GNC artists sexuality; if you’re a butch female you’re automatically seen as a ing out. They show how hard life is, and how they have to live for years, “the role of Vi stretched our moxie,” said artistic direclesbian, and if you’re a feminine guy then you’re gay, which isn’t through unacceptance, but “Mermaid Hour” shows that is not tor Jack Reuler. But he was unperturbed, noting, “I love casting always the case. always the case, that coming out can turn out differently for challenges.” They found a highly recommended trans actor for Garcia: People at my school would say I pretend to be a girl and everybody. I really absolutely wanted to be a part of that! the role in a chamber musical version of the play titled “Mermaid I’m not. I’m just being me. Jaryn Lasentia, 15, Milagro: To represent a trans person is one of Hour: ReMixed,” for which I wrote the book and lyrics and Eric the most important things to me, because I can change people’s Mayson wrote the music. Going even further, in that producGreenwood: You’ve all said you plan to keep acting, so what minds for the better. I hope I could make people understand what tion, director Leah Anderson brought in trans/GNC artists for the parts would you like to see for yourself in the future? it feels like to experience Vi’s life, with all of its ups and downs. design team and the band. Lasentia: My dream role has not yet been written, but I’ll find it. Toni Reali, 15, Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte: Vi was the first In each city, the end result was the hiring of a young actor Garcia: That’s easy! I want to play a mermaid! transgender/genderqueer character I had seen, practically ever. who brought their own truth to the show. Variously identifying Caballero: I’d like to play not the queer person or trans person Being able to play her sounded too good to be true. I jumped at as trans, genderqueer, and non-binary, none of these young perbut the supporting character, the one who gets it right and does the opportunity. formers had ever worked with their respective theatres, and only the right thing by them. one had done more than school plays. But inexperience was not Reali: I want a story like Vi’s, a real journey, for a non-binary charGreenwood: What were the challenges and rewards of playing a a hindrance. For example, Borderlands added acting instruction acter, [and] more representation of that. My dream role would be trans youth onstage? outside of rehearsals. an openly genderqueer portrayal of Loki the Norse god. : : Reali: Vi has so much confidence in every part of herself. As one The benefits are multifold: These young actors now have of the characters says, “I’m not into easy definitions.” I’m more richer résumés, these theatres now have a wider pool of GNC — David Valdes Greenwood is a playwright and the neither than either, so my gender doesn’t fit into a box even day performers on their radar, and their audiences have seen more author of four books. A gay Cuban-American, he is interested in to day. Vi’s confidence actually made me feel confident. of these lives depicted truthfully onstage. As Arauz said, “Being intersectional stories featuring LGBTQ and POC characters. Caballero: Exactly. As a trans person but queer, coming to terms very deliberate and conscious in casting takes time, but the This article, ‘How 4 Gender-Nonconforming Youth Made Their with myself, Vi inspired me to get out there and be more of payoff is extraordinary.” Stage Debut’ originally appeared in American Theatre online, myself. With supportive teams behind them, four very different young May 21, 2018. Used with permission from Theatre Lasentia: Seeing this little girl be so confident…I felt that through performers claimed their spotlights. I recently had a chance to Communications Group. the story. And I was with people onstage that I really trusted, so speak with them as a group about the experience, and then they
June 29-July 12 . 2018
qnotes
11
goqnotes.com/to/life
life
spiritual reflections by Rabbi Eric Solomon :: guest contributor
For the ‘native-born’ and ‘the stranger,’ one law for all
“T
here shall be one law for the nativeborn and the stranger among you.” – Exodus 12:49 Some years ago, I was speaking with a North Carolina “born-and-bred” congregant about a pastoral visit I had made to a family living in West Raleigh. He raised an eyebrow and pulled me close. “You know, Rabbi, as late as the 1970s, there was a sign in that neighborhood saying: ‘No Jews or dogs allowed.’” My jaw dropped. My parents and immigrant grandparents shared with me stories of legalized anti-Semitism in the United States. And, over my years in Raleigh, I had come to learn that certain neighborhoods and social clubs once had ordinances that prohibited Jews from joining. I wasn’t naive. But this neighborhood, the one where a half-dozen congregants now lived, was once a home for blatant anti-Semitism? It floored me. Sadly, it shouldn’t have. When I heard that the Supreme Court, albeit on narrow grounds, sided with a Colorado baker’s refusal to serve a gay couple, I shook my head in shame. In 2018, with all the progress that we have made, LGBTQ Americans are still being targeted by Supreme Court-sanctioned bigotry. Could you imagine if that Colorado baker had refused to serve a white, male Christian who chose to put a Biblical verse on his wedding cake? Thousands of years before the Declaration of Human Rights, the Book of Exodus demanded that every person in ancient Israel — both citizen and foreigner alike — be treated equally. For us, today, it may sound like an obvious moral tenet. But in antiquity, when xenophobia was common, the verse served as a rebuttal to all those who wished to discriminate against the stranger. The terms “native-born” and “stranger” can be understood metaphorically. Any person who is fully at home in a society — that person is the “native.” And any person who experiences legalized discrimination — that person is the “stranger.” It is not necessarily about where
12
qnotes
June 29-July 12 . 2018
one is born; it’s about who holds governmentbacked power. For far too long, our country has failed to live up to the Biblical mandate of truly honoring the God-given rights of the stranger, the minority, and the powerless. For the LGBT community, in particular, being treated like a stranger has too often been the norm. As we conclude LGBTQ Pride Month, we should certainly take time to honor the remarkable advances our country has made in regard to expanding and protecting the legal rights of all Americans, including, for example, the right to marry.
Photo Credit: michael715 via Adobe Stock
We should also see this month as an opportunity to gird ourselves for a fight. Not just on behalf of a gay couple who wished to be served by a small business in Colorado. But also in support of all minority groups who refuse to continue to be treated as strangers in our society. Dr. King once taught, “The arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” In 2018 and beyond, we must help bend that arc until every neighborhood, county and state in the United States of America recognizes the inalienable rights of every person, native-born and stranger. West Raleigh was once an open home for anti-Semitism. But, not anymore. Colorado and beyond: Open up your Bible and see that change is coming your way as well. : : — Rabbi Eric Solomon is the spiritual leader of Beth Meyer Synagogue in Raleigh and serves on the board of Truah: The Rabbinic Call For Human Rights.
++++++++ Sponsored Content ++++++++
from the Rx pad……
by Rx Clinic Pharmacy, a comprehensive onsite service of Ballantyne Family Medicine
Skin Care Matters, Too By Lois Quaye, Doctor of Pharmacy Candidate Skin care is of growing popularity and concern in society today, especially amongst the younger generations. It is of no surprise that many young individuals have struggled with acne and eczema while growing up. This often leads to spending hundreds of dollars buying the latest product on the TV screen, claiming to be “clinically proven” to clear skin of blemishes. However, one must consider the importance behind the benefits of using natural skin care products daily in order to prevent breakouts, dry skin, rash, or even potential fungal infections. One of the most basic and essential ways to maintain well-nourished skin is to stay hydrated by drinking a sufficient amount of water daily. The body consists of approximately 70% water. Skin cells require water to function properly. Additionally, drinking enough water aids in combating skin disorders such as dry skin, eczema, psoriasis, and wrinkles. It also boosts the metabolic rate and improves digestion by flushing out excess toxins from the body. This in turn gives your skin a healthy, glowing look. Adequate water consumption serves as a POWERHOUSE behind healthy facial skin, and also has benefits in keeping your glands well-nourished. Aim to drink approximately half of your body weight in fluid ounces, daily. For example, if one weighs 150 pounds, it would be beneficial to drink about 75 fluid ounces of water daily to stay hydrated while keeping the skin glowing. With proper technique, natural alternatives such as green
tea, tea tree oil, sesame and coconut oil are also great for hydrating the skin, opening up pores and keeping the skin clear for lasting effects. Apple cider vinegar has also been clinically shown to be effective at treating fungal skin infections as well. Due to its acidic and antimicrobial properties, apple cider vinegar is a great natural remedy that could aid in the treatment of fungal infections. Keeping a healthy diet high in fruits and vegetables with proper nutrients as well as exercising regularly is an awesome way to revitalize the body with energy to keep your skin radiant as well. Importantly — kick out the stress! Destressing is one of the most effective ways to prevent facial breakouts. Oftentimes due to stress, cortisol levels in the body become elevated which could have an effect on oil glands within the skin, leading to stress-induced breakouts and pimples. Elevated stress can cause damage to collagen in the skin, which in turn can lead to premature wrinkles. Consistency is key! Beginning a daily skin care regimen can go a long way for people who have struggled with skin issues. Wash your face daily, with warm water and soap/ cleansers that contain alpha hydroxyl acids and beta hydroxyl acids. After washing, gently pat your face dry and apply lotion or natural oils within 3 minutes of the face wash. Consult with your doctor prior to choosing any soaps and/or natural remedies. Make sure to consume your daily intake of water and keep a nutrient-packed diet with regular exercise. Most importantly, do the things in life that make you happy! Self-care, meditation, and reduced stress is just as important to your body as it is to you. Let’s rejuvenate our skin together, today!
Monkey Business via Adobe Stock
June 29-July 12 . 2018
qnotes
13
goqnotes.com/to/arts
a&e
dishing with buff faye by Buff Faye :: qnotes contributor :: info@bufffaye.com
Drag Herstory 101: 1800s through the 1920s ‘Pansy Craze’
I
Victorian London when they walked through the n the beginning, there were drag queens. streets in women’s clothing. Their names were After all, Jesus and his Apostles did wear “Fanny and Stella” and they are said to be the dresses by today’s standards. But I think first men to openly go out in public in drag. They those scrolls got lost somewhere. Instead, shocked so many pedestrians that the police today’s lesson is “Drag Herstory 101: From the launched investigations that were normally 1800s through the 1920s Pansy Craze.” Let us reserved for high criminal offenses. Because now explore — where did the phrase drag no law specifically forbade “cross-dressing,” queen come from? And how far back can we men found in women’s clothing were usually find drag queens in history — or herstory? arrested for “the abominable crime of buggery” It is still debatable where the term drag or for prostitution. or drag queen comes from. Some still share While not widely accepted in the notion that the term the 1800s, drag was not always “drag” dates back to as taboo as it would eventually Shakespearean times. Plays become in the 1940s and later. would have all characters Around the turn of the played by men “dressed recentury was one of my personal sembling a girl.” In the play favorites, Julian Eltinge. He script, it would abbreviate became one of the most popular “DRAG.” vaudeville performers with his Others date the phrase drag. Eltinge was so popular “drag queen” back to that he even launched his own the late 1800s. It was a magazine full of wardrobe and reference to the hoop makeup advice for women. skirt that would “drag” It is during the 1920s that drag along the ground. The term Photo Credit: Matthew’s Island of Misfit Toys becomes more closely aligned with the gay com“queen,” which is related to the Old English munity with the creation of “drag balls.” These word “quean” or “cwene” which referred originally started as enormous parties where most to women, was also used as a derogatory men dressed in drag. These drag balls gained term toward homosexuals and promiscuous more cultural attention and eventually started the women in the 1800s. period deemed the “Pansy Craze.” Another possibility is that it derives from New York, Paris, Berlin and London were the Romani word for skirt, which appears in a the epicenters for the Pansy Craze and pernumber of Romani dialects of Northern Europe formers like Rae Bourbon, Harry S. Franklyn with forms like “daraka” and “jendraka.” and Vander Clyde, or “Barbette,” were quite Hmmmm…so it’s safe to say, “It’s popular as a result. Barbette traveled around complicated.” the States and Europe with her infamous aerial I am constantly reminded in our diverse act, which featured death-defying trapeze LGBTQ community that words don’t have stunts in full drag. At the end of her act, she meaning. We give words meaning based on our would remove her wig and strike a masculine shared experiences. If we define drag queens pose. Sound familiar today? as men who defy gender norms and dress as It was not until the 1940s that gays became women, then we have many examples of drag increasingly more taboo and were seen as a queens dating back to the 1800s. (And for the real threat by the public. Drag or drag queens focus of this lesson, I am separating the discusstill had a place in entertainment, however. But sion of trans people for now.) gays and the drag balls went underground to One of the most intriguing drag queens of avoid growing police harassment and arrests. the 1800s was Madam Pattarini or her real name And the Pansy Craze was over. Brigham Morris Young. Oh yeah that’s right! B. (Bell rings.). Damn. Okay. Until next time Morris Young was the son of Brigham Young, when we talk about drag in the 1940s and presecond president of The Church of Jesus Christ Stonewall. Class dismissed. : : of Latter-day Saints (LDS). His father also founded Salt Lake City, and he served as the first governor DRAG TIP: After reading today’s lesson, think of the Utah Territory. And if you’re Mormon how fortunate you are to be a drag queen or you also know of his namesake conservative watch a drag show. Never lose sight of how Mormon college, Brigham Young University. special things are, that might be taken for So B. Morris Young, the son of one of the granted in our community. fathers of the Mormon Church, was a drag queen by the name of Madam Pattarini. He began — Buff Faye calls the Queen City home and publicly performing as a cross-dressing singer in misses her chats with Boom Boom about drag north and central Utah venues from 1885 to the (plus she loves to raise money for charities). 1900s. Madam Pattarini was said to have a conFind her at your favorite bars and hot spots. vincing falsetto, and many in the audience did not Plus don’t forget her monthly Friday and realize that Pattirini was Young. Believe it or not. Saturday night shows, Sunday drag brunch Still, early LDS audiences responded positively, and regular Friday night party bus. and Pattarini was quite popular at the time. Learn more at AllBuff.com. Then there were Frederick Park and Ernest Follow on Twitter @BuffFaye Boulton, also in the 1800s. Both shocked
SHOUT OUTS: There is a benefit for Boom Boom on Wednesday, July 4 at 8 p.m. at
Boulevard 1820. We hope to begin to raise money to paint a mural in her memory as part of the “Drag Queens of the Queen City” mural project.
14
qnotes
June 29-July 12 . 2018
goqnotes.com/to/arts
tell trinity by Trinity :: qnotes contributor :: trinity@telltrinity.com
The girlfriend, the daughter, the relationship & the father Dear Trinity, I came out last year in my first lesbian relationship. Next month my girlfriend and I plan to move to another state because of her job. However, I have a three-year-old daughter whose father is active in her life. Now, if I move he wants custody. Help? Daddy’s Little Girl, Virginia Beach, VA Dear DLG, For gay custody/legal disputes Google the Lambda Legal Defense & Education Fund. I worked for them in college. Now since this is about taking your daughter away, I must ask, “Is the father the real troublemaker or is it your girlfriend who wants to move?” Being raised by two families is hard but in two states…please! Who gets your daughter or who gets a longdistance relationship is the issue. Honey, someone has to bend cupid’s arrow a little! Get your girlfriend a local job, and tell her if she loves you she has to stay before you end up childless! Hello Trinity, So many people today want to be single. But I’ve been with my partner for nine years and it’s as good as day one. Don’t you think a lasting, loving relationship is healthier than being single? Marriage Minded, Albuquerque, NM
Hello Marriage Minded, Yes, I remember reading a study that said couples live longer. Maybe it’s related to housework? But, sweetie, not all relationships are healthy like yours, and single life does have many adventures that may not be healthy but fun! (Hey, I remember what it’s like to be single, as well as coupled. Single was like flies to honey, I attracted some very suitable suitors! Take a look at my cartoon for how I spend my time thinking of the past or a possible future.) Hey Trinity, I’m 25 and have been living with my boyfriend for eight months. He’s a hard-working homeowner. However, he’s 29, and when I want to get my freak on with him he’s not interested. I love him, but I have needs! Sexually Frustrated, Charlotte, NC Hey SF, Being tired and sexually excited rarely go hand in fist. So, start by acting and dressing sexier without being too aggressive and add some wine with dinner. Once he’s loosened up, let’s see what happens. And, lastly, take vacations. Couples do it to help their sex life. It’s the rule. Baby, you may have to work as hard as him to “get his freak on!” Good luck.
a&e
Dearest Trinity, I just started dating someone really great. This time I promised myself I was going to be the best boyfriend ever. Any ideas for keeping my promise? Mr. Best Ever, Denver, CO Dearest Mr. Best Ever, To keep promises or declarations one has to make a business plan and stick to it. Even when you fail, which you may, you must get right back up and stick to it again. So, pumpkin, to keep you on track here are: Trinity’s Tough Declarations For Being An Excellent Boyfriend Or Girlfriend 1. Commitment: I promise to not date, sleep with or search the Internet for anyone other than my boy/girlfriend. 2. Compromise: I promise to not “throw in the towel” whenever we have a problem. 3. Resiliency: I promise to make time, dinner and endless attempts towards making my relationship healthy and lasting. 4. A dventure: I promise to continually try new things that will make me a better boy/girlfriend: intellectually, emotionally and sexually. 5. I ntrigue: I promise to keep a little mystery about myself, as well as push myself toward being interesting, exciting and fun. 6. R omance: I promise to be affectionate, charitable and romantic, as well as help with the chores. 7. Control: I promise never to be smothering, insecure or controlling.
8. Communication: I promise to always listen and communicate my feelings, yet keep some problems to myself so as not to burden the relationship. 9. Change: I promise to change bad habits, work on deep-seated issues and not make my mate my therapist. 10. Lastly, Responsibility: I promise to take responsibility for my actions, not blame anyone for being themselves and to compromise…till it kills me! : : 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.
June 29-July 12 . 2018
qnotes
15
goqnotes.com/to/arts
a&e
out in print by Terri Schlichenmeyer :: qnotes contributor
Exploring trauma amidst chaos “The Trauma Cleaner: One Woman’s Extraordinary Life in the Business of Death, Decay, and Disaster” by Sarah Krasnostein ©2018, St. Martin’s Press $26.99, 291 pages
W
ash your hands thoroughly. That’s good advice, no matter where you are. At the risk of sounding germophobic, you never know what lurked on that which you just touched. Stay healthy, keep clean, be tidy and wash your hands because, as you’ll see in the new book “The Trauma Cleaner” by Sarah Krasnostein, messy life, messy house. The woman didn’t seem very old, but it was really hard to tell. She wouldn’t let anyone past her screen door Photo Credit: Facebook — as if the stench wasn’t enough to keep most people away.
16
qnotes
June 29-July 12 . 2018
Hoarder situations like that, suicides, undiscovered deaths and accidents are businessas-usual for Sandra Pankhurst, 60-something owner of Specialized Trauma Cleaning (STC) in Australia. But as author Sarah Krasnostein learned when she befriended her, Pankhurst extends to those clients compassion, and nothing less. There was ample reason for that. Although many of the questions Krasnostein asked Pankhurst were waved away with claims of disremembering, it’s true that Pankhurst was born a boy, raised as a boy, became a man, married a woman and fathered two sons. But “Peter,” as Krasnostein pseudonymously calls Pankhurst then, was hiding a part of himself so, soon after his youngest son’s birth, he left his family to live as a woman. Though “her reality is as conflicted as it is real,” Pankhurst told Krasnostein tales of being a sex worker and a madam. Dates and locales may’ve been incorrect and names forgotten, but it’s also true that Pankhurst eventually fully transitioned and continued to work in the sex industry until she was raped and almost lost her life. She fell in love, fell out of love, fell in love again, married an older man and divorced. It was because of her ex that Pankhurst founded STC. “As a boss,” says Krasnostein, “Sandra is, variously, mother hen…bad cop…and hanging judge.” Her business cleans up sites affected by hoarding and death, and she’s matter-of-fact about bugs, vermin and smells as her staff hauls away pathogen-soaked furniture while ensuring that next-of-kin are treated with kindness. Says Pankhurst, “None of us know what tomorrow’s got in store.” As enjoyable as this unique tale is, there are a few things you’ll need to know before you sweep through “The Trauma Cleaner.” First of all, in her get-to-know-you time, author Sarah Krasnostein became close friends with her subject, which is good in most cases. Here, though, Krasnostein uses familiarity to gush about her subject in a way that could make readers wince uncomfortably. She’s also exceedingly, perhaps needlessly, explicit in details of a sexual nature while largely ignoring big opportunities for enlightenment on the business side of the book. And yet… The goodness — and there’s an industrialsized dustpan full of it — comes between the lines. This is a biography of cringing, compassion and somebody’s-got-to-do-it resourcefulness, plus irritations, but with a breezy heft of fabrication built in. It’s so singular that it’s almost irresistible; indeed, if you can get past the gushing and the gruesome, “The Trauma Cleaner” is a book you shouldn’t wait to get your hands on. : :
June 29-July 12 . 2018
qnotes
17
EVENTS July 2018 ‘TransGeek’ Time Out Youth 3800 Monroe Rd., Charlotte 4-8 p.m. Transcend Charlotte teams up with PFLAG and their hosts Time Out Youth Center for a screening and discussion of “TransGeek.” The 2018 documentary compiles years of interviews with trans and gender nonconforming people, shedding light on “the intersection of gender identity and geek culture.” Director Kevin McCarthy leads a panel discussion to follow. This is a free event. bit.ly/transgeek.
SEP JUL MO
00 08
‘The Feminist on SEP JUL MO Cellblock Y’ — A Dialogue on Race and Masculinity 2916 Broad River Rd., Columbia 5:15-8:30 p.m. Screening of documentary “The Feminist on Cellblock Y,”which centers on a 25-year-old convicted felon and his fellow inmates as they participate in a rehabilitation program based on feminist literature. Discussion to follow will examine the subject’s increasing activism as it relates to “racism, masculinity, patriarchy, sexism, misogyny and the LGBTQ community from a Black feminist perspective.” Tickets are $5 for adults 18 and older; youth and those who are unable to pay will be admitted free of charge. Light refreshments will be served. bit.ly/oncellblocky.
00 09
Indigo Girls The Fillmore 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd., Charlotte 8 p.m. The iconic rock duo visit one of Charlotte’s premier music venues, supported by opening act The War and Treaty. Tickets start at $32. Standing room only. livenation.com/artists/41545/indigo-girls.
SEP JUL MO
00 13
Caregiver Support Group SEP JUL MO Metropolitan Community Church Sacred Journey 1735 5th Ave. W., Hendersonville 6:30 p.m. Peer-led meetings on the third Wednesday of each month help those caring for an ill, aging or disabled loved one “[find] local resources, network with others who understand your stresses, and explore strategies for coping with big crisis situations as well as little day to day frustrations.” Participants are invited to share a light supper at 5:30 p.m. For more information, contact Kay Bachemin at 828-388-1595, or Pastor Joan M. Saniuk, by phone at 828-693-9110. sacredjourneypastor@yahoo.com.
00 18
Submit your event to our calendar! Email calendar@goqnotes.com with complete information. All submissions must include date, event name, location, address, city, time, a short description of the event including costs and an email and web address for the submitting organization. Continues through July 29 SEP JUL MO ‘Steel Magnolias’ Duke Family Performance Hall at Davidson College 207 Faculty Dr., Davidson Times vary The Davidson Community Players take on Robert Harling’s joyful, heartrending ode to Southern sisterhood. davidsoncommunityplayers.org/main-stage.
Continues through July 29‘ SEP JUL MO The Book of Mormon’ Blumenthal Performing Arts Center 130 N. Tryon St., Charlotte Times vary The Belk Theater hosts cultural sensation, critical darling, and nine-time Tony Awardwinning Best Musical “The Book of Mormon.” Tickets start at $25. blumenthalarts.org –––––––––––––––––––– Janelle Monáe The Fillmore 1000 NC Music Factory Blvd., Charlotte 7:30 p.m. Groundbreaking singer, songwriter, rapper, acWakanda Resorts Wear SEP JUL MO tor and founder of her Summer Fashion Show own Wondaland Arts Society record NoDa Creative Arts Studio 2424 N. Davidson St., Charlotte label, Janelle Monáe brings her Dirty Computer Tour to the Queen City stage. 6-9 p.m. Tickets are $39.50. Standing room only. Beauty Impact Accessories and livenation.com/artists/43162/janelle-monae. AfricStyle Initiatives celebrate the beauty of Africa’s rich heritage with tropics-inspired designs in authentic Continues on July 29‘ SEP JUL MO ankara prints. General admission is Beyond the Rainbow’ $15 in advance, $20 at the door. $30 VIP Summer Showcase pass includes gift bag and networking The Ballroom at Quail Hollow and cocktail hour 5-6 p.m. Designer reg8514 Park Rd., Charlotte istration is $150 and must be completed Saturday 7-10 p.m.; Sunday 5-8 p.m. by July 15. Corporate sponsorships Instructors and students from the South $200. More details are available online. Charlotte ballroom bit.ly/wakandaresorts. dance studio join
00 19
00 21
To see more upcoming events, visit goqnotes.com/calendar/
18
qnotes
June 29-July 12 . 2018
00 24
00 28
For Ladies Only Pride Day SEP JU:L MO Party Blue Olive Lounge 14021 Conlan Cir., Charlotte 4-9 p.m. Features DJ, hookah and drink specials. Tickets are $5 advance purchase or $10 on the day of the event. Attendees ages 21+ only. pridedayparty.eventbrite.com. –––––––––––––––––––– Hayley Kiyoko PNC Arena 1400 Edwards Mill Rd., Raleigh 7 p.m. Featured among Rolling Stone’s “10 Artists You Need To Know” in 2017, Kiyoko garnered attention with her breakout single “Girls Like Girls,” and hit the headlines again in recent months when she published an earnest call for action against bi erasure in popular music. Kiyoko sets out on tour this summer to promote her full-length debut “Expectations” alongside artists including Panic! At the Disco. Tickets start at $36. hayleykiyokoofficial.com/tour.
00 28
forces to bring to life its biannual, Broadway-inspired extravaganza performance. July’s event will explore the world of “The Wizard of Oz” through music, acting, and, of course, dance. Tickets $30-$35, with VIP table seating available for $45. theballroomqh.com.
Submit your event at goqnotes.com/eventsubmit/
goqnotes.com/to/life
life
Our People:
Q&A with Alex Aguilar Actor, dancer, choreographer, sportsman by Torie Dominguez :: qnotes staff writer
I
f there is a single jewel of wisdom imparted to every student of acting, it may be this: commit. Alex Aguilar commits, not only in his role as the larger-than-life, fantastical Merperson in David Valdes Greenwood’s “The Mermaid Hour,” but in all his endeavors. The Florida native graduated from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte with degrees in both dance and biology and has immersed himself in the community, taking part in everything from choreography to contact sports. Aguilar speaks to qnotes about kindness, corny jokes and why he remains a kid at heart.
The Merperson is a performance artist whose work inspires a young girl to take action that will alter not only her life, but that of her family. How do you hope to inspire your audience? Theater is what saved me from myself and helped me grow into the person I am today. I hope that with my performances, I can inspire audiences to not only to dream but more importantly to take action. David Valdes Greenwood recently spoke to The Charlotte Observer about his belief in “the universal specific, the idea that the truth of the story helps people find themselves in it.” What universal truths do you think “The Mermaid Hour” reflects? This play is about family, love, hardship and acceptance; and I do not know one person who does not experience any of these things. Was “The Mermaid Hour” your first foray into what could be considered LGBTQ-themed work? No, my first LGBTQ-themed work was also with Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte. In 2004, I was visiting Charlotte and was cast in the play “Take Me Out” by Richard Greenberg. It’s an all-male cast show about a baseball team’s popular and successful player coming out of the closet and how it affects his teammates and the season. Have you been part of any other LGBTQ-related community endeavors or causes, either in the Charlotte area or elsewhere? For several years I played on the Charlotte Royals Rugby Football Club and also play various sports with Stonewall Sports. I also try to volunteer, attend events, or support causes within the community as well. You’ve recently taken a position as a teaching artist at Children’s Theatre of Charlotte summer camps. What will that entail? I am choreographing and teaching dance to youths attending the camps each week. Their
enthusiasm is infectious! Are you involved in any other artistic pursuits? Yes! After I finish teaching this summer, I will begin rehearsals with Children’s Theatre of Charlotte’s Resident Touring Company (RTC). We will be touring the plays “Spelling 2-5-5” by Jennifer Overton and “Rapunzel” by Mike Kenny. I am also working on a few dance and photography projects on my own. Are there any words you live by, or advice that you’ve particularly taken to heart? Be kind to yourself. I feel like the world can use more kindness, but we also need to be a lot more kind to ourselves. What accomplishment are you most proud of? Currently, I would have to say earning my Bachelor of Arts degrees in both dance and biology this past December are my proudest accomplishment. There were so many struggles emotionally, physically and financially to get to that finish line, and I am happy that I continued fighting to the end. Where do you see yourself in five years? At graduation, I told myself that I need to tour a show for a year and then return to school for physical therapy. Now that I’m in the RTC, I suppose in five years I will hopefully be a practicing PT. You starred alongside a young person in “The Mermaid Hour,” you’ve appeared in a production of the musical “Annie” and you’ll be spending the next several months with Children’s Theatre. How does working with kids compare to working with adults? Whether working with youths or adults, on the stage we are all children playing with our imaginations to bring ideas to life. I always tell people that I am a big kid, and I feel as a performer you have to be in touch with your inner child to do well in this business. Working with youths helps remind us to keep that magic alive in our imaginations and in our lives. What kind of role would you love to take on in the future? In my last semester at UNC Charlotte, I took a liking to site-specific dance and the many things one can do with that. I would love to create a work in the near future along those studies and practice. And finally, no pressure, but what’s the absolute funniest joke you know? Oh gosh! I am horrible at jokes. I’m more situationally funny because funny things tend to happen to me, but I tend to lean more on the dad jokes. “What do you call a fake noodle? An impasta!” : : Learn more about Aguilar in qnotes’ extended Our People feature at goqnotes.com/60409.
June 29-July 12 . 2018
qnotes
19
20
qnotes
June 29-July 12 . 2018