QNotes, July 23, 2021

July 23-Aug. 5, 2021

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July 23-Aug. 5, 2021

inside this issue

July 23-Aug. 5, 2021 Vol 36 No 07

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Joey Amato, Rev. Dennis Foust, Kendra R. Johnson, L’Monique King, David Aaron Moore, Julianna Peres, Chris Rudisill, Trinity

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Nondiscrimination ordinances have been passed in several North Carolina cities.This indicates a positive trend of protections improving across the state.

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6 Charlotte Black Pride in Pictures 6 Briefs 7 Blue Cross Insurance to Cover Some GenderAffirming Surgeries in N.C. 7 Time Out Youth Receives Surprise Funds for Housing Program

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Progress for LGBTQ Rights in North Carolina

8 Poor No More Won’t Leave Trans Community Behind 10 Access to Healthcare Improves Black Economic Stability

13 Tell Trinity 14 R&B Legend Stephanie Mills Releases New Single

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Time Out Youth Receives Surprise Funds for Housing Progam

Lowe’s has given another generous donation to an LGBTQ organization in the Charlotte region. Time Out Youth received a check for $15,000 and a Lowe’s gift card for $10,000. The funds will be used to invest in services such as housing and employment.

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life

A Long Weekend Getaway Our People: Frank Dorsey II

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4 Progress for LGBTQ Rights in North Carolina 5 Listening to Voices from the Shade: Celebrating Gradual Progress by Refusing a Hardened Heart

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July 23-Aug. 5, 2021

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Progress for LGBTQ Rights in North Carolina Political Voices

by Kendra R. Johnson, Equality NC Executive Director Contributing Writer

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s we continue to live through the height of summer, there are changes brewing for LGBTQ people in North Carolina. Even though Pride month is over, LGTBQinclusive nondiscrimination ordinances are continuing to advance around the state at the local level. This is an exciting time for equality in this state, but we still must speak out. We have to make sure that things head in the right direction.

So far, nine ordinances have been passed around the state: Hillsborough, Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Durham, Orange County, Greensboro, Buncombe County, Asheville and, most recently, Apex. That’s 10 percent of North Carolina’s population who are newly covered by ordinances — a lot for just six months — and we’re just getting started.

Moreover, earlier this month, several of those ordinances took effect, with Durham, Greensboro, Asheville and Buncombe County finally implementing LGBTQ nondiscrimination after passing it earlier this year. Folks in those communities now know that they are protected from discrimination under the law.

Here at Equality NC, we’re very pleased to see this progress. Audra Killingsworth, an out member of the Apex city council, said it best after Apex’s ordinance passed last month: “All North Carolinians deserve to be treated with dignity and fairness in the place they call home. I’m so proud for Apex to join eight other North Carolina municipalities in affirming the rights of its LGBTQ citizens and recognizing their full humanity under the law.”

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Nondiscrimination ordinances have been passed in several North Carolina cities. (Photo Credit: olezzo via Adobe Stock) We’re so glad to see that so many North Carolina cities are affirming the rights of their citizens and recognizing their full humanity.

The result of all of these changes is that, in many respects, the fight for nondiscrimination is switching into a new gear. All of this progress is exciting and new, but these unprecedented opportunities also mean major risks.

It’s time now to bring it home and pass ordinances in even more communities which fully cover everyone.

A major upcoming opportunity is in Charlotte. The Charlotte City Council recently announced that they would be passing a nondiscrimination ordinance in August, a major positive move for the city which was at the center of much of House Bill 2. This is an incredible step and is the result of the advocacy of many people on the ground in

the Charlotte area. All of our protests, letters and lobbying have paid off, and Equality NC offers a hearty thank you.

Even Republicans on the council have introduced their own new ordinance, which shows that there’s an unprecedented degree of agreement on the issue of nondiscrimination ordinances, and that’s a result of us making our voices heard.

But there are potential pitfalls here too. We need to make sure that the nondiscrimination ordinance that passes the Charlotte city council is one which fully covers the LGBTQ community. That means it doesn’t include exceptions and carve-outs for small business or religious institutions. And that means that Charlotte’s ordinance has to include protections for folks with natural hair because LGBTQ people are the victims of racialized hair discrimination too. We need an effective, comprehensive and intersectional ordinance to protect folks in Charlotte, whether it be in public accommodations, private employment, housing or more.

So we need your voice. Our elected officials need to know that what we need and want are comprehensive ordinances which cover everyone. You can contact the Charlotte city council here and tell them that we must be covered for nondiscrimination in public accommodations, private employment and housing.

And if you don’t live in Charlotte, you can contact your local elected officials too, at ncisready.org, and tell them that your city and county needs nondiscrimination. We’re fighting for nondiscrimination all across the state, from the mountains to the sea, and that means we need you to speak out no matter where you are.

We’re entering into an exciting new phase for LGBTQ protections in North Carolina — let’s make sure that they do their job. : :

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Listening to Voices From the Shade: Celebrating Gradual Progress by Refusing a Hardened Heart Spiritual Reflections

by Rev. Dennis Foust Contributing Writer

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ircumstances can harden the human heart until a person becomes resentful and afraid.

Years ago, a friend told me about some of the best advice she ever received. When she was 14 years young, she was struggling with emotions caused by her gradual adolescent acceptance of her sexual orientation. In her small town of less than 10,000 residents, all she knew about lesbianism had been learned through reading while standing in the aisle at the public library. One afternoon, as she was trying to figure out how to come out to someone in her family or a close friend, she found herself walking along filled with confusion, anger and the desolation of loneliness.

She felt misunderstood and unloved. As she kicked an empty Dr. Pepper can down the sidewalk, she passed by a shady yard.

From that shade, an older woman spoke wisdom from a rocking chair: “Young lady, don’t let life harden your heart.”

This past year, I remembered this story as I listened to a young woman from a small town tell me how her family is learning how to embrace her and her wife.

Yes, circumstances can harden the human heart until a person becomes resentful and afraid. However, the same life circumstances can be embraced by a person to nurture a softening of the heart resulting in deeper self-awareness and broadened capacities to express compassion.

These are days when self-awareness, acceptance, kindness and compassion seem to be unexpected alternatives — like those short news stories at the end of the broadcast reporting some surprising initiative of graciousness or peacebuilding by a citizen. Increasingly, although the evils of mean-spiritedness, bias, prejudice, discrimination and violence are often the focus, there are increasing signs that hearts are softening toward LGBTQ+ persons.

Society is increasingly becoming more embracing of LGBTQ+ persons according to a report in US News and World Report (‘Global Acceptance of LGBTQ On the Rise,’

by Juhie Bhatia, June 25, 2020). While persons who have a higher degree of education, younger persons and less religious persons voice more acceptance than their peers, a study by Pew Research Center reports that 72 percent of Americans in their studies say homosexuality should be accepted. This is a tremendous increase from 46 percent in 1994 and 51 percent in 2002.

Almost 60 percent of Christians are now accepting of LGBTQ+ persons. So, while 72 percent is not high enough, it certainly re-

fear and confusion. Let us continue to share the light and truth we know which always prevails over darkness, injustice and evil. We are doing more than kicking the can down the road. We are creating a better world.

My friend who was kicking the empty Dr. Pepper can down the sidewalk at age 14 is now in her 60s. She is a professional person with national influence on other leaders.

Today, she is still actively faithful in her service of others celebrating gradual progress while refusing a hardened heart. May we listen to voices of wisdom from the shade. : :

flects a gradual softening of human hearts toward the LGBTQ+ community.

However, because many organizations, institutions, businesses, religious communities, political movements, etc. still refuse to appreciate the struggles that accompany sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression, let us persevere with patience. Let us not lose heart as we collaborate with reflective actions on behalf of increased acceptance and understanding. Let us help people move beyond every prejudice as we intensify our efforts toward human rights and community building based upon kindness and compassion. Let us not be deterred by people motivated by resentment,

Dennis W. Foust is the Senior Minister at St. John’s Baptist Church of Charlotte, N.C.

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July 23-Aug. 5, 2021

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Briefs

news

NORTH CAROLINA Equality NC Seeking Three Changemakers to Join Their Staff

Charlotte Black Pride in Pictures

The positions of Triad Civic Engagement Coordinator, Communications Director and Western NC Civic Engagement Coordinator are open at Equality NC (ENC). Ranging from full-time to contract, these roles include overseeing community organizers, creating social media posts and monitoring LGBTQ-related legislation. ENC’s mission highlights the importance of supporting BIPOC members of the LGBTQ community, and they ask that all applicants uphold the same values.

info: bit.ly/2VDD1kW

National New York Dads File Lawsuit Against School After Son Endures Intense Bullying

Photo Credit: Bobby Kerns Productions

For two years, these parents had no idea the abuse that their son, who also identifies as gay, sustained while enrolled at one of Queen’s most prominent performing arts schools. The boy’s fathers decided to take him out of class when, at only 14 years old, he was having suicidal thoughts. These parents were appalled to find that, despite the anti-discrimination laws in place, the school’s staff did nothing to help their son. The Department of Education is investigating the incident.

info: bit.ly/3r5VFh1 Photo Credit: Jim Yarbrough

Photo Credit: Bobby Kerns Productions

Black Gay Man Killed After Being Harassed by Homophobes — Missouri Police Say It’s Unrelated On July 28, De’Angelo Wallace, age 28, was shot and killed in downtown Kansas City.

Wallace’s family believe that his death was a hate crime, while the Kansas City Police (KCKPD) reject this theory, saying that his murder was most likely the result of a fight between him and some other man.

Discouraged by the KCKPD’s dismissal, Wallace’s loved ones sought support from Kansas City’s LGBTQ Commission Vice Chair, Justice Horn, who agrees that Wallace was most likely targeted as a Black member of the LGBTQ community.

info: bit.ly/3AYYULC Photo Credit: Bobby Kerns Productions

Photo Credit: Jim Yarbrough

Photo Credit: Jim Yarbrough

International Brazilian Man Under Arrest for Murder of Lesbian Ex-Wife Ana Paulo Campestrini’s ex-husband, Wagner Cardeal Oganauskas, convinced his friend to help him murder his ex-wife, who had come out as a lesbian four years prior. This friend, Marcos Antonio Ramon, shot into Campestrini’s car 14 times, killing her almost instantly. Both Oganauskas and Ramon are in police custody. Law enforcement speculates that both men were intensely homophobic and that Oganauskas did not want to share custody of his and Campestrini’s three children.

Photo Credit: Jim Yarbrough

info: bit.ly/3xQlSCw

School in India Offers Free Tuition to Transgender Students Kinnar Vidyalaya opened its doors to the residents of Vasai East at the end of June.

With impoverished housing surrounding the school, this educational haven was created for the express purpose of serving the underserved. Not only are all 25 currently enrolled students transgender, but several staff members are genderexpansive as well. This schooling will give alumni a highly increased employability.

info: bit.ly/3AYBKFh Photo Credit: Bobby Kerns Productions

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Photo Credit: Jim Yarbrough

— Compiled by Julianna Peres

Blue Cross Insurance to Cover Some Gender-Affirming Surgeries in N.C.

As of July 13, Blue Cross Blue Shield (Blue Cross NC) has pledged to provide insurance for gender-affirming voice therapy and facial feminization procedures.

Through the work of the Transgender Legal Defense and Education Fund (TLDEF), Equality NC, the LGBTQ Center of Durham and two transgender women with Blue Cross coverage, healthcare is becoming more inclusive to gender-expansive North Carolina residents.

These two women, Kathryn Vandegrift and Lauren (who does not want her last name publicized), were refused facial surgery by Blue Cross NC because it was not considered to be a matter of life or death. However, after discussions opened up with TLDEF, Vandegrift and Lauren, Blue Cross came to realize that, according to the World Professional Association for Transgender Health’s Standards of Health (WPATH), gender-affirming care is a necessity.

Blue Cross now reasons that, since gender dysphoria typically heralds several mental and even physical issues, voice therapy and feminization surgery are integral to adequate healthcare. In addition to transgender persons, nonbinary individuals have shared that they too would benefit from affordable gender-related care.

“Not being able to have the surgery I need has affected every aspect of my life.

From my mental and physical health to my professional life, everything has suffered,” Lauren shares, “Without this coverage, which I am already paying for, I would not be able to afford the surgery that I need. I am so happy to know that I can finally start making plans for a brighter future for myself.”

Not the first and hopefully not the last to incorporate transgender-related services into their policies, Blue Cross NC caters to countless college students and youth who will benefit from receiving affirming care. Other companies that have recently updated their policies include Aetna, Anthem, Cigna and Blue Cross Blue Shield Oregon.

With local assistance for any healthcare-related discrimination, North Carolina residents may reach out to the TDLEF, the Duke Law Health Justice Clinic, Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP or Harris, Wiltshire & Grannis LLP, all of whom were responsible for opening the conversation with Blue Cross NC. Any gender-expansive persons in the United States may also reach out to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, which has appointed the Office for Civil Rights to act as a liaison between the LGBTQ community and healthcare providers.

“Access to equitable healthcare is a lifesaving resource for trans and gendernonconforming individuals, particularly Black and brown trans women who’ve already faced a long history of hostility in North Carolina,” adds Kendra Johnson, Executive Director of Equality NC. info: bit.ly/3BeN4gA — Julianna Peres

Time Out Youth Receives Surprise Funds for Housing Programs

Towards the end of Pride Month, O’Neale Atkinson IV, Interim Executive Director of Charlotte’s Time Out Youth (TOY), took representatives from Lowe’s on a tour of the facilities. After continued communication with Lowe’s for an extended period, Atkinson was excited to show first-hand all of the changes that have been made during COVID-19. It came as a total surprise to Atkinson when the tour concluded with two giant checks featuring two large amounts.

With a check for $15,000 and a Lowe’s gift Photo Credit: Cox Media Group/WSOC-TV card for $10,000, says Atkinson: “Our intention at Time Out Youth is to invest in services rather than just events. Over the past five to seven years, TOY has shifted our focus to mental health, employment and housing.”

In 2020 alone, TOY put over 30 young adults into their first apartment or home.

In addition to providing and arranging housing, Time Out Youth now provides “welcome home kits” to new homeowners and renters. These include household needs as simple as lamps or trash cans. “The Lowe’s gift cards will be incredibly useful for move-in day,” he adds.

Atkinson confirms that he and his colleagues are looking forward to working with each young adult in a manner that is geared to their specific needs and tastes. TOY plans to expand their focus on LGBTQ housing by using the Lowe’s check to provide aid with rental assistance and deposits.

Next month he’ll be returning to his role as Deputy Director at Time Out Youth, as Sarah Mikhail steps into the position of Executive Director in August. Mikhail is a social worker who has a strong background in social work, youth outreach and housing advocacy.

Atkinson voices high hopes for the future of TOY, soon-to-be Executive Director Mikhail and the future of ongoing community support.

“The Time Out Youth building houses Transcend Charlotte as well as PFLAG Charlotte,” he explains. “I would love to see donations move into avenues for organizations like those.”

It should be noted that TOY did not apply for Lowe’s funding. “There are a lot of barriers for fledgling organizations,” Atkinson adds, “They could benefit from surprise funding as well.” info: bit.ly/3rfwA3f — Julianna Peres

July 23-Aug. 5, 2021

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news

Poor No More Won’t Leave Trans Community Behind LGBTQ-Led Organization Lends a Hand

by L’Monique King qnotes Staff Writer

W

e’ve all heard the old phrase, “you are what you eat,” but what does that mean when the food runs out? Does it make your worth tantamount to nothing?

Anyone with the slightest bit of empathy knows that isn’t the case.

For someone who experiences those feelings of hunger on a regular basis, it’s not uncommon for depression and a lack of self-esteem to follow, becoming a part of the recipe for poverty.

Hunger is just one offshoot of that poverty, and it impacts every aspect of a poor person’s life. For those who are members of marginalized communities (Black, brown, LGBTQ, differently-abled and others) poverty can often be, or can seem like, a continuous cycle with no end in sight. Sometimes the cycle begins in early childhood and sometimes it starts in midlife. Regardless of the starting point, the impact is always devastating.

Since abduction from Africa to enslavement in the Americas, Black people have been making a little go a long way and striving to take care of community members with no blood relation. That’s not very different from what the Black Panther Party tried to do.

Yes, you read that correctly.

They were far more than the gun-toting and beret-wearing militants history often, and incorrectly, portrays them as.

If you ever had free school breakfast or lunch, those meals and programs were inspired by the Black Panther Party (BPP). They started the first free breakfast program in January 1969 at an Episcopal church in Oakland, Calif. The program grew and soon BPP members and volunteers solicited donations from grocery stores, sought advice on nutritious meal choices and prepared and served meals for thousands of children across multiple states.

With that success, they expanded the program to include free ambulance services, free medical clinics and free legal clinics. Unfortunately, J. Edgar Hoover’s campaign to destroy the BPP began with destroying their free breakfast program.

In Chicago, local law enforcement agencies raided sites where the programs were being held, harassed party members (in front of terrified children), destroyed food and even urinated on items set to feed the hungry. Hoover’s efforts (in conjunction with other sanctioned violent and punitive methods) succeeded in dismantling the BPP over time. Not long after, the U.S. government adopted its own free meals program in 1975, which continues today.

According to a United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) report, over 14 million students received free meals prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, and currently about 11 million students still do.

Black folks feeding others in the Black community and actively participating in their own economic mobility isn’t a new idea. Thankfully, it isn’t an idea that died with the dismantling of the Black Panther Party. When the COVID-19 pandemic forced schools to close, many children

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Gladece Knight and Darlyn Gordon at a Poor No More pop-up event in Charlotte (Photo Credit: L’Monique King) were left wondering where one or two of their only meals would come from and many Black-led organizations stepped up.

In Chicago, the non-profit Thankful for Chicago, founded by Kemdah Stroud and Haley Reeves Fox, have made it their mission “to create experiences [from which] people leave better than they came.” In doing so, their community initiative known as “The People’s Free Food Program” operates in the spirit of the Panthers and was a direct response to Chicago Public School closures during the pandemic. Chicago Public Schools have since reopened, but Thankful for Chicago

continues to serve food to those who might otherwise go without.

In Charlotte, Poor No More launched three years ago with a similar mission that has left many in the city grateful for its community-serving-community model.

Called a “neighborhood free store,” the non-profit organization was originally housed in founder Jermaine Nakia Lee’s art studio in NoDa. Poor No More “guardians,” or community supporters and volunteers, assisted in giving out food packages to those in need.

Quickly the food donations grew to include clothing, household items (from

blenders to sofas) and monetary donations to assist with transportation to employment and medical appointments.

Some people even receive help with paying rental expenses. According to Lee, the organization has helped approximately 4,000 individuals and families so far, with no plans of halting their efforts.

The organization is Black LGBTQ led and operated and has made assisting LGBTQ people a specific part of its mission, with a focus on the Black and brown transgender community.

Transgender people face hunger, housing insecurity and poverty overall at disproportionate rates compared to the cisgender population. Discrimination and barriers to assistance are real, and great.

According to a 2020 study published in BMC Public Health Journal, transgender and gender non-conforming individuals “reported feeling unwelcome at local food pantries, particularly at pantries operated by faith-based organizations.”

Multiple personal accounts were recorded during the study. Said one participant: “People are required to sit through a church service, and the pastor has spoken against homosexuality, which made me uncomfortable.” Another recalled, “It is Christian-based and that tends not to go well for us here.” Other food pantry clients have suggested such organizations may be unwelcoming because of the socio-conservative climate of the southeastern region of the United States. “I’m in the Bible Belt,” offered an individual who felt ostracized by the overtly religious environment. “They say we do not exist or are mentally challenged.”

Statistically, these accounts are more likely in “Bible Belt” cities found in the south. A majority of food pantries, 67 percent, are run by faith-based institutions. Adding to discriminatory practices that increase food insecurity for the trans community are state Religious Freedom Restoration Acts (RFRA), or “religious freedom laws,” which allow institutions, including food pantries, to deny services to select community members based on religious beliefs. Among those allowed to be discriminated against and denied assistance are transgender and gender nonconforming people. Additionally, some states in the southeast have, on average, extremely high levels of social stigma toward LGBTQ people, as shown by the absence of employment or non-discrimination laws that provide legal protection.

This combination decreases the safety, economic stability and acceptance of the estimated 380,000 transgender and gender non-conforming people living in the region.

According to Gladece Knight at Poor No More, they are directly addressing these disparities. She has been involved with Lee since the start and serves as program director. In that time, Knight has learned from other non-profits and tries to implement aspects that work. An example for comparison is the well-known Goodwill Industries department store setup, with items well arranged for age groups, style and occasion. She points out a big difference, however. “They charge for clothing.

With Poor No More, everything is free.”

Jermaine Nakia Lee, founder of Poor No More.

While they don’t charge, Knight points out that they treat everyone like paying customers. “We help them shop,” she says, to ensure the dignity and positive experience of all shoppers. These things make a big difference in how customers experience the store and how they go back out into the world. Knight says they have done their job if a customer leaves feeling like “I don’t have to worry about [this] one thing [food, clothing or household items] in regard to the maintenance of my family and home, I’m able to uplift myself and work on other things.”

That is empowering and a step toward Black economic mobility.

Lee no longer has his art studio, so Poor No More has literally taken its efforts to the streets in the form of pop-up “Free Stores” in underserved communities – while seeking to secure another brick-and-mortar location. Some of these pop-ups specifically cater to the transgender community.

Without citing any studies, Lee astutely saw a need and jumped to address it. “We realized we needed to create safe spaces exclusively for trans women of color,” he said, “We offer name brand items, shoes, makeup. Belk is a community partner that actually gives us makeup, purses and shoes...high end stuff.”

When asked how this is impacting the economic outcomes for the community, he said: “What Poor No More does is affirm [the trans community], wherever they are [in their journey of transition] by assisting them in aligning the aesthetic without judgement. Once someone is aligned with their aesthetic, with how they envision themselves, that increases confidence. Increased confidence goes viral. Relationships blossom, interpersonal ones, business relationships, their walk is different, their talk is different, their quality of life is different [and] better.”

All the work however, is not without challenges. Lee expressed concern over the federal moratorium on evictions ending soon. Earlier this month, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention extended the moratorium from June 30 to July 31.

The CDC said that, “this is intended to be the final extension of the moratorium.”

An estimated 250,000 North Carolinians are behind on their rent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

According to Lee, a Crisis Ministries

representative told him individuals and families in need have been looking for $5,000 to $7,000 on average in rental assistance. He fears there will be mass homelessness and hasn’t heard anything about what the city or county is planning to do in preparation. Along those lines, he continued to say how the work “Poor No More” does is not purely about assisting the Black community or the transgender community, but the underserved working-poor. “You’ve got to be at your lowest to qualify for help [at many agencies and community organizations], when what we need to be looking into is how do we stop those people from slipping down into the next level of poverty,” he said. Because of the need of so many, his goal for Poor No More in the upcoming months is to focus on monetary donations. “Money to provide groceries, medication and gas for families is sorely needed.”

As for how individuals and organizations can help community members stave off food insecurity and poverty in general, Lee offered his thoughts, “That’s one of the roles that the media plays. The community needs to know what we’re doing.”

As a result of recent media coverage that Poor No More received, a local Methodist minister pledged to assist the organization in finding a forever home.

The model goes back to communityserving-community. “Everything that we need specifically in the LGBTQ community and to address the needs of the greater community ­— we have it,” says Lee “We have every resource that we need within ourselves. My job as a leader of a charitable organization is to combine all those elements to address the needs of the community and build capacity.”

Poor No More’s next Neighborhood Free Store pop-up is Saturday, July 31, 12-4 p.m. at 1025 East 36th Street in Charlotte. : : This story is part of qnotes’ special project “Stories of Black LGBTQ Resilience and Economic Mobility,” which seeks to connect responses to economic security and upward mobility to the lives and futures of Black LGBTQ people. It is supported by the Solutions Journalism Network. To learn more about solutions journalism, visit solutionsjournalism.org.

Research assistance provided by Pallavi Patil.

July 23-Aug. 5, 2021

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Access to Healthcare Improves Black Economic Stability Programs Show Promise for the LGBTQ Community

by Chris Rudisill qnotes Contributor

by Julianna Peres qnotes Staff Writer

B

lack LGBTQ adults face disparities in income security, affordable housing, employment and upward mobility.

In Charlotte, a Black child growing up in a low-income home can expect a household income as low as $21,599 a year by the time they reach age 34. The outcome for those in the Black queer community is often far worse. Data points to access to quality healthcare as having an overwhelming impact on these issues, especially for Black transgender women.

According to a new study by the Williams Institute, more Black LGBTQ adults than Black non-LGBTQ adults were uninsured (25 percent versus 17 percent) and fewer Black LGBTQ adults had a personal doctor compared to their straight counterparts (64 percent versus 76 percent), specifically in the south.

“You’re dealing with the macroaggressions and microaggressions of just being an ethnic and racial minority,” says Dr. Benjamin Simmons, a family physician at Atrium Health, “Then you add on if I disclose that I am of the LGBT community, not only am I being discriminated against based on my race and ethnicity, but also my gender and sexual orientation. You have these multiple components.”

Simmons explained that those stressors can be an added distraction keeping people from getting the care they need until it is too late. It also carries with it an added burden in the daily lives of LGBTQ individuals.

“How am I able to focus on the things that need to get done if I’m always distracted by some of those pressures?” he says.

A study from Wake Forest School of Medicine in Winston-Salem interviewed 30 Black and Latinx transgender women living in North Carolina between May and July 2019. Numerous themes emerged around social determinants to health, healthcare experiences and health-related priorities, showing the direct connection between economic security and overall health.

Black transgender people are three times more likely than the overall United States population to be living in poverty. Those in the study reported higher rates of physical and emotional abuse and identified barriers including limited health insurance coverage, high costs associated with care and a lack of genderaffirming providers.

All of these things tied together paint a dire picture. “If you’re not getting the kind of medical care that you need, you cannot be productive in the workspace,” says Simmons, “You’re taking days off from

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Dr. Simmons pictured with fellow teammates at an Atrium Health LGBTQ Pride Celebration. work. You take too many days off from work, now you’re unemployed. Or, how do you get promoted within your organization if you’re not present?”

Hope and Training

Across the country, individuals and programs are working to address the problem.

The American Medical Association (AMA) launched its National LGBTQ+ Fellowship Program in February. The institutional grant of up to $750,000 will be to plan and implement three consecutive, one-year medical fellowships in LGBTQ+ health. This coincided with its release of an “Organizational Strategic Plan to Embed Racial Justice and Advance Health Equity.”

According to a press release, fulfilling the mission of the nation’s largest professional association of physicians “requires an unwavering commitment to equity and a comprehensive strategy for embedding racial and social justice within our organization and domains of influence.”

One of the LGBTQ fellowships is at Mount Sinai Health System in New York.

It is a program focusing on creating a new model for primary care that combines medical disciplines and holistic care to the LGBTQ community.

The AMA will also fund 10 new fellowships in 2022, with many in the south, where LGBTQ patients have a higher rate of limited access to high-quality health care.

Here in Charlotte, Atrium Health’s Levine Children’s Center for Gender Health is one of only a handful of such clinics in the region. Dr. Simmons has launched a virtual consultation program for transgender patients no matter where they are in the healthcare system.

It’s not all happening in medical centers, however. Diverse & Resilient in Milwaukee, Wis., is an LGBTQ public health agency and its SHEBA (Sisters Helping Each Other Battle Adversity) program defines itself as “a group of powerful Black women.” The transgender-serving program provides leadership development, HIV prevention, healing alternatives and community support. Diverse & Resilient just received a $55,802 grant from the state’s Department of Health Services to provide training and advising on how to work with the LGBTQ community.

Diverse & Resilient reported reaching over 7,000 people through direct health outreach in 2017, and 3,455 youth and adults completed evidence-based interventions that year to reduce health disparities.

SHEBA (Sisters Helping Each Other Battle Adversity) at Diverse & Resilient, a public health agency.

Elle Halo is a health navigator at Health Connections, Inc., a health clinic serving transgender clients, and a board member at Diverse & Resilient. In an interview with WUWM, Milwaukee’s NPR station, Halo noted the importance of helping others understand how to navigate the healthcare system. “It’s most important to have people that are providing services to look like the people that they’re providing them to. And I think that it has to be actionable and not just a concept,” said Halo. While the city ranks at the bottom of the largest United States metropolitan areas for well-being among its Black residents, Halo’s work and advocacy is providing hope and inspiration for others in the community.

Further west, Black LGBTQ residents in Nevada may experience more protections in healthcare facilities, but poverty rates are still high. According to the Williams Institute, the poverty rate was higher for transgender people than for cisgender men. Poverty rates among people of color and among all LGBTQ people are higher than that of white straight individuals.

Says Dr. Ray Macfarlane, who works with Leaders in Training, an organization that promotes diversity in leadership positions: “Nevada was fortunate to get, on the ground, largely a lot of work done by gender justice organizations.”

The state has a perfect score for Gender Identity Nondiscrimination Policies, according to the Transgender Law Center.

When asked about barriers to care for the Black LGBTQ community, Macfarlane says “at the root of it is economic stability.”

Programs in the area are making a difference, Macfarlane confirms.

At Fabulous Life Skills, founder Jazmena Jameson is “dedicated to helping trans women of color get gaps filled where they might have had their lives derailed by discrimination.” Another program they mention is Northern Nevada HOPES, an inclusive healthcare center. “There are a lot of organizers who do things between and independently of groups.”

The state’s Medicaid system includes coverage for transgender-related surgeries and hormones associated with transitioning. While legislation provides a lot of needed protections, Macfarlane warns that people still don’t know how to always navigate the systems, and there is a lack of healthcare providers to meet the medical needs of the population. “Even the providers that we do have are so few that it’s difficult to find one that is a fit for you.”

While wraparound health programs are increasing the opportunity to better serve the Black LGBTQ community and have positive impact on their health and economic outcomes, Simmons pointed out that the missing piece is a need for national standards outlining education requirements in LGBTQ care for medical providers.

“It can be very difficult for a patient who lives in the [LGBTQ] community,” says Simmons, “How do I engage with the healthcare system with fears of political policies out there that are discriminatory? I may not want to mention too much about myself when I engage with the hospital system.”

Simmons indicates the average number of hours for LGBTQ curriculum is less than five in most programs, and transgender care is even less.

According to a report from the National LGBT Health Education Center, the health care system must include increasing awareness of the lived experience of Black LGBTQ people. That means examining and changing our personal views and behaviors, critically assessing and challenging institutional cultures and providing resources and mechanisms to empower Black LGBTQ people to be resilient in the context of oppression. : : This story is part of qnotes’ special project “Stories of Black LGBTQ Resilience and Economic Mobility,” which seeks to connect responses to economic security and upward mobility to the lives and futures of Black LGBTQ people. It is supported by the Solutions Journalism Network. To learn more about solutions journalism, visit solutionsjournalism.org.

Research assistance provided by Pallavi Patil.

July 23-Aug. 5, 2021

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life

A Long Weekend Getaway Pride Journey: St. Louis

by Joey Amato Guest Contributor

O

n this visit to St. Louis, I wanted to focus on Union Station, a magnificent property located in the heart of the city which features an aquarium, numerous dining options, a Ferris wheel and, of course, the Union Station Hotel. St. Louis is a quick 3.5-hour drive from my home in Indianapolis, so it’s a great place for a long weekend getaway.

The first thing you notice when you walk into the Grand Hall at Union Station Hotel is the soaring ceiling, elegantly detailed with carvings and architectural elements that make the property a destination in itself. Every evening, there is a light show projected on the ceiling which draws hotel guests and tourists alike. The 567-room hotel — and a Curio Collection

by Hilton property — the entire complex, which was originally built in 1894, is considered a National Historic Landmark.

The first stop on our visit was the aquarium. While not the largest I’ve been to, the aquarium does entice the senses, urging guests to get their hands wet, especially when it comes to petting the stingrays. The tank consists of over 60 sharks and rays all begging for attention. There are some great Instagram-friendly areas in the aquarium as well, so get your camera ready.

For those looking to experience a bit of adventure, try the Sky Trail ropes course.

I am not a fan of heights, so this was pushing my boundaries, as some of the obstacles only contain foot pads without anything to hold on to. I may have skipped over one of these early on until I built up enough courage to proceed through the course like a pro. The Sky Trail course includes about a dozen obstacles and two zip lines, one 60-feet over the aquarium lobby floor. They have a smaller version available for children, or the occasional skittish LGBTQ journalist, who may not be ready for the larger course.

Head over to The Train Shed for dinner before a night in The Grove, the city’s entertainment district. My guest and I didn’t want anything too heavy, so we decided to share a few appetizers, including the deviled eggs and a fabulous charcuterie plate prepared with a selection of artisan cured meats and cheeses. I also ordered the arugula and beet salad, served with candied pecan, feta and lemon truffle vinaigrette.

The Grove is under 10 minutes away from the hotel. While many LGBTQ venues have closed in recent years, the city still boasts Rehab and Just John. I remember

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partying at Just John during my first visit to St. Louis many years ago. I had a wonderful evening back then, and this visit certainly didn’t disappoint. We began the evening at Taha’a Twisted Tiki, a gay-friendly tiki bar, and both ordered the “I Don’t Give a Damn,” a refreshing cocktail made with vodka, lemon, pineapple, passion fruit and ginger.

All of the bars in The Grove are within walking distance, so head over to Rehab next. I’ll admit, one of the bartenders made me want to move to the city immediately. He was extremely friendly (and attractive) and poured us some delicious cocktails which we enjoyed on the patio.

We then headed to Just John, where we spent the majority of the evening dancing and mingling amongst the locals, whom I found to be very friendly.

Pride St. Louis recently announced their “Pride Is Alive” celebration, scheduled for Aug. 27-29 at BallPark Village. The outdoor event is free to the public, so if you are looking for a summer pride event, this is definitely one you should check out.

Speaking of BallPark Village, I have never been to that part of town and was eager to explore. I was so impressed by the masterplan design of the neighborhood as well as the venues and properties occupying the space, most notably, Bally Sports Live! The massive entertainment complex contains numerous bars and restaurants, including PBR St. Louis, a country bar complete with a mechanical bull, which my guest made me ride. It was my first time riding, and, despite being whipped around like a rag doll, I think I did pretty well.

End your stay in St. Louis with a trip to the world famous St. Louis Zoo. The free attraction is perfect for those looking to spend a leisurely afternoon strolling through an urban oasis filled with lively giraffes, elephants and gorillas. The zoo is home to over 12,000 animals representing 500 species.

The Saint Louis Zoo also operates a WildCare Institute, which focuses on wildlife management and recovery as well as conservation. The zoo has pledged to support critical initiatives in places where animals are threatened by shrinking habitats, poaching and disease. You will need to devote a few hours to this visit, as the zoo is quite expansive.

There are too many things to see and do in St. Louis in just one weekend, so if you have more time to devote, check out The Gateway Arch, St. Louis Museum of Art, the Missouri Botanical Garden and City Museum.

These are just a few of many LGBTQ-friendly attractions worth visiting in the city.

To book your St. Louis gaycation, visit Orbitz.com/pride. : :

a&e

What It Really Means to Stand Someone Up Tell Trinity

by Trinity | Contributing Writer Dear Trinity, I stood someone up but apologized and now he won’t answer my texts. What’s the big deal? I called 24 hours later, and I had a good excuse?

Yours truly, Ignored, Dallas, TX

Dear Ignored, 24 hours, wow! Have you ever stood, waiting 24 hours for anything, especially to hear someone’s lame excuse? The truth about standing someone up is that it makes them feel a) abandoned, b) like you had something better to do and c) that they better get used to being second on your list. Nothing says “evil” like standing someone up. Next time, honey, call 30 minutes to six hours before the date to cancel. But for now, try flowers, candy and some self-reflection!

Good Luck, Trinity Dearest Trinity, Why does it seem like all the good men are taken?

Sincerely, The Single Blues, Elizabeth, NJ

Dearest Single Blues, Not all the good men are taken; some of the bad ones are taken too. Happy

Q-mmunity

connections

couples argue, ignore each other and have many troubles that they don’t display publicly. So pumpkin, enjoy being single because one day you’ll have someone else’s troubles to privately enjoy!

Hey Girl, I’m a fine-looking lesbian, and some nights I get hit on by every girl in the bar, but other nights I’m invisible. Why is that?

Thanks, Hit Or Miss, Boston, MA

Hello Trinity, My boyfriend of six months just broke up with me. He was so unkind and cruel. Why do all breakups have to be evil?

Good vs. Evil, Prince Edward Island, CA

Hello Good vs. Evil, Many men have the class and education of a fish fossil, and you might have just dated one. Listen, sweetie, sit down, sip a martini and email him:

Hey Hit Or Miss, Socializing is always hit or miss. It could be the crowd, the music, the moon, the lighting, where you sit or just the energy of the night. There really are no rules for why you’re a woman magnet one night and the invisible woman the next night! So baby, on the nights that no stingrays are stingin’, go home and watch a good comedy.

Sometimes it’s just best to stay home!

Hugs, Trinity

Trinity’s Good & Evil Timeline For Breaking It Off

1. First Or Second Week: GOOD: Just say, “I’m not interested.” EVIL: Ignoring all texts and emails.

2. T wo To Four Weeks: GOOD: Calling to say, “It’s not what I’m looking for.” EVIL: Calling to say, “I’ve found someone else!”

3. A fter One Month: GOOD: Live or by phone, breaking it off. EVIL: Sending an email or leaving a phone/text message, breaking it off.

4. T wo to Four Months: GOOD: Full communication! They deserve it! EVIL: Disappearing without a trace.

5. F ive and Six Months: GOOD: Clearly, to their face while sitting with them explain, blah, blah, blah! EVIL: Continuously standing them up just to make them hate you.

6. S even and 10 Months: GOOD: Speak lovingly, compassionately and understandingly while ruining her dreams. EVIL: Ending all sexual activities, thus forcing her to go to someone else.

7. 1 1 to 15 Months: GOOD: Breaking it off at a nearby park or beach. EVIL: Breaking it off on some remote island with no easy way out for three days.

8. 1 6 Months to Two Years: GOOD: Letting him catch you crying because, “You’re not in love anymore!” EVIL: Letting him catch you, with someone else!

9. A fter Two Years: GOOD: Ending it, then giving her a few weeks to ease out of it. EVIL: Ending it then leaving her immediately for your not-so-new romance!

10. A fter Three Years: GOOD: At a beautiful dinner and after some wine saying, “I just want to be friends.” EVIL: At the same dinner, saying the same thing. After three years, honey, almost every breakup seems evil! : :

With a Masters of Divinity, Reverend Trinity hosted «Spiritually Speaking» a weekly radio drama, performed globally and is now minister of WIG: Wild Inspirational Gatherings. Sponsored by: WIG Ministries, www.wigministries.org Gay Spirituality for the Next Generation!

Send e-mails to: Trinity@telltrinity.com

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July 23-Aug. 5, 2021

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R&B Legend Stephanie Mills Releases New Single Former Star of “The Wiz” and Hit Recording Artist Shares Big Love with LGBTQ Community

by David Aaron Moore qnotes Staff Writer

Did you know “I Never Knew Love” was going to be used on “Pose?”

No, I didn’t know that was going to happen! They did such an amazing job and I was so impressed. It was great, so when it happened, I put it on my [Twitter] page. I know Billy Porter [Pray Tell in the series] from Broadway. We were Broadway babies together.

S

tephanie Mills is a Brooklyn born and bred New Yorker, but the internationally famous singer has called Charlotte’s north side home for the past 30 years.

“I have family from Marshville, and my father’s family is from Albemarle, so I have tons of cousins living in Matthews and a lot of family here,” she explains. “There’s so much about the city I really liked. It’s just beautiful here. There are so many trees and places that are so quiet.

“I travel a lot,” she continues, “and I enjoy that. But I always enjoy coming back home even more.”

Mills’ career spans over five decades. She shot to fame in the lead role of Dorothy in the original Broadway production of “The Wiz,” which ran for over 1,300 performances before closing in 1979.

Out of that show came the song “Home,” which has long since become the singer-songwriter’s signature song.

But Mills didn’t stop there. “The little girl with the giant voice,” as she was often described back in the day, went on to a multi-album Grammy winning career that included a string of hit songs like “What ‘Cha Gonna Do With My Lovin’,” “Sweet Sensation,” “Never Knew Love Like This Before” and “I Feel Good All Over,” among others.

But then, Stephanie Mills walked away.

17 years ago she decided she wasn’t interested in studio recording anymore. Now she’s back with a new single called “Let’s Do the Right Thing.”

Tell me about “Let’s Do The Right Thing.”

Actually a friend of mine, Charles Randolph-Wright, called me. He’s a brilliant musical director and he wanted me to do a song for a show that he was sitting on for some network. It didn’t quite work out for me, so with my writing partner Marcus Malone I wrote another verse for the song, and made it more urban for me, because I wanted to talk about what’s been going on. As a country we’ve been traumatized with what’s been going on with the pandemic and everything else. I wanted to write something for us because I just felt like we needed to do the right thing, for us.

We felt like now was not the right time for me to come out with a dance song because of what’s going on in the world.

I couldn’t avoid addressing the issues.

I think that some of the material that’s coming out now, it has to address what’s going on in the world, unless you’re living under a rock.

When you say the country’s been traumatized, which aspects of the disaster are you referring to?

All of it. [Laughs] It’s hard to believe that we had a reality TV star as a president, and he wasn’t presidential in any way.

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Mills recorded her new song, “Let’s Do the Right Thing” in Charlotte.

(Photo Credit: AMP Harris/Another Major Powerhouse) I don’t know why anyone would have wanted to have him as president! But that does tell us something about the 75 million people who still want him to be president. It’s been insane, the things that we’ve seen on television. All the deaths of so many young Black men, the pandemic, Trump, what happened on Jan. 6 and Trump saying the election was stolen from him. That is such nonsense.

The Republicans [are] weak and spineless. They sew hate and discord. We have some spineless, spineless people in our government. But the one thing this did let us know is how racist our country still is, and it showed us how to protect ourselves.

I understand you’re going back into the studio. What’s next?

My next song is called “We Must Change.”

It’s coming out in August on the anniversary of the March on Washington. I talk about transgender people, and I talk about loving each other. No one can judge another. You know, I had people tell me I should take that part of the song out, and I said absolutely not. Transgender people are getting killed every day. That has to be recognized. They are who they are. And I believe that people should be whom they are. Love is love no matter who it is. The song talks about that, too. I’m doing eight or nine songs. Four or five are uptempo dance songs, there’s a love song, and I’m doing one cover, a remake of a song.

I was told you are always receptive to speaking with LGBTQ press, and you were enthusiastic about talking to qnotes. That’s good to hear.

When Amp (Mills’ manager) asked me if I would interview with you, I said absolutely. I come from theater. I’ve been in theater all my life, so I’ve always been surrounded by lots of gay people. Most of my best friends are gay people. My whole life I’ve been around gay and lesbian men and women and transgender women and men.

Seriously, most of my friends are male and most of them are gay.

What do you think turned the tide in favor of LGBTQ rights? Especially on issues like marriage equality?

I think President Obama gave the issue respect. I think he made people realize the gay community deserves the same rights. And I have to say this, those rights should be there. When you look at how gay and lesbian couples take care of their children, they do an amazing job and you never hear stories about abuse, like you do from some of these crazy heterosexual couples who rape and kill and abandon their children! I have a tremendous amount of respect for gay and lesbian parents. They seem to have a lot more respect for themselves than heterosexual people.

Are there many LGBTQ people in your personal life?

Seriously, most of my friends are male and most of them are gay. The friendship that we share is an unconditional love. It truly is. There’s a loyalty and a trust there.

I accept them the way they are and I love them unconditionally. We’ve had so much fun together. My gay friends have taken me to clubs, and even to some gay strip clubs [laughs].

So why the absence from the recording studio for so many years?

Oh my god! I vowed I would never return to the music studio. I didn’t think I was going to be able to find a producer who could do it live. And I didn’t want to just go into a studio that did beats. I had done that. But to me it just wasn’t right, so I was like, nah. I did not want to work with a producer who I didn’t think understood how to work with the singer, so for many years I was just done with the recording thing. I enjoyed performing and I did a lot of touring.

I also tried writing. Writing music is a real personal thing, and you have to work with someone that really gets you. I really found that in Marcus. I’m happy I found someone to work with who knows what he wants to do. It’s inspired me to go back into the studio and actually enjoy it.

I read in an earlier interview that for some of your upcoming material, you’re going to be recording somewhere particularly special and historic.

Oh yeah. The next four songs that we’re recording we’re going to do in Memphis and I’m going to record at the same studio that Al Green used [Royal Studios].

The guy that ran it back then was Al Green’s partner, and he is still the owner of the studio. I love going into a studio like that. My singers will sing live, and we won’t use tape vocals for backup or anything like that.

I know you’re a woman of faith. Has that posed any challenges? I mean, you seem to embrace the gay community.

How can we judge you or tell you who to love when the preacher is fucking everything in the church? How can we? When you get to be 64 you don’t give a fuck. You can’t say God doesn’t love somebody because they are gay.

God loves everybody, and he judges the heart. People [that] say you’re going to hell, they’re going to hell! You just can’t be judging like that. Love is love. They cannot throw stones at the gay community. I’m not with it. You guys are open and honest and living your truth, and I think so many people are afraid to live their truth.

Not too long ago, I was in the airport, I was going to New York and I saw a beautiful transgender woman totally strutting through the airport. I thought to myself, it takes a lot of courage to do that. So I just walked up to her, ‘cause I just had to tell her, and I said, “You are absolutely beautiful.” And she was. She had this tough attitude like, “fuck you, I am who I am and if you don’t like it, too bad.” : :

life

Our People: Frank Dorsey II The Exit Interview

by L’Monique King qnotes Staff Writer

open to partnering with them, HRC and Equality NC. They’re our three primary partnerships.

Sounds like lots of diversity, inclusion and LGBTQ Pride work going on. Any personal plans for Pride season this year?

I’m going to try to increase my number of speaking appearances for Pride — trying to get in front of some crowds who only see Pride as festivities and not the opportunity for education, awareness and advocacy that it is.

O

n a summer Tuesday afternoon, one of many planes lands at Charlotte Douglas International Airport. Among those disembarking is a tall, dark and handsome young man.

Dressed in a light grey suit, complete with starched white shirt, purple paisley tie and a gold lapel pin, he looks ready for a business meeting. Frank D. Dorsey II, Johnson C. Smith University’s (JCSU) Associate Director of Student Leadership and Engagement has just returned from Arkansas, the place he was born and educated before making the decision to call Charlotte home.

As he makes his way through the busy concourse, Dorsey reflects on his role at JCSU, his impending departure and what’s next.

So, you’re returning from Arkansas?

Yes. I hadn’t seen my family in a while. Plus, after over a year of [COVID-19 pandemic and social unrest] chaos, I wanted to spend time and my 30th birthday with my mom.

So why the suit? Do you always dress up to travel?

[Chuckles] Yes, ‘cause I never know who I’m going to run into at the airport?

Sounds like presentation is important to you.

Absolutely. As a Black gay male professional, it comes with so many stereotypes. I feel like I have to break the stereotype of what it’s thought a Black man and a Black gay man should look like. Though I feel like people’s individual differences should be respected, I’m always in a situation where attire is political. Especially in the work that I do. As the youngest administrator sitting across from the table from more seasoned professionals, I want to be taken seriously. That means looking the part. If I walk around campus in sneakers and jeans, I’m easily mistaken for a student. I’ve had moments [on and off campus] when it’s obvious that there’s bias regarding appearance. Those are moments that I use as teaching experiences.

What’s something you’d teach or want others to know about how appearance shows up in the lives of Black LGBTQ folks or Black folks in general?

Respectability politics is a survival mechanism.

How long have you lived in Charlotte?

Four years and six months. I share an uptown apartment with a roommate, my best friend of 10 years.

Would you share with qnotes readers a little about what you do at JCSU?

Aside from Pride Season activities, what does Frank Dorsey enjoy doing when he’s not working?

Photography. I enjoy taking photos of people and the outside world. I really enjoy outdoor photography. If it’s a great day outside, I will take my camera and just explore.

Next Mother’s Day I plan on doing a mother-son exhibit capturing mothers and sons in different settings.

JCSU’s Associate Director of Student Leadership and Engagement Frank D. Dorsey II. (Photo Credit: Jonathan Keith) I started working for JCSU after grad school at Arkansas Tech University. I oversee student activities and student organizations. I also provide leadership to the diversity and inclusion program for our student population.

What do you like most about your job?

The freedom to shake the table when necessary. I really get a chance to be an advocate for students and my colleagues always seem to appreciate my input. Even though I’m very frank about it at times, they’ve always been supportive.

Speaking of shaking the table, how do you think historically Black colleges and universities (HBCU) like JCSU have assisted in the empowerment of the Black LGBTQ community?

I feel like it’s progressed over the years. At one time the narrative was that HBCUs were slow to extend their social justice mission to the Black LGBT community. But today, I feel as though they have progressed to be allies, advocates and family.

Can you elaborate?

Healing happens on HBCU campuses. So, whether you are singing in the choir, marching in the band or walking with the modeling club, you find areas on campus where you can truly connect. You have an opportunity to share your experiences and learn from others through the art of storytelling. A lot of that happens on campus. Several have moved towards opening LGBT centers. NC Central University and NCA&T are two of them. JCSU has sponsored organizations like Charlotte Black Pride and remains

After such a long, dedicated career at JCSU, I understand you’ll be leaving. What brought about that decision?

I lost my grandmother during the pandemic. Since losing her, I’ve decided to be closer to my family, to make sure my nephews make good choices; the military, college, starting their own businesses. I just want to make sure they aren’t lost to the gains of quick money. I want to be an active role model in their lives. They’re 14 and 16 years old. I want to go to their games and cheer them on, like they’ve always cheered me on.

Any employment plans yet?

I’ll be the Associate Dean of Students for Activities at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff. I’m excited about it.

It’s where I graduated from with my undergrad in general studies, with a concentration in recreation and wellness.

Do you have a partner? Are you leaving anyone behind or is someone special joining you on your Arkansas adventure?

Yes, I have a partner. We’ve been together two years now. He’s a doctoral student at Howard, so it’s always been long-distance. He’s very supportive of my career, and we’ve made a commitment not to get in the way of each other’s dreams. To do the work that I do in creating more inclusive campuses is a dream — to be able to do that on the campus I grew up on is a dream and a blessing.

Is there anything special you want to do before leaving Charlotte for Arkansas?

I’m honestly not viewing it as I am leaving. I’ll no longer work here anymore, but I’m so connected to the city, I don’t feel like this is a goodbye. I still attend church here and so many other things that matter to me. The pandemic taught us how to stay connected. So, whenever I come to Charlotte, I feel like I’m home. : :

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