QNotes, August 21, 2020

Aug. 21-Sept. 3, 2020

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Aug. 21-Sept. 3, 2020

inside this issue

Aug. 21-Sept. 3, 2020 Vol 35 No 09

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Victoria Brownworth, Mykah Buff, Rev. Collis Floyd, Vic Gerami, Graham Gremore, Kendra R. Johnson, Lainey Millen, Stanley Popovich, Chris Rudisill, Terri Schlichenmeyer, Gregg Shapiro, Trinity, Laura Veal

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Rufus Rules

Cool Globes

For the first time in over a decade, Rufus Wainwright has released a new album that brings a fresh perspective to the music world. His choices examine a changing world, in addition to how life has been impacted by what is going on in culture, the climate and how he sees this through a more experienced life lens.

news 4 Convention Watch 6 Trans Murders Rise 6 Youth Wins Appeal 6 News Briefs 7 Biden Picks Harris for VP 8 Gay Coronavirus Denier Regrets Infecting Family 10 Trans Group Endorses Biden for President

a&e 13 Rufus Rules 14 Out in Print: ‘The Truths We Hold: An American Journey’ 16 Tell Trinity

life 14 ‘Disarm Hate’ Chronicles Experiences of Nine LGBTQ Activists 19 Our People: Chef Joya

views 5 Remembering HIV in the Time of COVID-19 5 Political Watch: Black August — an Observance & a Celebration 15 Spiritual Reflections: Welcoming the Stranger 18 Mental Health: Getting Through Life

events Our calendar will return once events begin again.

PAGE 13

‘Disarm Hate’

Jason Hayes, a hair stylist from New Jersey, held a rally in Washington, D.C. in the wake of the Pulse nightclub massacre in order to sound a battle cry against gun violence, among other issues. Little did he know that the effort would lead a group from California to undertake a four-day, cross-country road trip to document the event. The film produced tells the story of that adventure in additon to looking at other tragedies.

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Aug. 21-Sept. 3, 2020

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news

Convention Watch

Record Number of LGBTQ Delegates Represent North Carolina

By Chris Rudisill | QNotes Contributor

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orth Carolina had a record-number of 18 LGBTQ delegates representing the state at this year’s Democratic National Convention. We spoke with Ginger Walker, president of the LGBTQ Democrats of North Carolina, and some of those delegates prior to the Convention to get their take on this year’s election. In her role, Walker served on the N.C. Delegate Selection Plan Committee, along with Matt Hughes, Sam Spencer and Janice Covington Allison, who together exceeded their goal for LGBTQ representation including four non-binary/gender non-conforming delegates — a historically new selection included this year.

The Democratic Party is the longest continually-running political party in the U.S. and has held presidential nominating ceremonies every four years since 1832. These inperson gatherings serve as a culmination of the monthslong presidential primary season, which in 2016 welcomed an estimated 50,000 people to Philadelphia, Pa. This year’s convention, which took place from Aug. 17-20 anchored in Milwaukee, Wisc., took on a different look going virtual during the coronavirus pandemic.

Interviews have been edited and condensed for clarity.

Ginger Walker (she/her) LGBTQ Democrats of N.C., president

How did you get involved in politics and why is being a delegate important to you?

I grew up in a solid Democrat household and my first involvement in politics occurred when I was five years old, accompanying my sister doing door-to-door voter registration in predominately Black neighborhoods of Rutherford County. I became an out lesbian activist in the 1980s and over the next two decades got involved in politics after my spouse, Concetta Caliendo, said, “We have to infiltrate the Democratic Party to show them who we really are.”

Over the years, I have worked in various capacities within the Democratic Party including serving on the State Executive Committee, which has given me the opportunity to educate and advocate for LGBTQ issues and build strong allies along the way. The Democratic National Convention is an exciting time. Being part of the North Carolina delegation is important to me because I am afforded the opportunity to represent my LGBTQ community and be part of the democratic process.

What excites you about the Biden/Harris nomination?

Joe Biden had proven his commitment to our community by being one of the first to come out in support of marriage equality. He has strong plans for LGBTQ equality, racial and social justice and he will restore integrity and dignity to the office. He will reverse the horrible executive orders made by Trump, including restoring transgender service in the military and promoting passage of the Equality Act. The Biden/Harris team is our hope for the future to build a more perfect union, where all people are created equal with a guarantee of “life, liberty, justice and the pursuit of happiness.”

What are the most important issues to you in this year’s election?

I’m excited about this year’s platform at the state and national levels. For me as a lesbian, it advances LGBTQ equity and equality, and is the most inclusive and progressive platform in the party’s history. Other important issues include healthcare, racial justice, immigration reform to protect DACA, criminal justice reform, environmental protection, climate change and the protection of Social Security. We must also protect the courts at the state and national levels.

Many of our gains and the recent SCOTUS Title VII ruling have shown us that the courts are critical. There’s no question that

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Aug. 21-Sept. 3, 2020

the next President will appoint at least one Supreme Court justice. Everything is on the line in this election — we have everything to lose and everything to gain, so I encourage people to vote as if your life depends on it because it does.

Matt Hughes (he/him)

4th Congressional District, Orange County How did you get involved in politics and why is being a delegate important to you?

It goes all the way back to fourth grade. My teacher had us watch the 2000 election returns, and I became hooked about the political process and how much of an impact politics and government has on your life even when you may not realize it. As a delegate, I get to represent my community, my party and the candidate I’m pledged to.

It’s the very manifestation of representative democracy.

What excites you about the Biden/Harris nomination?

Joe Biden has the steady hand and thoughtful leadership that can get us through turbulent times and unite the country, and I’m excited about the historic Vice President candidacy of Sen. Kamala Harris. I believe this is a ticket that can and will defeat Donald Trump and Mike Pence in the fall.

What are the most important issues to you in this year’s election?

Under Trump, America has abandoned its leadership role in the world, something made even more evident during the pandemic. Joe Biden has the experience to make us a world leader again. He is someone who will work with our allies, not against them, and hold bad actors like Putin accountable, not do their bidding. The pandemic has also shown that we have to finish the job of guaranteeing affordable and universal healthcare by strengthening and building upon the Affordable Care Act. Even before COVID-19, the Republicans had eroded the ACA, and in places like North Carolina have prevented it from being fully realized by failing to expand Medicaid to 300,000 people. This has to be a key tenet of any economic recovery moving forward.

We all do better when we all do better, but the pandemic has shown that too many are barely making ends meet.

Biden oversaw the previous recovery, where it succeeded and where it did not, and I believe he and Sen. Harris will make sure that the next recovery is fair and equitable so that Americans do not have to work more than one job to have a roof over their head and food on their table. This year’s platform shows that we can pull our party together, both progressives and the centerleft, when we cooperate with one another. It is the most progressive platform our party has ever put forward.

Ebony West (she/hers)

4th Congressional District, Durham County How did you get involved in politics and why is being a delegate important to you?

I got involved in politics while in college when College Democrats and Obama for America fellows updated my voter registration. They invited me to a meeting and the rest is history. I attended local meetings and eventually became the first African-American woman to be elected president of the Young Democrats of North Carolina.

There are inherent systemic and historic inequities within the DNC, and I think it is important to engage as delegates to ensure we’re enacting platforms and policies that are truly progressive. I also love voting and believe it’s one of the most important ways we can use our voice to move our country forward. As a delegate, we all gather to vote on many things, including the DNC platform and the nominee President. These are important matters, and it’s so important to be “in the room” voting on them because they will shape the Democratic Party for years to come.

What excites you about the Biden/Harris nomination?

For one, I’m excited for the first African-American/ Southeast Asian woman to be on the ticket. I’m also thrilled that we have two people who will listen and champion progressive issues. There are definite areas that I want to see them go further on, like Medicare for All, but I see a clear way for my voice to be heard and hold them accountable moving forward. Vice President brings previous experience from the White House, and Sen. Kamala Harris has served the people of California as a brilliant woman that I think will really utilize and embody the position of Vice President in ways we’ve never seen before.

What are the most important issues to you in this year’s election?

The most important issues to me heading into the election are racial justice and the Black Lives Matter movement, Medicare for All, student loan forgiveness, LGBTQ+ issues and environmental justice and climate change.

While the 2020 DNC Platform is more progressive than previous iterations, I joined many of my fellow delegates in voting against the platform because of its lack of explicit support for Medicare for All, or an equivalent single-payer system. I hope to see the DNC and our party leaders really step up on these issues if we want to say our party truly reflects the wishes of progressives and the best interests of our communities.

Italo Medelius (he/him) 4th Congressional District, Durham County

How did you get involved in politics and why is being a delegate important to you?

I am a first-generation immigrant from Lima, Peru and we moved to Hampstead, N.C. when I was nine years old.

When my dad was deported in 2006, we took to the blueberry fields in Burgaw, and my mom worked as an administrative assistant for the Pender County Health Department in Eastern North Carolina. I noticed that my family was not the only one affected by unjust immigration laws. It was the entire workforce. We built close connections with labor organizers who came every week to help us fight for our rights. At the time, I was only 13 or 14, so I didn’t quite understand the systemic nature of these issues.

In 2010, I traveled to Washington, D.C. for the first time to protest the growing number of deportations and private prisons at the Southern (U.S.) border where many of my former coworkers and their families had been held.

In 2011, I gained my citizenship and was proud to cast my first vote in the U.S. for President Obama. see Delegates on 7

views

Remembering HIV in the Time of COVID-19 Patients and Providers Still Battle HIV

BY Laura Veal, FNP, MSN, MPH | Guest Contributor

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eptember 18th is National HIV/ AIDS and Aging Awareness Day — a day to call attention to the growing population of older adults living with HIV/AIDS. Many of these individuals are long-term survivors of the AIDS epidemic and have fought both personal and national battles that we can only imagine. Theirs is a story of triumph, living longer and fuller lives thanks in part to amazing developments in medications.

But it also has been one of challenges and loss. According to the CDC, an estimated 47 percent of people living with HIV in 2015 were older than 50.

This year, National HIV/AIDS and Aging Awareness Day seems especially poignant — we could learn so much about

the COVID crisis from those who have weathered the storm of AIDS. No one understands better than a person living with HIV how it feels when a medical issue becomes politicized. There is no one better prepared to handle fear and stigma. There is no better group to teach us patience as we struggle with the long wait for a cure or vaccine.

Moreover in this current situation, the issue of HIV/AIDS awareness itself has been put on the backburner. It is no longer the immediate threat, although, sadly, there were 36,400 new HIV infections in 2018. In a time of social distancing, when community outreach and organizing is difficult and people’s fears are focused elsewhere, it would be all too easy to forget the daily battle some of us, both patients and providers, wage

against HIV. But out of respect for my patients aging gracefully with HIV/AIDS, and those that never got the chance, I will keep fighting.

I am new to the Charlotte area, but I am not new to HIV medicine. One day several years ago, a rather colorful 81-year-old patient informed me “I’ve been taking these meds since you were s#@*%ing your pants, young lady, so don’t think you can just waltz in here and change them.” I looked at his chart — diagnosed in 1982 — and replied “You are right, I was still s#@*%ing my pants that year.” The customer is always right. I have such a profound respect and love for my patients. To watch them face another pandemic is devastating, but I know from experience they have the knowledge and gumption to withstand this next plague. : : Laura Veal, FNP, MSN, MPH is a Nurse Practitioner/Clinical Director with Quality Comprehensive Health Center.

Black August: an Observance & a Celebration Political Voices

BY Kendra R. Johnson, Equality North Carolina Executive Director | CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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s we head into the thick heat of summer, Equality North Carolina is inviting our communities all across the state to join us in observation of Black August — a month-long period of remembrance about the history of anti-Black, violent, systematic oppression in this country and the giants and revolutionaries who laid the foundation for the work of our movements today.

Black August, like many parts of BIPOC (black, indigenous and people of color) American history, is not taught in public schools. As a result, you may not be familiar with it. But there’s never been a more crucial time for people from all walks of life to familiarize themselves with the histories and traditions of BIPOC experience in America.

Black August first officially began in 1979 following almost two decades of organizing and resistance by folks like George Jackson, James Carr, Hugo Pinell, W.L. Nolan, Khatari Golden and others while within the walls of the California penitentiary system. These men took it upon themselves to form a brotherhood that solidified a collective consciousness surrounding the unjust treatment of Blackness by the American judicial system, and the horrific atrocities they experienced as Black individuals enduring incarceration.

Black August began as a way to honor these fallen Freedom Fighters and others who lost their lives while fighting back against racialized violence and oppression

within California prisons. Today, we also recognize the numerous people of color movements and acts of resistance that began within the month of August, including the March on Washington, the Haitian Revolution, Nat Turner’s Rebellion, Watts Uprising and so many others.

However, Black August is more than just a month of observation — it’s a celebration of the resilience of Black people in America and the sacred tradition of Black survival, particularly when it comes to our LGBTQ brothers, sisters and siblings.

Black and Brown LGBTQ people have always been at the forefront of the battle for civil rights, even if they didn’t stand in the spotlight. You only have to look as far as Bayard Rustin, an openly gay Black man in Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s circle who taught Dr. King nonviolence and organized the March on Washington. Or Marsha P. Johnson, a Black trans woman who is credited with throwing the first brick at the Stonewall Riots.

The movement for LGBTQ equality began as an uprising against police brutality at places like Stonewall Inn and Compton’s Cafeteria. Over half a century later, we are still coming together to resist oppression and fight against police brutality targeting the most vulnerable members

BUILD THROUGH

US

of our communities through the Black Lives Matter Movement, with queer Black women like Patrisse Cullors and Alicia Garza leading the charge.

Other prominent Black liberation organizations are also led by revolutionary queer folks who are changing the world, such as BYP100’s founder Charlene Carruthers.

This Black August, we’d like to make it known that Black and Brown LGBTQ people have always been here. From Miss Major to Alicia Garza, without the unrelenting passion and sacrifice of these giants, the movement to end racialized violence and oppression in this country would not be where it is today.

From all of us at Equality NC, we hope you’ll spend some time this month reflecting on the legacy of the LGBTQ rights movement and its position within the larger fight for civil rights in this country. Keep your eyes peeled to your inbox and our social media channels for more on #BlackAugust in the days and weeks to come. : :

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Aug. 21-Sept. 3, 2020

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BRIEFS

news

MeckPAC future being discussed

Trans Murders Exceed 2019 Count

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — In an alarming rate, transgender murders for 2020 have already surpassed the overall statistics for 2019, and this has happened in only half the time.

Across the U.S., a nation that has seen a marked escalation in racism, more reports of bias and bigotry, a major step back in the current administration’s support of those among the LGBTQ community — and the list continues to increase in a COVID-19 ravaged world despite recent wins at the U.S. Supreme Court level.

Gina Duncan, a contributor to Florida’s WatermarkOnline, remarked that there was “another pandemic quietly…sweep[ing] our nation with deadly consistency — the killing of transgender Americans.

For decades, she shared that from 25-30 transgender individuals, mostly Black, were being murdered regularly. “These murders are dismissed or ignored by the general population and a majority of state and federal lawmakers,” she added.

But this summer has experienced a massive rate, as evidenced by the murders of five Black transgender women in just a single month in from four states in the U.S. alone. Those who met their untimely end were Brayla Stone, Merci Mack, Shaki Peters, Draya McCarty and Bree Black.

These deaths, along with those of two others since June, come at a time when Pride was being celebrated. There have been eight more murders since then.

What is even more distressing is that transgender deaths are also accompanied by “dead-naming” and misgendering the victims by law enforcement, “demeaning them in death and impeding their own investigations,” Duncan continued. To help deal with these issues, protocol and policy resources have been in place that have been published by state and national LGBTQ advocacy groups, in addition to Department of Justice’s comprehensive guides. Unfortunately, law enforcement does not always reference those options, making the situation even more painful for survivors’ family and friends.

“When law enforcement commits these egregious errors, it disrespects the victim, erases their true gender identity and impedes their own investigation as the victim is known in the community as their authentic self. These flawed actions breed mistrust and discourage locals from coming forward with vital information.” In cases that followed the misgendering and dead-naming path, like that of Bee Love Slater from 2019 who was shot multiple times, placed in an abandoned automobile and set on fire, the murder was not classified as a hate crime.

According to data collected by the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE), 23 of the victims were transgender women, four were transgender men and one was non-binary. The epidemic of violence is particularly pronounced for Black and Latina transgender women, the center shared.

As of press time, the 28th victim was stabbed to death in Portland, Ore. while attending a vigil for murder victim Tyrell Penney, People magazine reported.

Of the 28 murdered this year, Monica Diamond from Charlotte, N.C. was number four on the list.

In the center’s U.S. Transgender Survey, which included more than 28,000 respondents, nearly half (47 percent) of all Black respondents reported being denied equal treatment, verbally harassed and/or physically attacked in the previous year because of being transgender.

Additionally, 57 percent said that they were afraid to go to the police when they needed help.

As the crisis continues, issues which keep bubbling up from all of this is the need for increased access to safe, affordable housing, policies that protect transgender people from discrimination and increase economic opportunity, and improved police training, NCTE added. info: bit.ly/3h1z5jy. bit.ly/2PZjCEL. Photo Credit: Alec Perkins via Wikimedia Commons. CC 2.0 Generic license.

— Compiled by Lainey Millen

Trans Youth Wins Court Appeal

ATLANTA, Ga. — The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eleventh Circuit affirmed on Aug. 7 a lower court ruling that required a suburban Jacksonville, Fla. school district to treat transgender student Drew Adams equally by allowing equal access to the restroom that matches his gender. Adams’ case was the country’s first trial involving a transgender student’s equal access to restrooms. “…the court sent a clear message that schools must treat transgender students with the same dignity and respect as any other student,” said Tara Borelli, counsel at Lambda Legal. “The trial court was correct when it ruled that the law requires that Drew Adams be treated like every other boy and be allowed to use the boys’ restroom. We are glad the court saw the school board’s policy as unjust and discriminatory, and affirmed the inherent dignity of transgender students.”

Adams, 19, a former student at Allen D. Nease High School in Ponte Vedra, Fla. shared his thoughts on the ruling, saying, “I am very happy to see justice prevail, after spending almost my entire high school career fighting for equal treatment. High school is hard enough without having your school separate you from your peers and mark you as inferior. I hope this decision helps save other transgender students from having to go through that painful and humiliating experience.”

The 11th Circuit upheld the July, 2018, ruling by the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Florida that deemed the school policy as discriminatory and ordered the St. John’s County School Board to allow Adams to use the boys’ restrooms at Nease High School, like all other boys. The 11th Circuit agreed that excluding transgender students from the restrooms that match their gender is unconstitutional because it discriminates based on sex in violation of the Equal Protection clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, and violates Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972.

As the judges wrote: “Bostock confirmed that workplace discrimination against transgender people is contrary to law. Neither should this discrimination be tolerated in schools. The School Board’s bathroom policy, as applied to Mr. Adams, singled him out for different treatment because of his transgender status…A public school may not punish its students for gender nonconformity. Neither may a public school harm transgender students by establishing arbitrary, separate rules for their restroom use. The evidence at trial confirms that Mr. Adams suffered both these indignities. The record developed in the District Court shows that the School Board failed to honor Mr. Adams’s rights under the Fourteenth Amendment and Title IX.” “Our family is extremely relieved that the court sided with our son, and affirmed it was discriminatory to deny him equal access to the restroom. It was so painful to watch our son suffer discrimination at the hands of his school, when the only thing he should have to worry about is getting a good education.” said Erica Kasper, Adams’ mother. “I hope all schools across the country are paying attention to what we went through and to this decision.” info: lambdalegal.org.

— Compiled by Lainey Millen

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Aug. 21-Sept. 3, 2020

In response to the news of improprieties and organizational mismanagement, a group of Charlotte-area LGBTQ community members met via Zoom on Aug. 15 to discuss Mecklenburg LGBT Political Action Committee’s (MeckPAC) current status and future plans. Facilitating the meeting were Emily Plauché and Ryan Morrice, both past board members, and they introduced William Loftin (interim chair), Nate Turner (interim vice/co-chair) and Richard Grimstad (interim treasurer), who had been elected/ appointed to their positions by the organization’s two former officers. The situation that led to the community’s call for action, stemmed from former MeckPAC chair Matt Comer’s use of the organization’s debit card for personal purposes, as well as the lapse of the PAC’s state registration requirements, in addition to it having not filed the necessary paperwork with the state with regard to its finances. The meeting’s end result found that people wanted to help reestablish the organization’s reputation and its work in endorsing equality-minded candidates in the election process. MeckPAC’s former board strayed away from the organization’s mission, and had not held regular meetings, surveyed candidates and made endorsements per its bylaws. With new leadership the hope is that with the steps being taken to “right the ship” that MeckPAC will get back on track in its focus and work. Full disclosure of finances and transparency of operations were seen as key to the success of the revamped and/or new organization.

info: facebook.com/meckpac.

Clemson student wins a Point

Tyler McDougald, a rising junior at Clemson University, has been awarded a Point Foundation Scholarship. He has the distinction of being the first person from South Carolina to receive a scholarship from Point, the Greenville Journal reported. He told the news organization that him being the first was “indicative of ‘the lack of infrastructure’ to not only support but empower and uplift queer people in South Carolina.”

info: bit.ly/3g6eNnU.

Gantt to host ‘Unmasked’ panel discussion

The Harvey B. Gantt Center for AfricanAmerican Arts + Culture will present its “Unmasked: Identity and Stigmas in the LGBTQ+ Community” panel discussion on Aug. 25, 7 p.m., via YouTube. The virtual program will feature panelists therapist Erin Steele, community activist and organizer Jermaine Nakia Lee and Time Out Youth Center housing specialist Shakira Clarke.

Charlotte Black Pride Chair Shann Fulton will moderate. Viewing this program is free and open to the public. To chat during the program and contribute perspectives, participants will need a YouTube account with a Gmail email address prior to the program.

Those who do not have a YouTube account, should visit bit.ly/2FyDEUR for a step-bystep tutorial on creating a YouTube account.

info: bit.ly/348HEWo.

Finder details trans life insurance options

A comprehensive guide on obtaining life insurance for transgender individuals has been released by Finder and can be accessed online. Finder shared that it embraced gender fluidity.

info: finder.com/transgender-life-insurance.

Israeli center files suit

A lawsuit has been filed against the municipal government of Jerusalem, Israel by the Jerusalem Open House for Pride and Tolerance claiming discrimination with regard to the city’s budget.

info: bit.ly/3h7ounc.

Biden Picks Harris for Historic VP Spot Election 2020

BY Victoria Brownworth | Guest Contributor After months of secrecy and strategic leaks from his campaign, Former Vice President and Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden revealed his running mate on Aug. 11: California Sen. Kamala Harris.

Harris ran for president last year and was briefly the frontrunner before dropping out last December, citing lack of funds.

Harris is an historic choice. The daughter of a Jamaican immigrant father and an Indian immigrant mother, Harris will be both the first Black woman and first AsianAmerican vice-presidential candidate. Harris was previously the first female, first Black and first Asian-American attorney general of California. She was also the first Black woman and Asian-American woman district attorney of San Francisco.

Harris is a long-time LGBTQ ally, with her work for the community dating back decades.

Reaction to Biden’s choice was swift and overwhelmingly positive from Democrats.

Harris’ history with the LGBTQ community began officially when she was San Francisco DA. On Valentine’s Day 2004, Harris was among the first in the country to marry lesbian and gay couples. Then-Mayor (now Gov.) Gavin Newsom had urged the county clerk’s office to begin issuing the marriage certificates, asserting that the state Constitution prohibited discrimination. California was then the only state other than Massachusetts to grant same-sex marriages.

While running for attorney general in 2010, Harris asserted that she would not defend Prop 8, the Eliminates Right of Same-Sex Couples to Marry Act, which had banned same-sex marriages in California 2008 and was being litigated in the federal courts. After being elected, Harris declared her office would not defend the marriage ban.

In 2013, when Proposition 8 was overturned, Harris issued the order to begin marrying couples that day. There is vivid footage of gay and lesbian couples lined up to get marriage licenses and then-Attorney General Harris in

front of news media, on the phone, issuing the directive that “You must start the marriages immediately!”

During Pride Month, Harris put a video of the event on her Twitter page.

As a senator, Harris is among the most progressive, along with Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), who also ran for president this year. Harris has supported healthcare reform and co-sponsored Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (I-VT) Medicare for All legislation. She supports the federal legalization of marijuana, a path to citizenship for undocumented immigrants, the DREAM Act, a ban on assault weapons and progressive tax reform. She is a proponent of the Equality Act and had pledged to sign it into law when running for president.

Harris has consistently spoken out about anti-LGBT violence — especially against trans women of color, about the Trump trans military ban and about attempts to block healthcare for queer and trans people by the administration. She applauded the June Supreme Court

ruling which banned anti-LGBTQ employment discrimination.

Harris gained a national profile for her pointed questioning of Trump administration officials during Senate hearings, including Attorneys General Jeff Sessions and William Barr.

During her intense grilling of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, she repeatedly asked him if he recognized Obergefell v. Hodges, the ruling that legalized same-sex marriage, as “landmark Civil Rights legislation” similar to rulings on school desegregation. Kavanaugh refused to answer.

Many of Harris’ fellow senators issued congratulatory and supportive statements on social media. Pete Buttigieg, who was the first openly gay presidential candidate this year and won the Iowa and New Hampshire primaries, said on Twitter, “Kamala Harris fights tirelessly for justice, dignity, and equality for all Americans. I’m thrilled she’s joining the ticket and can’t wait to call her my Vice President.”

State Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta tweeted a photo of Biden and Harris and noted, “This team is going to beat Trump like a drum.”

On hearing that Biden had chosen Harris, Trump deemed her “nasty,” “fake” and “a phony.” He also said she was the “meanest” and “most horrible” and claimed she was “disrespectful” in her attacks on Biden during the Democratic primary when Harris had challenged Biden on his previous stance on busing.

Harris will debate Vice President Mike Pence in Salt Lake City on Oct. 7. : : Reprinted with permission from Philadelphia Gay News. The original can be read online at bit.ly/30YrT20.

Victoria Brownworth is an award-winning journalist, editor and writer, as well as the author and editor of nearly three dozen books.

Delegates

continued from page 4 Working in politics in New York, I realized that many elected officials were mostly worried about re-election and not the good of our communities. My work across party lines resulted in threats blacklisting, causing me to quickly realize that our systems were horribly broken. I began working on campaigns of elected officials that would bring the voice of the people to their respective positions, rather than those of special or personal interests. Being a delegate is important to me because it allows me to bring the voice of those who elected me to the party. I can be the change I want to see where we all have an equal voice in our democracy.

What excites you about the Biden/Harris nomination?

I am excited about the historic nature of the Harris nomination. Having a Black woman with immigrant parents is an enormous step toward representation in our democracy. I hope we can continue to build on this within our party and begin giving a voice to people of color, queer people and disabled people, who are screaming for system change on an institutional level.

What are the most important issues to you in this year’s election?

This year’s election is about getting Donald Trump out of office, but also building a platform that fixes the issues that got him elected in the first place. There is a deep issue with corruption and dirty money which has politicized our electoral system so much that we have a growing wealth gap between the rich and the working class. It is exacerbating the already horrible racial wealth gap. We

have marijuana sales that are holding up state economies during COVID-19, but the plant is still illegal on the federal level. We have a foreign policy institution that dehumanizes people from other countries and encourages meddling in foreign elections, namely in South America.

I think it is a disservice to blame all of this on one party.

I hope to uplift voices for change within the Democratic Party and I joined 800 other fellow delegates in voting “no” on the platform. I still believe the Democratic Party is a better choice by far this election cycle, and I’m most excited for the Biden/Harris administration to fulfill their promise to fight for a minimum wage of $15/hour, to end our inhumane immigration practices at the Southern border, and to decriminalize marijuana as a path to immediate legalization.

Narissa Jimenez-Petchumrus (they/them) 4th Congressional District, Durham County

How did you get involved in politics and why is being a delegate important to you?

I have interned and volunteered with social and economic justice organizations since graduating from UCLA in 2014, but couldn’t envision myself becoming a community organizer at the time. The non-profit world isn’t exempt from the same maladies we are trying to cure in

other areas like toxic masculinity, exploitation, etc. After the 2016 election, I felt compeled to work with other local activists in my homogenously White, relatively conservative, and affluent suburban community back home. I was sick of feeling like I had to flee to Los Angeles to be part of a queer community. My intersectional identity, my brownness, made me feel additionally isolated and vulnerable. I realized that we need to build community right in our backyard and was inspired by other activists in the country making a difference around a common vision and willpower to match.

What are the most important issues to you in this year’s election?

Everything is inextricably connected, making it difficult to answer. We don’t live in a single-issue world. I value a strong national response to the current COVID-19 pandemic. I value a Green and Red New Deal, and much more, to at least slow the cataclysmic effects of climate change.

I value Medicare for All. I value foreign policy that doesn’t bow to the interests of the military industrial complex and doesn’t accelerate global tensions. I value total student debt forgiveness and universal housing. I value the abolition of ICE and DHS and defunding police departments nationwide while exploring as many alternatives to policing that are at our disposal. I value reparations. I value making oligarchs pay their share in taxes. I value protecting and celebrating the LGBTQ+ community, especially the trans community. I’m optimistic with Gen Z’ers and Millennials ascending into political involvement to push the envelope further for current and future party platforms. : :

Aug. 21-Sept. 3, 2020

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news

Gay Coronavirus Denier Feels Awful About Infecting 14 of His Closest Family Members COVID-19 Roundup

BY Graham Gremore | Guest Contributor Tony Green is a gay Republican from Dallas who spent months calling the coronavirus pandemic a “scamdemic” and making fun of people who wore masks. Then he and his entire family got coronavirus, some had to be hospitalized, and one died.

Now, in an essay for The Dallas Voice (bit.ly/2Y0gBbM), 43-year-old Green admits that he was wrong.

“I admit I voted for Donald Trump in 2016,” he writes. “I admit traveling deep into the conspiracy trap over COVID-19. All the defiant behavior of Trump’s more radical and rowdy cult followers, I participated in it. I was a hard-ass that stood up for my ‘God-given rights.’”

On June 13, Green and his partner threw a big party for their family, during which nobody wore masks or practiced social distancing.

The next day, Green woke up sick.

The day after that, Green’s partner was sick.

Then Green’s partner’s family started getting sick. First it was his elderly grandmother. Then it was his dad, his mom, his brother-in-law, and his sister, who had just given birth.

Pretty soon all 14 people who attended the party were sick, each testing positive for coronavirus.

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But the nightmare was only just beginning.

“My father-in-law and I both went to the hospital on June 24,” Green writes. “The virus had attacked my central nervous system, and the staff stopped me from having a stroke.”

His partner’s elderly grandmother was admitted to the hospital on June 25. By July 2, she was dead.

He continues, “On the day of her funeral, which was July 14, five more of our family members tested positive for the virus. That evening, my father-in-law was put on a ventilator.”

During the ordeal, Green created a GoFundMe page to raise money for his family, but he was forced to end the campaign after his mother-in-law, whom he originally duped into thinking coronavirus was hoax, said she wouldn’t accept any help from him.

“It is with heavy heart and deep regret but I must inform each contributor that I am compelled to end this fundraiser and refund each donor,” he wrote on the page, adding his mother-in-law “refuses to accept this money.”

Green says he has been eaten alive by guilt ever since.

“You cannot imagine my guilt at having been a denier, carelessly shuffling through this pandemic, making fun of those wearing masks and social distancing,” he writes. “You cannot imagine my guilt at knowing that my actions convinced both our families it was safe when it wasn’t.”

He concludes his essay with a plea to others who still aren’t taking coronavirus seriously.

“For those who deny the virus exists or who downplay its severity, let me assure you: the coronavirus is very real and extremely contagious,” he says.

“Trust me, you do not want this virus. And you do not want your loved ones suffering and dying from this because you are taking a ‘political stand’ or protecting the economy over their lives.”

“I am calling myself out first,” Green adds, “but now this is personal, and I fell on my sword. And I promise you, if we continue being more worried about the disruption to our lives than we are about stopping this virus, not one American will be spared.”

Watch Green’s appearance on “Inside Edition” at youtu. be/XncaDH57RMM. : : Reprinted by permission of Queerty.

Graham Gremore is a features editor at Queerty.

Aug. 21-Sept. 3, 2020

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news

Transgender Group Endorses Biden for President The National Center for Transgender Equality Helps to Secure Voters

BY Mykah Buff | QNotes Staff Writer tions for transgender The National Center for women as part of the Transgender Equality (NCTE) stated reauthorization of the in a press release announcing that landmark Violence their NCTE Action Fund had endorsed Against Women Act he Joe Biden for president of the United authored,” she stated.

States. The executive director of what Keisling went on to the organization refers to as, “the mention other efforts political voice for transgender commade by Biden to fight munity in America,” Mara Keisling, for transgender people expressed the imperativeness for as well as citing a stateBiden to be in office, noting his experiNational Center for Transgender Equality Executive ment he made in an ence and his advocacy for transgender Director Mara Keisling and Former Vice President and interview expressing people and the LGBTQ community.

Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden. his dismay for what the “Joe Biden is the advocate and (Photo Credit: NCTE Action Fund, YouTube, screenshot) community is faced with. president we need at this consequential “Biden participated in moment,” stated Keisling. “He has the NCTE Action Fund’s Transform the White House candidate temperament, the experience and wisdom to lead our couninterview series,” stated Keisling. “Biden demonstrated his try. Throughout his career in public service, work as a private long-standing support for transgender people and outlined his citizen through the Biden Foundation, and now his campaign commitment to protecting access to health care,” she added. to lead our nation, Biden has demonstrated his commitment “The idea that someone can tell you that you can’t be to transgender people and the LGBTQ community.” who you are in your heart and soul is just wrong,” said Keisling asserted Biden’s intentions to help protect Biden in the interview. transgender people in the U.S. She disussed his past efNCTE affirms its strong desire for Biden to be the next forts to advocate for the transgender community, citing U.S. president as well its desire to get Donald Trump out of his devisement of the reauthorization of the landmark office saying that, “Donald Trump has consistently worked Violence Against Women Act. to alienate, harm, and erase transgender people.”

“Biden has a strong agenda for addressing the issues “The Trump administration is really the discrimination that face transgender Americans, a record of getting administration. President Trump has attacked transgender big ideas done during his time as vice president in the health care, put transgender students unnecessarily at Obama-Biden administration and a history of ensuring risk and led a consistent and unrelenting effort to roll back that transgender people are protected, including protec-

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protections for LGBTQ Americans. Joe Biden is the clear choice for president of the United States, and the NCTE Action Fund is proud to endorse him.”

More recently the NCTE stated how the “Discriminiation Administration” has made efforts to restrict transgender people from having access to healthcare, citing the removal of certain provisions that would provide protection from gender-identity discrimination. “During Pride month, and in the middle of a global pandemic no less, the ‘Discrimination Administration’ prioritized limiting access to healthcare for trans people. … They formally removed explicit protections from discrimination based on gender identity,” added NCTE. NCTE said it is prepared to continue fighting to do all it can to protect the transgender community, but that it needs the help of voters to get Biden into office and to get Trump out. The organization also outlined its plan and strategy for the remaining months leading up to the election in order to procure as many votes as possible.

“We are ready to hit the ground running under a new Administration, but in order to win in November, we will need your help,” said NCTE. “Over the next four months, we’ll be focused on increasing voter turnout.. We’ve already started identifying supporters of trans equality who are not currently registered to vote and are encouraging them to do so by sending registration materials directly to their homes.

We’re also working with lawmakers nationwide to encourage vote-by-mail in every state in the country. Finally, we’re mobilizing to do everything we can to help get out the vote.

This will include digital and mail outreach, including essential “know your rights” resources to ensure trans people can cast their votes on Election Day.” : :

life

Cool Globes

Public Art Exhibition About Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet

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orth Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper announced on Aug. 5 that Phase Two of the state’s reopening plan will be extended, keeping a number of businesses and amusement venues closed until at least Sept. 11. That includes museums, many of which have turned to virtual programming and online exhibitions to keep their patrons engaged. #MuseumFromHome is a worldwide social media campaign promoting these, and places like the Mint Museum are offering things like virtual art studio tours and craft projects you can do without venturing out of your house. For many, however, there is still a loss in not being able to physically interact with the remarkable artwork that exists in the city’s museum collections. “We begin to miss the brightness of colors and seeing the painted brushstrokes in front of our eyes,” says aspiring curator Nina Relf. “You get a special feeling inside when you see the real artwork for the first time.”

Science museums, often built around hand-on experiences, are also creatively addressing the need to fulfill their missions while keeping guests safe and following health and government mandates.

A new public art exhibition in Charlotte helps feed that need for art this fall, while also educating around an important global science issue. “Cool Globes: Hot Ideas for a Cooler Planet” features 35 globe sculptures, each

By Chris Rudisill | QNotes Contributor sharing a simple way individuals or businesses can reduce climate change. The project premiered in Chicago in 2007 in partnership with the Field Museum of Natural History and Mayor Richard Daley’s Office of Environment, with more than three million viewers. The exhibit has since traveled the world, exhibiting on four continents.

Charlotte is the 23rd city that the exhibition has toured — this time, in partnership with Discovery Place and Trane Technologies. “We were so impressed by the response by the local Charlotte community,” said Wendy Abrams, founder of Cool Globes, Inc., during a recent Zoom interview with WCCB’s Jon Wilson. For Discovery Place, the exhibition is an opportunity to expand upon its organizational

One of the many Cool Globes artistic creations on exhibit across Charlotte, N.C.’s landscape.

(Photo Credit: James Lane Imagery)

Charlotte local artist Norma Gely paints her creative spherical rendition for the Cool Globes exhibit.

(Photo Credit: James Lane Imagery)

mission to make science learning accessible to everyone.

Seven of the globes were created locally by artists Norma Gely, Rosalie Grubb, Elisa Sanchez, Jackie London, Rosalia Weiner, Britt Flood, Max Dowdle and a group of students from Trinity Episcopal School. Most of these locally designed globes are centered around Discovery Place’s Uptown location, and the exhibit continues along N. Tryon St. between Trade and East 11th, with 31 globes spanning eight city blocks. The remaining four globes are located at Charlotte Douglas International Airport, the U.S. National Whitewater Rafting Center, Truist Field and Camp North End. The goal of the nationally-recognized exhibition is to inspire participants to learn

about small actions that can add up to a large impact.

They are perfectly designed for the current times as well.

Abrams points out that the exhibition has never been in a pandemic before, but “the silver lining is the globes are kind of meant to be enjoyed while socially distancing because they’re each about ten to fifteen feet apart.”

“Cool Globes is a creative and unique educational opportunity for our community,” said Charlotte Mayor Vi Lyles. “I urge everyone to visit the art exhibit and learn about small steps they can take to help make our environment more sustainable.”

As the press release for the project points out, Charlotte was named a winner in the Bloomberg Philanthropies American Cities Climate Challenge in 2018.

As a winning city, Charlotte received technical assistance and support valued at $2.5 million to implement the City’s strategic energy action plan and achieve their carbon reduction goals. So far, Charlotte has been able to advance a large-scale solar initiative, green workforce program and institute sustainable policies that will support the City’s transition to electric vehicles.

As aptly named, these Cool Globes are showcasing an important issue using artwork that is engaging and imparts beauty to the urban landscape, a welcome addition to pandemic walks through the city. “The Cool Globes exhibition is an opportunity to showcase sustainability, along with the amazing talents of local and national artists, on a city-wide level,” said Catherine Wilson Horne, Discovery Place president and CEO. So, if COVID-19 has you begging for an art experience (and education), consider adding this exhibition to your socially distanced list of outdoor activities. It’s really “cool.”

The exhibition will be on display in Charlotte through the end of 2020. : :

Aug. 21-Sept. 3, 2020

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a&e

Rufus Rules

An Interview with Rufus Wainwright

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or those who have been counting (and patiently waiting), it’s been eight (!) years since Rufus Wainwright has released an album of original pop music. Rest assured that with “Unfollow the Rules” (BMG), Wainwright doesn’t disappoint. Album opener “Trouble In Paradise,” which shares a kinship with “Going To A Town” (from 2007’s Release “The Stars”), sets the tone with its political voice, something which echoes in “Only the People That Love.”

Wainwright also doesn’t skimp on the operatic excesses on the dramatic “Early Morning Madness” and “My Little You.” But there is also a hopefulness (and even humor) interwoven throughout on songs such as “You Ain’t Big,” “Peaceful Afternoon,” “Damsel in Distress” and “Alone Time.” Rufus was gracious enough to answer a few questions in advance of the release of “Unfollow the Rules.”

Gregg Shapiro: Work on “Unfollow the Rules,” which was released in July 2020, began in 2018. Is that about the average length of time for you when it comes to making a record, or if this one took longer, why is that the case?

Rufus Wainwright: This one took longer. I had worked for this period of time years ago on my early albums. With this one I returned to that concept. I will say that we weren’t working the whole time. We did it in spurts. I think if you actually put all the time that was spent consecutively, it didn’t take anywhere near as long as that. That being said, I’m a strong believer in walking away from a project for a little bit to get a fresh sense of what it needs and coming back to it.

This album had a lot of that; going away for a few months and then coming back. I think that really helped a lot.

BY Gregg Shapiro | Guest Contributor GS: What was it like working with producer and musician Mitchell Froom on “Unfollow the Rules?”

RW: That is one of the great tales of my life. On an artistic level he was perfect. On the one hand, he respected my work and is a fan and wanted to fight for the songs and so forth. But on the other hand, he wasn’t afraid to really question me and give me his honest opinion about what was going on musically.

It was this nice combination of caring and also curt [laughs]. But then on top of all of that, he’s a lovely guy. A true mensch. And we’re very good friends now, which is the best thing that can happen.

GS: You said in a YouTube video that your daughter Viva came up with the album’s title, “Unfollow the Rules.” Was the titular song inspired by the title or vice versa?

RW: Many years ago, she expressed that concept one afternoon, and I jotted it down. “Daddy, I want to unfollow the rules.” Then it became a lyric in a song, and then it became a song itself. Now, it’s the name of the record.

That happened in a very organic way, and I’m not quite sure which came first, the chicken or the egg at this point in terms of how this has all come about. But I will say that, like the album taking so long, having these big breaks in

between, that song is similar.

I kind of finished a couple little sections here and there, then I would go away and come back and hammer away at lyrics.

GS: In the eight years between “Unfollow the Rules” and “Out of the Game,” albums of original pop songs, the world has changed considerably, especially in light of the 2016 U.S. election. Am I on the right track when I say that the songs “Hatred” and “Only the People That Love” sound like musical responses to the current state of things in the Trump world?

RW: Yeah! You picked the right songs. Arguably, one could even say “Trouble in Paradise,” the opening track is indicative of the era we live in. “Hatred” I wrote in a period of my life where I was just up against the wall somewhat concerning an adult issue. Things that we all go through as human beings, whether it’s illness or going to court or losing a loved one. It was one of those big moments in life see Rufus on 17

Aug. 21-Sept. 3, 2020

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life

‘Disarm Hate’ Chronicles Experiences of Nine LGBTQ Activists

Galvanizing Nature of Documentary Looks at Advocacy for Gun Control Following the Pulse Nightclub Massacre

BY Vic Gerami | Guest Contributor

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of the Pink Pistols, a pro-gun LGBTQ group. people they meet along he riveting documentaFierstein summed it up with, “Never be bullied into the way, that look to alry film “Disarm Hate,” silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept leviate these hate crimes narrated by the iconic no one’s definition of your life; define yourself.” and bring a better unactor Harvey Fierstein, The film was released in July 2020 after having secured derstanding for all. seeks to create awareness the necessary funding to bring the project to completion.

The renowned transabout gun violence against It is available on multiple streaming platforms includgender activist and methe LGBTQ community ing Amazon Prime Video, FandangoNOW, Google Play/ dia personality Ashlee following the 2016 Pulse YouTube Rentals, InDemand (Comcast & Cox), Microsoft Marie Preston, who is Nightclub massacre in Store, and Vudu. A preview of the film is online at vimeo. a cast member and an Orlando that took 49 lives com/393234220. More information on the project is availexecutive producer, as the impetus. able at facebook.com/DOC2DISARMHATE. : : said, “The threat of gun Directed by Julianna violence is intersectional.

Brudek, the film chronicles Vic Gerami is a journalist, columnist, radio show host and meWhen someone’s identinine diverse LGBTQ activists dia contributor who is also publisher and editor of “The Blunt ty overlaps with multiple who come together after Post.” He hosts and produces “The Blunt Post with Vic” radio marginalized groups, the Pulse nightclub masNational rally organizer Jason P. Hayes brought his demand for show. His Q&A column, 10 Questions with Vic, is internationtheir risk is compoundsacre to join Jason P. Hayes, equal rights, gun control and more to Washington, D.C. after the ally syndicated. In July 2020, the Los Angeles Press Club aned. Black Americans are a hairdresser and an activist Pulse nightclub massacre. (Photo Credit: Disarm Hate screenshot) nounced that Gerami is a finalist in a record seven categories 10 times more likely to from New Jersey, who was on for the 62nd Annual Southern California Journalism Awards. be murdered with a gun a crusade. Without political than white Americans. Being a woman and experience, Hayes built a national rally to demand LGBTQ trans exacerbates those odds.” She continequal rights, fight the National Rifle Association (NRA) and ued, “‘Disarm Hate’ focuses on the discrimichallenge America’s obsession with gun violence. natory culture within America that informs “I wanted to bring awareness to how disproportionatethe violence marginalized communities face. ly gun violence has affected the less privileged members If we are ever to eradicate gun violence, we of our community. Two weeks before Matthew Shepard must interrogate the attitudes and beliefs was brutally murdered, Rita Hester, a trans woman of that fan the flames of hate. Our journey was color, was murdered, and the media buried the story. not about taking away people’s guns, it was Forgotten forever,” Brudek said. She added, “I did not want about removing the barriers that obstruct that to happen to the Hispanic LGBTQs that lost their lives their ability to recognize our humanity.” at Pulse Nightclub. As a community, we must remember The documentary successfully probes the hate crimes, and work together to stop the violence the emotional journeys of the activists, who perpetrated on each one of us.” squabble, laugh, cry and even fall in love Beginning as a road trip, the journey turned into so throughout their four-day, cross-country much more than anyone could have expected. Exploring trip. It also examines opposing views and their similarities and differences, the group develops a lifeThe cast of ‘Disarm Hate’ stopped in Memphis, Tenn. for a break and to visit the counterpoints to their calls for gun reform changing bond as they visit prominent sites of gun violence site of a transgender murder victim. (Photo Credit: Disarm Hate screenshot) from a pro-gun perspective, as they visit a that have affected LGBTQ people nationwide. This common shooting range and engage with a member ground opened discussions between the travelers and the

‘The Truths We Hold: An American Journey’ Out in Print

BY terri schlichenmeyer | CONTRIBUTING WRITER “The Truths We Hold: An American Journey”

by Kamala Harris ©2020, Penguin Books $18.00 paperback 336 pages

I

t starts early on.

At first, it seems spontaneous: parents who enjoy their interests naturally display those passions to small children who are dragged along for the ride. The child observes and absorbs until one day, parental interest becomes child’s obsession. And in “The Truths We Hold” by Kamala Harris, that’s how a politician is made.

Supporters can almost see the trajectory in the history: Kamala Harris’ parents, both highly educated immigrants, instilled a sense of independence in their daughter and both remained supportive of her choices, even as they

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divorced. Harris’ mother, especially, gave Harris lessons in strength and activism through an upper-middle-class childhood with ballet and piano lessons alongside marches and protests.

Says Harris of her mother, a breast cancer researcher, “she was determined to make sure we [Harris and her sister] would grow into confident, proud black women.”

Harris describes her community — the women and men who helped raise and educate her — with obvious affection, saying that “the seed was planted very early on,” and she knew that she wanted to be a lawyer and to make a difference in the lives of others.

“When activists came marching and banging on the doors,” she says, “I wanted to be on the other side to let them in.”

By the time Harris had finished law school, her sights were set on working “for the people.” She focused on the prosecution of child molesters, sexual predators and rapists. On her way up the career ladder, she continued to advocate for the poor, for women and children and for the rights of LGBTQ people and immigrants. She worked for the reduction of recidivism, for Americans in need of health care and for consumers and homeowners.

Says Harris, “In the years to come with all the challenges to come, we cannot lose sight of who we are and who we can be.”

As biographies by famous people go, “The Truths We Hold” is a refreshing surprise, in that there’s very little look-at-me name-dropping. Author and assumed Vice Presidential candidate Kamala Harris mentions people because of work or family ties, not to impress. Remarkably, she also writes of her friendship with Beau Biden.

The other interesting thing about this memoir is that readers will not see laid-out plans for the future: remember, this book was likely written at least two years ago and Harris presumably had no crystal ball. Instead of plainlystated plans, what she offers “is a collection of ideas and viewpoints and stories.” Readers are left to see passions between the lines, and can draw their own conclusions.

Aside from this, there’s plenty of biography which, again, is not filled with esoteric names-and-dates but with things that are relevant to the story of who Harris is and how she sees this country. That makes “The Truths We Hold” easy to read, if not a bit long in the achievement department, but not uninteresting. If you’d like to know more about the woman who may sit in the Vice President’s chair next January, read it now, while it’s early on. : :

views

Welcoming the Stranger Among Us Spiritual Reflections

BY Rev. Collis J. Floyd | Guest Contributor

A

s a person of faith, I regularly question my intentions of welcoming the stranger.

It is a simple question we all must ask when we navigate the world around us. Am I welcoming the people I don’t look like, don’t talk like, don’t love like, don’t live like, don’t sound like?

In this era of novel coronavirus and COVID-19, it is harder than ever to appear welcoming to others. As we mask up and hide much of our face, so much of how we welcome others is hidden. No one can see my smile or my frown of sadness or my pursed lips in frustration. Part of my way to welcome is gone. It takes a special effort to say audibly “hello” or wave as we attempt to connect.

Immigration has been the focal point for many policies since the 2016 election. I do not support the immigration stance of our current federal administration. As a spiritual person, I cannot approve of separating families, caging children and making the immigration process more difficult to traverse.

My spirit says it is time to grant an extravagant welcome to everyone who seeks a place of safety, freedom, liberty and hope. Yet, in the midst of the tragic times we are living in with a virus raging among us, the infighting of our political systems, the racist bigotry we perpetuate, a faltering economy — is anyone running to be welcomed in this country?

Figures published by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) show a steep decline of

Q-mmunity

connections

approximately 900,000 fewer petitions seeking entry into the U.S. from 2017–2019. The USCIS is self-funding — it makes its money from these fees. The current administration has halted green card applications and barred entry by foreigners.

How can we welcome the stranger who cannot get to us? How can we be satisfied with no one to welcome?

The heart of what I believed America to be was welcom-

ing to the stranger. Today my heart aches for those who are unable to come to the land which once had such promise. They must be desperate in a way I have never known to consider coming here as their refuge. As I contemplate my own existence here, in this land of promise and plenty, I ask where did the promise go and why can’t we get the plenty where it needs to be this day?

As arms are empty with no one to hug as visitors to my house of faith, we have learned to live this virtual existence in ways never dreamed. Virtual connection replacing most of what we’ve known — even church. We’ve become Zoom experts overnight to only find an emptiness in connecting with people virtually. We are beginning to forget our neighbor’s faces, our family’s favorite meals to share, what it is like to go to a party. In the quest for being a radical welcome to the stranger, we must realize there are thousands who would love to be here with us but can’t — even in the midst of a pandemic. Now we wait for them — prayerfully and patiently.

My always ready and welcoming smile waits behind the mask I wear. : : Rev. Collis Floyd is a former pastor of New Faith Metropolitan Community Church in Winston-Salem, N.C. and is also a seminarian at Luther Seminary.

space starting at $22: call qnotes for details 704.531.9988

Aug. 21-Sept. 3, 2020

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Losing Your Best Friend To Their Partner Tell Trinity

BY Trinity | CONTRIBUTING WRITER Dear Trinity, About two months ago my best friend got his first real boyfriend. Now we hardly talk. I know he’s happy, but I’m losing my best bud. Help!

Signed, Left Out, Boston, MA

never owned a suit would love to be in your suit-uation. (Be mindful of how you hold onto concepts and be willing to evaulate them like my cartoon suggests.)

Kisses, Trinity

Dear Left Out, First, let him know what you’re feeling.

Second, insist that he spend time with you. And third, give it time. After a few months his love cloud will shift, and he’ll want to reclaim his prerelationship independence and will soon come running back. Darling, friends are like oceans — they are constantly moving with the tides.

Good Luck, Trinity

Hey Trinity, I recently started dating a man who told me, “he only gay when he’s drunk.” Do you think this is a sign of a serious problem or is he just trying to tell me he’s bi?

Help, Signs of Trouble, Rehoboth Beach, DE

Dearest Trinity, I’m 20 and recently got a job at a museum.

But they want me to wear a suit. I’m not ready to become a clone. Help!

Suit Sadness, Kansas City, MO Dearest Suit Sadness, I too had the same issue once until one day my fashion designer friend helped me put together a “Kurt from Glee” style suit.

Just ask your boss if you can wear fashionable suits, and then find a store, website or a fashion student to personalize you one.

And remember, baby, some people who

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Hey Signs of Trouble, I think it’s time you read the fairy tale, “Closet Gays On Drunken Days.” “There once lived a man named Joe Skunk, who only became gay when he got drunk. For when Joe had a drink he started to think, ‘What I really do want is a hunk!’ Then one night Joe met the perfect guy, who he liked but only when he was high. Though they had lots of fun Joe got moody when they were done, so the guy told Joe, ‘Get dry or this is good-bye!’” In the end, pumpkin, whether Joe Skunk is gay or not, there’s way healthier men you can lay, so let him go, shake him off and be on your way.

Love, Trinity

Hello Trinity, Lately, I’ve been encountering big, dressed up women who are actually straight men. I don’t understand why a straight man would dress as a woman?

Yours, Seeing Is Unbelieving, Eugene, OR Hello Seeing Is Unbelieving, At first, I also didn’t understand these enlightened beings, but I learned in life that some folks meditate, some climb mountains and some cross dress. But, sweetie, just in case you’re still confused, try: q

Trinity’s Transcendental Tips For How To Treat A Transgendered Being

1. If a cisman — straight, gay, or bi — is dressed as a woman, simply treat him like a woman.

2. When dealing with any woman — biological or “Max Factor” — use politeness, charm and chivalry!

3. If you find yourself in awe say, “Hello,” “Lovely day” or “Where on earth did you find heels in your size?”

4. If you don’t understand why someone is “different,” then congratulations! Now, stop judging and start learning!

5. Never be afraid or close-minded enough not to hang out with people you don’t understand!

6. When you judge others harshly, recognize that you also probably judge yourself harshly.

It’s always about you!

7. If the woman in line in front of you is over six feet, has long nails and talks in a baritone voice, then I wouldn’t say anything to offend her!

8. Why the Higher Powers would create diverse cultures and alternative lifestyles is not necessarily for you to understand.

9. If you’re not a professional make-up, fashion or acting coach, then save your opinions for yourself!

10. L astly, if you can’t beat ‘em and don’t want to join ‘em, then get in front of ‘em and make it look like a parade!

With a Masters of Divinity, Reverend Trinity hosted “Spiritually Speaking,” a weekly radio drama performed globally, and is now minister of sponsor, WIG: Wild Inspirational Gatherings, wigministries.org, Gay Spirituality for the Next Generation! Learn more at telltrinity.com. Send emails to: trinity@telltrinity.com.

Rufus

continued from page 13 edgeable of that whole concept until I ran into her grave. That’s where I got the idea.

I was walking through London and I saw this amazing statue of her in Paddington Green. Then I went and read up on her and fell into this rabbit hole [laughs] of the 18th century and Bette Davis movies [laughs]. I’m happy to bring people along on this journey.

GS: Does Stephen Sondheim know about the song “This One’s for the Ladies (That Lunge)”, and if so, what does he think of the semi-tribute?

RW: You know what? I don’t know! That’s a good idea. I’ll send it to him. I met him a couple of times and we’ve hung out a bit. I should send him a link.

GS: In “Peaceful Afternoon,” an anniversary song for your husband Jorn (Weisbrodt), you sing the line “between sex and death and trying to keep the kitchen clean” which may be the most romantic summation of marriage I’ve ever heard, and I’ve been with my husband for almost 28 years. What does Jorn think of the song?

RW: He loves it. It is now kind of part of our marriage that I write a song about him for every album of original songs I release.

It’s been that way for the last three or four records, so it’s not a new thing. Thankfully, they’re all love songs [laughs], and they seem to grow in power and strength and beauty, so it’s worth pontificating on.

Classic Rufus Wainwright.

(Photo Credit: V. Tony Hauser) and I was filled with wrath. I needed to do something with that wrath in order to win the battle and not destroy myself in the process. I do feel like we’re at a similar juncture right now with the election.

People are going to be angry no matter what. There’s no getting rid of that, so we have to then channel that energy into the appropriate weapons [laughs] and come out better by the end. I don’t think it’s going to be easy, and it’s quite frightening, actually. But human history is laced with troubled times, we’ve been here before in the world. You have to go through this to get to a better place. “Only the People That Love” is eventually the answer to the question. Love will conquer all and that is your best bet in surviving this tricky period.

GS: I have a feeling that there are probably going to be gay men of a certain age who will hear Sarah Siddons get name checked in “Romantical Man” and know who she was.

RW: [Big laugh] GS: How did an 18th century actress find her way into this song?

RW: I’ve been a fan of “All About Eve” for many years. She briefly appears in that movie. Let’s just say I wasn’t deeply knowl-

GS: In the midst of all the seriousness, there is also humor, as in the song “You Ain’t Big.” What was the inspiration for that song and are you prepared to hear from the people of Lawrence, Kansas, as well as Southern Pennsylvania, Eastern California and Western New York state?

RW: [Laughs] Lawrence, I think, is a veiled compliment. The whole premise of the song is that you’re not really a huge celebrity until you’ve been amongst the plebeians of America, which is an interesting place, to say the least. Lawrence has always been a bit of an oasis in the Midwest whenever I’ve gone there. I can kind of breathe, finally. I don’t feel as tense as I do in the rest of the country. As far as Southern Pennsylvania, Eastern California and Western New York, those are particular jungles, shall we say [laughs].

GS: Having seen you perform in concert many times over the years, I was wondering how you are adjusting to the new normal of canceled and rescheduled concert tours during the pandemic?

RW: I have to say I am one of the luckiest artists around because I, thankfully over the last 10 years, really made great overtures to the opera world. I went out there and hammered away at this crazy idea of being accepted into the classical pantheon. I will never know if that’s happened until I am dead for about 100 years. That being said, what’s great about it now is that I must’ve had some effect because I do have a lot of commissions.

They take two or three years to compose.

The calendar is much wider in the classical world than in the pop world. So, there’s a ton of work that I could sit down and work on because of that little exit strategy that I had at one point. : :

Aug. 21-Sept. 3, 2020

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How to Get Through Life with a Mental Health Disorder Mental Health

BY Stanley Popovich | guest WRITER

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available around you. If possible, talk to a counselor who can help you manage your fears and anxieties. They will be able to provide you with additional advice and insights on how to deal with your current problem.

in getting help for your mental health issues. Your local hospital is another place you can visit to find treatment. Hospitals know a lot of good counselors and mental health programs in your area, and they can lead you in the right direction.

1. Educate yourself regarding your mental health issues.

It is important to learn as much as you can about your mental health disorder so you can better manage your situation. Talk to a professional who can give you advice on how to deal with your circumstances.

3. Learn from your experiences.

In every anxiety-related situation you experience, begin to learn what works, what doesn’t work and what you need to improve on in managing your fears and anxieties. Use what you have learned when you experience another similar situation.

5. Surround yourself with supportive friends.

You need to surround yourself with positive people. A person can always go to a support group where they can meet people who are also struggling with similar or different mental health issues.

2. Use the services of a counselor.

Take advantage of the help that is

4. Know where to go for help.

Your family doctor is a great source

any people have a difficult time living a normal life when they have to battle anxiety and other fear-related issues on a daily basis.

As a result, here are seven suggestions on how to handle a mental health disorder in your life.

6. Be patient with yourself.

Do not be hard on yourself when things do not go as planned. Dealing with

Finding ways to get through life more comfortably can help those who have a mental health disorder. anxiety and fear can be challenging, so be patient. Do not be in a rush to get things done. Go at a pace that you feel comfortable with when accomplishing your regular activities.

7. Your goal is to get better.

Your goal is to get your life back on track. Don’t waste your time arguing with your friends or relatives who are giving you a difficult time. This isn’t a public relations event where you need to get everyone’s approval. Your main focus is for you to live a happy life without anxiety and fear. : : Stan Popovich is the author of “A Layman’s Guide to Managing Fear Using Psychology, Christianity and Non Resistant Methods.” For information, visit managingfear.com.

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life

Our People: Chef Joya Vegan Chef, Makeup Artist, Mom

BY Mykah Buff | QNotes Staff Writer

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ilwaukee, Wisc. native Adjoa Courtney, better known by her fans and followers as Chef Joya, is a vegan chef and growing culinary sensation. She’s carried a passion for food ever since she was a young girl, and being vegan was something instilled in her by her grandmother, with whom she would help to prepare meals in the kitchen.

Joya started her cooking career by hosting gatherings for her friends and family where she would wow them with her culinary skills. What they were most fascinated by was that while her meals were 100 percent vegan, many of her recipes would traditionally require some sort of animal protein. From common dishes like mac & cheese to soul food to international cuisine, her flair for veganizing has made her quite the culinary icon in the Southeast.

Feeling inspired by how much her friends and family enjoyed her meals and their dining experiences, Joya decided to start sharing her recipes online through vlogging and social media where she would host cooking lessons.

Earlier this year, Joya released the first in a series of e-cookbooks, “It’s Soul Mahmazing,” and continues her journey of sharing her artistic ingenuity of turning simple recipes into vegan-style goodness. qnotes recently met up with Joya to chat about her career as a chef and see what all the buzz is about.

QN: What’s it like being a culinary sensation?

I’m naturally shy so it’s exciting that my creativity and originality is being noticed and inspiring others! It feels like I have a whole bunch of new best friends.

QN: How was it going from an everyday normal person to becoming a public figure?

I don’t really consider myself a public figure.

I’ve always been a people person and I love cooking and educating about vegan cuisine, but it still throws me off when people get super excited when they meet me and want hugs and photos. When they start scream-

ing, I’m looking around too because I don’t think they’re screaming for me.

It’s super flattering. I’m still getting used to the newfound recognition.

QN: Can you give us a snapshot of your day from start to finish?

I usually start my day at 7:30 a.m. by responding to all my social media inquiries and notifications.

I’m constantly booking private dinners and creating menus for private clients. Then it’s time to post on Instagram and all my other platforms. After that I start brainstorming about new content. Now that I’m on TikTok that’s another type of audience, but I’m doing well with engagement so I’m happy. It’s a vastly different platform and takes a lot of time to create for it. People don’t realize how much work goes into creating social media content. I’m a real-life chef with lots of clients, but I still find the time to create content and do pop ups. It’s a lot, but I love making people happy with my food both online and off.

I’m also a mother and I have a partner so I must fit them into my day as well.

Family is important to me and it’s the driving force behind what I do so even if it’s only 30 minutes, I’m going to find a way to prioritize their needs and spend some quality time with them.

whose ages are 13, 17, and 19 and my daughter is 16 (wow, I know). My girlfriend Ava and I have been together for six months and it has been the most beautiful space that anyone can ask for.

QN: What did you do professionally prior to becoming a chef?

I’ve been a professional makeup artist for 15 years, and I’ve worked with many production companies for national networks and media outlets, several celebrities, and major corporations. In my early 20s, I was an art and dance teacher.

QN: In addition to culinary arts, what are some other ways you like being creative?

I’ve always been an artist since I was a child.

Not only am I a chef and a professional makeup artist, but I’m also a visual artist. I’ve loved the arts since I was a young child. I love painting and have a small art gallery in my home.

QN: What are your plans for the future in terms of profession and career? Is there anything outside the culinary sector you’d like to pursue?

I can’t imagine doing anything else. My goal is to be a TV chef and perhaps open a quaint fine-dining space when I’m older.

Who knows, maybe I’ll even open an art gal-

lery when I retire from cooking.

QN: What prompted you to relocate to Charlotte, N.C., and what other places have you lived?

I wanted to raise my sons in a different environment. My brothers also came here for college and never left, so I figured this place must be awesome. I’ve also lived in Virginia.

QN: How did you develop your logo design and what was your inspiration behind the incorporation of a unicorn?

My logo is inspired by my best friend, Jessica, who passed away in 2016. I would call her unicorn and she would call me fairy. We would always cook together and have great meals with our families. When I became a chef, I wanted to make sure I kept her spirit alive in everything I did, so I incorporated the unicorn with a chef hat into my logo. She was my right hand.

QN: If you could have a lifetime supply of one food item, what would it be and why?

Taccccooooosssss! I absolutely love Tacos. I could easily eat a taco for breakfast, lunch and dinner. I have more than 50 taco recipes. : : Read more about Chef Joya at goqnotes.com/67094.

QN: What do you enjoy most about what you do?

The people! I love it when someone eats my food and has a happy heart and a full tummy!

I love bringing that wow factor and how people’s minds are blown when they have my food. I love a challenge so when people don’t think a dish can be veganized, I love to show them that it can and be delicious too.

QN: What does being vegan mean to you?

Making conscious choices about avoiding animal products for the betterment of my health and the environment.

QN: What’s your home life like?

I’m a mother of four. I have three boys

Aug. 21-Sept. 3, 2020

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