QNotes, Sept. 12-25, 2014

Sept. 12-25 . 2014

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Sept. 12-25 . 2014

inside

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Ian Anderson & Jethro Tull head to the North Carolina to share eclectic musical style

arts. entertainment. news. views.

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news & features I’m lucky that this profession is not bound by age.

I want to do it as long as I can. …

Musicians, actors and writers are able to keep going in the world.

Entertainment is not a barrier, as long as you have physical and mental health.

We know we have a great job.

online only Visit our website to get more Fall A&E Guide features on • Concerts • Visual Arts

We know how lucky we are.

6 12 14 19

News Notes: Regional Briefs News Notes: U.S./World Leader’s arrest debated Duke’s new LGBT app

a&e / life&style 16 16 16 18 20 21 22 23 24 24 26 27

SC Pride, Sept. 20 NC Pride, Sept. 27 Blue Ridge Pride, Oct. 4 Playing the Field Ian Anderson heads to NC ‘Laramie Project’ at FSU Fall theatre offerings Fall special events Jane’s World Tell Trinity Q Events Calendar Our People: Veda Covington

opinions & views 4 4 5 5

Editor’s Note TalkBack Guest Commentary QPoll

Sept. 12-25 . 2014

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qnotes connect Sept. 12-25, 2014 Vol 29 No 10

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

contributors this issue Paige Braddock, Matt Comer, Jon Hoppel, Patrick Ingram, Lainey Millen, Trinity

front page Graphic Design by Lainey Millen Mission:

The focus of QNotes is to serve the LGBT and straight ally communities of the Charlotte region, North Carolina and beyond, by featuring arts, entertainment, news and views content in print and online that directly enlightens, informs and engages the readers about LGBT life and social justice issues.

Pride Publishing & Typesetting, Inc., dba QNotes P.O. Box 221841, Charlotte, NC 28222 ph 704.531.9988 fx 704.531.1361 Publisher: Jim Yarbrough Sales: x201 adsales@goqnotes.com Nat’l Sales: Rivendell Media, ph 212.242.6863 Editor: Matt Comer, x202 editor@goqnotes.com Production: Lainey Millen, x205 production@goqnotes.com Printed on recycled paper.

Material in qnotes is copyrighted by Pride Publishing & Typesetting © 2014 and may not be reproduced in any manner without written consent of the editor or publisher. Advertisers assume full responsibility — and therefore, all liability — for securing reprint permission for copyrighted text, photographs and illustrations or trademarks published in their ads. The sexual orientation of advertisers, photographers, writers, cartoonists we publish is neither inferred nor implied. The appearance of names or photographs does not indicate the subject’s sexual orientation. qnotes nor its publisher assumes liability for typographical error or omission, beyond offering to run a correction. Official editorial positions are expressed in staff editorials and editorial notations and are determined by editorial staff. The opinions of contributing writers and guest columnists do not necessarily represent the opinions of qnotes or its staff. qnotes accepts unsolicited editorial, but cannot take responsibility for its return. Editor reserves the right to accept and reject material as well as edit for clarity, brevity.

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qnotes

Sept. 12-25 . 2014

editor’s note

by Matt Comer :: matt@goqnotes.com

Kudos to the hometown, questions for Charlotte Winston-Salem steps up History has been made. Well, folks think so, anyway. For possibly the first time, a North Carolina jurisdiction has said “No” to the state’s anti-LGBT constitutional amendment — recognizing all legally married couples.

(Read more online at goqnotes.com/31079/) On Aug. 28, the City of Winston-Salem announced it would recognize all legal marriage licenses from any U.S. state or jurisdiction for the purposes of city employee benefits. Unlike other domestic partner benefit plans — which Winston-Salem doesn’t have and other cities have offered for some time — Winston-Salem’s recognition falls under their pre-existing definition for “spouse.” Employees have until Oct. 31 to enroll their spouses, regardless of gender, and their children into city health and other benefit programs.

In making their decision, city leaders cited the U.S. Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals’ decision to overturn Virginia’s anti-LGBT constitutional amendment and North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper’s decision to no longer defend our state’s similar ban, passed by 61 percent of voters in May 2012.

LGBT advocates believe it might be the first time a North Carolina municipality has made such a decision, and neither I nor others are aware of similar actions by others.

My heart and soul is swelling with pride. My humble hometown is the first to stand up with courage and, at least in some small way, defy the institutionalized discrimination put into place by North Carolina’s amendment.

This latest development from Winston-Salem doesn’t surprise me.

The city has a long history of progressive thought and politics. With eyes geared toward the future on everything from civil rights to arts and education, the city’s had its bumps, scrapes and embarrassing moments of racism and hate, but it’s always pulled through with the right decisions.

Winston-Salem’s benefits decision is just the latest in a series of actions that shows clearly Amendment One is on its way out. The tide of history is on our side. We wait now only on the process. The Supreme Court likely will rule such bans unconstitutional, bringing equal marriage to all corners of the nation.

As a proud Winston-Salem native, I’ll be happy knowing my hometown leaders voluntarily jumped onto the right side of history.

Questions for Charlotte In the days after Labor Day, I witnessed with astonishment and confusion the events which unfolded after the arrest of community leader Ty Turner. You can read a bit on that story on page 14 and a more in-depth article online at goqnotes.com/31059/.

On one hand, a black, LGBT leader claimed he was wrongly arrested and aggressively treated by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department (CMPD). Local leaders rallied to his cause — the NAACP, local clergy, elected officials and community activists. A former City Council candidate

and Occupy organizer shared past experiences — claiming similar aggression and misbehavior — with the officer who arrested Turner.

On the other hand, officials with CMPD claimed their officers acted appropriately, did not violate policies, were following the law and, in particular, that the officer in question had no history of troubling behavior.

I sat through both press conferences, taking notes and asking questions. And, at the end of the day, I came to only one conclusion: Charlotte has a major communication problem.

The same incident viewed through two different lenses resulted in two entirely contradictory stories. How is this possible?

It’s clear we’re living in a time of high anxiety after Trayvon Martin, a CMPD officer’s shooting of Jonathon Ferrell and the more recent Michael Brown shooting and the resulting turmoil in Ferguson, Mo. Both sides — Turner and his allies and officials with CMPD — agree on at least this much.

Ultimately, CMPD did the right thing. Turner was “un-arrested,” and officials were unafraid to communicate openly, take questions and bend toward full transparency. But, they’ll have to do more. As a government agency — fully entrenched in a power structure that often targets and profiles people of color — CMPD will have to undertake further communication with Turner, the NAACP and others. A cliché maybe, but it’s true: With great power, comes great responsibility, and the responsibility of solving questions, concerns and doubts over CMPD officers’ behaviors and the fears over police misconduct rests solely at CMPD’s feet.

Charlotte’s police officials have done wonders in working with local communities. Chief Rodney Monroe’s community-based policing model has brought police and the neighborhoods they serve closer together.

It’s simply not possible for anyone to argue that CMPD has engaged in the kind of widespread, systemic misconduct and racism that’s clearly plagued police in places like St. Louis.

Yet, there’s always room for improvement — and both sides should take time to improve relations and move toward a better future for police relations in Charlotte.

And, one final thought: Charlotte City Council and their staff should review their handbills ordinance. In the days since Turner’s arrest I’ve spoken to numerous people. Each say they’ve never been stopped, cited or arrested for violating the same ordinance officers used to question Turner. Others have told me they never knew the law prevented distribution of printed materials on car windshields. And, any of us who have ever parked Uptown or near an event venue knows this kind of advetising is so commonly used that the ordinance is likely to never really be enforced fairly or equitably. What’s more, the ordinance might very well be too broad. Why, leaders should ask, does it apply to political or religious speech? Can an exception be made? The ordinance re-written? More tightly and equitably enforced? On these questions and more, Council members would do well to explore. : :

talkback Letters to the editor and comments from goqnotes.com. and facebook.com/qnotescarolinas. Web comments are not edited for grammar or punctuation.

Praise for Brafford Readers respond with messages of support and praise for Greg Brafford, a local LGBT bar owner who survived a shooting and attempted robbery (goqnotes.com/30904/): I am stating a fact about what an Outstanding guy Greg Brafford is and how he does everyone. He is like a father to me and several. Regardless of who or what you are, he bends over backwards to help anyone out. It’s horrible this happened to him.

But, I’m glad he survived. That shows you how the society is in our world. Regardless, everyone must be extremely careful of their surroundings. You never know what will happen. I wish the best to a great guy, Greg Brafford, and hope he progresses. Lots of love Greg.

— David Shawn Rhyne, goqnotes.com, Aug. 24 I just found out about this yesterday and was deeply saddened and horrified. My best to

Greg and Karl, I love you both and wish you a speedy recovery!

— Dave Subak, goqnotes.com, Aug. 27 HIV a gay disease?

Readers react to editor Matt Comer’s column in the Aug. 29 print edition, “Community leadership should make HIV a priority” (goqnotes.com/30943/): Matt, thank you for putting into words what I am experiencing in the HIV/AIDS field. Trying to reduce misconceptions while enlightening gay and bisexual men about the increased incidence rates is a tight rope that is not easily attained. I want to share what you have written.

Thank you.

— Annie Earle, MPH, goqnotes.com, Aug. 29 If you haven’t read the book “Dry Bones Breathe” you should. Did anyone care to relate the incidence and percentages of HIV transmission via anal sex in both straights and gays?

I thought not. Until our society will allow us to sensualize the condom for gay people little will happen. We should have big hung porn stars at the bars on weekends getting paid to let met put condoms on them. Our society is so repressed sexually when it come to gays that we don’t stand a chance in Hell. There is also the aspect of society that are “risk takers”.

Both gay and straight….these are the folks who ski slopes they haven’t mastered, speed on highways in the rain and run red lights etc.

You won’t find them putting on condoms. I worked for 2 agencies and found both to be so repressed that they constipated all efforts at reducing risk.

— kitcumbie, goqnotes.com, Aug. 30 Ever have feedback or want to share an opinion? We love feedback! qnotes accepts letters to the editor (usually around 200 words) and guest commentaries (usually 500-600 words). Email your letters or guest commentaries to editor@goqnotes.com.

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guest commentary

by Patrick Ingram :: guest contributor

Let gay and bi youth lead in HIV activism I was at a training event recently discussing tactics for reducing HIV transmission when someone made a statement that frustrated, but didn’t surprise me. This person declared that young people need to use protection, because if they do not, they will contract HIV and then die of AIDS. Ignorant comments like these drive fear. And the age of fear needs to end.

Young gay and bisexual men are hit the hardest by HIV (those of color are even more burdened), yet we continue to deal with negative messages, a youth-less leadership within state, local and federal health departments and agencies that support programs that promote misinformation about the virus. Inciting fear in a person, especially one who is young, by making him believe that he will get HIV and be excluded from society or even face death is definitely not the way to convince someone to change their behavior. Instead it becomes an obstacle to HIV education, testing and linkage into care.

You would not believe how many people who have no high risk or no exposure to the virus are afraid to get a rapid HIV test because of the fear of knowing. Guilt has convinced them that they must be positive because they did not use a condom, did not stay abstinent, stepped out of a relationship or hooked up with someone they met through a mobile application. They believe that HIV is the product of the mantra, “For every action, there is an equal but opposite reaction.”

We need a serious conversation about how one can reduce risky behaviors. A recent report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shows that young gay and bisexual men are disproportionately affected by HIV — between 2001 and 2011, the annual rate of seroconversion among this demographic increased by 132.5 percent. Therefore, it is essential that youth be present when strategic plans are made and implemented. Who better to read the pulse of a community?

Too many times, though, young people are told they don’t have enough tenure, experience, knowledge, understanding, connections or education to have a voice. Those allowed to be a part of strategies are often not listened to or go underutilized. Moreover, we as young people are social media masterminds, which make us ideal for conducting outreach to our peers.

Within our community, many youth lack knowledge, awareness, empowerment, preventive options and comfort communicating concerns about risks. The facts do not lie, but there seems to be a serious lack of focus on truly implementing plans to combat HIV. By contrast, the state of New York is taking the necessary steps by enacting a plan to fight

the virus. The National HIV & AIDS Strategy issued by the White House gives comprehensive guidelines on what needs to be done for this to happen. However, there is still complacency among individuals and organizations in the United States to follow through in applying these tactics. Communities that feel the brunt of the HIV epidemic need to strategically plan a counter-offensive against HIV. And, youth need to have a seat at the table.

In many places of power, there is still a dearth of young gay and bisexual men.

Decisions that affect us are made without our voice. It is time to give young people who are affected by HIV the necessary mentorship, guidance and opportunities to lead and have a voice in addressing HIV on local, state and federal levels. A few organizations are leading the way in engaging young people on HIV in the LGBT community, including Advocates for Youth, the National Minority AIDS Council and the Young Black Gay Men’s Leadership Initiative. These groups give a variety of opportunities to gay and bisexual men, such as educational opportunities, scholarships, conferences, promotions on prevention tools like PrEP and access to mentorship.

Like myself, there are many young people out there who continue to put in the time, effort, dedication and resiliency to be on the ground doing prevention work, advocating to community partners and lobbying local and state officials to continue to keep HIV a topic on the table. I have been blessed enough to continue to have opportunities and access to many of the options these agencies and programs deliver; however, many gay and bisexual young men do not. Therefore, it is important that we draw attention to the many agencies that do not provide opportunities to us to lead or be in the hierarchy of leadership, specifically when it comes to issues pertaining to our community.

More of these opportunities need to be readily available for youth.

If you have experience and connections, then share the wealth with a young person by providing direction. If you run a government agency or AIDS service/community-based organization, then actively recruit, utilize, engage and place youth in leadership positions, alongside much-needed mentoring. Young people are the future. Now is the perfect time to help groom us to lead and allow us to seriously have some stage time and show the world that we can shine. : : — Patrick Ingram is a health counselor and a founder of the popular blog ThePozLife.com.

This column was originally published by The Advocate on Sept. 4, 2014.

Reprinted with permission.

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qpoll Do you view the continued increase of HIV infections among men who have sex with men with a sense of urgency or importance?

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news notes: carolinas

Charlotte

compiled by Lainey Millen & Matt Comer

Senior org on recruitment trail

Church hosts inclusive programs CHARLOTTE — On Sept. 28, 11 a.m., Myers Park Baptist Church, 1900 Queens Rd., welcomes guest minister Rev. Cody J. Sanders, an ordained Baptist minister, a graduate of Gardner-Webb University and the McAfee School of Theology at Mercer University. Sanders is currently a Ph.D. candidate in Pastoral Theology and Pastoral Counseling at Brite Divinity School in Fort Worth, Texas.

He is author of “Queer Lessons for Churches on the Straight and Narrow” and editor of the second edition of “Rightly Dividing the Word of Truth: A Resource for Congregations on Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity,” published by the Alliance of Baptists, the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists and the Baptist Peace Fellowship of North America.

Sanders lives in Sacramento, Calif., with his partner, Ben Curry Rev. Cody J. Sanders, via Facebook (also a Baptist minister).

Myers Park has an active LGBT Fellowship outreach ministry for its members. It also provides volunteer opportunities with advocacy agencies such as Regional AIDS Interfaith Network and Time Out Youth Center. info: mpbconline.org. scott.crowder@nbc.com.

— L.M.

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qnotes

Sept. 12-25 . 2014

CHARLOTTE — AARP has announced that it is hosting volunteer recruiting events and is encouraging the LGBT community to attend.

In one year, AARP has been a sponsor of Charlotte Pride, walked in this year’s parade, supported the formation of and ongoing activities of the LGBT Aging Solutions Group and will sponsor a film screening in early October, local AARP volunteer team member Bets McCurley shared.

Three dates are available for consideration, Associate State Director Michael Olender added. They are : Sept. 18, 1 p.m., Beatties Ford Library Community Room, 2412 Beatties Ford Rd., with lunch provided; Sept. 24, 6 p.m., Morrison Library Community Room, 7015 Morrison Blvd., with dinner provided; and Sept.

29, 6 p.m., Mahlon Adams Pavilion, Freedom Park, Lilac Rd. at Cumberland Ave., with outdoor bar-be-que.

Olender also said that there would be a screening and discussion on “GenSilent” on Oct. 4, 6 p.m., at The Stage Door, 345 N. College St. Registration is required due to limited seating. info/rsvp/registration: aarp.org/nc. aarp. event.com/AARPOpenHouse. aarp.cvent.com/ AARPGenSilent.

— L.M.

Counseling services offered

CHARLOTTE — Time Out Youth Center (TOY), 2320 N. Davidson St., in partnership with the University of North Carolina-Charlotte, is now providing free therapeutic counseling services targeting youth ages 11-26 and to

their parents and support systems, Executive Director Rodney Tucker announced.

Therapeutic services are short-term (6-10 sessions) for individuals, couples, families and group counseling sessions.

Services are provided by a masters level counseling intern and supervised by a Ph.D. intern and Tucker.

“We are excited to continue with therapeutic services at Time Out Youth. It was a top need identified by staff and youth to meet the needs of our community,” Tucker said. “Many times youth who are dealing with gender or sexual identity feel more comfortable in therapy knowing the therapist is accepting and open and the space is safe with no judgment.”

TOY offers 20 hours of therapeutic sessions per week in the afternoons and evenings, in addition to nightly discussion groups and emergency drop-in services.

Youth under 18 years old are required to have parental permission to attend therapeutic sessions.

Call or email to schedule an appointment. info: timeoutyouth.org. 704-334-8335.

RTucker@timeoutyouth.org.

— from releases

Style show features Carolina designer

CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte Fashion Guild will present its Style Week Spring/Summer 2015 Showcase from Sept. 24-27 at Label, 900 NC Music Factory Blvd.

Fashion designers from across the world will be in attendance. Events include special guests like “Project Runway” designers Viktor Luna, Justin Leblanc and Sandro Masmanidi, as well as Stevie Boi, eyewear designer to Lady

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Gaga, Beyonce and Rihanna who was born in Augusta, Ga. Leblanc hails from Raleigh and was a Tim Gunn save on Season 12 of “Project Runway.”

He was a finalist who was able to show at the Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week at Bryant Park in New York, N.Y. During his season, the hearing-impaired contestant quickly became a fan and competition favorite. His design aesthetic is edgy and showcase strong details and textures using his training in architecture, fashion and art. Each garment provides a novel sensory experience.

Tickets are: Wednesday, $15/$20/$40; Thursday, Friday and Saturday, $20/$40 each; and four-day pass, $70/$140. info/tickets: cfgstyleweek.com.

— L.M.

Candidates’ reception slated

CHARLOTTE — The 2014 Mecklenburg LGBT Political Action Committee (MeckPAC) Candidates’ Reception will be held on Oct. 1, 6 p.m., at the Law Offices of Tin, Fulton, Walker and Owen, 301 E Park Ave. MeckPAC created this event so that candidates who are running for office can meet members of the LGBT and ally community in Charlotte-Mecklenburg.

Endorsement announcements for Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners and Clerk of Superior Court will be made.

Sponsorships are available and can be arranged via email. info: meckpac.org. meckpac@gmail.com.

— L.M.

Center receives rental relief

CHARLOTTE — The LGBT Community Center of Charlotte, 2508 N. Davidson St., announced that they have partnered with CrossFit Studio to operate its business on the center’s first floor.

The studio will pay rent for to the center for the space through Dec. 31 and will ultimately take over the lease on Jan. 1, 2015. The board felt it was a responsible fiscal decision that will afford it the opportunity to regroup, rebrand and refocus its efforts to serve the community.

Operational hours are 5-8 p.m., MondayThursday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Friday and Saturday.

Unity Fellowship Church’s schedule, which meets at the center on Sunday mornings, will not be affected.

The board is already on the lookout for new quarters that will serve its needs, as well as the community at large, while maintaining a strong fiscal handle on spending. Suggestions are welcome and can be sent via email.

The center is also searching for a treasurer.

The Charlotte Lesbian and Gay Fund and the center’s advisory committee are providing guidance on securing the right person for the position. Interested parties should contact the center via email. Candidates should have prior treasury experience and have working knowledge of QuickBooks.

For more details on this story and a full archive of past center updates, visit goqnotes. com/in/lgbtcentercharlotte/. info: lgbtcharlotte.com. director@lgbtcharlotte.com.

— L.M.

Eastern Bar finds new digs

GREENVILLE — The Limelight will finally be getting a new physical address at 409 S. Evans St. Owners will be purchasing Tipsy Teapot,

bringing nightlife into the uptown area. qnotes reported on May 9 that the bar had gotten push back from the Board of Adjustment and the zoning commission when it tried to set up shop in the former Greenville Produce Market (see goqnotes.com/29318/).

Tipsy Teapot owner Delia Liuzza told WNCTTV that the “owners of Limelight represent a lot of the things she tried to model her business after.” She added that she felt like Greenville needed a venue that was all inclusive and friendly to everybody and that was what was a key element of her operational style.

Limelight owners say they will continue offering customers the same type of atmosphere and menu that Tipsy Teapot currently possesses. info: wnct.com/story/26461118/. tipsy-teapot.com. facebook.com/limelightgreenville/. limelightgreenville.com.

3jmgentertainment.com/new_limelight/.

— L.M.

Triad Girls get groove on

GREENSBORO — Gurl Groove will roll out on Sept. 27, 7:30 p.m., at The Blind Tiger, 1819 Spring Garden St. This all-girl female artist showcase features Carmen Sturgill & One Night Stand, Tanya Ross & The Tanya Ross Project and Queens Remedy.

It features some of the state’s best female singers and musicians.

Proceeds from the event go to support the Guilford Green Foundation.

Tickets are $20/regular, $15/student with ID, and can be purchased at the door or online. info: ggfnc.org.

— L.M.

Caged birds performances begin

WINSTON-SALEM — Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance, 1047 W. Northwest Blvd., will mount the production of “La Cage aux Folles!” beginning on Sept. 12 and continuing throughout the rest of the month.

The theatrical performance is based on the play by Jean Poiret, with music by Jerry Herman.

Performances are Sept. 12-13, 18-20 and 24-27 at 8 p.m. and Sept. 14, 21 and 28 at 2 p.m.

The Adam Foundation serves as a production sponsor and provides support to the theatre through its grant program.

Those who wish to secure tickets are encouraged to purchase them quickly as the theatre expects a sell out. Cost is $18/adult, $16/senior and student. info/tickets: wstheatrealliance.org.

— L.M.

Triangle Center to bestow awards

RALEIGH — The LGBT Center of Raleigh will hold its Sixth Annual LGBT Center Gala and Awards Banquet on Oct. 10, 7 p.m., at Cobblestone Hall, 215 Wolfe St. At press time two of the five recipients had been announced.

Volunteer of the Year goes to Nicholas Buchser. He is a youth program coordinator with the center’s Youth and Family Initiative. His service to the LGBT community over the years has been extensive. When not at work, he advises QueerNC, an LGBT youth group based in the Triangle.

Organization of the Year is Stonewall Kickball Raleigh. This energetic, new sports

league is a great social and outdoor activity for those who participate. It is part of a growing number of leagues being developed across the U.S. The Raleigh one named the center as its beneficiary for league proceeds.

The distinguished service, community impact and LGBTQ ally recipients will be shared as they are announced.

Tickets are $125/advance through Sept. 30 and $150 afterward. info/tickets: lgbtcenterofraleigh.com.

— L.M.

Western Bingo helps to fill pantry

HICKORY — Not Your Mama’s Bingo will present “The Wizard of Oz: It’s Not Your Mama’s Bingo Technicolor Triumph” on Sept.

19, 7:30 p.m., at Club La Rumba De Cache, 534 U.S. Hwy. 70 SW. This event is full of gaiety, glory and glamour and will raise funds for ALFA. It will also be a time to bring food items for ALFA’s food pantry that is seriously depleted. For those who do, Queenie will give away an autographed photo of Queenie Gabor.

Tickets are $20, available in advance or at the door, and include admission, game sheets and daubers. A special 50/50 game sheet is an additional $5 and is the only game played for money.

All other game winners will receive prizes. info/tickets: alfainfo.org. notyourmamasbingo.com.

828-322-1447, ext. 222.

— L.M.

Group gears up for campaign

HICKORY — OUTright Youth of Catawba Valley, in observance of National Bullying Awareness Month in October, will present the Teen Nation Tour Stand Up Speak Out concert event on Oct. 4, 2 p.m., at The Belk Centrum at Lenoir-Rhyne University, 627 7th Ave. NE. Headliners are JRyan and Celeste Kellogg. Joining them will be Katie Belle Akin, Rebelmann, Simply Rayne and Collin Kozola.

The tour is comprised of young, emerging artists from around the country who perform music-fueled top 40, pop, rock and country hits.

Their programs and concerts also feature sharing personal bullying experiences and talking about types of bullying and prevention options.

The Friends Against Bullying focus for this year’s observance will be directed toward Catawba Valley youth. In addition to a concert, the tour will also visit four in-school programs on Oct. 2-3 and an evening event at a local high school football game on Oct. 3.

Afterward, the tour will perform at the Sprint NASCAR races at the Charlotte Motor Speedway.

The event is a partnership between OUTright Youth and Lenoir-Rhyne University Lineberger Center for Cultural and Educational Renewal. Business and organizational support is being sought as well.

Tickets are $10/at the door, $30/VIP info: outrightyouthcv.org. mdore@outrightyouthcv.org. 828-320-1937.

— L.M.

Campus Scene New director hired

RALEIGH — The GLBT Center at North Carolina State University has a new director beginning with the fall term.

Renee Well was hired to replace Justine Hollingshead, who moved on to become the

news

assistant vice chancellor and dean of the Division of Academic and Student Affairs, The Technician reported.

The structure of the Office of Instructional Equity and Diversity was something that Wells drawn to. It is the umbrella under which the GLBT Center sits.

Student development, forming strong relationships across NC State’s campus, as well as figuring out more effective ways to initiate collaboration are her key priorities.

“Orange is the New Black” actress Lavern Cox will be visiting the university on Nov. 1 to speak on identity and “what it means to be part of the GLBT community, specifically with transsexual issues,” the newspaper added. info: oied.ncsu.edu/oied/. rmwells@ncsu.edu.

919-513-9742.

— L.M.

South Carolina Lawsuit filed against DMV

ANDERSON — Transgender Legal Defense & Education Fund (TLDEF) filed a suit on Sept. 2 against the South Carolina Department of Motor Vehicles on behalf of 16-year-old, gender nonconforming teen Chase Culpepper who was targeted for discrimination last March.

The teen attempted to get his driver’s license and was told to remove his makeup prior to the license photograph being taken.

Culpepper wears makeup, as well as androgynous or girls’ clothing on a regular basis.

The suit — brought by Chase’s mother Teresa Culpepper on his behalf as a minor — asks the court to rule that denying Chase the freedom to wear his everyday makeup in his license photo constitutes sex discrimination and violates his right to free speech and expression under the U.S. Constitution. It also seeks a ruling under the U.S. and South Carolina Constitutions that the DMV’s photo policy is unconstitutionally vague, too broad and lets DMV employees arbitrarily decide how a driver’s license applicant should look, without regard for the rights of the people they are supposed to serve.

Chase Culpepper, via Facebook

On June 9, TLDEF sent a letter to the South Carolina DMV asking that Culpepper be given the opportunity to retake his license photo while dressed as he normally does, with makeup. No response was received, thus the suit was filed.

“I want to take my license photo again, with makeup, so I can be myself and express to the world who I truly am,” Chase added.

South Carolina Equality has joined with TLDEF in standing with Culpepper as a show of solidarity and support.

Jeff Ayers, South Carolina Equality board chair said, “What has happened to Chase is deplorable, but it’s unfortunately a reality for some transgender and gender nonconforming South Carolinians, who face discrimination every day. ” info: transgenderlegal.org. scequality.org.

— L.M. and releases

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Federal judge upholds Louisiana marriage ban

Photo Credit: Ken Lund, via Flickr. Licensed CC.

NEW ORLEANS — For the first time since last summer’s U.S. Supreme Court decision knocking down part of the anti-gay Defense of Marriage Act, a federal court has ruled to uphold a state’s anti-LGBT marriage ban.

U.S. District Court Judge Martin Feldman ruled on Sept. 3 that Louisiana’s anti-LGBT state constitutional amendment does not violate the Constitution’s equal protection or due process guarantees.

“This national same-sex marriage struggle animates a clash between convictions regarding the value of state decisions reached by way of the democratic process as contrasted with personal, genuine, and sincere lifestyle choices recognition.” wrote Feldman.

The judge ruled it was not the court’s place to make or approve policy.

Louisiana’s anti-LGBT marriage ban was

approved in 2004 by 78 percent of voters.

Same-sex marriage, though, is now legal in 19 states and in Washington, D.C. Several cases challenging a variety of states’ bans have been heard or are pending in several circuit courts of appeal.

A conservative anti-LGBT group, the Louisiana Family Forum, welcomed Feldman’s ruling.

“This ruling confirms that the people of Louisiana — not the federal courts — have the constitutional right to decide how marriage is defined in this state,” Gene Mills, the group’s president, said in a news release.

Plaintiffs in the case say they will appeal the ruling.

“Every citizen of the United States deserves protection of their rights, uphill climb or not,” said Mary Griggs, chairwoman of Forum for Equality Louisiana. : :

QUICK HITS —————————————————————————————— One in five children housed in Los Angeles County’s foster system identify as LGBTQ, according to a study released in late August by the UCLA’s Williams Institute, as much as twice as many the estimated percentage of general population youth who are LGBTQ. more: bit.ly/1lIjcR7 A Mississippi man is alleging a teacher at a church-run school sexually abused him in an apparent attempt to change his sexual orientation shortly after he came out as gay in 1996. Now 32, Jeff White is hoping the Bethel Baptist school pastor and teacher will face justice. more: bit.ly/1qoZOsl

The state congress of Mexico’s Coahuila voted Sept. 1 to legalize same-sex marriage.

Civil unions began in the state in 2007. Coahuila, which borders Texas, is the third jurisdiction to open marriage to LGBT couples. Mexico City and the state of Quintana Roo allow marriages and the Mexican Supreme Court ruled in 2010 that all 31 Mexican states must recognize legal same-sex marriages, even if they cannot be legally performed in their jurisdictions. more: bit.ly/1qyM78V A young activist in Jamaica has dropped his unprecedented legal challenge to the Caribbean nation’s anti-gay laws banning sex between men, saying he feared growing violent backlashes. more: bit.ly/1CqW2DT

want more opinion & commentary

visit goqnotes.com/to/opinion/ for daily insights, rants, raves and news tidbits from qnotes staff and local and national voices from around the web.

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Meet the Staff of Rosedale ID Making a Difference in Healthcare!

Science in Public Health, both from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She has completed research in the fields of women’s health, reproductive health, and HIV/AIDS. After an internship with Rosedale ID, Ashley was hired in January 2012. She is currently Rosedale’s Practice Manager and Ryan White Program Director.

What is Public Health?

The U.S. Center for Disease Control and Prevention defines public health as the science of protecting and improving families and communities through the promotion of healthy lifestyles, research for disease and injury prevention and detection and control of infectious diseases.

Even more, the American Public Health Association states that public health is the practice of preventing disease and promoting good health within groups of people from small communities to entire populations.

They also state that public health professionals rely on policy and research strategies to understand issues that affect specific populations.

Featured Team Member: Ashley M. Young, MSPH

Why is Public Health Important?

Public health programs save money and improve quality of life for participants. A healthy public gets sick less frequently and spends less money on healthcare. This means better economic productivity and an improved quality of life for everyone. Public health prevention programming reduces human suffering. Public health prevention not only educates people about the effects of lifestyle choices on their health, it also reduces the impact of disasters by preparing people for the effects of catastrophes such as hurricanes, tornados, and terrorist attacks.

Ashley is originally from Roanoke, Virginia, and has lived in Charlotte for almost ten years. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biology in 2009 and more recently received her Master of

Public Health as a Profession Rather than being a single discipline, public health includes professionals from many fields with the common purpose of protecting

We are excited to bring you the most up to date information and share our experiences with you through our “Meet the Staff” columns in QNotes in addition to our already popular “Ask Dr. C” column.

the health of the population. Public health professionals can be emergency responders, health educators, public policymakers, scientists, researchers, epidemiologists, medical practice managers, community planners, and many others.

Public Health at Rosedale ID Through all of our work at Rosedale ID we have had the opportunity to improve the quality of life and health for so many communities, including, but not limited to, people living with HIV/AIDS, their families and partners, and the Charlotte LGBT community. In addition to providing direct medical care to our patients, we have public health programming that focuses on prevention. I have been excited to help with Rosedale’s free HIV testing initiative! Our goal is to educate and test as many people as possible so that we can identify people who are HIV positive and get them into treatment. Also, it is a great opportunity for our health educators to teach people about how to protect themselves. In addition to free HIV testing, we educate the community about safe sexual health practices at health fairs and community events. We most recently had a booth at the Charlotte Pride festival with a condom demonstration exhibit to show people the best ways to use condoms for safe sex.

If you are interested in more information about public health or if you are a student who would like to be a public health intern at Rosedale ID, please contact me at ayoung@rosedaleid.com.

Don’t forget to visit our website at www.rosedaleid. com, friend us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter for community and clinical updates!

— Sponsored Content —

Sept. 12-25 . 2014

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news

Arrested leader, CMPD don’t agree on conflict CMPD says officers did not violate policies

by Matt Comer :: matt@goqnotes.com

CHARLOTTE — Community leaders questioned an LGBT community leader’s arrest after a Labor Day rally in Uptown as officials with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department and the arrested leader shared conflicting stories over what led to the conflict.

More than a dozen community leaders, including representatives from the local NAACP, Mecklenburg County Commissioner Pat Cotham and several diverse members of the local clergy, gathered at a press conference the morning of Sept. 3, two days following community leader Ty Turner’s arrest after distributing political fliers in a parking lot near a Moral Monday Labor Day rally.

The leaders called on CMPD to investigate the incidents leading to Turner’s arrest. They also want CMPD to investigate the officer with whom Turner had the confrontation. They say the officer has a history of aggressive interactions with the public.

“I think we as a community, we would agree as a baseline standard that we would ask those first responders to first do no harm, don’t make the situation worse,” said Dr. Jay Leach, pastor of the Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte, after thanking local police, firefighters and paramedics who serve the public.

“We have a deep appreciation for our first responders — this is not about anti-police action,” Leach said, but stressed that the officer, identified as David Tropeano, “failed” the standard to “do no harm.”

“He came into a situation of a minor infraction that escalated not only into an unnecessary arrest, but to a deep concern in our community,” Leach said. “We would be less concerned if this was a first-time incident.

Sadly, we find in the case of this particular officer it is not a first-time incident. This officer has failed this standard repeatedly and he has made situations worse.”

Leach added, “Why does he make situations worse? Why does he escalate situations? How is he allowed to continue in that role? We call on the police for a serious investigation of this incident and a serious investigation of this officer.”

Officials with CMPD, however, painted an entirely different picture of the confrontation between Turner and officers, including Tropeano. CMPD held their own press confer-

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The Rev. Kojo Nantambu, president of the Charlotte NAACP, speaks at a Sept. 3 press conference with supporters of Ty Turner, background in orange tie and purple lapel ribbon, two days after Turner’s arrest for distributing political handbills in a Uptown Charlotte parking lot.

ence that afternoon with Deputy Chief Kerr Putney, who was among officers responding to the incident on Labor Day. Putney said Turner’s arrest was sparked primarily by Turner’s non-compliance, particularly his unwillingness to show officers identification.

Putney said he was aware of only one time in the past several months when an actual citation was given for someone violating the handbills ordinance. Most interactions, Putney said, end without a citation.

“We do this a lot, especially Uptown,” Putney said, referring to police officers’ interactions with citizens distributing handbills.

“Nine times out of ten, we get compliance.

People just give us their identification, they understand what they’re doing is outside of our laws and they move on. Sometimes when businesses will hire people to do that on their behalf, we’ll get the flier and find out what business it is and we actually send them a letter informing them they can’t do that. Again, nine times out of ten, we get compliance.

Unfortunately, on Monday we did not.”

Turner’s actions, Putney said, signaled to Tropeano and others he would not be compliant with officers’ directions.

Said Putney: “Mr. Turner did not only refuse to give us an ID to the officers, he was screaming loudly trying to bring the crowd in so that they can see what was going on — which, in and of

itself, is not an issue, but it did give us an indication that he was not going to be compliant.”

The confrontation between Turner and Tropeano, however, continued as another officer attempted to find the ordinance to show Turner.

“During the course of that conversation, Turner screams loudly,” Putney said. “At that point, Tropeano sees this is not going to be one of those instances that ends peacefully without some level of resistance. He decides he’ll need to detain Mr. Turner.”

Turner said it was the officers, particularly Tropeano, who were most aggressive, conflicting with CMPD’s version of the event.

Sharing his story at the morning press conference, Turner relayed new details about the events leading up to his arrest. He said he saw other cars already had fliers and handbills stuck to their windshields in the parking lot next to Marshall Park, where the NAACP and other groups were holding their Moral Monday Labor Day rally. Turner said he decided he would do the same, distributing a flier for a judicial candidate and another on voting rights information.

Turner said he was unaware such distribution violated the city ordinance.

Turner said officers approached him after he was almost done leafleting most cars in the parking lot. An officer asked him what he was doing and Turner explained. He alleges the officer then told him to stop and told him to retrieve every flier Turner had already distrib-

uted. Turner asked why and the officer told him it was against a local ordinance. At that point, Turner asked to see the ordinance and that’s apparently when Tropeano became frustrated and an argument ensued.

At least three videos of the incident have been distributed online, one taken by Turner and another by a CMPD officer.

The leaders supporting Turner have also questioned why Turner wasn’t immediately taken to Mecklenburg County Jail.

Turner says officers drove to three different locations before transporting him to the jail — including a stop next to dumpsters sitting behind the Actor’s Theatre on Stonewall St. Turner said he became scared when at one point officers asked him to exit the car. He refused to do so.

Putney said officers first drove Turner across the street in an effort to de-escalate tensions among those gathered in the Marshall Park parking lot. Some of those individuals began following the police car and the decision was made to drive to a different location.

Eventually, the decision was made to take him to the jail’s intake center.

It had been mistakenly reported on Sept. 2 that Turner was never taken to the Mecklenburg County Jail. Despite the delay, Turner was eventually taken there, where Putney said it was he who decided to “unarrest” Turner and instead cite him for violating the handbills ordinance. Other charges, including resisting, obstructing and delaying arrest were dropped from the citation.

“Given the context, this is not a crime we were going to continue to put a lot of effort into nor do we think at the end of the day this was something that was worth us escalating and creating such a big scene about,” Putney said. “So, we un-arrested him and we cited him because it was a violation of the city code and the officer did make the right decision on taking the corrective action. However, we felt the arrest was probably more than we really needed to do to handle that situation.”

Putney said an internal investigation might still be initiated after CMPD finishes gathering information and undertaking fact-finding efforts. Putney said CMPD was happy to release

see Turner on 19

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life

SC Pride fest set to rock capital city Music, shows and parade highlight festivities

by Lainey Millen :: qnotes staff

COLUMBIA — The 25h Annual SC Pride 2014 will be held on Sept. 20, 1-10 p.m.

Headlining the event is Deborah Cox, a Grammy award nominated R&B and pop artist. She has also graced Broadway’s stages, notably in “Aida” and “Jekyll & Hyde” and has appeared in film and television.

Joining Cox onstage is Country artist Lorrie Morgan. She has spent her career writing songs, performing in theatre, as well as serving as a producer. She has sold over six million records and she has been fortunate to have done duets with the likes of Frank Sinatra, Johnny Mathis, Andy Williams and The Beach Boys.

Straight from “RuPaul’s Drag Race” are Coco Montrese, Jessica Wild, Nicole Paige Brooks and Phoenix who will certainly keep things spiced up.

She N She will bring their folk/Americana style to the stage. These southern women are civil rights advocates and raise awareness about equal rights within their own LGBT community.

During the week, a variety of events lead up to the Pride festival, including a transgender forum, Mr. & Miss SC Pride contest, a kick-off party, pre-party and ARunForEveryone 5K. On the day of the festival a Pride parade will take place through downtown starting at noon.

After the parade and festival, head out to the the official after-party, AfterMath.

The festivities finish with a post-Pride picnic on Sept. 21 at the Reformation Lutheran Church, 1118 Union St. It is free and welcome to everyone.

Check the website for times and locations for the pre- and post- event happenings, as well as Pride Pass purchase, hotel accommodations and more.

Organizers are hoping to net “30,000 happy people” this year to top their 21,000 that they had in 2013.

Admission is free for the entire day’s festival. : : info: scpride.org.

Durham set to host Pride festival NC Pride looks back on its 30 year history

by Lainey Millen :: qnotes staff

DURHAM — NC Pride Fest and Parade will be held on Sept. 27 at Duke University’s East Campus, off W. Main St., from 10 a.m.-5 p.m. This marks the 30th time the event has been held.

NC Pride has its roots in the “Our Day Out” gay liberation protest march held in Durham in 1981. An annual festival and parade was begun in 1986 and has continued ever since — for a time visiting various cities across the state, including Raleigh, Greensboro, Winston-Salem, Charlotte, Asheville and Carrboro. Since 2001, the event has been held in Durham, with accompanying night-time parties and events in Raleigh and across the Triangle.

This year, attendees will be able to enjoy a plethora of activities throughout the day.

Speeches at noon will kick off the pre-parade activities. Following them the annual parade will step off at 1 p.m. and will follow a route down Campus Dr. and then to adjacent streets to the campus and back. The official reviewing stand will be located at the corner of Main St. and Broad St. in the parking lot of The Madhatters Bakery and Cafe complete with a master of ceremonies. Participants will begin line up at 11:30 a.m.

Of course, no Pride festival is complete without fun, food and vendors.

The festival continues until 5 p.m. on Duke University’s East Campus.

For those who have not gotten enough Pride yet, nightclubs and other promoters will have events, parties and activities in Raleigh and Durham from 10 p.m.-4 a.m. at various locations.

Prior to the Pride festival the NC Pride 5K Run will be held at 8:30 a.m. beginning at the East Campus. Runners and walkers will be placed in Open Male and Open Female, plus for those over 40, Master Male and Master Female categories. Awards will be presented to the top three in Male and

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Female and one each to Master Male and Master Female. Light refreshments will be served after the run at 9:30 a.m.

Sponsors are The Bar, Ad Spice Promotional Marketing, LLC, Altered Image Hair Designers and Bull City Running Company.

Online registration ends Sept. 25. Cost is $25. Onsite registration will be available at Bull City Running Co., 202 W. NC Highway 54, Suite 201, on Sept. 26, 4-6 p.m., and before the run on Sept. 27, 6:30-8 a.m. Cost is $30. Entrants are encouraged to register quickly as only 400 registered runners will be accepted.

Race results will be available online within 24 hours after the end of the race.

Non-profit status still unclear Efforts to reach NC Pride director John Short proved unsuccessful in the days leading up to press time for this print edition.

Short declined an interview opportunity.

In the fall of 2010, NC Pride Director John Short informed qnotes that his organization — at the time, a non-profit with 501(c)3 tax-exempt status from the IRS — was out of compliance with IRS filings. The organization had failed to file annual 990 tax returns for three years. At the time, Short said an accountant would begin work to correct the filing oversights.

Short apparently never completed the filings. In June 2011, the IRS automatically revoked NC Pride’s tax-exempt status. Since then, Short has refused to discuss the organization’s filings and its status as a non-profit organization. A short statement from Short, issued to qnotes in June 2011, was the last the newspaper heard from Short on the matter.

It’s still unclear whether Short has been operating the organization as a non-profit or as a personal for-profit venture. Because the organization files no annual IRS filing, it also remains unclear what monies NC Pride collects and how it is distributed, and there remains no official accounting of how NC Pride donations and other funds were utilized when the organization still had its tax-exempt status.

IRS databases still indicate that NC Pride has not yet had its taxexempt status restored. : : info: ncpride.org. ncpriderun.com.

— Matt Comer contributed

Deborah Cox

High Country readies for Pride fest

ASHEVILLE — The Blue Ridge Pride Festival will be held Oct. 2-18 at various places around town.

Kicking off the event is Miss Blue Ridge Pride Pageant on Oct. 2, 8 p.m., at the Altamont Theatre, 18 Church St. The following day, head out to Pack Square in downtown Asheville’s Pack Square and take part in a marriage equality rally and celebration at 6 p.m.

That evening comedian Jennie McNulty will bring her sass to the stage at 8 p.m. at the Renaissance Hotel, 31 Woodfin St. Ticket cost is $20. Off the Wagon’s Dueling Pianos will open the evening’s show.

The main event, the 6th Annual Pride Festival, will take place on Oct. 4, 10 a.m., at Pack Square. Enjoy entertainment, food, beverages and a family-friendly atmosphere. The mechanical bull will be back in rare form. A full schedule of entertainers will be available at the end of September.

For those who want to keep the party going, four clubs will have special programming for Pride. Visit the website to learn more.

The celebration ends on Oct. 5 with worship services at a church of one’s choice. A list of welcoming and affirming congregations is available online at GayAsheville.

A brunch at Edna’s Coffee House, 870 Merrimon Ave., at 10 a.m., complete with entertainment and camaraderie, closes out the festivities. Cost is $20/advance, $25/at the door.

All event tickets are available online.

VIP passes are available at three different levels: $45/silver, $60/gold and $100/ platinum. Each gives the holder access to exclusive areas during the festival, including tickets to contests and performances.

Organizers are always in search of volunteers. Sign up online. : : info: blueridgepride.org. gayasheville.com.

— Lainey Millen

Sept. 12-25 . 2014

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life

SPORTS

Playing the Field Match-ups from across the Carolinas: Charlotte Royals at the 2014 Bingham Cup

by Jon Hoppel :: qnotes contributor The last weekend in August saw your local rugby team, The Charlotte Royals, compete in the largest international rugby tournament in the world when they traveled down to Australia to play in the Bingham Cup. This was the team’s second foray into international rugby play after the 2012 Bingham Cup, hosted in Manchester, England, and came in third in their division.

This year, the team looked The Royal Bucks, a combined team comprised of the Charlotte to improve that result after Royals and the Atlanta Bucks.

Photo Credit: Brian Helms completing some of their most the tournament, Charlotte agreed to combine successful seasons in team resources with the Atlanta Bucks. Their 13 playhistory over the past two years. However, that ers gave Charlotte enough man power to make task would prove to be quite difficult after the it through the Cup, but chemistry would still be league organizing committee placed Charlotte an issue for the players after only having three in the top tier group against the best gay team practices heading into pool play.And, then rugby teams IGRAB (International Gay Rugby they found out who they were going to play…

Association and Board) has to offer.

The Royal Bucks (as they then became Charlotte arrived in Sydney with 18 players, called) were placed in group where they would all varying in ability and experience. The team have to play past Cup champions Gotham learned in Manchester in 2012, that that many Knights and King’s Cross Steelers from London. players would not be enough considering the For their final match up in group play, Charlotte grueling physical grind that a third day, sixfaced the B side of host city Sydney Convicts. game rugby tournament can have. So, before

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and you could see when the sun shined bright, Every match would take a perfect effort to defeat why this city was one of the most beautiful in these heavily experienced and favored teams. the world. New Zealand was the team’s final Rain. Rain. And, more rain. That was the competition. The one bright spot of this matchup scene at the Rose Bay Fields in Northeast was when the Royal Bucks got to experience Sydney. Fields strewn with massive puddles, their first Haka, a traditional ancestral war cry, players covered in mud from head to toe and dance or challenge from the Maori people of people in the crowd decked out in ponchos, New Zealand that is performed before every rain boots and umbrellas as far as the eye match by the Kiwis. New Zealand won 34-7. could see. These were not the ideal conditions In the tournament final, the defendfor anyone, much less a Royals-Bucks team ing champion Sydney Convicts took on the that relied heavily on their quickness and agility Brisbane Hustlers, a team that had beaten to score and disrupt offenses. But, with excitethem on their home city soil just earlier this ment of the event palpable all around, the team year. But, right from the opening whistle, was ready to take on the vaunted King’s Cross everyone could tell the Convicts had something team, one of the few favorites to win the Cup. to prove and they were not about to let another It did not take long to see why the KC city’s team take home the ultimate prize. It was Steelers were as respected as they were as 26-0 at halftime and 31-0 at the end. Sydney’s they sliced through the Royal Bucks team degoal had been accomplished. They defended fense early and often. Before they knew what their crown and their land. hit them, Charlotte was down 22 at the half.

This tournament and the IGRAB organizaThe team regrouped and played solid defense tion, as much as it is in existence to provide gay for 10 minutes into the second half, but it was men a place to play rugby in an environment not enough to keep the Steelers at bay much that is comfortable for all people, is extremely longer. Kings Cross took the game 57-0. important for the advancement of equal rights Next up was the 2010 Champions, the around the globe. The work the organizers, Gotham Knights. The team from New York sponsors and players do to champion a cause City was led by three dominant forwards at like this is immeasurable. Charlotte president the back of their scrum and every time things B.J. Smith extended sentiments on the support seemed to break down, one of three were of the Charlotte Lesbian & Gay Fund, saying “to able to find the ball and score. But, in this thank the LGBT fund, without their funding our game, Charlotte was able to flash some signs participation would not have of life on offense, with a couple been possible. It was a great break-through runs down the sides, atmosphere in general, mixed unfortunately not resulting in any with competition and incluscores. Gotham won, 38-0. sion without fear of persecuOn day two, the Australian tion because of someone’s teams kept showing off their sexuality.” Team Captain Danny speed, power and experience Wadsworth added: “This was as Melbourne Brisbane, Sydney the culmination of two years of A, B and C, only lost two games hard work by everyone involved during pool play. One of those wins Let the banner fly! with the Royals. The sport has happened Saturday morning as Photo Charles Fortanbary shown that its inclusiveness the Sydney B side rolled through has grown exponentially, not just in Charlotte, Charlotte 46-0. The immense talents and depth but in the South as a whole, creating a warm of the host country’s teams was really on and open environment for everyone to compete display from start to finish. And, after day two in.” I’d have to say this year was a success. was over, Brisbane and Sydney looked poised For more information about the Bingham to battle each in the tournament final.

Cup, the results, and how to participate, check Charlotte finished their tournament on out their website at binghamcup.com. : : Sunday, the only day it did not rain in Sydney,

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news

Duke to debut new LGBT-inclusive application New question added this fall

by Matt Comer :: matt@goqnotes.com

DURHAM — Duke University will become only the fourth college or university nationally to debut an LGBT-inclusive application this fall.

The news was shared at The Huffington Post by Duke University senior Daniel Kort, president of the university’s undergraduate LGBT student organization. The new application will include a new essay question specifically mentioning sexual orientation and gender identity.

The question will read: “Duke University seeks a talented, engaged student body that Entrance to Duke University’s Medical Center from West Campus. embodies the wide range of human experience; we believe that the diversity of our students makes our community stronger. If you’d like to share a perspective you bring or experiences you’ve had to help us understand you better — perhaps related to a community you belong to, your sexual orientation or gender identity, or your family or cultural background — we encourage you to do so. Real people are reading your application, and we want to do our best to understand and appreciate the real people applying to Duke.”

Duke is the fourth university in the U.S. to add the question, according to Kort, and is the first among schools using the Common Application.

Campus Pride, a Charlotte-based national non-profit working with LGBT college students and campuses, has long pushed for the addition of such LGBT-inclusive questions. Its efforts to see such questions added to the Common Application, used by hundreds of schools, have not been successful. : :

Read Duke senior Daniel Kort’s commentary at huff.to/1w7p9aX and be sure to check out more back-toschool features from qnotes.

Read more online at goqnotes.com/ in/youth/.

Turner continued from page 14 their own video of the incident and knows others might have taken cell phone videos as well.

CMPD would like to see them, he said.

“There’s nothing here we’re trying to hide,” Putney said. “There’s no way that we’re going to run away from any of this.”

Other leaders at the press conference tied Turner’s arrest to larger issues of racial profiling and police misconduct and abuse, saying we’re living in a time when “anxiety is high everywhere,” said Charlotte NAACP President Rev. Kojo Nantambu. He and others cited instances like CMPD Officer Randall Kerrick’s shooting last September of the unarmed Jonathan Ferrell and recent events like that of Michael Brown’s shooting in Ferguson, Mo. “We know every police [officer] is not bad, but one officer forgetting his pledge to protect and defend is one too many,” Nantambu said.

“When some of our officers misappropriate or misread their pledge and applies it improperly to one group and to another adversely or not at all to another there is a very serious problem in our community and our state.” : : more: Read the full version of this report, originally published online Sept. 3, for more details.

The story is available at goqnotes.com/31059/.

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FALL A&E GUIDE

Ian Anderson spans decades with a song and a flute Star was part of the musical revolution of the hippie generation

by Lainey Millen :: qnotes staff

S

itting on a park bench is something with which Ian Anderson is well acquainted. So much so that with his original group members, Jethro Tull, sang those very words when it released “Aqualung” in the early 1970s.

The eclectic nature of Anderson’s songwriting has brought him from the driving, staccato notes from years gone by to the lyrical tunes of his more recent releases.

Born in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland in 1947, Anderson moved with his family to northern England in 1959. After high school, he studied fine art in college prior to exploring a career in music.

Blending two blues-based groups into one, Jethro Tull was born.

I remember seeing Anderson and his group at the Mid South Coliseum in Memphis, Tenn., in the early 1970s. In fact, it was one of my favorite concerts of that era. The one thing that set him apart from other groups of the day was his use of the flute. And, the two melded into one as he energetically moved across the stage. The sweet sound of the instrument, with its punctuated blasts, helped to elevate Anderson and the band into one of Rock’s most memorable acts.

Anderson has been married for 37 years to Shona and they have two children, James and Gael. His son serves as agent and co-manager of his father’s musical interests. His daughter is married to “The Walking Dead” star Andrew Lincoln.

When not producing music, Anderson enjoys growing chili peppers, studying and conservation of wildcats and more.

In 2006 and 2010, he was awarded doctorates in literature from Heriot Watt University in Edinburgh, Scotland, and the Abertay University of Dundee, Dundee, Scotland.

An avid supporter of the Christian church, he has no tolerance for “extremist, manipulative and hate-generating religious views from any quarter.” In fact he said, “Nothing wrong with a good religion. It’s not the gun that kills, but the man behind.

Applies both to firearms and that profound religious quest of much of mankind. Respect, tolerance and willing co-existence should drive all religious belief. Not power-crazy, evangelical bilious attacks!”

Anderson has been touring the U.S. and is set to take the stage at Blumenthal Performing Arts Center’s Knight Theatre, 430 S. Tryon St., on Oct. 3 at 8 p.m. and at Durham Performing Arts Center, 123 Vivian St., on Oct. 4 at 8 p.m. Ticket are available online. qnotes had an opportunity to catch up with Anderson recently and he shared some of his views and reflections on life over the years.

Lainey Millen: I listened to both “Homo Erractius” and “Thick As A Brick 2,” your most recent albums, and I found one to be more lyrical, almost like a stage production, and one was more of a political statement on today’s world, very different than my previous experience of you had been. Who do you perceive Jethro Tull and Ian Anderson to be based upon your library of song creations? How do you recreate yourself and still retain your artistic integrity?

Ian Anderson: Over the 47 years I’ve been writing songs, I’d like to think it’s very varied, from very simple to direct expressions of my thoughts and emotions. I don’t want to be considered as a one-trick pony. “Homo Erraticus” and “TAAB2” are different in their content, but they are both more weighty albums and with their lyrics. They owe a lot to their progressive rock genre. I’ve taken that to sound more contemporary. “Homo Erraticus” is

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life in your own hands just being gay in some countries, let alone in some way enshrine your relationship with another person in some legal or official form. I’m kinda a pro-gay guy. But as to whether I’m gay, I’m often asked that question and I say deliberately, “I’m not really sure!” in order to show to people to have black or white opinions convinced on your own sexuality is perhaps a bit shortsighted. If we look into ourselves, we can recognize some traits, aspects of personality, some physical attributes that are of the opposite sex. I’m a guy that has nice curly fingers and plays the flute and likes pussy cats.

I also like to shoot combat handguns and ride off on a motorcycle. Of course, it might seem like a contradiction. We seem to exhibits shades of gray that make us interesting. Some of those who cling so desperately to their sexuality might have something to cover up. [For me] I don’t think I am [gay], but I have not had the experience to know. I could be.

about one word, migration. It’s about the movement of people especially since the last Ice Age. Homo sapiens adapted through the ages to climate change and survived to tell the tale. As geopolitical boundaries shift, due to resources, crops failing, genocide, these will make people seek a better life elsewhere.

You have to be ready for them when they come knocking on your door. We have to be willing to talk about it. You have to take a moral position on migration and I hope we can do that without the fighting and fear of the stranger. It’s a tricky one.

You are part of Rock history. How have you sustained your energy and momentum over the years? Where do you get your reserves to keep going on tours?

It’s what I do. I’m lucky that this profession is not bound by age.

I want to do it as long as I can. If I were a pilot, a tennis player, a Formula One race car driver, I’d have had to retire a long time ago. Musicians, actors and writers are able to keep going in the world. Entertainment is not a barrier, as long as you have physical and mental health. We know we have a great job. We know how lucky we are.

We are a paper that caters to the LGBT community. What are your sentiments on gay marriage and other challenging issues?

My much older brother enjoyed a 50-year partnership, outlasting 50 percent of marriages, and then coming to an end when his partner sadly died. I think that’s a testimony to a relationship between two men. It absolutely is valid and as potentially long lasting as any other. I’m in favor of recognizing such a bond between two individuals of their gender, whether or not that should extend to marriage, that’s a church matter. Some are more well disposed than others. Although, a majority of them don’t seem to be comfortable with it, which I’d think would be talking about predominately Christian here, do you follow the teaching of the church or follow your heart and your emotions tell you what you should do?

If you are within the Muslim, Hindu or other similar faiths you’ll have a tough time. Marriage between two people of the same gender might be frowned upon, in fact you might be taking your

If you could perform with anyone outside your band, who would it be and why?

I’ll pick two dead ones. I’ll pick the original Jethro Tull, the inventor of the seed drill in the 18th century. He was quite an accomplished church organist. I guess I would think it was appropriate to perform with him since I’ve purloined his name and made a ton of money out of identity theft. The very least I could do would be to grace him with a gentle flute and accompany him on his organ. [The other] For my passion of Beethoven, I would say him. Although it would be more in the improvisational context since I don’t read music.

What is your creative process for writing and where do you draw your inspiration?

I set my clock at 9 in the morning and work through to lunch and then in the afternoon. I believe that inspiration comes when you meet it half way instead of waiting for the muse to come visit. If I am on tour or otherwise engaged, I have to take it in little snatches here and there. I do prefer sitting down in a very deliberate, conscious way and push myself into that make-or-break zone when I really have to do something, concentrate, do my best.

If you had not pursued music, what else would have sparked your interest?

I gave serious consideration in my teens to being a journalist, to joining the police force, even considered being a silviculturist. I was interested in trees. None of those three things captured my heart and soul.

You, Paul McCartney, The Stones, Queen and others were synonymous with the ’60s and ’70s music scene still pack venues like you did when you were fresh onto the scene. Do you think that your timeless music and style transcends the age demographics and why so?

I’m not in that league with Paul McCartney and the Stones. These are the big legends. I am an outsider out there on the rim on the spiral galaxy looking in. I don’t think much about my place in the scheme of things, the demographics of the audience or my musical peers. I just do what I do. I am able to follow my own nose without being being constrained by notions of commerciality, management or influence or record companies telling me what to do. I’m a writer, a record producer and I manage the band. I am a free spirit. : : info: jethrotull.com. blumenthalarts.org. dpacnc.com.

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Fayetteville State takes on ‘Laramie’ Students to present iconic play in October compiled by Matt Comer :: matt@goqnotes.com

Fayetteville State University (FSU) has made waves of progress for its LGBT students and faculty over the past several years. Tucked away in a conservative military town, the historically black state university was the third such school across the nation to open an LGBT student resource center. A year later, the Safe Zone Office is as active as ever and the university is poised to present playwright Moisés Kaufman and Tectonic Theater Project’s iconic play, “The Laramie Project.”

The production is set for Oct. 9-12, starring student cast members and presented by Fayetteville State University Theatre Company and the Department of Performing & Fine Arts.

The play chronicles the lives of the residents of Laramie, Wyo., in the aftermath of the death of Matthew Shepard, a university student killed because he was gay.

The cast features Calvin McDougal, Lydia Williamson, Robert Johnson, Traycie Kuhn, Alease Timbers, Christina “Jonesy” Jones, Victoria Utley and D’Andre Allen. The production is directed by FSU Assistant Professor Jeremy Fiebig and designed by FSU Associate Professor David Griffie. The production will be presented alongside a number of events hosted on campus exploring sexuality, gender and identity. FSU Theatre Company is partnering with FSU’s Gay Straight Alliance chapter over the week of the production, which also coincides with the 16th anniversary of Shepard’s death on Oct. 12.

The production is not recommended for very young audiences due to disturbing content and language.

Advance tickets are $10 for the general public, $8 for FSU faculty, staff, and senior citizens, $2 for FSU students with an ID. Tickets are $2 more at the door. Tickets can be reserved by calling the FSU Box Office at (910) 672-1724. For group rates or more information, call (910) 672-2574. For more information, visit uncfsu.edu/arts/theatre-home.

—compiled from release

Sept. 12-25 . 2014

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FALL A&E GUIDE

Fall theatre takes on rural, minority themes Best bets from fall arts and entertainment offerings compiled by Matt Comer :: matt@goqnotes.com

For the Love of Harlem production photo courtesy On Q Productions.

Local theatre productions are bringing real life to the big stage this fall — taking audience members back in time, exploring rural themes and highlighting minority history and culture.

9/26-10/4 // EVENING STAR PRODUCTIONS ‘A Raisin in the Sun’ “What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun? Or fester like a sore…” These famous words, created by Langston Hughes sparked the concept for “A Raisin in the Sun,” the most famous work of Ms. Lorraine Hansberry. This dramatic masterpiece centers on the Youngers.

We meet them during a major period of transition, as they wait for a life insurance check that will change their lives. As Mama and Walter Lee have very different ideas of how the money should be spent, tensions arise, dynamics shift, and if the Younger’s are to pull together and fix what is broken, they must call on the most valuable thing they possess; the power of love, and discover more importantly, the power of Family. Contains strong language and adult themes. Presented

by Evening Star Productions after a popular sold-out run in 2012.

704-372-1000. blumenthalarts.org.

10/8-18 // ON Q PRODUCTIONS ‘For the Love of Harlem’ With book, lyrics and original songs by local playwright and LGBT community leader Jermaine Nakia Lee, “For the Love of Harlem” is a musical sensation profiling the lives of some of the brightest artistic visionaries of the Harlem Renaissance from Langston Hughes to Alberta Hunter. Nestled in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, this movement impacted the entire cultural spectrum; literature, drama, music, visual art and dance. The movement afforded unique ways to explore the historic struggles of Black America and the contemporary relevance of black life in the urban North. “For the Love of Harlem” takes us on a musical journey that

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shadows these brave artists who refused to be inauthentic, no matter what the black or white public thought. Directed by Sidney Horton, with music by Tyrone Jefferson and A Sign of the Times Band and choreography by Latanya Johnson.

704-372-1000. blumenthalarts.org. onqproductions.com.

10/24-11/9 // THEATRE CHARLOTTE ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ Set in Alabama during the Great Depression, “To Kill a Mockingbird” follows the journey of Jem and Scout Finch, whose father has been appointed to defend Tom Robinson, a black man framed for a crime he didn’t commit. As the trial progresses, Jem and Scout witness their community in a tense tug of war between justice and racism.

This timeless classic compels us to take an honest look at our nation’s past and our moral responsibility to each other. Harper Lee found instant fame after “To Kill a Mockingbird” was published in 1960. The novel was showered with literary awards, including the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1961. Recommended for ages 12 and older.

704.372.1000. theatrecharlotte.org.

12/3-28 // ACTOR’S THEATRE ‘The Great American Trailer Park Christmas Musical’ Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte presents this raucous comedy — The lovable, zany residents of Armadillo Acres are back! While preparing to decorate a holiday contest, a new Scrooge-like resident begins to wreak havoc on the festivities. With songs like “My Christmas Tin Toy Boy” and “Christmas in My Mobile Home,” get ready for a cat-fightin’, sunworshippin’, chair-throwin’ good time that’ll make grandma blush.

704-342-2251. actorstheatrecharlotte.org.

— compiled from releases and marketing materials

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FALL A&E GUIDE

Special events light up the Carolina autumn Historic home tour, fundraisers and festivals on deck compiled by Matt Comer 9/19-21 // CHARLOTTE Festival in the Park Charlotte’s acclaimed arts and music festival celebrates its 50th year. Founded in 1964, it’s one of the city’s longest-running events. Featuring musical entertainment from The Reason You Stayed, Grown Up Avenger Stuff, Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra and more.

Freedom Park. Sept. 19, 4-9:30 p.m.; Sept. 20, 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m.; Sept. 21, 11 a.m.-6 p.m.

10/11-12 // SALISBURY October Tour Fall is a special time in the North Carolina Piedmont. As autumn colors begin to arrive, the rich history and architecture of Salisbury is showcased in Historic Salisbury Foundation’s annual October Tour of Historic Homes. Visit private, historic buildings and experience Salisbury’s charm in a few of its ten districts listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Trolley rides, living history encampments, food vendors, artists and musical entertainment make this one event you don’t want to miss. Tickets range from $20-$25 and $10 for children.

704-636-0103. octobertour.com.

11/15 // CHARLOTTE Evening of Hope and Inspiration Featuring special guest and Hope and Inspiration Humanitarian Award honoree Linda Gray of TNT’s “Dallas,” plus musical guests, The Talleys. Raising money for the Jeanne White-Ginder Food Pantry and presented by Different Roads Home. Sponsored by Rosedale Infectious Diseases. Tickets, $15-$35. McGlohan Theater at Spirit Square, 345 N. College St. 7 p.m.

704-237-8793. differentroadshome.org.

— Compiled from releases and marketing materials

Sept. 12-25 . 2014

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tell trinity

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

Getting a grip on your obsessions Dearest Trinity, I really really like someone whom I’ve only admired from a distance. Now, he’s moving and I think I want to move also to be nearer to him.

I know it sounds obsessive, but I’ve never been this deeply in love. Help!

Obvious Obsessions, Colorado Springs, CO Dearest Obvious Obsessions, Being slightly obsessed is very human.

Hollywood survives everyday on our obsessions with their stars. However you’re not in Hollywood, Bollywood or Kansas. You’re in reality. This means treating this fantasy much more realistically! Maybe it’s the heat, maybe it’s loneliness or maybe it’s too much TV, but, honey, this obsession must be addressed before you change addresses. In real life you need to first meet, date, have your first fight and then you can move closer!

Hello Trinity, Love is tough, but communicating my feelings and listening to my boyfriend’s problems is even tougher. Can’t love have bad communication? It works for my parents even after 33 years.

Wanting It All, Ottawa, Canada Hello Wanting It All, Love is tough, but good love means good communication, period. Yes, I applaud your parents, but I’ll bet they used to talk and now they communicate in their own way. Listen, pumpkin, the more you communicate and compromise, the more you’ll understand your boyfriend, yourself and love itself. Love is all about giving and taking. The more you give the more you can eventually… take! (See how this works for me when you check out my cartoon.)

Hey Trinity, I’m 28, gay, out and dating a 19-year-old who isn’t out. Things are wonderful, but only behind closed doors. I know coming out is very personal and cannot be rushed but it’s been a month and I am having troubles.

Closeted Courtship, Flint, MI

Hey Closeted Courtship, Here’s what I’d do, a) think of myself as his “secret love” or “best kept secret” rather than his “closeted boyfriend” at least until he’s more comfortable, b) help him make gay friends while also being a role model, and c) take him to gay places. It will help him come out and give you both a romantic getaway. And, lastly, sweetie, d) it’s only been one month. I repeat “it’s only been one month,” so don’t be too needing to change him, but rather be needing to understand him!

Dear Trinity, I work a lot and often use the phone to talk to my boyfriend, which drives him crazy. I know I shouldn’t conduct a relationship via the phone, but I often have no choice. Any ideas?

Phone Faults, Phoenix, AZ Dear Phone Faults, Originally the phone, like the telegraph, was meant to send short messages, but things have changed. So, darling, until you have more time to meet without the phone try: Trinity’s Snappy Tips For What Never To Do On The Phone With A Date (or anyone for that matter) 1. Never call if you have nothing to say.

2. Never call after 10 p.m. or before 10 a.m. unless prearranged.

3. Never put someone on hold for more than 20 seconds or more than twice during one conversation.

4. Never type, surf (the internet), watch TV or talk to someone else while on the phone.

5. Never leave more than two messages in one day or three in the first week without a response. And, wait a week to call after that.

6. Never, break up with anyone on the phone.

Do it in person, please!

7. Never call someone when you know they’re busy, and always be willing to graciously accept, “I’m busy. I’ll call you back.”

8. Never talk on the phone when your date and you are together, unless absolutely necessary!

9. Never play music to someone on the phone. Phones are mono. Stereos are dual. It never works!

10. And, lastly, never keep cellphones against your body. The battery will damage your organs. “Google” for more alarming facts! info: With a Masters of Divinity, Reverend Trinity hosted “Spiritually Speaking,” a weekly radio drama performed globally, and is now minister of sponsor, WIG: Wild Inspirational Gatherings, wigministries.org. Learn more at telltrinity.com.

hey! what’s happening?

We want your news and event notices today. Be sure to send them to editor@goqnotes.com. Thank you!

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C A L E N DA R SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2014 To see more upcoming events, visit goqnotes.com/calendar/ Submit your event at goqnotes.com/eventsubmit/

Greensboro Pride Festival Park 200 N. Davie St., Greensboro 11 a.m.-3 p.m.

HRC Table Captain Party SEP SEP The Bar at 316 316 Rensselaer Ave., Charlotte 6-8 p.m.

Learn more about becoming a table captain for the 2015 HRC North Carolina Gala. Drink specials, live entertainment, prizes, food and great information.

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SC Pride Main Street Downtown Columbia Noon-10 p.m.

The 25th annual SC Pride Festival and Parade, featuring Deborah Cox. scpride.org –––––––––––––––––––– Catawba Valley Pride Stanford Park 1451 8th Street Dr. NE, Hickory Noon-6 p.m.

Fifth annual Catawba Valley Pride with family picnic, entertainment, vendors and more. catawbavalleypride.org

NC Pride SEP SEP Duke East Campus, Durham 10 a.m.-5 p.m.

Celebrating 30 years, NC Pride returns with its annual festival and parade. The NC Pride 5K Run begins at 8:30 a.m. prior to the day’s activities. ncpride.org

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NC Trans Pride SEP SEP Caldcleugh Multicultural Arts Center 1700 Orchard St., Greensboro 1-4 p.m.

The very first NC Trans Pride in Action is an all-ages, free community event to celebrate the lives, leadership, and histories of trans* and gender nonconforming people and communities and friends and loved ones. This is an opportunity to connect, speak truth to power and have fun! All are welcome.

Events include a community speakout, kickball, family-friendly activities and food. For more information, email nctranspride@gmail.com.

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Continues through Sept. 27 CFG Style Week Label 900 NC Music Factory Blvd., Charlotte Various dates, various times

SEP SEP

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Charlotte Fashion Guild’s Charlotte Style Week presents its Spring/Summer 2015 Showcase, with fashion designers from across the world. Events including special guests like Project Runway designers Viktor Luna, North Carolinian Justin Leblanc and Sandro Masmanidi, as well as Stevie Boi, designer to Justin Leblanc Lady Gaga, Photo Credit: Beyonce and Project Runway Rihanna. cfgstyleweek.com

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Continues through Oct. 19 SEP OCT Pride Winston-Salem Downtown Winston-Salem Pride Winston-Salem returns to the Twin City, with multiple events over the weekend, including a festival and food truck rodeo, entertainment, after party, drag brunch and parade. pridews.org

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–––––––––––––––––––– Campus Pride Fundraiser The Bar at 316 316 Rensselaer Ave., Charlotte 10 p.m.-2 a.m.

Colt Calendar Man Seth Fornea & Jared Leblanc come to Bar 316. Big fun just got huge with Buff Faye & Patti O’Furniture on Saturday nights! Plus special guest drag entertainer Roxy C. Moorecox!!

Fundraiser benefits Campus Pride.

–––––––––––––––––––– Kitty Cabaret Petra’s 1919 Commonwealth Ave., Charlotte 7-9:30 p.m.

Recurring Charlotte Events:

The third annual Kitty Cabaret is a fundraiser for Cabarrus CARES and Kitty City. Organizers describe it as “purr-fectly fabulous evening of musical entertainment.” $20 admission includes appetizers. For more information, call 704-907-5988. kittycityconcord.org

PRISM Young Adults: Weekly discussion held each Monday, 5 p.m.-7:30 p.m. For young adults ages 18-25. LGBT Community Center of Charlotte. lgbtcharlotte.org.

Men’s Yoga: Weekly yoga sessions for men hosted by certified instructor. Each Monday, 7:30-8:30 p.m. LGBT Community Center of Charlotte.

Time Out Youth Center: Weekly support and discussion groups, Tuesday-Thursday, 6:30-8:30 p.m. Monthly group for youth ages 11-14. timeoutyouth.org.

MeckPAC: Monthly meeting of local LGBT political action committee. First Tuesdays of each month, 6:30-8 p.m. LGBT Community Center of Charlotte.

StillOut Photography: Local LGBT photography club. Meets monthly on fourth Tuesdays, 7-8:30 p.m. LGBT Community Center of Charlotte. facebook.com/StillOutPhotography.

Friends Indeed: Men’s depression support group. Every other Tuesday, 6:30-8 p.m. LGBT Community Center of Charlotte.

Weekly HIV & Syphilis Testing: Hosted at the LGBT Community Center of Charlotte each Wednesday, 5-7 p.m.

HIV Support Group: Open support group for men and women who are HIV-positive.

Hosted second Wednesdays of each month, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Different Roads Home. differentroadshome.org.

LGBTQ Adult Education and Discussion Group: Weekly on Thursdays, a safe place for LGBTQ adults to meet and discuss important issues and topics. Hosted at LGBT Community Center of Charlotte. Each Thursday, 6-8 p.m.

Men of all Cultures Together: Local chapter of National Association of Black and White Men Together. Every other Thursday, 6:30 p.m. LGBT Community Center of Charlotte.

PFLAG Charlotte: Monthly support group meeting. Second Thursday of each month, 7 p.m., Time Out Youth Center. pflagcharlotte.org.

Tradesmen: Monthly social meeting first Saturday of each month. 10 p.m.-2:30 a.m. The Woodshed Lounge. charlottetradesmen.org.

Have a recurring weekly or monthly event, social, support or discussion group? Let us know. Submit your event at our online calendar at goqnotes.com/eventsubmit/.

Submit your event to our calendar!

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Tom Goss Greensboro Cultural Center 200 N. Davie St., Greensboro 8 p.m.

Triad Pride Men’s Chorus hosts Washington, D.C., recording artist Tom Goss. Admission is $25. VIP admission, including a VIP reception at 7 p.m., is $45. triadpridemenschorus.org

SEP OCT

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Circle Up Marshall Park 800 E. 3rd St., Charlotte 8 a.m.

The Human Rights Campaign joins to walk with the Circle Up Team in the 2014 Susan G. Komen Charlotte Race for the Cure. To participate, join the team at charlotte.info-komen.org/goto/ CircleUp.

SEP SEP

Filled with business and non-profit vendors, take a stroll through the park and watch Pride entertainment. greensboropride.org –––––––––––––––––––– Out Greensboro Pride Lindley Park 2903 Spring Garden St., Greensboro 3-7 p.m.

After Greensboro Pride, join over 1,400 people at the annual Out Greensboro 2014 Festival, presented by Triad Health Project. Family friendly. Free admission.

21+ to drink. outgreensboro.org –––––––––––––––––––– Upstate Pride Barnet Park 248 E. Saint John St., Spartanburg 10 a.m.-7 p.m.

The annual Upstate Pride SC March and Festival. upstatepridesc.org

MeckPAC Reception SEP OCT Tin Fulton Walker and Owen 301 Park Ave., Charlotte 6-8 p.m.

The Mecklenburg LGBT Political Action Committee hosts its annual candidates’ reception before the fall elections kick off. meckpac.org

SC Equality Gala SEP OCT Columbia Marriott 1200 Hampton St., Columbia 6 p.m.

The second annual SC Equality Gala’s theme is “Equality: Mission Possible,” inspiring each of one to accept the important mission of fighting for a South Carolina where Equal Means Everyone. Dinner admission is $85. Information and ticket purchases are available online. goo.gl/0BmmjV

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

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life

OUR PEOPLE:

Q&A with Veda Covington Local Actress

by Matt Comer :: matt@goqnotes.com Originally from Atlanta, Veda Covington, 27, came to Charlotte three years ago by way of Augusta, where she was studying mass communications with a minor in theatre. After graduation, Veda says she came to Charlotte and fell in love with the city, where you’ll occasionally spot her on stage, recently with Queen City Theatre Company’s production of “The Performers.”

Matt Comer: When did you first get the itch to perform on stage?

I was in sixth grade. I had done a lot of stuff like that and chorus in my younger years.

In college, I got the bug again to do more stage production. But, in sixth grade, my friends and I would write skits and perform them for our class. It helped me with improv, coming up with creative things on the spot. I took a break from the stage to do more vocal stuff with choruses and going to festivals, singing solos and working with groups. I once did a Motown review. In college, I came back to do more with shows.

I was really gearing more toward scenic work and stage production and character development.

What draws you to theatre?

I’m passionate about it because it really helps me invest in a character and be something that I may not ever be other wise. I had one show I had done int he past, it was “Dial M for Murder.” It’s a classic. I played a British woman. Some of these characters, I would never get to be personally. It’s cool to kind of create that and live it out on stage in a moment.

It’s also why it’s sad to see a show open and close, because I really enjoyed being this person, even if only for a short time. I also like the relationship it has with the audience.

You perform a part and there’s something specific about the character that strikes an individual in the audience. They are inspired or they are happy or sad. They can relate. When it hits home with the audience, personally sometimes it’s really sweet. I think I’ll probably do this for the rest of my life. It seems like I can’t stay away from the stage.

On a vacation, do you prefer the mountains or the beach?

I’m definitely a beach kind of person. I love the sun, sand and water. The mountains are pretty, too. I just went up to Asheville for Labor Day. What’s your usual Friday or Saturday look like?

I’m a real social butterfly! I am always going out to bars or

doing karaoke and I have my spots during the week where I go. I have a bunch of friends and we go out with each other. I really like to stay in the community to help build connections, see what’s going on and networking opportunities. I like to dance, and sometimes I’m at Snug Harbor and other times at Cathode. It’s just a really wild hair. I’m definitely a getter-outer.

I’m always on the go.

What’s your favorite movie?

I like “The Shawshank Redemption” with Morgan Freeman.

I like some Jackie Chan films. I have so many I really like — “Anchorman,” too. Will Ferrell is one of my favorite comedians.

What’s your favorite kind of music?

I actually like Classic Rock a lot. My dad is a professional singer and he introduced me to a lot of genres. He left me and my two brothers to decide which we really liked best. He wanted to make sure we were exposed to all of the genres of music. I just like the rock’n’roll of Classic Rock. I like the hard guitars and drums.

Where do you live in Charlotte and what’s your favorite neighborhood?

I live down Central near Sharon Amity. I guess that’s Plaza Midwood. That’s what I call it. My favorite part of town is, well, there are two — I like South End and I also like Plaza Midwood. That’s where my hangouts are. I do go to NoDa sometimes, but the parking is frustrating, but I know they are working on that, so yay. : :

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