QNotes, Oct. 23-Nov. 5 by QnotesCarolinas

Oct. 23-Nov. 5 . 2015

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Oct. 23-Nov. 5 . 2015

inside

LGBT History Month: ‘Stonewall’

qnotes news & features

news. views.share views arts. 4 entertainment. Mayoral candidates 5 Statewide candidate endorsements 6 News Notes: Regional Briefs 8 News Notes: U.S./World Briefs

a&e / life&style 10 11 12 13 14 16 18 19

Roland Emmerich’s historical fiction film tells the story on what happened during the Stonewall riots in 1969.

Breast cancer screening LGBT History Month: Leitsch/Travers p14 Rolfe Niegenfind’s new CD LGBT archival project named Brick Layers Tell Trinity Q Events Calendar additional Dishing with Buff Faye news and

features

opinions & views 9 Spiritual Reflections

Dishing with Buff Faye Buff Faye shares her favorite Halloween and horror flicks. more: p. 19

Breast Cancer Awareness Month Screenings can save lives, so be proactive and read what one can do to have a healthier outcome. more: p. 10

Oct. 23-Nov. 5 . 2015

qnotes

Election 2015

Charlotte Mayoral Race:

Roberts vs. Peacock on LGBT issues Candidates face-off in general election by Jeff Taylor :: qnotes staff Charlotte will vote for its fifth mayor in less than three years on Nov. 3, with Democratic candidate Jennifer Roberts facing off against Republican Edwin Peacock. Peacock was an at-large City Council member from 2007 to 2011. He previously ran for mayor in 2013 against Patrick Cannon. Roberts was chairman of the Mecklenburg County Commission for five years, with her term ending in 2011. She also worked as a diplomat for four years for the U.S. Department of State. qnotes reached out to both campaigns and heard back from Roberts. Peacock’s campaign did not get back to us by press time, but we will publish his responses at goqnotes.com if we receive them before election day. Democratic candidate Jennifer Roberts has been more socially liberal and has been visible in the LGBT community. She is seen here marching at the Charlotte Pride Parade. Photo Credit: Diedre Laird, The Charlotte Observer

Jennifer Roberts LGBT record, stance Roberts has been endorsed by both Equality NC (ENC) and the Mecklenburg LGBT Political Action Committee (MeckPAC) for her support of the LGBT community. During her primary contest with Dan Clodfelter, ENC endorsed both she and her rival. MeckPAC endorsed Clodfelter. As chairman of the Mecklenburg County Commission, she oversaw votes to add sexual orientation to the city’s employment non-discrimination policy and to add domestic partner benefits for employees with same-sex partners. “I will work with my colleagues on the city council, as well as with the community and build support for extending non-discrimination protections to LGBT people in public contracting, services and accommodations, including

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Oct. 23-Nov. 5 . 2015

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He spoke to qnotes in 2013 and stated that he was not in favor of “same-sex marriage from a 50-states’ perspective,” and indicated support for the state’s role in defining marriage, with a belief that civil unions or domestic partnerships might be an appropriate middle ground. In an interview with The Charlotte Observer in September of this year, he said “I agree with the Supreme Court’s recent decision regarding samesex marriage.” He said in the 2013 qnotes interview that he supported “same-sex benefits at the City of Charlotte, as a city issue,” and added, “I was for it.” He told the Charlotte Agenda, in an interview in June, when asked what role the city should play as it relates to the LGBT community, he said that the city has “6,000 employees, you set the standard” in terms of providing LGBT protections. In that same interview he stressed that coming out against Amendment One was a “socially moderate stance within the Republican party.” As far as the non-discrimination ordinance, he said in the Observer interview, “I would not have supported adding several new protected classes to the non-discrimination ordinance for public accommodations.” Conservative Republican candidate Edwin Peacock says that he is willing to take more socially progressive stances on LGBT issues over his party members. Photo Credit: Robert Lahser, The Charlotte Observer

non-discrimination based on gender identity and gender expression,” Roberts told qnotes. Roberts also expressed concern with magistrates being allowed to opt out of issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples if it goes against their religious beliefs. “Magistrates should follow the law and perform their duties,” she said. “They should not be allowed to opt out of any duty.” Roberts has also been very visible within the LGBT community, including appearances at Charlotte Pride and the Human Rights Campaign Gala. Edwin Peacock LGBT record, stance Peacock came out against Amendment One, the constitutional referendum to define marriage as between one man and one woman, while a candidate in the 9th Congressional District’s Republican Primary.

Conclusion Roberts has the support of the biggest LGBT groups and organizations, as they see her as the more pro-LGBT candidate in the race. That is fair, seeing as she is willing to go further in her rhetoric than Peacock on issues such as the non-discrimination ordinance, which will likely be the biggest LGBT issue facing Charlotte in the near future. Of course, as with any politician, voters have to question how likely the candidate is to stay true to the promises and sound bites they lay down on the campaign trail. There seems to be little to no reason to assume that Roberts will be anything but pro-LGBT while in office, should she win. As Peacock points out, he is willing to take more socially progressive stances on LGBT issues than many of his Republican cohorts. Again, voters are asked to trust that the voting record will match the rhetoric. Even if it does, Roberts is clearly the more socially liberal candidate in the race, and if Peacock hopes to pick up LGBT votes, it will likely be on the back of non-LGBT issues. Socially liberal voters may also worry that if Peacock seeks a higher office he, like former mayor and current North Carolina Gov. Pat McCrory, may suddenly start sounding a lot less moderate and a lot more conservative. : :

qnotes connect Oct. 23-Nov. 5, 2015 Vol 30 No 13

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

contributors this issue

Perry Brass, Isai Efuru, Buff Faye, Lawrence Ferber, Gary M. Kramer, Lainey Millen, Jeff Taylor, Chris Tittel, Trinity

front page

Graphic Design by Lainey Millen Photography: stasenso via Dollar Photo Club 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 Managing Editor: Jim Yarbrough, editor@goqnotes.com Assoc. Editor: Lainey Millen, specialassignments@goqnotes.com Social Media Editor: Jeff Taylor, socialmedia@goqnotes.com Production: Lainey Millen, x205 production@goqnotes.com Printed on recycled paper.

Election 2015

Candidates get organizational statewide endorsements Hail from LGBT and allied communities by Lainey Millen :: lainey@goqnotes.com

With only a couple of weeks to go in the 2015 election season, a number of political action committees and other organizations have disclosed their picks for a variety of races across the Carolinas. In Charlotte, N.C., the Mecklenburg LGBT Political Action Committee (MeckPAC) has announced that it is endorsing mayoral candidate Jennifer Roberts (see story on page above). In addition, it has thrown its support to Julie Eiselt (D), Vi Lyles (D) and James “Smuggie” Mitchell (D) for city council at-large, as well as district contenders Al Austin (D-2), LaWana Mayfield (D-3) and John Autry (D-5). At press time, they had not announced their endorsements for other contests, including school board and other Mecklenburg town races, and said that they would do so at a candidates’ reception at the VanLandingham Estate on Oct. 20. qnotes will share that information with an online update on Oct. 23. In the Triad area, the Replacements, Ltd. Political Action Committee has outlined its support for the following: Guilford County — Greensboro: Nancy Vaughan (D), mayor; Marikay Abuzuaiter (D), Mike Barber (D), Yvonne Johnson (D), city council at-large; and for city council districts, Sharon Hightower (D-1), Jamal Fox (D-2), Justin Outling (D-3), Nancy Hoffman (D-4), and no endorsement for District 5.

Alamance County — Burlington: Ian Baltutis (D), mayor; Kathy Hykes (D) and Patrick Mills (U), city council; Gibsonville: Lenny Williams (D), mayor; Graham: Lee Kimrey (R), city council; Ossipee: Billy Carter (U), town council; and Stokesdale: Jaycee Spruill (U), town council. Randolph County — Asheboro: Tim Greene (D), city council; Gwen Williams (D), school board; and Ramseur: Jay Hubbard (D), mayor. Rockingham County — Mayodan: Robert Grady (D), town council. In the Triangle, although there have been no formal endorsements as of now, several LGBT candidates are up for election as follows: Chapel Hill: Mark Kleinschmidt, mayor; Lee Storrow, council; Carborro: Lydia Lavelle, mayor; Franklinton: Elic Senter, mayor; and Greensboro: Brian Hoss, city council at-large. In Charleston, S.C., SC Equality has come out in support of Ginny Deerin for mayor. Emily’s List has listed Roberts as one of its supported candidates and The Victory Fund has listed Austin as one of theirs. The Human Rights Campaign and Equality NC had also been contacted and had either not responded to our query and/or released their endorsements as of press time. : :

Material in qnotes is copyrighted by Pride Publishing & Typesetting © 2015 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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upcoming issues: 11.05.15: Holiday Gift Guide/Decorating Advertising Space Deadline: Oct. 28 11.20.15: Life, Positively Advertising Space Deadline: Nov. 11

Oct. 23-Nov. 5 . 2015

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news notes: carolinas compiled by Lainey Millen :: lainey@goqnotes.com

Local bar under new ownership CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Chasers, 3217 The Plaza, has been purchased by Terry Burris, also known as Tiffany Storm. Burris decided to buy the club when an opportunity to do so became available. He also wanted to make a difference, he shared. “This is an opportunity to make a premier nightclub in the historic NoDa district where all walks of life are welcome…,” he added. On tap for the establishment as far as entertainment goes, Burris stated, “We offer and will continue to offer a variety of entertainment for all walks of life and for all tastes. Whether it be a male go-go dancer, ‘RuPaul’ diva or a living, local legend.” Plans are underway to have specific nights where amateur performers will be welcomed. Burris takes cues from other bar owners with whom he has worked with over the years and respects. “I have been in the bar business since 1991, working under and through the direction of such nightclub greats and Charlotte icons as Gregg Brafford, Donald O’Shields, Rick Wilds.” During his nightlife career, he has been a bartender, show director and pageant preparation director, among others. His philosophy on how to create a positive experience for his clientele is, “Always keeping in mind happy customers make your business a success and thrive.” Burris’ female person as Tiffany Storm still plans to continue to perform at The Scorpio and looks forward to hosting her own show there on Friday evenings. “I enjoy working in the community and will continue to do so as the opportunity arises.” He is originally form Concord, N.C., where he was raised and attended Rowan College, receiving an associates degree there. Burris’ foray into female impersonation began at O’leens as a cast member. Storm has worn the Miss Gay NC America crown and was the recipient of the Lady Barbara Award at the Miss Gay America pageant, both in 1997. So far, Burris’ new venture has been well received by the public. “I have been humbled by the warm and positive outpouring of the community….” he shared. Chasers is open seven days a week, with doors opening at 9 p.m. info: chaserscharlotte.club.

Charlotte Branding key to success

CHARLOTTE — Image consultant Sonya Barnes will be the guest speaker at the Charlotte Business Guild meeting on Oct. 27, 6:30 p.m., at Le Méridien Charlotte, 555 S. McDowell St., North Tower. Her personal branding expertise will be shared. Tips on the essentials to advance one’s career and develop as a leader will be shared. Attendees will be able to delve into areas such as decisions on one’s value proposition, differentiation from others, zeroing in on marketability and creation of one’s best look to impress. Barnes is president and founder of Harris & Barnes Image Consulting, along with Sonya Barnes International. She serves as a community activist and philanthropist. She is currently a candidate for a Master’s in Fine Art from Savannah College of Art and Design in Savannah, Ga. A cocktail and networking event will take place after the program at the hotel. info/rsvp: charlottebusinessguild.org. facebook.com/events/1626307317612854/.

Documentary slated

CHARLOTTE — “Souls of Our Students: A Transgender Focus” will be screened on Oct. 29, 11:30 a.m., at Knight Theatre, Wells Fargo Auditorium, 430 S. Tryon St. The film was produced by NC Healthy

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Oct. 23-Nov. 5 . 2015

Schools, Temple Beth El and MeckMin as an addendum to the 2008 “Souls of Our Students” which focused on diversity in the school system across race, religious, sexual orientation and socio-economic status lines. This addendum features three transgender students from the community who share their personal stories. Perspectives of a parent and teacher are also included. Rabbi Judy Schindler, senior rabbi at Temple Beth El and Rev. Danny Trapp, executive director of MeckMin will welcome participants. Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent Ann Clark will introduce the film. A panel discussion, facilitated by Dr. Ellen Essick, section chief, NC Healthy Schools, will follow the viewing. Bishop Tonyia Rawls, executive director of the Freedom Center for Social Justice will give the call to action for those who attend. Admission is free, but registration is required and can be done online. info/registration: meckmin.org/event/ soos-transgender/.

‘Rocky’ hits the stage

SALISBURY, N.C. — The Lee Street Theatre, 329 N. Lee St., will bring “The Rocky Horror Show” to the stage on Oct. 29 at 7:30 p.m. This iconic piece brings both the cast and the audience into the action during the presentation. Audience participation packs will be sold in the lobby prior to the show. Tickets are $20 and are available online. info/tickets: leestreet.org.

PFLAG fundraiser upcoming

GASTONIA, N.C. — PFLAG Gaston will hold an all-day fundraiser on Nov. 4 at Simonetti’s, 6432 Wilkinson Blvd., in Belmont, N.C. Participants can enjoy lunch, a light supper or dinner and proceeds from the event will go to support the work of PFLAG Gaston. On Dec. 2-3, Fortune Feimster will bring her one-woman comedic style to the Comedy Zone, Suite B, 900 North Carolina Music Factory Blvd., in Charlotte, N.C. PFLAG Gaston members and their guests will have the opportunity to have a private meet and greet at 7 p.m. with Feimster prior to the show on Dec. 2. The “Come If You Can” Dutch treat excursion will be a group event for PFLAG Gaston who engage in these from time to time as they see something of interest with which they want to participate. However, the public can purchase tickets for either performance, but will not be included in the group. Feimster currently serves as a full-time writer and roundtable regular on Chelsea Handler’s “Chelsea Lately.” She is the daughter of PFLAG NC State Coordinator Ginger Feimster who has extended an invitation to all PFLAG chapters to attend. Tickets are $20/general and $25/gold circle and are available online. info: pflaggaston@yahoo.com. simonettis.com. cltcomedyzone.com.

‘Birds’ on stage

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Queen City Theatre Company is bringing the regional premiere of “Birds of a Feather” to the stage from Nov. 5-14, 8 p.m., at Duke Energy Theatre at Spirit Square, 345 N. College St. The play by Marc Acito, is an adaptation of a book based upon a true story of two male chinstrap penguins, Roy and Silo, who become enamored with one another, partner, adopt an egg, hatch it and raise the chick together in the heart of New York City. The situation spearheaded nationwide controversy. The children’s book, “And Tango Makes Three,” is one of the most banned books in U.S. history. The narrative is also interwoven with the story of a pair of rare hawks who nest on a Fifth Avenue co-op, raise their family and throw gristle and bone out at wealthy pedestrians below. Playing over 30 roles, four award-winning actors are set to give the show a comedic flavor. They are Stephen Seay, Kristian Wedolowski, Karen Christensen and Robbie Jeager. Director is Glenn T. Griffin. The performance is recommended for those who are 13-years-old and above. Tickets are $23-$25 and student and senior discounts are available. There will be a special discounted performance on Nov. 10 at $15 for each ticket. info/tickets: queencitytheatre.com.

Band opens season

CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte Pride Band will open its sixth season with its “Reflections” concert on Nov. 7, 5 p.m., at Park Road Baptist Church, 3900 Park Rd. This concert features a musical journey through the band’s five-year history with audience (and band member) favorites such as Aaron Copland (“The Promise of Living”), Gustav Holst (“First Suite in Eb”), Leonard Bernstein (“Selections from West Side Story”), John Kander (“Selections from Chicago”), Frank Ticheli (“Vesuvius”) and James Barnes

(“Caribbean Hideaway”). Tickets are $13/individual and $22.50/family pass (2 adults, all children under 12) and are available online or at the door. Discount tickets are available from band members. info/tickets: charlotteprideband.org.

Community event slated

CONCORD, N.C. — PFLAG Concord/ Kannapolis will hold its fall community soiree on Nov. 7, 6:30 p.m., at McGill Baptist Church, 5300 Poplar Tent Rd. Special guest will be former Methodist minister Jimmy Creech. He was a founding member of the North Carolina Religious Coalition for Marriage Equality and has been an advocate for marriage equality. He has authored “Adam’s Gift,” a memoir on defying the church’s stand on same-sex marriage. The Gay Men’s Chorus of Charlotte will perform a special selection during the evening. The event is open to the community. Contributory proceeds will go to benefit the chapter’s work. info: ckpflag@gmail.com.

Paddlers host yard sale

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — One World Dragon Boat is holding a fundraising yard sale on Nov. 21, 7 a.m.-4 p.m., at Charlotte Open Air Market, 5471 Central Ave. Items are now being sought for sale and volunteers are also needed. Proceeds go to support the team’s mission to provide a healthy, athletic and supportive outlet for LGBT members, their families, friends and allies to train and participate in the centuries-old paddle sport of dragon boating for fun and competition. info: oneworlddragonboat.org.

Designer’s collection pieces on exhibit

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Selected work from Franco Moschino, internationally respected gay fashion legend and designer, will be on exhibit at the Mint Museum Uptown, 500 S. Tryon St., beginning on Oct. 31 and continuing through April 3, 2016. The “Viva Moschino!” exhibit features presentations created by Moschino that were theatrically inspired and were filled with humor, irony and surrealism. In the height of his career, his creations were worn by rock stars, actors and other celebrities and are still admired by musicians and performers to this day who purchase from the fashion house that bears his name. The Italian-born fashionista began his career as an illustrator for the renowned designer Gianni Versace and followed that up with work with Karl Lagerfeld. In 1990 Princess Diana wore a houndstooth Moschino suit to the christening of her niece, Princess Eugenie. He never considered himself a fashion designer, but did as a painter and decorator. His reputation was wide and far memorable and his sense to abandon the norm was remarkable. Moschino died in September 1994 due to complications from AIDS. A portion of the proceeds of the exhibit will go to support the Moschino Foundation, a charity founded to assist HIV-positive children. Visit the Mint Museum website to learn more about Moschino and to get information on other events that will be held during the exhibit’s run, as well as ticket prices. info: mintmuseum.org.

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Triad

Bob Page Equality Champion Award. Dance to benefit ASO Bishop has been GREENSBORO, N.C. — The 7th the long-time head Annual Project Shimmy will be held of the Mecklenburg on Nov. 7, 7:30 p.m., at the Community LGBT Political Action Theatre of Greensboro, Star Theatre, Committee and is 520 S. Elm St. a Charlotte, N.C., Produced by Twisted Dance resident. He helped Collective as a fundraising and awarespearhead the city’s ness event to benefit Triad Health non-discrimination Project, it brings a world dance showordinance campaign case with a variety of types of styles, and was instrumental including belly dance, Middle Eastern, in ENC’s endorseJim Oberfgefell African, Polynesian and Poi Spinning. Photo Credit: ALCU ments in the recent Raffle tickets will be sold during the municipal primaries. performances for gift certificates from local Sen. Mike Woodard will be presented with establishments. the Legislative Leadership Award. Woodard is Tickets are $20/adult, $15/student with ID an Electeds for Equality program original memand $10/children 12-years-old and younger and ber. He has been a champion of LGBT causes are available online or at the door. and has actively engaged in pro-equality info/tickets: twisteddance.com. legislation and has been a vocal opponent of discriminatory bills. Southerners on New Ground (SONG) has Triangle been selected as the Organization of the Year. Award winners, keynote speaker named SONG worked to achieve full justice across the RALEIGH, N.C. — Equality North Carolina South, especially in areas that touch on racial (ENC) has announced the 2015 Equality Gala and LGBT justice. Earlier in October, SONG’s Award winners names and will honor them at the co-director Caitlin Breedlove stepped down upcoming event on Nov. 21 in Greensboro, N.C. after nearly a decade of service and she is beMayor Nancy Vaughn has been named the ing replaced by Mary Hooks. Hooks has been Jamie Kirk Hawn Ally Award winner. Vaughn a long-time member of SONG and has been at has been mayor of Greensboro, N.C., since the forefront of its work. She will be officially 2013. She has also worked for LGBT inclusivity, welcomed at the “Forever Song” family reunion more recently helping to shepard her city’s antiand celebration on Nov. 14 in Atlanta, Ga. discrimination ordinance in 2014. Also, the keynote speaker for the gala will Scott Bishop has been bestowed with the be Jim Obergefell, plaintiff in the Supreme Court

case that brought about marriage equality across the U.S. In a release, he said that he could not wait to return to return to the Old North State in November. Leading up to the decision on June 26, he had made a stop in Charlotte, N.C., where he met some of the state’s leaders for equality. Obergefell was the recipient of the inaugural LGBT Pioneer Award at the 20th Anniversary SAGE Awards and Gala on Oct. 19 in New York, N.Y. It was presented to him my Edie Windsor, a plaintiff in one of the marriage equality suits. SAGE CEO Michael Adams stated, “Jim’s courage and persistence led the U.S. Supreme Court to affirm that his love for John Arthur was no less than that between two heterosexual spouses. [Their] story also started a national conversation about LGBT caregivers and surviving partners, whom SAGE is committed to servicing through support programs and policy work.” Reservations are being accepted at this time. Visit the website to learn more. info: equalitync.org. southernersonnewground.org.

Dems to hold convention

RALEIGH, N.C. — The LGBT Democrats of North Carolina will hold its fifth annual state convention on Nov. 21, 12:30-2:30 p.m., at North Carolina State University, Talley Student Center, Room 4280, 2610 Cates Ave. Elections will be held for president, vice president, treasurer, secretary, vice president

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of college outreach, all 13 congressional district chairs and vice chairs. Members and non-members are welcome to attend. However, only paid members will be permitted to cast votes for the election. Dues were due by Oct. 21 at a rate of $10. The President’s Council can waive the 30-day advance requirement at the convention, and normally does, but this is not guaranteed. info: lgbtdemocrats.org.

South Carolina Clinton heads to Palmetto State

COLUMBIA, S.C. — Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton will be the guest of SC Equality (SCE) for its “An Evening with Hillary” event on Nov. 7, 6 p.m., at the Columbia Marriott, 1200 Hampton St. This event is being held as an alternative to the gala which had been postponed until the spring of 2016. SCE felt that South Carolina has too many challenges recovering from the recent floods to hold the annual event. Clinton reached out to SCE and offered to support its efforts in continuing the work for equal rights for every South Carolinian.

see Carolinas on 8

Oct. 23-Nov. 5 . 2015

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news notes: u.s./world. compiled by Chris Tittel, qnotes contributor

Mothers insist souped-up ad pushes ‘LGBT agenda’

Photo Credit: Campbell Soup Company, ‘Adorable’ TV spot. BBDO agency of record.

One Million Moms has taken issue with the Campbell’s Soup ad featuring real-life gay dads: “A homosexual ‘married’ couple is featured prominently with a young boy (their son) in the new Campbell’s Soup advertisement. Campbell’s #RealRealLife campaign aims to change the face of the American family,” the organization explains in a call to action. “It starts off with the first man feeding soup to the little boy and in a ‘Star Wars’ Darth Vader voice says, ‘Luke, I am your father.’ Then the other man enters the scene and says, ‘No, Luke, I am your father.’ How confusing for this little boy and for all children viewing this commercial.” They go on to argue that, “This gay-inclusive commercial is attempting to desensitize viewers. There is concern about the way this ad is pushing the LGBT agenda, but an even greater concern is the way that they are attempting to redefine ‘family’ and ‘real marriage.’” — LGBTQ Nation (lgbtqnation.com), a qnotes media partner

Check out the bod on this one, boys

Bodybuilding champion Jerome Michael Nayanah wants [the] world to know he doesn’t

like gay people. The popular Durban, South Africa fitness pro received criticism after launching into [an] antigay tirade on Facebook, calling gay people “sexually sick perverts” and blaming them for the spread of HIV. In the post, Nayanah, who likes to post racy pictures of himself on Instagram, said he was responding to someone who allegedly published pictures and contact information for him on a gay website without his consent. As a result, he claims he received “hundreds of calls” from gay men who wanted to “hook up,” some of whom went so far as to send him dirty pictures. “Again, someone has put my details and pics on a sex website and my phone has been ringing, non stop,” Nayanah seethed. “They are mostly homosexuals.” He went on to say that gay men spread HIV, are “not normal,” “promiscuous,” “disgusting” and are “sexually sick perverts” that “need Jesus.” After the post went viral, the fitness champ tried claiming his profile had been hacked, but this doesn’t quite jive with what the owner of Ultimate Fitness Durban, where Nayanah works, had to say.

In a statement, the company claimed “Jerome has been targeted for months by a few bad apples in the gay community and the built up frustration led to an outburst on social networking. Some of the statements made were harsh but [were] due to 1st [sic] hand experience of the persistence of certain gay men on well sculpted straight men.” The statement continued: “As for people being labelled homophobic, I don’t see how straight men who are frustrated by gay men persistantly [sic] pursuing them are quickly labelled homophobic.” Nayanah’s Facebook profile has since been deleted. — LGBTQ Nation (lgbtqnation.com), a qnotes media partner

a result, he says some people have “thrown Bible verses at me,” but most have been supportive. He’s received over 300 friend requests and several other churches have extended invitations for him to join their congregations. Settles isn’t sure which church he will join next, but he does know that he will never return to Woods Chapel. “I don’t feel comfortable sitting at pew or sitting beside my parents when all I’m going to see is people pointing their fingers at me because of the lifestyle I chose,” he said, adding that he just wants to be happy. So far, Woods Chapel General Baptist Church is not commenting on the matter. — LGBTQ Nation (lgbtqnation.com), a qnotes media partner

Churches invite spurned gay man to worship

Majority of gay, bisexual men bareback

equality to the main street through its media campaign efforts. They have produced TV commercials, radio spots, newspaper ads and a documentary. Slogans such as “Homosexuality isn’t the problem, prejudice is.”; “We are your neighbors … and we are gay.”; and “Gay rights are civil rights. Acceptance without exception.” have been long remembered by those who view them. Currently, in South Carolina, it is legal to fire someone from their job because they are gay. LGBT people receive no protections from the Fair Housing Act. The state is one of only five states that do not have hate crime laws. Certain challenges still exist for those who wish to have or adopt children. And, the “Healthy Sexuality” program in public high schools across the state includes discus-

sion of LGBT sexuality as it relates to sexually transmitted diseases. These are only a few issues which AFFA is working against in the fight against prejudice and discrimination. Contact AFFA to learn more. In other news, AFFA held its “Wildest Dreams” GAyLA on Oct. 17 at the Memminger Auditorium. During the event, it presented honors to three community members who change the “hearts and minds” while supporting the community. Those individuals are: Jeff Ayers, The Linda Ketner Founder’s Award and Chase Glenn and Melissa Moore, AFFA GAyLA honorees.

Dylan Settles thought he was being a good Christian by going to church on Sunday, saying his prayers each night and listing God as his number one hero on his Facebook profile. But leaders of his church, the Woods Chapel General Baptist Church in Brookland, Ark., felt otherwise. Church officials sent the 20-year-old a nasty letter, scolding him for “embracing the homosexual lifestyle” and forbidding him from ever again entering their holy establishment until he begs God for forgiveness. “It has come to the attention, of the Church body, that you have made it known publicly, of your choice, to embrace the homosexual lifestyle,” the letter began, before going on to state that the church board voted to remove Settles from the church’s membership roles, thus kicking him out of the church. “I was in awe,” Settles tells KARK 4-TV. “I was in so much shock, I couldn’t read the rest of it.” The letter went on to say that Settles is free to return if and only if he abandons the “sinful lifestyle” he has “chosen” and “repents.” Settles posted the letter on Facebook, where it has, so far, received more than 2,600 shares. As

A new survey conduced by FS Magazine has found that the overwhelming majority of gay and bisexual men didn’t use a condom the last time they had anal sex. Over 3,100 men participated in the survey, which asked a variety of questions concerning sex, sexual health and relationships. The study found that 72 percent of respondents said they didn’t use condoms the last time they had anal sex. Of that 72 percent, 32 percent said they didn’t use a condom the last time they topped, compared [to] the 37 percent who said they didn’t use a condom the last time they bottomed. Fifty percent of the men engaging in unprotected anal sex said they did so with either a long-term boyfriend or their husband or civil partner. Twenty percent said they did so with a person they were either dating or with whom they had sex on a regular basis. Looking at HIV status, of the men who said they didn’t use a condom the last time they had anal sex with a casual partner, roughly 10 percent were HIV-positive, compared to 90 percent who believed themselves to be HIV-negative. — LGBTQ Nation (lgbtqnation.com), a qnotes media partner

Carolinas News Notes continued from page 7 The former first lady and secretary of state will address grassroots leaders from across South Carolina, including SCE’s board of directors, staff, volunteer leaders and supporters of the organization. “While serving in the U.S. Senate, Sen. Clinton had a vigorous and sustained record of support for the LGBT community,” said SCE Board Chair Jeff Ayers. “As secretary of state, she initiated the Global Equality Fund to encourage fair treatment for LGBT people internationally and extended equal benefits and protections for same-sex partners of American diplomats. Now, during her presidential campaign, Secretary Clinton continues to bring LGBT equality to the forefront of America. She’ll fight for full federal equality for LGBT Americans with the Equality Act and stronger anti-discrimination protections for everyone. Her experience and leadership on LGBT-related issues continue to help our community and allies as we strive for an equal America.” Tickets are $85/regular and $500/VIP and are available online. Dinner is included. VIP

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ticket holders will receive a private meet and greet and photo session with Clinton. Order VIP tickets early as only 50 will be sold. Proceeds from the event will benefit SCE. info: scequality.org.

Billboard campaign nears end

CHARLESTON, S.C. — The Alliance for Full Acceptance (AFFA) launched its “Beyond Marriage” billboard campaign on Oct. 5 on I-26 west-bound between the Dorchester and Montague exits. The Facebook-inspired campaign is comprised of four consecutive billboards which follows the social media posts of a newly married lesbian woman. Slogans stated are: “Just MARRIED!!!”; “Just got EVICTED!!!!! Landlord saw wedding pics…”; “Just got FIRED… BECAUSE I’M GAY!!!!!!!!”; and “There’s more to equality than marriage. #BEYOND MARRIAGE” and have been showcased throughout the campaign in the port city. Each year, AFFA takes its cause for

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views

spiritual reflections by Isai Efuru :: guest contributor

Pressing Forward During a recent trip back home, I strolled through the train station, admiring the vendors and the familiar wave of hasty pedestrians. As I entered the waiting room, a heaviness gripped me that I couldn’t shake. I blinked and then paused to gather myself. Then it hit me. I went back inside and stood in front of the huge schedule display. Before I knew it, my eyes became full with tears. Almost 20 years earlier, in this same room on a rainy December Saturday evening, I sat, lonely, tired and depressed with nowhere to go. I’d recently earned a B.A. but was unemployed. I’d recently returned home but was homeless. I’d made a load of friends at Rutgers, but was now

alone. I’d resorted to club hopping, riding empty trains at night and resting in the waiting room in the daytime, where I could feel the constant motion of humanity and fight the urge to take my life. Life hadn’t turned out the way I planned. I had it all figured out: I’d attend college, get amazing grades and graduate with the dream job, with friends and love happily waiting for me. My plan failed. I had all of the potential in the world, so how did I end up with such a bad break? I needed God’s help and the next morning, I petitioned for it desperately. God answered and that prayer was the start of a new life. I never looked or went back. : :

Carolinas News Notes continued from page 7 Ayers played a vital roll in the marriage equality fight. He serves as chair of SC Equality (SCE) and continues to be a “permanent fixture at the South Carolina State House” as he fights for equality statewide. Glenn has self-produced an online series, “Emerging Chase,” which deals with educating the community and supporting transgender individuals, along with their family and friends. He has chaired the Charleston Pride Festival, raised money for the Trans*Love Fund, designed a SCE license plate, chairs the TransAction Committee, among other contributions. Moore has been a champion for LGBT youth. She is the executive director of We Are Family. She was included as a contributor to the “Out Loud: The Best of Rainbow Radio” anthology. info: affa-sc.org.

Campus Scene Windmeyer receives national award

SAN DIEGO, Calif. — Campus Pride Executive Director and Founder Shane Windmeyer received the 2015 Excellence in Education award from the National Association for College Admission Counseling (NACAC) at

their conference opening session on Oct. 1. Windmeyer was selected for the honor as a result of his leadership and pioneering efforts with Campus Pride through its LGBT student outreach in the college admissions process. “It is an honor for Campus Pride to be honored by an association like NACAC,” said Windmeyer in his acceptance speech. In speaking to the NACAC professionals on the subject of asking optional LGBT identity questions on college admission forms, he shared: “It doesn’t just get better, we have to do better, we have to ask the important questions. “I am humbled by this award,” said Windmeyer. “I have always been committed to improving college and university campuses for LGBTQ students, and I am thrilled to see larger, non-LGBTQ higher education organizations like NACAC recognizing and acknowledging the importance of these efforts. It shows that LGBTQ students do matter, our work matters.” The award is given out on behalf of the NACAC board to those who have demonstrated a commitment to policies that strengthen access to colleges and universities for underrepresented groups. This award is the highest award the NACAC can give to a non-member. info: nacacnet.org. campuspride.org.

Oct. 23-Nov. 5 . 2015

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life

Breast Cancer Awareness

Screenings save lives Proactive stance can make a difference and change outcomes by Chris Tittel :: qnotes contributor Hooper went into remission after the tumor was removed. She underwent more than 30 radiation treatments and five years of medication following the surgery. Today, she remains cancer-free. Hooper, who has known women of all ages, orientations and social circumstances who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, said it’s a chronic condition that does not discriminate. She echoed Collins on the importance of screenings. “Cancer is insidious,” Hooper said. “We can’t sit back and think that it’s going to happen to somebody else.” Hooper said education is key not only to easing fears, but also to regaining the sense of power over one’s life that cancer can take away. “There’s a lot of fear-based information out there, especially if you look on the Internet,” she said. “We have less fear about those things in our lives that we understand the most. If we get all the information that can help us make good decisions, we feel more empowered. It’s very easy to give yourself up to the doctors and just do everything they say. Before long, you’ve lost your ability to make your own decisions.” Prevalence The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that breast cancer is the second most common cancer in American women (skin cancer is most common). Breast cancer is also a health concern among American men, who account for almost 1 percent of all breast cancer diagnoses nationwide. Getting a mammogram takes only about 30 minutes or less and should be According to the National LGBT Cancer Network done as part of a routine healthcare examination and screening. It’s one of website, data on breast cancer rates among lesbians, in the best ways of detecting tumors in their early stages. particular, is limited and contradictory due, in part, to large Photo Credit: Centers for Disease Control national cancer registries failing to record an individual’s sexual orientation when conducting research. ackie Collins wants you to get screened for breast cancer. However, predictions based on a “cluster of The famed novelist, glamorous jet-setter, mother, grandrisk factors” suggest that lesbians may have an mother and sister to Joan Collins, died from breast cancer increased risk of developing breast cancer. on Sept. 19. She was 77. “Certainly, there Collins, who appears on is no physiological the cover of the Oct. 5 issue or genetic difference of People, told the magazine Breast Cancer Resources between lesbians and in an interview just four days heterosexual women,” before her death that she Centers for Disease Control and Prevention the website reads. “The refused to get screened even cdc.gov/cancer/breast increased risks are a after she discovered a lump in result of behaviors that her breast years ago. National LGBT Cancer Network are a result of the stress “I’ve had to deal with cancer-network.org and stigma of living losing my mother [to breast with homophobia and cancer], my husband [prostate North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services discrimination. Each of cancer] and my fiancé [lung Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program these behaviors carries cancer], and I did not want to 919-707-5300 with it an increased put pressure on everybody in bcccp.ncdhhs.gov risk of cancer. Taken the family,” she said. “Women together, as a cluster, should get checkups because they could more than double a lesbian’s chance of it really helps to get diagnosed early. I know we’re all told to do getting cancer.” it, but some of us are too stupid, and I was one of them. That was The behaviors include: cigarette smoking, my choice and maybe it was a foolish one, but it was my choice. excessive alcohol use, obesity and pregnancy. Now I want to tell people it shouldn’t be their choice.” According to the website, transgender Ann Hooper, a local LGBT activist who we profiled in the individuals are at particular risk due to: risky “Our People” feature in the last issue of qnotes (http://goqnotes. behaviors (cigarette smoking, excessive alcohol com/37804/), was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003. use, etc.), barriers to quality health care, lack of The tumor was located and identified through a routine research on trans bodies and health care needs, screening. discrimination and the need for more information Hooper said she was surprised; shortly before her own on the links between cancer and transgender diagnosis, at least five good friends had also been diagnosed hormone use. with breast cancer. “I was in disbelief,” she said. “Really? Now, I’m going to have Symptoms breast cancer? When is this going to end?” Warning signs of breast cancer may include, According to the North Carolina Department of Health and but are not limited to: Human Services, there were 3,872 female breast cancer diagno• New lump in the breast or underarm ses in Mecklenburg County alone in 2012. The figure accounts for • Thickening or swelling of part of the breast 1 in 5 of all cancer diagnoses across the county that year.

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• Any change in the size or shape of the breast • Pain in any area of the breast For a full list of warning signs, visit cdc.gov/cancer/breast. If you experience any one or more of the warning signs, see a health care provider. Screening There are three types of breast cancer screenings. A self-exam involves checking your own breasts for lumps, changes in size or shape or any other changes in the breasts or underarm. If anything unusual is identified, see a healthcare provider. A clinical breast exam is conducted by a doctor or nurse, who uses his or her hands to feel for lumps or other changes. A mammogram is an X-ray of the breast and considered the best way to find breast cancer early. The CDC recommends that anyone between the ages of 50 and 74 have a screening mammogram every two years. Anyone between the ages of 40 and 49 should talk to a healthcare provider on when to start and how often to get a screening mammogram. The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services offers free or low-cost breast cancer screenings through its Breast and Cervical Cancer Control Program and county health departments. Prevention The CDC offers the following tips, among others, on lowering the risk of breast cancer: • Maintain a healthy weight. • Exercise regularly (at least four hours a week). • Get enough sleep. • Limit alcohol consumption to one drink or less per day. • Quit smoking. • If you are taking or have been told to take hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptives, ask a healthcare provider about the risks.

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life

LGBT History Month

Unlocking our history from Stonewall to marriage equality, the fight continues [qnotes, as a part o;f the LGBT History Project sponsored by the Philadelphia Gay News, brings you these history articles here and on page 13, as well as many more online at qnotes submission on page 13 and more online at goqnotes.com. Enjoy the insightful, entertaining and enlightening features.]

Dick Leitsch: History is unavoidable

P.L. Travers: A spoonful of speculation

by Perry Brass

by Gary M. Kramer

or my friend Dick Leitsch, the last president of the Mattachine Society of New York, who last May turned 80, history was unavoidable. I met Dick in two different periods of my life. At 20, I attended my first and only meeting of the New York Mattachine Society, at the old Wendell Wilkie House near Bryant Park in New York City. He moderated, handsome, stylish, with a soft-spoken Kentuckian polished air. I was turned totally off: Mattachine was strictly out of my world as, new to New York, I struggled to make sense of myself. Two years later, a few months after Stonewall, I joined the Gay Liberation Front. GLF offered me a valid political understanding of why queers were being destroyed in American society, and what we had to do, often rowdy as we were, to change it. Both Dick and Mattachine were loathed by many of my young GLF brothers and sisters, some of whom had been in it and, like unruly kids, resented their dowdier parents. Dick was often referred to as “Pig Leitsch.” For us, he represented gay accomodationists, what we called “dragonfaggots,” “Aunt Sallies,” queer “Uncle Toms.” His very image seemed like a ghost from the 1950s and mid-1960s. Then in 1975, I started freelancing for Countrywide Publications, a scrappy pulp magazine conglomerate on lower Park Avenue, run by the infamously cheap Myron Fass and his brother (often described as “borderline personality” types for their explosive dealings with employees), who presided over a farm team for a later generation of successful writers and editors. My editor was Robert (Bobby) Amsel, a gifted young man editing a group of low-end, hetero porn magazines often written by hungry gay scribes like myself. Bobby and I became close; he literally taught me how to write for commercial publication. He revealed that his long-time partner was Dick Leitsch, “president of the old Mattachine Society.” I blinked twice. Bobby had actually had a history with Mattachine, and after Stonewall, as Mattachine was folding, became president while Dick remained executive director. I soon met Dick again, and quickly adored him. He was a throwback to another era, of courtly Southern gentlemen (he’s from Louisville) and old-school gay bar queens, denizens of a complete culture of gay bars, something that younger people now find difficult to understand. For

decades, gay bars were our most visible institutions. Gay men and lesbians found their only home in them. In New York, bars were raided cyclically: usually before elections, before major events like the 1964 New York World’s Fair when Mayor Robert F. Wagner, Jr. closed the bars to keep innocent tourists from wandering in (like, what were they going to do in them?), or when cops decided they wanted to squeeze out a bit more payola from mafia barkeeps. This was fostered by New York’s state alcoholic beverage agency, which had rules dating from the 1920s against serving homosexuals “openly” in any bar. In 1966, Leitsch, along with other members of NY Mattachine staged the “Sip-In,” the first “out” gay demonstration in New York state history. They walked into Julius’, an oft-raided bar on Waverly Place in the West Village, declared themselves gay and were immediately refused service. The event was recorded in Fred W. McDarrah’s famous photo showing Dick in profile next to Craig Rodwell (soon to open the Oscar Wilde Memorial Bookstore, the first gay bookstore in the United States) and long-time activist Randy Wicker. Mattachine took Julius’ and the state agency to court, paying the bar’s legal fees because, as Dick put it, “We just wanted to make a case, not punish them.” A New York judge declared that the state’s policy denied gays their basic right to free assembly; the rule was unconstitutional. But this did not stop gay bars from being harassed, and three years later a June raid on the Stonewall Inn in the Village exploded as no one thought it would. Dick told me he never thought of himself as being political; he was simply for “our right to exist.” For close to a decade before Stonewall, he was one of a few openly gay men in America. To be that open, he’d had to take a virtual vow of poverty, and for several years lived rent-free in a room in a spacious rent-controlled apartment leased by Madolin Cervantes, a straight woman and Mattachine officer who loved gay men. To make money, as a solitary advocate for gay rights, he got sent out on college lecture circuits where he met the Beat poet Allen Ginsberg, America’s second openly gay man. “We would criss-cross each other on college campuses,” Dick told me. “We became friends. He published stuff in Mattachine publications.” Dick worked as a journalist, a holiday decorator for restaurants and stores and a bartender. He loved working in bars and restaurants.

see Leitsch on 17

.L. Travers, author of “Mary Poppins,” was born Helen Lyndon Goff on Aug. 9, 1899 in the city of Maryborough, in Queensland, Australia, (not in England, as many assume). She moved to England in 1924, and used the name P.L. Travers, an abbreviation of her pseudonym Pamela Lyndon Travers, which she used in her days as a dancer and Shakespearean actor on the Australian stage. Reportedly, her wealthy relatives did not approve of Travers performing, so, being independent-minded, she moved to England where she forged a career as a writer. The name P.L. Travers appealed to Goff because it sounded more masculine — or at least, gender-nonspecific. Travers was the name of her father, an alcoholic banker whose career declined almost as quickly as he did. (He died of tuberculosis at age 43). His daughter was 7 years old when he passed. The author, who first published poems as a teen in Australia, was fond of myths and fantasies. This may be why she was so good at acting and writing. She constructed her own rather mysterious persona so that no one really knows her truth. Her famous literary heroine, based on an aunt of Travers’, was a magical nanny who helped her charges through difficult situations with sensible, even tough advice. Travers, who was very no-nonsense herself, was also fascinated with eastern philosophy and theosophy, Sufism and Hinduism. In England, Travers lived with Madge Burnand, the daughter of the editor of Punch. The women shared a flat in London, and later rented a cottage together in Sussex. Much speculation has been made about whether they were lovers. Actor Emma Thompson played Travers in the 2013 film “Saving Mr. Banks,” which depicted Travers’ battle with Walt Disney to make “Mary Poppins.” The actress was quoted in article on the film in The Advocate about Travers’ relationship with Burnand. She stated, “I don’t know whether they were lovers or not, but she did live with Madge for a long, long time, and she certainly had very complex, passionate relationships with both women and men. She was an explorer of her own condition, and very possibly her own sexuality.” It was while living with Burnand that Travers published “Mary Poppins,” the work that would give the author her greatest fame. Travers wrote five sequels to “Mary Poppins” and, as “Saving Mr. Banks” depicted, she reluctantly sold the rights to Disney, who produced the famous film. Travers, apparently, was not fond of the Julie Andrews/Dick

Van Dyke musical and particularly hated the animated dancing penguins. As mentioned, Travers is said to have had relationship with men and women, but few specifics about her sexual relationships have ever been detailed. Her diary recounted her friendship (and possibly a relationship) with Jessie Orage, whose husband, Alfred Richard Orage, was a pupil of the spiritual teacher G.I. Gurdjieff. Travers became a follower of Gurdjieff, and through him became an occasional member of The Rope, a group that consisted mostly of lesbian writers, including Jane Heap, founding editor of Little Review, and Kathryn Hulme, author of “The Nun’s Story.” [Fun fact: Many members of The Rope were acquainted with Gertrude Stein, but Stein did not follow Gurdjieff; whether she and Travers ever connected is not known]. Valerie Lawson, author of “Mary Poppins, She Wrote,” a biography of Travers originally titled “Out of the Sky She Came,” indicated that both Travers and Orage “loved men.” Their close friendship, Lawson indicates, was formed over the loss of Orage’s husband, and Travers’ editor, George William Russell. Whether their friendship crossed over into a sexual relationship is not known. But Jim Korkis, a Disney historian, was quoted in the Orlando Weekly (around the time of “Saving Mr. Banks”) saying that, “It has been assumed that Travers was bisexual, although no one really knows for sure. She was known to be extremely flirtatious around younger men. At one point, she told an acquaintance that she thought that Walt [Disney] had ‘eyes’ for her.” Travers certainly was secretive and private. It was perhaps a source of pride for her. A quote from her in a New Statesman article entitled, “The strange life of the creator of Mary Poppins,” read, “I’m a private sort of person, as anonymous as possible — and that’s not humility.” Other articles about the author that surfaced around the time “Saving Mr. Banks” was released have been even more candid. According to the Daily Mail, Travers was said to be “neither warm nor kindly. She was an intellectual snob who wrote erotic prose, was a one-time fascist sympathizer, occasional lesbian and appalling mother.” Unpacking that quote, Travers is known to have written poetry for the erotic publication The Triad, and she wrote book reviews for

see P.L. Travers on 17 Oct. 23-Nov. 5 . 2015 qnotes 11

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Charlotte musician releases debut album Rolfe Neigenfind continues on musical journey by Jeff Taylor :: qnotes staff

olfe Neigenfind started his musical career at a young age. When he was five years old, Neigenfind spotted a piano through the window at his neighbor’s house. He was not from a musical family, and even today is not sure what drove him to do what he did next. He knocked on his neighbor’s door and asked if she would teach him to play it. She said she would and, luckily, his parents agreed to pay for lessons. “I can’t tell you what possessed me,” Neigenfind told me in an interview I conducted with him in February of this year, while he was raising money through a crowd funding campaign to record an album, his first. He ended up raising around $2,500 through the campaign, and after it ended, received some additional donations, making the recording process possible. The album is now a reality. The six song EP is titled “Chicago,” and will have its official release at Petra’s in Charlotte on Oct. 29. “There have been a few moments like that [the introduction to piano via his neighbor] with the music,” the now multi-instrumentalist and songwriter Neigenfind continued, reflecting on the journey that brought him here. “One time I was in Memphis and I had to be like 15 — 14 or 15. I was on a youth trip or something. There are bands playing up and down Beale Street. Blues bands and stuff, you know, like, old black guys. I can’t remember the conversation that transpired, but next thing I know I’m playing with them, separated from my church group. And they come find me and I’m playing with this Memphis blues band.” So, it was clear early on that music was his path, and he has never veered from it. He is now able to support himself as a full-time musician, after formerly working for the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department as a dispatcher and trying to fit music in when he could.

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He is clearly pleased to be able to dedicate himself more fully to his craft and believes that having an album will help push his career and allow him to do even more. The initial goal was to do a full-length album. But one of the many things he learned during the process, which he said taught him as much or more about music than everything leading up to it, was that recording is more expensive and takes longer than originally expected. But he is happy with the outcome of “Chicago” and knows

this is only the beginning. “One [possible] scenario that would be amazing [would be] the next time I want to do this, I could take this to an investor or a label and say, ‘This is what I do, I want to do a 10-song album,’ so maybe they come up and support me. That was kind of my logic behind it.” He also hopes to use the album, which he says is probably most easily described as Americana, even though he is, at best, ambivalent about that label, as a way to transition from mostly a covers act to playing originals. The album features five original compositions and only one cover, “Little Bit of Love,” by the band Free. “Hopefully it means I can play a gig without singing ‘Wagon Wheel.’ I’m in that transition right now where I’m trying to find out how to do that,” he says. He adds that he wants to begin playing less at restaurants and bars, where covers are more the norm, and begin playing more music venues, like The Evening Muse. “I don’t necessarily want to be playing in a cover band the rest of my life,” he admits. Neigenfind, who is openly gay, says the album is something of a relationship record, but that he wasn’t necessarily planning it that way. He also didn’t spend time thinking about writing from a gay perspective. “As far as the music’s concerned, it’s all pretty universal stuff,” he says. Neigenfind says he has stayed in Charlotte to see this project through to its conclusion and is now deciding whether or not he wants to continue living in the city. Whether he is here to stay or not, make sure to see him at a show soon. He may just be on his way to becoming a harder act to catch live. : :

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life

LGBT History Month

The King-Henry-Brockington Community Archive documents Charlotte LGBTQ history Project housed at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte by Jeff Taylor :: qnotes staff

rchivist and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC) Professor Joshua Burford stresses that the LGBTQ archive he spearheaded is not a complete history. It is growing, and a complete history of anything is, of course, an impossible task. Yet the King-Henry-Brockington Community Archive of Charlotte comes close, with its array of LGBT publications, fliers, historical documents and memorabilia. Housed in the Special Collections of the J. Murrey Atkins Library, the collection is one of the largest in the Southeastern United States and spans decades. “We have the second or third largest collection in the Southeast,” Burford says. “Emory’s LGBT holdings are probably a bit larger than ours, only because they have been collecting for a lot longer than we have. And Duke probably has a tad bit more stuff than we do, of physical material, but we’re highly competitive at this point.”

starting to get a lot more stuff from out of state, which is great,” Burford says. “The process has sped up… which means we’re going to be able to make the collection more available to the public in a quicker way.”

Naming the archive Burford says naming the archive was no small task. In addition to the aforementioned King and Henry, the archive is named for Blake Brockington, a 2014 graduate of East Mecklenburg High School, who worked for transgender rights and gained national attention when he was named homecoming king at his high school as an openly transgender student. “It was one of the toughest decisions I’ve ever made,” Burford says. “It took me a year to decide what to name it. The idea of naming a collection with a scope as big as this one, that represents so many different identities, [from] sexual identities, to gender identities, [to] race and ethnicity, it was always going to be difficult to give it a name. “It was never going to be just one person,” he continues. “We knew we wanted to name it after Don King, because he was so influential in getting How it began the modern community in Charlotte on its feet, orgaThe conversation for the archive began nized and moving. I mean, the man had his hand in in early 2013. Burford previously worked to just about everything. So that was a no brainer. But help create an LGBT archive at the University the other names in the collection were a bit tougher. of Alabama in Tuscaloosa. It was a smaller “So when we settled on the name, each of the endeavor than the Charlotte archive, as it three people that we chose had a huge impact on was focused almost exclusively on their LGBT the community in very different ways. And all three student organization. (left to right) Joshua Burford, Blair Burdette, Gene Sloan and Sue Henry were on hand at the Sept. 17 King- of them represent different identities: gay, lesbian, It wet his appetite to try something on a Henry-Brockington Community Archive naming ceremony at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. trans; they represent different ethnicities…and it larger scale when he moved to Charlotte to Photo Credit: qnotes staff was intergenerational. So after a lot of soul searchtake a teaching position at UNCC. He began ing, after a lot of conversations and a lot of quescollaborating right away. The collection also includes the complete history from nontions, the three of them really rose to the top as the people that I “It was myself and O’Neale Atkinson — he’s at Time Out profit organizations such as Time Out Youth, a support group wanted to honor in the name of the collection.” Youth now — and then Jess McDonald, who is a friend of for LGBT young adults formed in Charlotte in 1991. While these The reaction to the naming, and to the archive in general, has ours, who was working for Campus Pride at the time,” Burford records are essential for understanding a city’s LGBT history, the been overwhelmingly positive, Burford says. remembers. “The three of us got together; I think initially thinksmaller holdings are likely to draw a lot of attention as well. “The reaction to the naming has been great,” he says. ing we might collect materials and house them in the [LGBT] “I think the stuff that’s really interesting, from an archival “People are really excited about who we chose. Community Center. And then shortly after that, we had a converpoint of view, is the small little things that we weren’t planning “The collection in general, I don’t even know that I could sation with the archivist at UNCC, who said, ‘If you guys want on,” Burford notes. “Like we have a trans newsletter that is encapsulate how well it’s been received,” he says. “I probably to lead up the effort to build the collection, then UNC Charlotte potentially the first one of its kind that we got from [local activist get weekly phone calls and emails from people who have either Special Collections will house it, preserve it and then make it and naming honoree] Sue Henry. That early trans history is really heard about it recently or have been watching it grow all along available to the public.’” hard to find. So getting that is a really big deal.” who are just thrilled that we’re collecting it. They received their first donation in the summer of 2013, Burford also mentions the “scads of ephemera,” including “And then by extension, the word about what we’re doing and items have continued to come in ever since, with no sign an AIDS quilt and items from the 1993 March on Washington for is starting to make its way around archival circles around the of stopping. Lesbian, Gay, and Bi Equal Rights and Liberation. South,” he continues. “So other people in other places are call“I don’t think we have any end game,” Burford says. Much of the archive’s materials come from the private coling to see how they can replicate what we’re doing here in other lection of another naming honoree, activist Donaldson King, who parts of the Southeast.” What the collection contains Burford says “chronicled his life in a way that is a dream for an Burford says he is working with North Carolina State What the collection already contains is impressive. archivist. He kept literally everything.” University to get them started on collecting their LGBT campus “The hardest part,” Burford says, “is the research. Like, In addition to serving as qnotes’ first editor, King worked history for the first time. whose history do you want to get, and is it possible to get it? I for years at The Charlotte Observer and was active in fighting spent the first, probably, four or five months just researching against the entrapment of gay men by law enforcement. Growing the mission what I could find.” “It really is the scope of the things that we have that is so A group of archivists in the Southeast are coming together to Once you track down the history, he says, the next hardest outstanding to me,” Burford says. “We’re looking at a recorded create a new endeavor, of which Burford is a key part. part is getting people to trust you, “that you’re going to preserve history of things you can read from the middle ‘60s to the present. “A group of us in North Carolina are working on a new their stuff, and that it’s going to be available and useful.” So it really is robust, and it really is an LGBT and Q history.” project to organize a queer history collection regionally,” Burford Fortunately it is obvious within minutes of meeting Burford “You know, we could always have more,” he continues, “there says. “The project is called ‘OutSouth,’ and we’re in the process that his intentions are pure and his work ethic is laudable. Before could always be more trans history, there could always be more hisright now of building teams of archivists, oral historians and hislong, despite his newcomer status, he had gained the commutory for folks of color. But we are aware of that in the process, so we torians all over the Southeast, in all different Southern states, and nity’s trust. The collection bares that out. are actively pursuing it. We are not just, sort of, waiting for it to come we’re going to be working together to…pull together the existing “We definitely know that we have [archives of] the largest into our laps. We’re really in the process of working hard to make collections…and we’re going to have a first of its kind meeting queer publication in the Southeast [qnotes], that’s for sure,” sure the collection represents as much of the community as it can.” of Southern queer historians, archivists and oral historians next Burford says. The publicity is helping to ensure that it is indeed a growing summer in Charlotte.” qnotes donated their nearly 30 year archive, plus several isand complete history. It is exciting news for anyone interested in knowing more about sues of Charlotte Free Press (1975-1979) and other miscellaneous “Folks that were really active in Charlotte in the ‘80s and ‘90s what it means, and what it has meant, to be LGBT in the South. : : Charlotte publications, in April. who have left are finding out about the collection, so now we’re

Oct. 23-Nov. 5 . 2015

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From the History Books

Brick Layers

‘Stonewall’ film depicts birth of gay rights movement by Lawrence Ferber :: qnotes contributor

Danny (played by Jeremy Irvvine) to right, is seen after he throws a brick during the 1969 Stonewall riots in New York City in the Roland Emmerich historical fiction film ‘Stonewall.’ Photo Credit: Philippe Bossé

he issue of who threw the first brick at 1969’s Stonewall riots, which launched the modern LGBT rights movement and annual Pride parades, has been a point of controversy and disagreement long before director Roland Emmerich’s new film of the same name. Yet Emmerich, best known for bombastic, special effects-laden Hollywood disaster popcorn blockbusters like “Independence Day” and “Day After Tomorrow,” is the first to warn that audiences shouldn’t regard this key moment in his film as a representation of historical fact. “We said, let’s make a movie about Stonewall and try to be as entertaining and accurate about it as possible, but it’s a [narrative] movie, not a documentary,” he explains. “When you look at a movie like ‘Titanic,’ at the end the Titanic goes down, but the rest is a love story between a rich girl and poor artist. Those characters were probably never on the Titanic, but that’s where it happened. Our story takes place [partly] in this club Stonewall and our main character, Danny, learns about what’s going on, to be gay in NYC, from these homeless kids, falls in love, and learns to survive.” Written by out screenwriter Jon Robin Baitz, “Stonewall” follows the journey of Danny (Jeremy Irvine), a teen from the small town Midwest who hightails it to Manhattan after his father gives him the boot for being gay. Once [arriving] at the city’s gay mecca, Christopher Street, Danny falls in with a clique of rowdy homeless LGBTQ sex workers including a Puerto Rican “scare queen,” Ray/Ramona (Jonny Beauchamp), sassy AfricanAmerican, Cong (Vlad Alexis), and gender-bending hippie, Orphan Annie (Caleb Landry Jones). Stonewall Inn is their hub, and where Danny meets and falls for older Mattachine Society activist, Trevor (Jonathan Rhys Myers), who despises Danny’s friends and their flamboyance. Add corrupt cops, homophobia and a mafia-run prostitution ring, and it all combusts on a balmy June night during a police raid on the Stonewall… Spoiler alert: Danny does in fact throw the first brick in the movie — he’s motivated to do so when a lesbian is carried away by police and urges the angry gay crowd to do something, which did actually happen in real life — but those who suspect the film is a “whitewashing” based upon the trailer (see sidebar) will find that not to be the case at all. Stonewall’s cast is diverse ethnically and in sexual/gender identities (including “scare queens,” feminine males who couldn’t afford proper drag get-ups yet wore eyeliner and

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Oct. 23-Nov. 5 . 2015

considered making a gay-themed film. whatever else they It was during a tour of Los Angeles’ Gay & Lesbian Center could cobble together) that Emmerich learned that 40 percent of today’s homeless youth and Emmerich and team are LGBTQ. Upon digging into Stonewall’s history, and the critical decided to include quite role homeless youth played in the riot, he whipped up the film’s a few characters drawn story outline. directly from history Hollywood didn’t exactly embrace the idea of backing such including black drag a film, so Emmerich financed “Stonewall” independently with queen/activist Martha friends, and brought on Baitz as screenwriter. He also enlisted P. Johnson, played by surviving Stonewall witnesses to speak with the film’s actors, Nigerian-American and insisted that all extras taking part in the riot scene be LGBTactor Otojo Abit; Ray/ identified (when Emmerich learned that some straight extras Ramona is a composite were unhappy having to dance with other men during Stonewall of Puerto Ricans Silvia Inn scenes, they were fired, Alexis shares). “Montreal has a Rivera, a drag queen and big gay population, and I insisted that everyone who is part of transgender activist, and this riot has to be gay, and there was some real anger there,” Ray Castro; and Cong, Emmerich says. “For two or three days they were pumped. A portrayed by Africancouple of times we said ‘stop’ with a megaphone and it took a Canadian newcomer while to stop them.” Vlad Alexis. Apparently, some of the stars, including Irvine, Jones and Despite the fact Alexis, retained their characters’ more rowdy, sassy traits offDanny throws the brick, screen, especially while enjoying downtime in Montreal’s famed a turning point in his gay village. character’s arc and an “I told my friends before I started doing the project, I might embracing of his sexualnot see you much this summer because I will be unbearable,” ity and friendships, “it’s Alexis recalls, laughing. “Cong is such a strong character who Cong’s brick,” notes Alexis. Openly gay, Alexis is a native of has no fucks to give. Without naming names, we went to a gay Montreal, where the film was shot — a detailed replica of 1960sstrip joint and someone [from our group] threw a glass of water era Christopher Street and Stonewall Inn was constructed within at the stripper dancing. It was sort of a ‘Flashdance’ tribute. He a giant building. didn’t receive it that well, and I needed to go speak to him in Cong, who always carries a brick in a handbag for larcenous French and explain we are doing a movie and in our own heads! activities, is based on real-life Stonewall participant Congo He understood and we shook hands after.” Woman, chronicled in David Carter’s excellent non-fiction Despite whatever controversies may transpire (or not) once “Stonewall” tome. Alexis describes Congo Woman as “a nasty audiences have actually seen Emmerich’s film in its entirety, black drag queen that steals things, throws bricks and breaks Stonewall’s memory and legacy has already imprinted itself on windows just to survive.” the filmmakers. The day after wrapping, Irvine visited New York’s “I also took inspiration from so many other trans and queer actual Stonewall Inn — “it was like I was back on the film set kids out there,” he elaborates. “The documentary ‘Paris Is but for real, we got horribly drunk and danced the night away!” Burning’ and Jason Holliday, who was a black artist back in the — and an empowered Emmerich added LGBT characters to his ’60s [and subject of the 1967 documentary ‘Portrait of Jason’]. For upcoming “Independence Day” sequel (he declines to share me, it’s not important who threw the first brick, because the fight details beyond “I have a couple of them”). Meanwhile, Alexis, was already happening [by the time it was thrown]. We don’t who recently shot a cameo in Bryan Singer’s next “X-Men” film, have to praise a specific person.” admits he would have liked a physical takeaway — specifically, The UK-born Irvine, who previously starred in Steven Cong’s brick. Spielberg’s “War Horse,” admits that he was only peripher“I wish I could have!” he laments. “But this was my first ally aware of the Stonewall rebellion when he took on the role. movie and you never know what you can take or not and I don’t Once cast, he immersed himself in research and drew personal want to be someone who steals from the set. That would be like inspiration and details from someone involved with the productaking Cong to another level. Some crazy method acting to steal tion. He won’t name the person, but says they shared their from the set.” : : coming out letter with him. While Irvine also declines to divulge whether he ever questioned his own sexuality, he freely admits that his mother is pleased that Jonathan Rhys Meyers plays his onscreen love interest. “My Two Stonewalls, Two Controversies The “Stonewall” trailer received a standing ovation at the GLAAD Media Awards in March, mom says you couldn’t choose where Emmerich received the Stephen F. Kolzak Award for his work in promoting equality, so when someone better to have your it debuted to the public in early August, resulting in calls for a boycott of the film, Emmerich was first gay sex scene with.” completely surprised by this completely different, outraged reception. Unlike his film’s hayseed “I was upset, I have to admit,” he shares, “but one of our investors, who is very involved in marprotagonist, Emmerich was riage equality, he’s already happy because we said, you have to bring attention to Stonewall because born into a relatively wealthy kids these days don’t know nothing. Already we made our goal — people are talking about who German family, and his own threw bricks, who was there and not.” coming out took place comA 1995 film of the same name, directed by the late Nigel Finch and written by black gay British paratively late. “I didn’t want multi-hyphenate Rikki Beadle-Blair (he also co-wrote Patrik-Ian Polk’s recent “Blackbird”) and based to become a ‘gay director’ on Martin Duberman’s book, also stirred up some controversy in its day, although mostly concernbecause in Germany when you ing its historical accuracy and emphasis on drag queens (Guillermo Diaz, who has since come out were a gay director I couldn’t publicly, co-starred as a headstrong Latino drag queen, La Miranda). have done the movies I wanted Beadle-Blair politely declined to be interviewed for Stonewall-related articles, while Emmerich to do,” he recalls. He arrived says of Finch’s 1995 film, “his was more like a musical. We have a totally different take and it was in the U.S. at age 33, fell in entertaining, but I wanted to tell another story.” : : love with another man, and, — Lawrence Ferber later feeling much freer in his personal and professional life,

Trailer Camp:

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Oct. 23-Nov. 5 . 2015

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

Dealing with shyness by playing a game Dear Trinity, I just recently started going out to gay bars and gay events. I really enjoy it. But when I see a sexy guy, or at least a guy I find sexy, I become too shy to approach him. Help? Too Shy, Charleston, WV Dear Too Shy, Shyness is often about fear of being rejected, so simply make your fear a game. When I go out, I play what I call the “Rejection Game.” I play with being rejected by as many sexy guys as possible. Some ignore me and some adore me. But, eventually, I meet lots of people. And I only need one each night, I mean one man to love forever. So, pumpkin, face your fear and watch it disappear.

“while” may take a long time. (Waiting rooms can be like revolving doors. Or, they can be like a magic act. Surprises can appear out of nowhere. My cartoon shows you how I repose for this!) Hey Trinity, After nine months of seeing the same man, he suddenly informs me that he’s removed sex from the menu and I can’t even touch him below the waist. He says he loves me. But what about sex? Needing Touch, Santa Rosa, CA

Dearest Trinity, I’m not saying that I’m an animal about dating and sex, but oink, oink! Is it wrong to be a pig? Or, should I spend more time in the waiting room? Oink Oink, Queens, NY

Hey Needing, Boy, that news makes chasing spiders sound enjoyable. In dating and love sometimes you have to be patient. But, honey, if you must have sex, which is a very basic need, then you may have to take matters into “your own hands” or now and then call on an old mate to help. And if after a few months he still treats you like a porcupine, then either join a monastery or an escort service.

Dearest Oink, As long as no one gets hurt and you practice respect for yourself and others, then enjoy. Although, darling, a life of lust may get boring and lonely after a while. But, then again, that

Hello Trinity, Many issues back you printed a top 10 list for how to be the perfect houseguest, but what about how to be the perfect host. Hosting Tips, Las Vegas, NV

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Hello Hosting Tips, My goodness, where was my head, my heart, my spare night-light? So, sweetie, here are; Trinity’s Hospitable Tips For Hosting A House Guest 1. “ I’ll get a spare key one of these days” makes it hard on a guest to escape from your maze! Have a spare key! 2. P reparing a clean house before they arrive promises you’ll never see headlines, “He Runs A Filthy Dive!” Clean before they arrive! 3. H ave Food for your guest, at least the first night, or soon you may hear, “Sorry, we’ve got to catch a flight!” Cook a meal or invite them to a restaurant. 4. If fresh, clean linens are not on your list, then expect friends to say, “Your house is not missed! Have clean linens! 5. A well-practiced host places signs to assist, avoiding unnecessary frustration and everyone getting pissed. 6. “ Please wash your own dishes and not make a mess!” are words to be uttered before you get stressed! Communicate the rules the first night! 7. D isplaying money and jewels for all to admire is unnecessary unless your insurance covers more than just fire. Keep valuables private! 8. A guest is a friend, exciting and new, not someone to force your troubles on to! Don’t

treat them like a therapist. 9. Being helpful, polite and appearing at ease is good to a point, but shouldn’t bring you to your knees. Let them be independent! 10. Lastly, make time to spend with your guest, for life is too quick. Finding time with friends is often a magic trick! They came here to see you so make time there to see them! : : info: With a Masters of Divinity, Reverend Trinity hosted “Spiritually Speaking,” a weekly radio drama performed globally, and is now minister of sponsor, WIG: Wild Inspirational Gatherings, wigministries.org. Learn more at telltrinity.com.

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life

Leitsch continued from page 11 “When you’re a writer, you have to wait for the reviews to come out. When you work in a restaurant, you get the review immediately. It’s called a tip.” He was very close to his siblings back in Kentucky who all had children, so Uncle Dick had a large extended family. Later when I became close to Jack Nichols, another Mattachine pioneer and a prolific writer who died in 2005, after becoming much more radical than most of his generation, Dick told me that having family made him less interested in leaving a legacy for history. “I have lots of nieces and nephews,” he told me. “They will live after me.” But history is unavoidable. We are now starting to see what huge courage and sacrifices these gay pioneers went through — Frank Kameny, who was jobless after a federal witchhunt deprived him of a position as an astronomer; Nick Nichols, whose own father, an FBI agent, plotted to have him murdered as a teenager; and Dick Leitsch, who took his role in it with such gallantry, never trying to reinvent history to try to concoct a place himself. He went from being America’s most famous, if only, homosexual, to almost forgotten. In 2006, on the 40th anniversary of the Sip-

In, he was asked by Scott Simon on National Public Radio: “Mr. Leitsch, is there still a Mattachine Society?” He answered, “Oh, no, not after Stonewall. I kept saying, what’s the goal of Mattachine? And I always said the goal of Mattachine is to put ourselves out of business. When the cops walked into Stonewall, they tried to close it. People said, no, you’re not going to close our bar. We have a right to have our bars and it’s been established we have the right to have our bars. And Mattachine had nothing to do with Stonewall. That was something where the people rose up and did it. And that’s the beginning of the gay movement.” : : — Perry Brass has published 19 books, is the author of the bestseller “The Manly Art of Seduction, How to Meet, Talk to and Become Intimate with Anyone” and Ferro-Grumley Award-nominated “King of Angels,” a gay, Southern Jewish coming-of-age novel set in Savannah, Ga., in 1963. His newest book is “The Manly Pursuit of Desire and Love, Your Guide to Life, Happiness and Emotional and Sexual Fulfillment In a Closed-Down World.” “The Manly Art of Seduction” is now available as an audio book through Audible.com. Brass frequently writes for the Huffington Post and can be reached through perrybrass.com.

P.L. Travers continued from page 11 New Pioneer, an anti-Semitic British magazine of the far right in the 1930. The article’s last point likely refers to the fact that, at age 40, Travers adopted a son, Camillus, who discovered he was a twin at age 17. Upon learning this — and that his twin grew up poor in Ireland — his relationship with Travers became strained. It is entirely possible that Travers adopted Camillus so she would have someone to love. While she lived with Burnand, and was close to Orage, her rumored same-sex encounters may have happened without being disclosed. This is likely because Travers was alive (and prominent) during the era when women did not discuss relationships outside of marriage. Females in those days were expected to marry; if they lived together, there was always speculation about them being lovers. Moreover, if a woman lived alone, it was presumed she was likely promiscuous. Travers was certainly sharp enough — and discrete enough — not to let anyone know her true nature. For all anyone

knows, she could have been asexual, given how little evidence there is of any lover(s). But whether Travers was asexual, bisexual or something else entirely, it was certainly a taboo at the time for a woman to be intimately involved with other women. As Travers was gaining fame as a children’s author, the exposure of a same-sex relationship could have been especially harmful to her career. (Travers was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire in 1977). This may account for why she felt she needed to maintain privacy. Travers never published an autobiography. And while the news articles and biographies hint at what might have been, all anyone can really do is speculate. — Gary M. Kramer is an award-winning, Philadelphia-based film critic. He is a contributing writer to Philadelphia Gay News, Salon. com, indieWIRE and various other media outlets. He is the author of “Independent Queer Cinema: Reviews and Interviews” and co-editor of “Directory of World Cinema: Argentina.”

Oct. 23-Nov. 5 . 2015

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EVENTS

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October-November 2015 Continues through Oct. 31 ‘Rocky Horror Picture Show’ Screenings The Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance 1047 Northwest Blvd., Winston-Salem Times vary It’s that time again! “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” is back at the WinstonSalem Theatre Alliance from Oct. 23 through Halloween. Bring your props and get ready for an audience participation performance of this musical horror comedy hit, which was turned into a cult classic movie in 1975. Tickets are $18 for adults, $15 for seniors (62+). More information and tickets are available online. wstheatrealliance.org. –––––––––––––––––––– Carolina Conference on Queer Youth University of North Carolina at Charlotte, Student Union, Charlotte 8 a.m.-5 p.m. In its second year, the Carolina Conference on Queer Youth is a partnership between the university’s Multicultural Resource Center, Time Out Youth and the Charlotte Lesbian & Gay Fund. The conference is intended to bring together K-12 teachers, school counselors, middle school and high school students, college students, community members and local activists to discuss a range of topics on Queer Youth identity. Free to those who sign up online. campusevents.uncc.edu/carolinaconference-queer-youth.

SEP OCT MO

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All Souls Spooktacular SEP OCT MO Halloween Party LGBT Center of Raleigh 324 S. Harrington St., Raleigh 6 -10 p.m. SAGE, Trans Initiative and Raleigh Allies host the All Souls’ Spooktacular Halloween Party at the LGBT Center of Raleigh. Enjoy live music, DJs, Halloween games, food and dancing. A costume party will be held. Costumes are encouraged, but not required. An after party immediately follows. More information is available online. lgbtcenterofraleigh.com.

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

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–––––––––––––––––––– Buff Faye’s Halloween Party Bus Charlotte 8 p.m.-1:30 a.m. The Buff Faye Halloween Party Bus is back, taking revelers bar hopping to LGBT and LGBT-friendly Charlotte bars. Join drag queens Buff Faye, Bella Nichole Jade and Bethanne Phetamine for a night of fun, with proceeds going to benefit Campus Pride. Tickets are $25 and are available online. donatenow.networkforgood.org/partybus. Adam Festival: ‘A Sure Bet!’ SEP NOV MO The Milton Rhodes Center for the Arts 251 Spruce St. N., Winston-Salem 7-11 p.m. The Adam Foundation presents its 26th Annual Adam Festival, “A Sure Bet!” Enjoy an evening of casino games, hors d’oeuvres, music, dancing and a silent auction. Dress is semi-formal. Tickets are $40 in advance and $50 at the door, which includes two drink tickets and two chips for casino play. More information and tickets are available online. adamfoundation.org.

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Charlotte Pride Band’s SEP NOV MO ‘Reflections’ Park Road Baptist Church 3900 Park Rd., Charlotte 5-7 p.m. Charlotte Pride Band opens its sixth season with “Reflections.” The concert will feature a musical journey through the band’s five-year history, with selections by Bernstein, Holst, Copland and Ticheli. Tickets are $13. Tickets and more information are available online. charlotteprideband.org.

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GenderFusion Monsters Ball Petra’s, 1919 Commonwealth Ave., Charlotte, 7 p.m.-2 a.m. Transcend Charlotte hosts a Halloween celebration where everyone 21 and up are welcome, regardless of gender identity, expression and orientation. There will be a costume and a lip synch contest, a tarot card reader, games and vendors. $10 cover with proceeds going to Transcend Charlotte’s work to benefit the LGBTQ community. More information is available online. facebook.com/events/860970120666167.

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Violet Chachki, ‘Kiss & Tell’ The Ritz 2820 Industrial Dr., Raleigh 9 p.m. “Ru Paul’s Drag Race” reigning queen Violet Chachki will bring her “Kiss & Tell” show through Raleigh. Chachki combines elements of burlesque, strip tease, sideshow, circus and fetishism into an eclectic and exciting show. She will be supported by a cast of performance artists. A VIP meet and greet will take place at 7 p.m. Tickets range from $22.50 to $75. Tickets and more information are available online. ritzraleigh.com.

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–––––––––––––––––––– South Carolina Pride Main Street, Columbia Celebrate with South Carolina Pride, featuring a 5K run, the Pride parade, vendors and live entertainment. Performers for this year include musical group Exposé, rapper Trina and “Ru Paul’s Drag Race” stars Phoenix, Jujubee, Trinity and Roxxy. More information is available online. scpride.org.

Mandyland Presents: Devil’s Night SEP OCT MO The Chop Shop, 399 E. 35th St., Charlotte, 9 p.m. Kinky dance party featuring DJs, burlesque dancers, sideshow performances, fetish stations, a sexy devil walk-off contest and more. Costumes and sexy dress encouraged but not required. Tickets are $10 early bird, $15 advanced and $20 day of the show. Early bird tickets available via Eventbrite. More information is available online. facebook.com/events/1479074692396058/.

Oct. 23-Nov. 5 . 2015

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dishing with buff faye by Buff Faye :: qnotes contributor :: info@bufffaye.com

Eight Favorite Halloween Movies to get your Freak On Halloween is upon us. The full moon is out and so are all the ghosts and ghouls (aka drag queens). This time of year is like Christmas for drag queens. To help spread the holiday fright and fun, I wanted to share some of my all-time Halloween favorite movies and fantasy films from a drag queen’s perspective. Pull them up on Hulu, YouTube or Netflix. Each of these picks will surely get you in the mood for a trick or treat!

Photo Credit: Tyvola Design, Tommy Feldman

1. ‘Hocus Pocus’ (Movie, 1993) The ultimate in drag queen Halloween movies, “Hocus Pocus” boasts the fav song, “I put a spell on you” and basically the movie plot is a typical Saturday night for many drag queens (cough — Tia, Angela, Bella). The movie opens with three witches brought back to life who in one night have to suck the life out of a virgin in order to not turn to dust and stay forever young. I think that’s right — that’s what I remember. It involves a black cat for the lesbians, which is nice. Plus, it has “The Divine Miss M” Bette Midler. 2. ‘It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown’ (1966, TV Special) This movie has it all. A big-headed little boy, a sassy girl, a Red Baron spotted dog and (spoiler alert) a “Great Pumpkin” that never shows up. It’s kind of a pointless cartoon, but for many it’s just another hopeless night on Grindr or another social media app. Every year I watch this cartoon hoping the Great Pumpkin will show up. It reminds me that you can believe in almost anything, even a huge pumpkin on a sled. 3. ‘A Nightmare on Elm Street’ (Movie, 1984) I am told to haunt dreams myself, so this thriller is just my style. The story of a creepy man named Freddy who comes to us in our sleep and haunts our nightmares, killing our friends. It’s the perfect backdrop for any drag queen on Halloween. Plus, he has shiny blades for hands and a sharp fedora hat. For scary movies, you really can’t go wrong with director Wes Craven. The only problem with this movie is who wears horizontal stripes — not flattering, dead or alive. 4. ‘Scream’ (Movie, 1996) Ring. Ring. “What’s your favorite scary movie?” Wrong. Someone dies. A plethora of dumb jocks

and blondes with big boobs answer their phones in this movie. Then at one point or another, they each get stabbed by a character in a black robelike dress with a stretched out white face. This movie is an inspiration for those ladies who have had a lot of work done. And, it’s a thriller. Makes you think twice before picking up your phone and talking to a complete stranger. Call me maybe?! 5. ‘A Nightmare before Christmas’ (Movie, 1993) Love this animated Tim Burton classic! The story of the Pumpkin King skeleton Jack becoming tired of the same old drag show (aka Halloween) and, instead, wants to take over Christmas Town. Jack finds Christmas to be so much fun, but, yet, he doesn’t fully understand what it’s all about. In the end, the Oogie Oogie Boogie Man kidnaps Santa Claus and Jack ends up saving the day and re-discovering his real love for Halloween — and for his new love Sally. Big shout out to the song “This is Halloween.” 6. ‘Beetlejuice’ (Movie, 1988) Long before there was Robin Thicke singing “Blurred Lines” twerking with Miley Cyrus in a black-and-white striped pant suit, there was another freaky man named Beetlejuice. If you said his name three times, he would appear. This is also true of many drag queens if you say their name three times, they will somehow end up in the bar. Nadia Rain, Nadia Rain, Nadia… I love the show “Beetlejuice” in all its wackiness and whimsy. 7. ‘Carrie’ (Movie, 1976) Seriously, who doesn’t want telekinetic powers! This horror-ific tale is what every drag queen desires: a sexy prom date and to be crowned queen. Then, of course, some bitter Taylor Swift wannabe has to go and ruin it, dropping a bucket of pigs blood on her head. Bloodied from head to toe and fierce, Carrie lights the prom on fire, throws furniture, wrecks cars. This place is about to blow. One of my all-time favorite movies reminds us what happens when someone crosses a newly-crowned queen. 8. ‘The Rocky Horror Picture Show’ (Movie, 1975) This list would not be complete without Dr. Frank N. Furter and this cult classic, musical comedy horror film. Thousands worship this rompy sing-a-long about “a sweet transvestite from Transsexual, Transylvania.” Dress up as your favorite character, bring your toast, newspaper, squirt guns and find the nearest theater showing at midnight on Halloween. All virgins beware! DRAG TIP: Enjoy these favorite Halloween movies and be careful if you dress as a drag queen for Halloween this year. You just might love it and want to do it more often! : : — Buff Faye calls the Queen City her home and always has the best Halloween trick or treat candy for kiddies (plus she loves to raise money for charities). Find her at your favorite bars and hot spots. Plus don’t forget her monthly Sunday drag brunch and regular Friday night party bus. Learn more at AllBuff.com. Follow on Twitter @BuffFaye

SHOUT OUTS: Buy your tickets for Buff Faye’s Friday Night All Hallow’s Eve Party Bus on Friday, Oct. 30! Ride all night starting at 8 p.m. at the Bar at 316 to all your favorite LGBTQ-friendly hot spots. Go online at BuffFaye.com. Proceeds benefit Campus Pride for LGBTQ youth.

Oct. 23-Nov. 5 . 2015

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Oct. 23-Nov. 5 . 2015