LGBTQ Local News, Voices and Community
APRIL 29 - MAY 12, 2022|VOL 37 NO 01
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LGBTQ Farming in the Deep South – pg 10
Banned Books Feature Marganilized Characters – pg 7
Reel Out LGBTQ Film Festival is back – pg 8
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Writers: Joey Amato, Sarah AshtonCirillo, Ariana Figueroa, Joe Killian, Stan Kimer, L’Monique King, Laurie Larsh, David Aaron Moore, NewsUSA, Chris Rudisill, Gregg Shapiro
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The focus of QNotes is to serve the LGBTQ and straight ally communities of the Charlotte region, North Carolina and beyond, by featuring arts, entertainment, news and views content in print and online that directly enlightens, informs and engages the readers about LGBTQ life and social justice issues. Pride Publishing & Typesetting, Inc., dba Qnotes P.O. Box 221841, Charlotte, NC 28222 ph 704.531.9988 fx 704.531.1361 Publisher: Jim Yarbrough Sales: x201 adsales@qnotescarolinas.com Nat’l Sales: Rivendell Media, ph 212.242.6863 Managing Editor: Jim Yarbrough, x201, editor@qnotescarolinas.com Digital & Audience Engagement Editor: Chris Rudisill chrisrudisill@qnotecarolinas.com Sr. Content Editor: David Aaron Moore, specialassignments@qnotescarolinas Copy Editor: Bailey Sides Production: Tommie Pressley, x205, production@qnotescarolinas.com
Printed on recycled paper. Material in Qnotes is copyrighted by Pride Publishing & Typesetting © 2022 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.
inside this issue
feature
8 It’s time for Reel Out! 10 LGBTQ Farming in the Deep South
In this article, we get a chance to talk about all things plants, shrubbery, mulch and soil with Leo Scott. Scott has been in this industry for over 2 decades and doesn’t show any signs of stopping anytime soon.
news 6 Registering to Vote in North Carolina 6 Wake County leaders unite to celebrate new non-discrimination ordinances 6 New Immersive Monet Exhibit in N.C. and It’s an Easy Drive from Charlotte 7 LGBTQ community and people of color in the crosshairs of banned book movement
a&e
PAGE 19
‘Pets Come First’ Trend Unleashes Happy Results for Homeowner
Would you buy your dog a house? Well Whitney did! In this story we cover the ripple effect of Whitney purchasing a new home for her dog.
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14 Sci-Fi series ‘The Orville’ returns to TV on Hulu 17 Palm Beach
life
12 ‘Pets Come First’ trend unleashes happy results for homeowner 18 Start Laughing 19 Our People
views 4 What It’s Like Being a Transgender Journalist in Ukraine 5 Companies Claim to Be Community Supportive and Contribute to AntiLGBTQ Legislators
events
charlotteobserver.com/1166/ a local news partner of The Charlotte Observer
Leo Scott
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April 29. - May 12, 2022
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What It’s Like Being a Transgender Journalist in Ukraine
Ukrainian Men and Women Have Responded to the Transgender Journalist With Acceptance and Support
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BY SARAH ASHTON-CIRILLO | CONTRIBUTING WRITER ay 40 in the war zone marked the first time a Ukrainian directly asked me what it was like to be transgen-
der. A 25-year-old attorney by profession, he was now a studious soldier. While manning checkpoints at the front line of Ukrainian defense efforts against the Russian invasion of his land, he took a moment to walk over to me during one of my visits to his outpost. Phone in hand, my Twitter profile opened, pointing out the part where I wrote that I’m trans, his words were simple. “What is this? What does it mean? I’ve never met you before.” Expanding the screen he continued. “Tell me about how this is you?” As I wrote in my first article for LGBTQ Nation, hanging over my trip to Ukraine was the question as to whether I’d even be allowed into the country due to issues surrounding my gender identity and how I’d be treated if I was given permission to enter. Once my passport was stamped, once the Ukrainian Armed Forces credentialed
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Las Vegas resident Sarah Ashton-Cirillo (third from left), an independent journalist, talks about her experiences in the war torn country of Ukraine. (Photo Credit: Sarah Ashton-Cirillo) me, I received one of the answers I needed and life in the war zone began. Weeks passed and the second remained shrouded in mystery. The topic of me being trans or a member of the LGBTQ community was enveloped in a silence that became uncomfortable. While being trans is only part of what makes up who I am, certain physical aspects of my transition should have lent itself to even the most rudimentary comments, specifically my wig coming off every night as I slept next to men defending their nation. Yet nothing. Outside of my reporting for this publication, where my gender identity came up in interviews I conducted with the Director of Kyiv Pride and gay members of the Ukrainian military, only once in the first five weeks of my time in Ukraine did my past come up in conversation. Driving with a member of the Kharkiv
police, the officer next to me said he’d been looking at my Instagram page and saw I was an athlete. Blushing, I played off any physical prowess, and then he dropped the hammer, “When you looked the other way.” And that was the extent of it until I answered questions posed by the lawyerturned-soldier. Coming back to the shared group sleeping quarters after the checkpointbased conversation, further reflection led me to finally broach the topic to those closest to me that night at dinner. Gathered around the dining table, normal small talk led to the pointed quizzing, and potential fall out of it from my four dining companions. Touching on their understanding of what being transgender is, and how they saw it applying to life in Ukraine, along with my situation specifically, the discussion commenced.
Unsurprisingly, I was the first out, or post transition, trans or non-binary person any of them had met. When asked how they felt being around me, one person, a man in his early 30s, replied positively. “Easy because I didn’t realize you weren’t a woman when we first met.” Another younger male, whom I sleep about 10 feet from, literally shrugged when my questions were translated for him and didn’t offer his views on the matter at hand. Two others however engaged with me in an in depth, caring manner, despite the fact that one of them only knew at that moment, despite us living together in Kharkiv for weeks. Both females, one 21, the other 33, laughed and confirmed they had both wondered why I went through the process of wrapping my head every night in a scarf before bed, The younger one was succinct. “It’s silly, you don’t need to put that (the scarf) on anymore. Stop it and just be comfortable, you are our sister.” The older female, having seen several before and after pics of me on my social media accounts, opined that, “We like you better this way for sure.” Some personal questions were broached, ones that in the United States I wouldn’t have tolerated but here I saw an opportunity for education, and the consensus was that if a person is happier by transitioning, no one should be able to get in the way of that. As shelling intensified around our position, the 33-year-old had the final word on the matter. “Sarah, the attacks on us, they are attacks on you, and every person. We are fighting the invaders so you can live with or without your hair, or those silly scarves.” This article appears courtesy of our media partner LGBTQ Nation. : :
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Companies Claim to Be Community Supportive and Contribute to Anti-LGBTQ Legislators Disney employees stage a walk out over issue
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ompanies cannot “have their cake and eat it too” by claiming to be supportive of their LGBTQ+ employees, customers and community, and yet make political contributions to lawmakers who harm and demonize LGBTQ+ people. Companies can no longer straddle the fence; they must choose sides and take a strong stand as anti-LGBTQ proposals are flooding state legislatures at a record pace. The latest high visibility situation in recent news concerns the Disney company. They have long been considered a great supporter of the LGBTQ+ community, but then when the infamous “Don’t Say Gay” law restricting discussion of LGBTQ issues in public schools was voted into law in Florida, Disney at first issued a tepid lukewarm statement about the proposed legislation while donating money to politicians who were voting for it. About a hundred employees at Disney staged a walkout in protest, and I was in full support of their action. An organization simply cannot claim they support a community, yet provide money to those
BY STAN KIMER | CONTRIBUTING WRITER
people who are seeking to harm that community. Disney’s CEO has since come out with a much stronger statement against this harmful bill which basically denies the existence and legitimacy of LGBTQ+ families, and has pledged to no longer fund politicians who legislate harm and hatred of LGBTQ+ people. It is a common practice (yet a very bad idea) for companies to make political contributions. The concept is to support
and try to elect legislators who will pass laws that will benefit your business so you can make more profit. But far too often, this places profitability over stated values and principals, and compromises integrity. And the LGBTQ+ community is not going to quietly sit by while companies throw us empty words of so-called support while giving money to those who harm us. Two final thoughts First, kudos to my former employer,
IBM. They are one of the very few large companies that has never made political contributions. (Read their governance statement about this.) Second, the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) which annually measures and scores companies’ LGBTQ+ support through their corporate equality index (CEI), needs to take a much more rigorous look at this. So many companies are now scoring 100% on the HRC scorecard, but I think much of it is empty words and platitudes instead of real action. HRC does have a practice of deducting 25 points from the rating of any company that does harmful things against the LGBTQ+ community, and now they need to uncover any company that contributes money to lawmakers who vote for anti-LGBTQ laws, and smack them with a “minus 25.” HRC, are you listening? The LGBTQ+ community and our allies must continue to speak out loudly against any company that contributes money to politicians who harm us, including boycotts and walkouts, until this arcane harmful practice ends. : :
April 29. - May 12, 2022
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news Registering to Vote in North Carolina By the time you read this, standard voting registration and early voter registration opportunities – for most people – will have already passed. Never fear! The opportunity to vote and register on the same day does still exist – and here’s your guide to taking advantage of this easy process. To register and vote simultaneously, same-day registrants must attest to their eligibility and provide proof of where they live. A voter attests to their eligibility by completing and signing the North Carolina voter registration application (available in English or Spanish). The voter must prove their residence by showing any of the following documents with their current name and address: North Carolina driver’s license. Other photo identification issued by a government agency. Any governmentissued photo ID is acceptable, provided that the card includes the voter’s current
name and address. A copy of a current utility bill, bank statement, government check, paycheck or other government document showing the voter’s name and address. A current college/university photo identification card paired with proof of campus habitation. For additional guidance on acceptable proof of residence for college students, visit Registering as a College Student: During Early Voting. Within two business days of the person’s registration, the county board of elections will verify the registrant’s driver’s license or Social Security number, update the voter registration database, search for possible duplicate registrations, and begin to verify the registrant’s address by mail. The registrant’s ballot will be counted unless the county board of elections determines that he or she is not qualified to vote in accordance with North Carolina law.
Wake County Leaders Unite to Celebrate New Non-Discrimination Ordinances On April 19, the Campbell University School of Law hosted elected officials from across Wake County as they celebrated new LGBTQ-inclusive non-discrimination ordinances in Raleigh, Knightdale and Morrisville. Leaders from those communities signed a joint ceremonial document in support of protections from discrimination in employment and public accommodation in places like restaurants and hotels. As reported previously by NC Policy Watch, the new ordinances became possible when a state ban on new local protections, including nondiscrimination ordinances for employment and housing, was lifted. The ban was a legacy of the brutal fight over HB 2 and HB 142, the controversial laws that excluded lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people from
statewide nondiscrimination protections. Since the ban on new ordinances expired, 18 communities across the state have adopted nondiscrimination ordinances. Campbell’s law school has taken the lead in helping resolve complaints filed through the
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April 29.-May 12, 2022
If you maintain your residence here in North Carolina but are currently serving in the military or traveling abroad and happen to come across this story, take note of these tips for the Overseas Voter Registration Deadline. The federal Uniformed and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA) al-
ordinance process. Kendra Johnson, executive director of Equality North Carolina, applauded the signing in a statement. “Today we celebrated the commitment of Raleigh, Knightdale and Morrisville to making their communities inclusive of all,” Johnson said. “No one should have to fear bigotry based on their ZIP code, nor should they have to move to avoid discrimination. Having non-discrimination ordinances sends a clear and powerful message that all people are welcomed and included in their home communities.” In its stateElected leaders from across Wake County came toment, Equality gether Tuesday to celebrate their unified adoption NC stressed new of non-discrimination ordinances. (Photo Credit: and proactive Equality NC) state and federal protections
New Immersive Monet Exhibit in NC and It’s an Easy Drive from Charlotte After Immersive Van Gogh’s recordbreaking six month run in Charlotte, one thing is clear — there is no shortage of art buffs in the Queen City. That’s why you’ll be excited to know another interactive exhibit is open in western North Carolina. Currently on exhibit through July 10, visitors to the Biltmore Estate in Asheville will have the opportunity to experience “Monet & Friends: Light, Life & Color.” The immersive exhibit will explore the works of famed impressionist artist Claude Monet — renowned for his “Water Lilies” painting and widely touted as one of the founding fathers of impressionism. The exhibit will also feature 17 other
This election is important, so don’t miss out on Same Day Registration and Voting. (Photo Credit: Adobe Stock)
impressionist masters including: Camille Pissarro, Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne and Edgar Degas. Visitors can wander through large-scale, interactive projections of impressionist artwork scored to the sounds of musical masters including: Claude Debussy, Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky and Jacques Offenbach. For the first time at Biltmore House, guests will be able to observe two, seldom seen, original Monet landscape paintings from George Vanderbilt’s private collection. The paintings will be displayed in the salon. The works of Impressionist artists featured in the “Monet & Friends” exhibi-
lows certain voters an expedited means to register and vote by mail-in ballot. If you are a military or overseas voter, the voter registration deadline is 5 p.m. on the day before the election. Learn more at Military and Overseas Voting. info: https://bit.ly/38creA5 — Qnotes Staff
are still needed. “We celebrate this commitment to equality and look forward to North Carolina being a stellar example of what diversity and equity look like in legislation,” the group said in its statement. “The momentum behind these signings shows that North Carolina stands ready, and we encourage others to communicate to their local leaders now is the time to pass LGBTQ protections, demand that our state lawmakers fully repeal discriminatory laws and enact proactive protections, and urge our elected officials in the United States Congress and the NCGA to support comprehensive nondiscrimination.” North Carolina has so far resisted a national wave of anti-LGBTQ legislation. But LGBTQ advocates and Democratic state lawmakers warn of gathering momentum for such laws on the political right. With elections looming, the political calculus at both the state and federal level could soon change. This story appears courtesy of our media partner NC Policy Watch. info: bit.ly/3Eyk2ut — Joe Killian/NC Policy Watch
tion blend Asheville is as beautifully much a destiwith Biltmore nation for hisBlooms, the tory buffs and estate’s annual art aficionados springtime as it is for outcelebration, door enthusiwhich began asts and craft April 1. The beer lovers. second in a Ticket prices three-part for “Monet & ‘Monet & Friends: Life, Light & Color’ is the second of Legends of Art Friends – Light, three immersive exhibits in the series Legends of Art & Innovation Life & Color” & Innovation at Biltmore. (Photo Credit: Courtesy of series at the start at $91 Biltmore) Biltmore, for adults and “Monet & include admisFriends: Light, sion to the Life & Color” continues through July 10, to Biltmore Estate. be followed by part three: “Leonardo da This story appears courtesy of our meVinci – 500 Years of Genius,” which begins dia partner The Charlotte Observer. July 14 and continues through Jan. 8, 2023. info: bit.ly/3ECDjLp Just two hours from Charlotte, — Laurie Larsh
news
LGBTQ Community and People of Color in Crosshairs of Banned Book Movement A Majority of the Books Feature Characters From Marginalized Groups
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orth Carolina is one of several states experiencing a surge in book bans. Two school districts have banned six books in the state that discussed topics of racism and anti-Semitism. Perhaps the most surprising in the 21st century: the legendary “To Kill a Mockingbird,” by Harper Lee, which tells a story about a lawyer who defends a Black man falsely accused of raping a white woman. After its original publication, it was made into an Academy Award winning film and has been standard reading for decades. The remainder of the list reads as follows: “Dear Martin,” Nic Stone’s book about an Ivy League Black student who becomes a victim of racial profiling. “Darkness Before Dawn,” the last book from author Sharon M. Draper’s trilogy, which follows a Black teen who escapes an abusive relationship. “Forged By Fire,” the second book in Draper’s trilogy that chronicles a Black teen who struggles to cope with the loss of his aunt. “All American Boys,” by Jason Reynolds and Brendan Kiely, about two teenage boys who handle racism and police brutality. “Night,” Elie Wiesel’s memoir about his experiences in a holocaust camp with his father. Students in a Pennsylvania school district were not allowed to read a biography of President Barack Obama. In some Tennessee classrooms, a nonfiction comic book about the atrocities of the Holocaust is banned. And one school district in Wisconsin banned from libraries a picture book about a gay rights activist who was assassinated. In the last nine months, hundreds of books across dozens of states are being banned at an alarming rate. A majority of the bans feature books written by authors who are people of color, LGBTQ, Black and Indigenous, and feature characters from marginalized groups. State Republican lawmakers are joining the movement, spurred by ultra-conservative groups, to ban books from public schools and libraries. This year in Arizona, state Republicans put forth a measure that would ban schools from teaching or directing students to study any material that is “sexually explicit.” In Florida, Gov. Ron DeSantis recently signed a bill to allow parents greater opportunity to review, and potentially object to, school library books that they find “inappropriate.” And in Idaho, state House Republicans passed a bill that would allow librarians to be prosecuted for allowing minors to check out material deemed harmful. Some of the states with the most aggressive book bans include Texas (713 bans), Pennsylvania (456) and Florida (204). Deborah Caldwell-Stone, director of the American Library Association’s Office for Intellectual Freedom, said book bans
BY ARIANA FIGUEROA | CONTRIBUTING WRITER
The award-winning ‘To Kill a Mockingbird’ is just one of six books recently banned in NC school districts. within the last 10 years have dealt “with the lives of LGBTQIA persons, either reflecting their experiences, or talking about issues of concern to the LGBTQIA community.” She said those bans have ranged from picture books depicting same-sex couples to young adult books talking about gender identities. Caldwell-Stone said, “the one thing that has interrupted this” trend of banning books centered on LGBTQ+ themes was the 2020 murder of George Floyd by Minnesota police officer Derek Chauvin. “There was an increased number of challenges to books dealing with race and racism that accelerated when we started seeing complaints from organized groups about critical race theory,” she said. “And so when I say critical race theory, I’m not using it in the sense that it actually should be used, which is to describe a graduate level academic analysis of law and political systems, but this use of it to describe books and materials that offer alternative perspectives on
American history that reflect the lives of Black persons and their experience of slavery, their experiences with police violence, and so we’ve seen a rising number of challenges to those books.” Some of those groups that have challenged school boards include Moms for Liberty, an organization that has strong GOP ties and has local chapters that “target local school board meetings, school board members, administrators, and teachers” to push right-wing policies, as reported by Media Matters. Moms for Liberty has more than 100 local chapters across 35 states. “We’re seeing nationally organized groups create local chapters, and use social media to amplify their demands,” Caldwell-Stone said. “They will tell you that they’re asserting parental rights to direct their children’s education, but the impact of their activities is to deny other parents the right to make decisions about their own children’s education, and particularly for older adolescents denying the First
Amendment rights and agency for elder adolescents to read and access the materials they find important for their lives.” Congressional Democrats have also raised concerns about the increase in book bans across the country. At a recent hearing, Maryland Democrat Rep. Jamie Raskin, cited a report by PEN America — an organization that advocates for the protection of free speech — that found from July 2021 to the end of March this year, more than 1,500 books were banned in 86 school districts in 26 states. Ruby Bridges, a civil rights icon who was the first Black child to desegregate an all-white Louisiana school, was a key witness at the hearing. Children’s books about her story – “Brand New School, Brave New Ruby,” and “The Story of Ruby Bridges” – have been banned from classrooms in Pennsylvania. “The truth is that rarely do children of color or immigrants see themselves in these textbooks we are forced to use,” Bridges told lawmakers. “I write because I want them to understand the contributions their ancestors have made to our great country, whether that contribution was made as slaves or volunteers. Banning books has a long history. Since the 1980s, the American Libraries Association has celebrated those books that are taken off the shelves for its yearly “Banned Books Week.” Books have been banned for racist depictions or language, such as “Huckleberry Finn” by Mark Twain and “Of Mice and Men” by John Steinbeck because of its racial slurs. And in 2021, Dr. Seuss Enterprises announced it would no longer reprint six Dr. Seuss books, including “And to Think That I Saw It on Mulberry Street,” and “If I Ran the Zoo.” “These books portray people in ways that are hurtful and wrong,” Dr. Seuss Enterprises said in a statement. Banning books in the classroom is an issue the Supreme Court took up in 1982 in Island Trees School District v. Pico. In a 5-4 decision, the Court ruled in the student’s favor, affirming that the First Amendment limits the power of junior high and high school administrative officials to remove books from school libraries based on the books’ content. But in that court decision, because “given the sensibilities of young people” schools were given discretion to remove books that were deemed “pervasively vulgar,” or “educationally unsuitable,” Caldwell-Stone said. “Because the court really didn’t define these terms, they become a kind of magic word,” she said. “If we say those magic words that will make it legal for us to remove this book when, in fact, the actual motivation behind removing the book is because the book is about two gay teens finding each other and falling in love.” This story is available courtesy of our media partner NC Policy Watch. : :
April 29. - May 12, 2022
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feature
It’s Time for Reel Out! Charlotte’s LGBTQ Film Festival Is Back
fall of homegrown gay porn studio Palm Drive Video. This film explores how a devoted couple helped battle a devastating health crisis by promoting kinky sex and assisting in the promotion of sex positivity. Age-restricted event: Guests must be 18 years of age or older and will be asked to show a valid ID prior to entry. This film depicts graphic and explicit sexual and fetish scenes.
BY L’MONIQUE KING QNOTES STAFF WRITER
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harlotte Pride is back and the in person events are on the way. After two years of quarantines, gatherings of 10 people or less and virtual LGBTQ Pride celebrations – this year, pride goers can do more than long for the fellowship in person Pride events foster. One of those events everyone is excited about: Reel Out Charlotte. What Is Reel Out? It’s been years since actor and thespian Harvey Fierstein said, “Theater is my temple and my religion and my act of faith. Strangers sit in a room together and believe together.” However, the sentiment still holds true for many and Reel Out is one such event that epitomizes Fierstein’s feelings on the matter. Reel Out is Charlotte’s Annual LGBTQ Film Festival, which initially began in 2008. In 2015 the festival became part of Charlotte Pride’s array of diverse events; offering theater buffs and those who know how much visibility matters an opportunity to support LGBTQ independent film makers and aspiring LGBTQ actors. Day 1: Wednesday, May 11 When & Where Will It All Happen? This year, the Annual Film Festival showcasing independent LGBTQ cinema will return May 11 through May 15, 2022. A total of 25 films (10 features and 15 shorts) will be shown. All features and shorts will be screened at Camp North End’s Boileryard Space at 300 Camp Road in Charlotte and will kick off Wednesday, May 11 at 6 p.m. with an opening night reception. The reception will feature remarks from representatives of the Charlotte Film Society. It’s free and will include complimentary hors d’oeuvres and a cash bar where guests can utilize their one free beer/wine drink ticket. Immediately following the reception, attendees will be able to view the series of over a dozen short films Reel Out will showcase this year. Additionally, viewers will have a chance to cast a ballot and vote for the festival’s Best Short Viewers’ Choice Award, giving props to their favorite LGBTQ Independent Film. Feature length film screenings will be held for the remainder of the festival from Thursday, May 12 through the festival’s last day on Sunday, May 15. How Much Will It Cost to Check Out A Film?
Day 4: Saturday, May 14 at 1 p.m.
A scene from “Wildhood,” the debut feature film for Charlotte’s LGBTQ film festival. (CREDIT: Reel Out) and pre-show reception. Feature Film: “Wildhood” (Drama) English and Mi’kmaw with English subtitles In a rural east-coast trailer park, Link lives with his toxic father and younger half-brother Travis. When Link discovers his Mi’kmaw mother could still be alive, it lights a flame, and prompts him to leave with his younger brother in search of a better life. Possibly Triggering: This film contains depictions of violence and childhood abuse which may not be comfortable or appropriate for all audiences. Day 3: Friday, May 13 at 7 p.m. Doors open at 6 p.m. for a community mix-and-mingle and pre-show reception. Arrive early and enjoy Camp North End’s Friday Night, with live music, shopping, food trucks and more. Feature Film: “Boy Meets Boy” (Drama) English and German with English subtitles Meeting on the dance floor of a Berlin club, two young men (Harry and Johannes) connect and spend the day together experiencing the contrasts in their lives and confronting their own truths before one must catch a flight back home to London.
In “Death and Bowling” Will Krisanda plays a transgender actor who reconnects with friends from his past after the captain of their lesbian bowling teams dies. CREDIT: T4T Productions
*Double Feature! Feature Film: “Death And Bowling” (Drama) In a fractured, dream-like world, a transgender actor struggles with what it means to be seen after the beloved captain of his lesbian bowling league dies and a mysterious stranger shows up at the funeral. Feature Film: “Kapana” (Drama/Comedy) Two lives, two secrets and one unlikely meeting in a bar; takes place in Namibia, where George and Simeon meet within an atmosphere where sigma and anti sodomy laws are alive and well. Day 4: Saturday, May 14 at 3:30 p.m. Feature Film: “Framing Agnes” (Documentary/Drama) In 1958, a young trans woman named Agnes entered a
Individual screening tickets are reasonably priced at only $5 and can be purchased though FilmFreeway’s website. For those who fire for film is so intense they can’t imagine missing any of these independent creations, All Access Passes are also well within reach at $40. It’s all so exciting, being able to finally and safely gather in person in support of such worthy efforts and artists. Charlotte Pride Communications Director Matt Comer talked about the upcoming event. “We are incredibly excited to be able to host in person, after two years of not being able to. Every film we show this year will be a premier of some sort; North Carolina premiers or Southeastern U.S., either way, it will be the very first time they’ve been shown and seen [in the state or region].” What Will Viewers Be Watching? All film shorts will be shown on the festival’s opening night, Wednesday, May 11. 2022 Reel Out Full-Length Feature Films Include: Day 2: Thursday, May 12 at 7 p.m.
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Doors open at 6 p.m. for a community mix-and-mingle
Qnotes
April 29.-May 12, 2022
In the English-German co-production “Boy Meets Boy” two young men have a whirlwind encounter after meeting in a Berlin nightclub. CREDIT: Peccadillo Pictures
Day 3: Friday, May 13 at 9 p.m. Feature Film: “Raw! Uncut! Video!” (Documentary) A love story about fetish porn chronicling the rise and
Framing Agnes features an all-star cast of trans actors and performers. (CREDIT: Reel Out)
study about sex disorders at UCLA. Her story was long considered to be exceptional until never-before-seen case files of other patients were found in 2017. This documentary includes an all-star cast of transgender artists and performers. Day 4: Saturday, May 14 at 6 p.m. Feature Film: “Leading Ladies” (Drama) Spanish with English subtitles More aptly described as a recorded experiment, this film captures five friends at a reunion dinner. Their time together sheds light on how guilt affects us in different ways based upon our perspectives and memories. While kept secrets are exposed the women realize how difficult it is to lead their own lives without the influences guilt can produce. There will be an additional film screened at 8 p.m. Reel Out is currently waiting to confirm that film - so check the
“Leading Ladies” is described as a recorded experiment that captures five friends at a reunion dinner. (CREDIT: Reel Out)
charlottepride.org/reelout website to stay in the loop. Day 5: Sunday, May 15 at 3 p.m. Feature Film: “Milkwater” (Drama/Comedy) During a quest for direction and purpose a woman (Milo) decides to become a surrogate and egg donor for an older gay man she meets in a bar. However, she becomes increasingly attached to him, she starts leveraging the pregnancy as a means of staying embedded in his life. Day 5: Sunday, May 15 at 5 p.m. Feature Film: “The Obituary Of Tunde Johnson” (Drama) After being pulled over and shot to death by police, a wealthy Nigerian American teenager immediately awakens,
Molly Bernard plays a young woman who becomes a surrogate egg donor and birth mother for a middle-aged gay man in “Milkwater.”CREDIT: Enfant Terrible
trapped in a terrifying time loop that forces him to confront difficult truths about his life and himself. Tackling the social issues of racism, police brutality, LGBTQ+ acceptance, mental health and addiction, The Obituary of Tunde Johnson confronts these seminal issues, all too prevalent in American society. Content Note: This film depicts scenes of racist violence, including death, and may not be comfortable or suitable for all audiences. Minors under the age of 16 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Following the film, hang around for the “Tunde” Talkback. Community members will explore and discuss the issues addressed in this film at 5:45 p.m. The “Tunde” Talkback is in partnership with the Freedom Center for Social Justice and only open to those who have attended the 5 p.m. screening of the film. : :
After a Nigerian teenager is shot to death, he awakens to find himself caught in a time loop in “The Obituary of Tunde Johnson.” (CREDIT: Reel Out)
April 29. - May 12, 2022
Qnotes
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feature
LGBTQ Farming in the Deep South
Out Farmers Come Home to the Carolinas and Envision a Different Future
by Chris Rudisill Qnotes Contributor
and I got this incredible opportunity to come home and to do something that I had molded from my love of farms and earth.” nlike most days, South Carolina naSouth Carolina had tive Jenks Farmer spent his mornchanged a lot in the few ing inside working on his taxes and years he had been away, preparing for a lecture at the Gaston but it was far from being a County (N.C.) Master Gardener Group. gay mecca. It rained the day before, and along “Coming back was a with two part-time workers, Jenks and struggle, because it was so his partner Tom Hall spent the morning open out there and when cleaning out the barn on their eighI came back I gave myself teenth-century farm in Beech Island. a list of things. If I can’t be They went through the barn, clearing out in South Carolina, then out junk and organizing stuff they will I’ll do this for a year and I’ll need for the upcoming season. Crinum go straight back to Seattle,” lilies, a specialty found at Jenks Farmer, he said. Plantsman, the name of their company, After Riverbanks, Farmer grow best from March through October. became the founding After the rain, they planted red horticulturist and director peppers and made a list of plants that at Moore Farms Botanical had to be dug and shipped out the next Garden in Williamsburg day. By early evening, they were taking County and then moved photos of a plant they plan to promote back to his family farm on social media. about 15 years ago followTyler Hochwarth (right) planned the Queer Farmers Day at Boone’s Winter Farmers’ Market on January 29. The Farmer (yes, that is his real name) ing his father’s death. event featured a Queer Farmers’ Trivia that explored the connections between “queerness and agriculture.” ships crinum bulbs and other plants Today, Farmer and Photo courtesy of Taylor Hochwarth. around the country. Hall operate a flower Born Augustus Jenkins Farmer III, farm on the land that sits It was not in a discriminatory way. Farmer remembers he refers to himself as a renaissance just across the river from Augusta, Ga. They supplement the professor telling him that he needed to be in a place plantsman. Born into a family of artists, musicians and winter income with garden design and small farm master that was more open and creative – specifically, a place farmers, he fell in love with the land early in his childhood. planning, and the farm includes a mix of organic crops where there were more gay people. That early mentor that provides the family and their guests with all the vegguided him to the University of Washington in Seattle where etables they need. Farmer pursued a degree in botanical garden design. There, Farmer was finally able to truly embrace his Queering the Future of Farming identity as a gay man, but in 1990 he had the opportunity to come back to South Carolina to build the state’s first boGrassroots organizations and shifting attitudes, espetanical garden in decades at Riverbanks Zoo and Garden cially post-marriage equality, have made farming a little in Columbia. “I felt often like a little bit of a missionary,” more welcoming for LGBTQ people over the past decade. remembers Farmer. “South Carolina was poor. Our hortiIn 2014, The National Center for Lesbian Rights partnered culture industry was not very exciting in the ‘70s and ‘80s, with the U.S. Department of Agriculture to launch the
U
Jenks Farmer and Tom Hall grow crinum lilies that they sell and ship across the U.S. Courtesy of Jenks Farmer, Plantsman.
Growing Up in Rural Carolina “I worked all through high school on a hay and beef farm,” says Farmer. “When I was eighteen, I was like, get me the hell away from here.” Still with a love of the land, Farmer went to Clemson University to pursue a degree in plant and environmental sciences. He thought about going to graduate school at N.C. State, a school well known for its agriculture programs. Farmer remembers that during the interview a professor said, “You cannot come here.”
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Qnotes
April 29.-May 12, 2022
Jenks Farmer, Plantsman supplements winter income with garden design and small farm master planning. (Photo courtesy of Jenks Farmer.)
Rural Pride Campaign. According to the Williams Institute, almost 10 percent of all same sex couples in the U.S. live in rural areas. Nonprofits like Out in the Open, Cultivating Change Foundation and Lesbian Natural Resources, and projects like Country Queers, Southern Fried Queer
many different ways. “Queerness allows us to come up with creative solutions or ideas not as constructed by norms,” they said. For them, the purpose of the project was to make an activity where anyone can participate regardless of gender, sexuality or age to expand the borders of understanding in local food and farmer
Floora and Fauna courtesy of Farmer and Hall
Pride, Idyll Dandy Arts, The Quinta and The communities. “I think just the practice of Gay Farmers Facebook community are all imagining it can lead to tangible changes building community in rural and agriculin the future as we practice challenging tural spaces. and providing alternatives to harmful The Carolinas Farm Trust is a memnorms in small moments in our daily ber of the Carolinas LGBT+ Chamber of lives,” says Hochwarth. Commerce, and proceeds from the 2021 In 2019, Farmer published the “Funky Carolinas Jubilee Music and Food Fest at Little Flower Farm” which in many ways he Van Hoy Farm in Harmony, N.C. benefited describes as his public coming out. “For both nonprofits. the kids that live on my dirt road, I want Farmer says that discrimination still exto make damn sure that they know that ists though. He says it has been harder to there’s a gay guy down there that’s probget press about the farm, something every ably going to give them a job on the farm small business relies on, and he knows when they’re a teenager, and that he’s they have been discriminated against okay,” says Farmer. when applying for farming grants. “Being open to me maybe takes a little One funder visited the farm a few heat off of someone else.” : : years ago and Farmer could tell right away that his and Tom’s relationship freaked him out a bit. Roadblocks followed and he remembers feeling like the process was extra difficult. “I think they don’t want us to have this grant,” he recalls. The two operate farm tours as well and knows that he has lost some business due to the fact that the farm is operated by a gay couple. “I have no doubt that we have people not come because we are open,” says Farmer. “I just decided that is all right; I would rather people not come than come and be freaked out or offended.” They hope to one day host an LGBTQ group at the farm. Several hours north in Boone, N.C. Taylor Hochwarth launched a Queer Farmers Day at the local winter farmer’s market in January. The event involved local vendors, a “Queer Farmers’ Trivia” and While working in Americorps VISTA, Taylor Hochworth an outreach for local stories. launched a Queer Farmers Day at the Boone Winter’s According to Hochwarth, Farmers Market. queering agriculture can look
April 29. - May 12, 2022
Qnotes
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life
‘Pets Come First’ Trend Unleashes Happy Results for Homeowner Financial Planning and Careful Shopping Are Key BY NEWSUSA | CONTRIBUTING WRITER
H
ow do you make your home a happy and comfy place for your canine bestie? Some dog lovers show their puppy love with fancy dog food, a special spot on the sofa or toys and outfits. And then there are those who buy their dog a house. Not just a dog house mind you, a whole human-size house. Meet Whitney, a 31-year-old mortgage industry professional who lives in North Carolina’s neighboring state of Virginia. Similar to many millennials, she is focused on her career, so for now, her threeyear-old dog, Lucy Goose, is her baby. And as with any good parent, it’s important to Whitney that her baby be happy in their family home. “When my dog is happy, I’m happy,” she confides. Whitney became a first-time homebuyer nine years ago when she was only 22 years old. She purchased a one-bedroom condo because it was cheaper than renting in the high-priced, Washington, D.C. area where she was living. With her family’s help, she bought a $165,000 condo using a 10 percent gift down payment ($16,500) and private mortgage insurance. Her monthly mortgage payment
was $2,100 (yes, that was searched for a house with cheaper than the average the following must-haves: rent), and she lived there Big, fenced-in backyard for more than six years. for Lucy to run and play. One month before she A doggy door so sold her condo, Whitney Whitney wouldn’t have to adopted Lucy Goose from worry if she worked late a shelter. Although only and Lucy needed to go a puppy, it was obvious outside. the labrador/great dane Nearby walking trails. mix wouldn’t stay small Proximity to dog-friendfor long. The single month ly establishments, i.e., Whitney and her energetic restaurants, dog parks, etc. new puppy lived together Room for another furry in her small condo was baby and any future nonchallenging. furry babies. Whitney knew she It took Whitney one Whitney and Lucy Goose needed a larger place but year to find a house that in their new home. (Photo wasn’t sure exactly how checked all her boxes. The Credit: News USA) much room she required. house has four bedrooms So she rented a townand two-and-a-half bathhouse – without a yard – in Arlington, rooms. It sits on a quarter acre, and has Va., for $3,100 while she assessed the a large fenced-in yard and a doggy door situation. It soon became apparent that a for Lucy, who has since grown to be a townhouse wouldn’t work either, so she 90-pound, gentle giant. The house also has started house hunting. a nature trail behind it. This time, Whitney knew exactly what But her dream house came at a steep she wanted: a dog-friendly house with price: $600,000. enough room to grow her family. She Fortunately, investing in homeowner-
ship early in life paid off for Whitney. She had $40,000 in equity from the sale of her condo, and chose to make a low down payment of five percent ($30,000), using most of that equity. She was able to take out a high-balance conventional loan using private mortgage insurance to avoid having to put down 20 percent ($120,000). Her monthly mortgage payment is $3,800, only $700 more than she was paying for the townhouse. They moved in last summer. And what does Lucy Goose think of her new house? “She is constantly happy,” gushes Whitney. “She loves going in and out of her doggy door, and I’ve caught her sunbathing on the deck. I sacrifice a lot for Lucy, but she is my baby.” Speaking of babies, Whitney is now engaged. While she has no plans to have children immediately after they’re married, it’s nice to know they’ll have room to grow their family. Then they can all sit, stay and be happy in their forever home. For more homebuyer resources, visit readynest.com. : :
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Sci-Fi series ‘The Orville’ returns to TV on Hulu Among the returning cast of ‘The Orville: New Horizons’ are same-gender spouses Bortus and Klyden, along with their transgender male child Topa. by David Aaron Moore Qnotes Staff Writer
L
GBTQ ally and actor/producer/director Seth MacFarlane has announced the return of his successful Emmynominated sci-fi series “The Orville: New Horizons.” The program will premiere Thursday, June 2, now (with an ongoing weekly episode release) on the streaming network Hulu. The series originally debuted on the broadcast network Fox. Although the Star Trek-inspired series was a hit and initially slated for renewal, production came to a halt with the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. During that time, MacFarlane accepted the offer to move the series to the streaming network Hulu. Set 400 years in the future, “The Orville: New Horizons” finds the crew of the U.S.S. Orville continuing their mission of exploration, as they navigate both the mysteries of the universe and the complexities of their own interpersonal relationships. The ensemble cast includes MacFarlane, Adrianne Palicki, Penny Johnson Jerald, Scott Grimes, Peter Macon, J. Lee, Mark Jackson, Chad L. Coleman, Jessica Szohr and Anne Winters, among others. Produced by 20th Television and Fuzzy Door, the series was created and written by MacFarlane, who also serves as an executive producer, along with Brannon
Alien same-sex couple Klyden (Chad Coleman, left) and Bortus (Peter Macon with their transgender son Topa (Blesson Yates) in a scene from ‘The Orville.’ Braga, David A. Goodman, Jon Cassar, Jason Clark and Howard Griffith. For LGBTQ fans of the program, there’s some exciting news: the gay, transgender and non-binary characters from
the first two seasons will be returning for the latest, continuing the ever-growing population of LGBTQ roles on television. In those roles are Peter Macon, who plays Bortus, the ship’s alien second of-
ficer and Lieutenant Commander; and Chad L. Coleman, who appears in the role of Klyden, mate to Bortus and co-parent of their female-hatched child Topa (Blesson Yates), who was forced in the show’s second season by the planetary government of the couple’s home world Moclus to be physically altered so that she could be raised as a male child. Regular viewers of the series will recall controversy arose among characters of the Orville crew, many who felt it was unjust to force the child to undergo gender change at such a young age only to meet cultural requirements of the planet Moclus, a male-dominated world, where females exist rarely and are looked down upon. Historically, children born female on Moclus were immediately surgically altered to be male. The impact of Bortus’s shipmates’ concerns lead him to believe individuals should be free to be themselves – whatever gender they are born into or realize of their own accord – but without Moclan culture and government forcing the decision upon them. The story was indeed a complicated one, but evident of MacFarlane’s support of the struggles faced by the trans community. If you’re interested in revisiting the two previous seasons before the debut of the latest or you haven’t seen the series but your interest is piqued, season one and two are currently available for streaming on demand on Hulu. : :
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Palm Beach Pride Journey
BY JOEY AMATO | CONTRIBUTING WRITER
O
n my recent visit to The Palm Beaches, I wanted to explore parts of the region I hadn’t had the chance to visit when I lived in the area a little of a decade ago. Palm Beach County encompassed dozens of cities and towns, each with its own unique charm and attractions. While most people think of Florida’s beaches as the main attraction in the Sunshine State, Palm Beach County stretches all the way to the Everglades in the west and has developed into one of the top agri-tourism destinations in the country. I began my trip in Delray Beach, the town I used to live in. One of Delray Beach’s hidden gems is Morikami Museum and Japanese Gardens. Guests get to experience authentic Japanese culture and stroll through acres of lush trails transporting them to a different land. I didn’t even feel as if I was in Florida as I spent time at the reflection pond, the bamboo forest or the old museum. While in Delray Beach, head to the Pineapple Grove arts district, a stretch of downtown devoted to art galleries, cafes and boutiques. Swing by City Oyster on Atlantic Avenue for lunch and try the lobster roll. You will not be disappointed. From Delray Beach, head north on I-95 – or jump on the Tri-Rail to West Palm Beach and visit the Norton Museum of Art. During my visit, the museum was exhibiting Origin Stories: Photography of Africa and Its Diaspora, a collection that confronts the intertwined relationship between identity and colonialism in communities across the African continent. The museum also contains a permanent collection of Asian and European artwork. After the museum, take a walk along Clamatis Street, the dining and entertainment hub of West Palm Beach or journey over to Palm Beach Island, where the world’s wealthiest people go to play during the winter months. Mansions and sprawling estates surround the island which includes many historic properties including the Flagler Museum, The Breakers and Mar-a-Lago, which was originally built for cereal company heiress Marjorie Merriweather Post. There are many hotels located on Palm
Beach, but they so surprised at can get a bit the differences pricey dependbetween each ing on the time of the prepaof year you visit. rations. For A great option is dessert – yes, the Hilton West I had dessert Palm Beach, for lunch – try located across the key lime the street from pie served The Jupiter inlet Lighthouse and Museum offers Rosemary with a coconut regular tours of 1860s structure. Square and meringue and within walkpassion fruit ing distance to glaze. It was many of the area’s main attractions. The one of the most delicious items I had on luxurious property features a grand lobby, my entire visit. After lunch, jump on the large fitness center and massive outdoor Love Street Outdoor Center PonTiki Cruise pool, perfect for a nice relaxing dip after a a few steps from the restaurant, for a long day of sightseeing. 30-minute or hour-long cruise around Grab dinner at Table 26, one of West Jupiter inlet before heading back to the Palm Beach’s most popular LGBTQ-owned Hilton for some R&R before dinner. restaurants. My guest and I began our meal Although it is easy to navigate West with the squash blossoms and burrata Palm Beach via public transportation, I and tomato salad, a simple yet delicious would recommend renting a car if you selection that is always a favorite of mine. really want to explore the destination For dinner, we wanted to order something and some of its most popular attractions a little on the lighter side, so we opted for including McCarthy’s Wildlife Sanctuary. the zucchini pasta prepared with roasted The guided tours are so informative, and heirloom tomatoes, pine nuts, basil pesto guests learn the stories of each animal and and shaved parmesan. If you are in the how they arrived at the Sanctuary. Whereas mood to grab some cocktails, head to The Busch Sanctuary only cares for animals Mad Hatter lounge located in Lake Worth, a town known for its thriving LGBTQ culture. Lake Worth is also home to Compass, the area’s LGBTQ community center. After grabbing a morning coffee, head to Jupiter, about a 20-minute drive north from the hotel to the Busch Wildlife Sanctuary. The free attraction relies on donations to help maintain the property and support its animals. Last year alone, the sanctuary cared for over 6,000 animals who arrived at the facility, which was established to care for sick, injured and orphaned wild animals, while promoting wildlife and habitat conservation. All of the animals at Busch Wildlife Sanctuary are native to Florida. While in Jupiter, head to Lucky Shuck for lunch and grab a table with a view of the intracoastal waterway. The restaurant offers wonderful service, fresh and simple food, and a relaxed island time environment. I decided to try the ceviche trio, prepared three different ways, and was
local to the region, McCarthy’s is home to a variety of animals from all corners of the globe including Amur leopards, Bengal tigers, lions and even a snow leopard. Many of these animals were illegally owned and taken in by the sanctuary as they can’t be allowed into the wild. All of the animals are well cared for and were quite friendly and playful. The jaguar was purring during our entire visit and the beautiful white tiger was rubbing up against the enclosure seeking some attention from us. In addition to big cats, the sanctuary also houses exotic birds, lemurs, and a feisty fox. No trip to Palm Beach would be complete without a shopping spree or stroll along Worth Avenue. High-end boutiques such as Gucci, Louis Vuitton and Akris line the street. Even if you don’t want to shop, it is still a fun experience to window shop and watch the parade of exotic cars that drive up and down the avenue. It takes a good week to explore the destination, especially if you want to visit numerous cities and attractions. One of my favorite times to visit Florida in general is the spring and fall, as the weather is divine. To book your West Palm Beach gaycation, visit www.Orbitz.com/pride Enjoy the Journey! : :
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April 29. - May 12, 2022
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Start Laughing
An Interview With Gay Writer Gary Janetti by Gregg Shapiro Contributing Writer
T
he humorous essay is an artform, one that has been perfected by the likes of gay writers including David Sedaris and the late David Rakoff. It’s a style of prose that can be as entertaining as it is enlightening. Gary Janetti is another gay writer who is well aware of the benefits of laughter. As a producer and writer for queer sitcoms including Will & Grace and Vicious, Janetti was good at tickling our funny bones. That ability also carries over to the page in Start Without Me (I’ll Be There in a Minute) (Holt, 2022), a collection of 18 linked essays that follow Janetti from his teen years through his 20s to the present, all the while providing multiple opportunities to laugh out loud. Janetti was generous enough to answer a few questions in advance of the publication of the book. Gregg Shapiro: Gary, I’d like to begin the interview by asking you to say something about your fondness for parentheses, beginning with the one in the title of your book Start Without Me (I’ll Be There in a Minute) and continuing throughout the 18 essays. Gary Janetti: I guess it’s a device that works for me, that allows me to kind of do asides. It’s like talking to the audience, if you will. It allows you to kind of break out of it and get even a bit more personal or a little bit more kind of conversational. But I don’t know why. I just started doing it and it works for me. GS: A majority of the essays take readers into your past. Were you a journal keeper or did you rely on memory when it came to writing about events from that time? GJ: No, I never kept a journal. I think somebody gave me a journal once when I was in college, and I wrote in it the day that I got it. “I’m gonna write in this every day for the rest of my life!” And that was the last time I ever wrote in it. I rely on my memory. GS: In terms of your writing process, when it comes to creating the essays, are they created via writing prompts or inspiration, or a combination of both? GJ: There are things that have stuck with me from my past. I feel like if they stuck with me, they stuck with me for a reason. So maybe I jot down just like a few words of what those things are that are still kind of present in me. And then I just start writing and kind of let it be what it wants to be. Usually, I can find some kind of connection to something else, a reason why it’s something that has stayed with me. But I allow that to happen almost being of consciousness. GS: Do the essays in the book appear in the order in which they were written? GJ: They do. I thought after I finished, I didn’t know if I would want to keep them in that order. But I guess I had an instinct that hopefully, they would stay in that order because it felt like that’s the order they wanted to be in. GS: It actually reads in an organic way, so yes, that makes sense.
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Speaking of order, Start Without Me opens with “The Carol Burnett Show” essay, in which you talk about not telling her how much of an influence she was on you when you met her. Even so, do you think you might try to get a copy of your book to her? GJ: [Laughs] that’s a good question. And the answer is yes. Yeah, I will, definitely. GS: Public access TV host and superstar Robin Byrd also gets mentioned in the essay “J’s.” Will you be sending her a copy of your book? GJ: I hadn’t thought of that, Gregg. But now that you mentioned it, why not? Are you aware of The Robyn Byrd Show? GS: Of course, yes. I didn’t live in New York. But my friend Denise, who lived in New York, once sent me a VHS tape that she had made of it. GJ: Yeah, it’s so specific. It was our Watch What Happens Live [laughs]! GS: Well, with a lot more going on, including stripping and nudity. GJ: It felt like there was something very sweet about it, even though she was interviewing porn stars. Not that one is exclusive of the other. But it had this kind of “Let’s put on a show” charm to it that, in hindsight now, I’m like, “Awww.” GS: “Awww,” is perfect. In the essay “Teaching Ten Little Fingers to Play,” you write about the song “Hard Candy Christmas” from the musical The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Would you care to share your thoughts on the renditions of that song performed by Dolly Parton in the movie and/or RuPaul’s rendition from his 1997 holiday album? GJ: Oh, I didn’t know RuPaul had a rendition. I’ll have to listen to that. I obviously love Dolly’s rendition. But, at the time, this was before the film, so what I was listening to and what I was fixated on was the original cast recording. There was no film at that time. Also, just the sheet music. I just liked the song so much [laughs]. I didn’t realize how kind of inappropriate it was for a 12 or 13-year-old. But at the same time, incredibly appropriate. GS: In the “Pen Pals” essay you write about your tense experience in Long Beach, Calif., and even go as far as to say that the Golden State is not for you. However, you now live in LA. What was it about California that changed for you? GJ: I think I’m being a little flip when I say it. But that initial trip, when I was 20 or 21, wasn’t what I had pictured in my head that it was going to be, just like most
April 29.-May 12, 2022
things are not. I conjured something incredibly magical and television-esque and it was just kind of lonely and upsetting; it was more that. But I always was kind of drawn to LA from watching it on TV [laughs]. It seemed so fabulous. GS: While most of the essays have a strong comedic element, there are also serious moments, such as in the “Grandma” essay when you hear the story about the grandmother you never knew defending the gay nephew of one of her neighbors. Please say something about how you approach serious subject matter versus humorous material. GJ: By trying not to think too much of it. By trying to be honest as best I could. By just trying to write exactly what I felt. I think that’s it. I didn’t really approach it any differently. I allowed myself to not worry about having to be funny. GS: It takes the pressure off. GJ: Yeah. I was like, I’m not going to worry about having to be funny and having to be clever or having to make a joke or find a way. If something happens, it’s how I’m feeling as I’m writing this, and what I have to say is organic to it, that that’s OK. But I’m not going to worry with some of these about whether or not they’re funny. I’m going to hope that the audience will be along, regardless. GS: A few times in the book you refer to items from your past, followed by the comment, “I still have mine.” Would you say that you are a packrat? GJ: No, the opposite. I actually only said “I still have mine” for two things. One is the card that gets me into the Roxy for free. So that’s in a shoebox. The other is the keychain they gave us when we went to the last performance of the original Broadway run of A Chorus Line. It’s a keychain in the shape of a ticket. I have that in the same shoebox where the card is. So, literally I have a shoebox, maybe. The other things I said that I don’t still have, like the program to Star Wars or my high school yearbook or things like that. I’m the opposite of a pack
rat. I get rid of everything. GS: So, basically anything that can fit in a shoebox stays. GJ: Yeah, I literally have a shoebox [laughs]. I seem to accumulate mostly books. I read a lot and I have a lot of books. I love books. I have books in boxes that I’ve donated and that I give and that I keep and stuff. But that’s it. GS: The “Commencement Address” and “Trip Advisor Review” essays are in a different voice than the others. Please say something about why you wanted to include them in the book? GJ: In the previous book that I wrote, “Do You Mind If I Cancel?”, I did the same thing. There are a few essays that step outside of it a little. It’s just playing with the form somewhat. And it’s also a way of kind of saying two things at once. With the “Commencement Address,” a lot of it is just looking back on all the things that I thought were so important at the time that weren’t really going to have any bearing on my life or probably not on most people’s lives after they graduate from college. Yet there are certain very basic things that are important which you don’t kind of even think of, like don’t be an asshole. These are simpler things to remember, and that have served me well. It was a way to say something in a different way. It’s the same thing with the “Trip Advisor Review,” because I’m obsessed with traveling. I have kind of OCD qualities about how I like things to be. I read tons of Trip Advisor reviews before I go to anything. I thought it would be a way to play with that form, but then see if there was something that I could say about what it’s like when you travel and maybe why I get so obsessive about things and what’s going on underneath. Maybe there was a way to do that in a different kind of format. That’s why I like to play with other ways of telling a story if you will. GS: Your husband Brad Goreski appears in the “Destination Weddings” essay. How do you negotiate writing about him – for example, does he have to approve of the way he’s represented? GJ: No, no, not at all. He only just read it. He probably read it around the same time you read it. There’s nothing to negotiate. I could write anything that I wanted. He appeared in the first book, I think, a bit more than he appears in this book. I actually thought he might appear more in here. What I’m writing about is mostly a time way before him, but I’m looking at it from now, so he becomes a part of that. He trusts me. He doesn’t read anything until it’s literally done. That’s just how I am. I don’t like people, aside from my editor [reading it]. I’d rather just get it done. : :
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Leo Scott
Our People: Local Landscaper Shares Spring Gardening Tips BY L’MONIQUE KING QNOTES STAFF WRITER
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eo Scott, a Charlotte resident for 31 year, is a lion in the garden. Scott moved from Asheville to Charlotte three decades ago. “Asheville wasn’t what it is now and didn’t have so much going on,” he recalls. Today Scott lives in a brick home in East Charlotte with Eddie Stewart, his partner of four years. Enjoying his covered patio, he sits on a glider surrounded by the sounds of melodic chirping birds. Clad in flip flops and khaki, the 27-year Home Depot employee talked with qnotes about grass (the kind you walk on, mow and lay in), flowers (the kind you admire, water and pick) and a few gardening tips. Scott has held many roles during his more than two decades of employment at the home and garden mega store. “I do a little bit of everything,” he explains. “I’ve been the supervisor over gardening, plumbing, electrical, tool rental, the paint department, the front end and appliances.” Despite his variety of experiences with the company, it’s not hard – both professionally and personally – to see where his heart is: gardening and the outdoors. There’s no question that spring is truly the busiest season for Lawn & Garden enthusiasts. “Spring going into summer,” Scott confirms. ”Because everybody has been cooped up in their houses all winter, and they want to get out into their yards. So, people come into the store and buy tons and tons of plants, shrubbery, mulch and soil. There’s more construction going on in the spring also so you have a lot of contractors coming in to pick up supplies for things they couldn’t do in the wintertime.” Among the hot ticket items he points out that leave the shelves quickly during this season, there’s still a number one seller. Wonder what it is? “It’s gonna’ sound weird, but probably pine needles. We sell them like crazy. After that, probably mulch.” But what about his home life? So often, whatever we do as our livelihoods isn’t
Two green thumbs and one giant plant: Leo Scott proudly surrounded by Elephant Ear plants he planted and grew at his Charlotte home. (Photo Credit: Eddie Stewart) something we want to take home; even when we enjoy the activity. Not so for Scott. When it comes to landscaping, he’s eager to share his techniques. “Basically, landscaping for me is what I do at my house. I have mulch put down once or twice a year. I plant lots of shrubbery. But, before I plant anything, I access the area that I’m going to put it in. Then I dig the hole, twice as wide as the pot it came in (giving the roots a chance to grow and expand) and then I use good garden soil and a half and half mixture of the soil that’s there, and the soil I’ve bought – unless there’s a lot of clay. If there’s a lot of clay [hard red dirt], I remove as much as possible and replace it with good garden soil, because clay holds lots of water, doesn’t drain well and causes plants to rot or die because there aren’t any nourishing ingredients to feed the plant.” Apparently, just as water is key for humans, so it is for plant life. But not the way you think. There’s more to having a lush
lawn and health plants than just dousing them with H20 once or twice a day. According to Leo, one of the most common gardening mistakes people make is watering grass at night. “When you water at night it creates a fungus and mildew because it doesn’t have a chance to dry out at night. The result will be brown and yellow spots. If you want to avoid that, you water right before dawn or right before dusk, that’s the best time to water. If you water in the middle of the day, it’s probably hot and will dry out before it gets a chance to really soak into the yard – so you just end up wasting water and not taking care of your lawn like you should.” And speaking of which, if you really want to make the HOA members on your street jealous, Scott suggests preparing your lawn in the fall. “If you really want a nice lawn – the best time to prepare your lawn is the end of September, maybe October. Preparing means aerating your lawn, putting down seed, fertilizer and your lime.”
But wait, seems like a step was skipped here. What about the straw? After all, most folks know – if you don’t cover those seeds with straw the area birds will have a feast and invite all their feathery friends and family to join in. “A lot of people like to put down straw, but I don’t really like to do that because a lot of straw contains weed seed and other stuff. So, if there’s weed seed in your straw – you’re spreading it all over your lawn.” In other words – in addition to the grass, you’ll likely end up with an unintentional blending of various mystery weeds. “When you purchase your grass seed, read the ingredients on the bag,” Scott points out emphatically. “Your grass seed should have zero weed seed. Many grass seeds [like the straw we previously discussed] you can buy have three to five percent weed seed. So, whenever I see people trying to purchase those products I think, ‘Oh my God, you cannot put that in your yard,’ and then I have to run over and stop them. They don’t always want to listen, and if that happens, I just shake my head and think, well, I tried. But in actuality, a lot of people just don’t know and most are happy for the information.” Another from Scott: “Don’t ever put down fertilizer in the summertime. The nitrogen in the fertilizer will only burn your yard grass.” Landscaping is always about more than just grass. He derives lots of pleasure from gardening and has pretty azaleas and rose bushes flourishing at his house, though he wishes he could grow bougainvillea. “Unfortunately, they’re difficult to get to bloom in North Carolina. The weather isn’t warm enough and they do much better in tropical areas like Florida.” In the meantime, other favorites such as geraniums and oldfashioned zinnias do just fine. “They bloom all summer,” he says. For Scott, like many, gardening is more than just yard maintenance or a hobby. It’s therapeutic. “It’s relaxing for me. And when I walk out there and see it once things start growing, it’s just so beautiful. I get to feel like, wow, look what I did, plus all the neighbors come by and talk about how pretty it is, and I like that too.”: :
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