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Noted . Notable . Noteworthy . LGBT News & Views Volume 24 . Number 14

November 14 . 2009

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T A B L E

O F

C O N T E N T S

Front and center: Firm commitment

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Articles: www.q-notes.com

Volume 24

Number 14

PO Box 221841 • Charlotte, NC 28222 • 704.531.9988 . 704.531.1361

November 14, 2009 FAX

To find a copy, go to www.q-notes.com/distribution-points/ Publisher: Jim Yarbrough Editor/New Media: Matt Comer

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Fearless Leader Good year for gay elections Pro-LGBT mayor, majority for council State hate crimes laws still needed Tar Heel State is turning

Features:

Associate Editor: David Stout Graphic Design/Production: Lainey Millen

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Queer cruising Top gay winter getaways Trip Out: Top travel destinations

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Material in Q-Notes is copyrighted by Pride Publishing & Typesetting © 2009 and may not be reproduced in any manner without written consent of the editor. 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. Q-Notes nor its publisher assumes liability for typographical error or omission, beyond offering to run a correction. The editorial positions of Q-Notes are expressed in staff editorials and editor's notes and are determined by editorial staff. The opinions of contributing writers and guest columnists do not necessarily represent the opinions of Q-Notes or its staff. Q-Notes 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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Urban art by graphic artist Scot Lefavor (www.scotlefavor.com) portraying President Barack Obama is glued to a brick wall on U St. NW, between 16th and 15th Sts. in Washington, D.C. Image by artescienza, via Flickr. Licensed under Creative Commons. Graphic design by Matt Comer and Lainey Millen.

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Editor’s Note by Matt Comer . Q-Notes staff

Charlotte, here’s your chance Almost a month before this year’s elections, my Editor’s Note column asked for two things: First, I implored our community members to get out and vote. Second, I demanded progressive, LGBT-inclusive action from the Charlotte City Council if Democrat Anthony Foxx was elected mayor. In that column, I wrote:“Some Charlotte city leaders have suggested progress has been stalled under the threat of McCrory’s veto power. They say things will be different if Democrat Anthony Foxx is elected in November. That’s good information to have. Now we can demand: If Foxx is elected, Charlotte’s LGBT community expects action, not lip-service, no more than two months after Foxx becomes mayor.” On Nov. 3, what might have been a dream became reality. Foxx was elected the city’s first Democratic mayor in almost a quarter century. The new city council is among the most LGBT-friendly Charlotte has ever seen. I’ll be sticking by my two-month demand and I hope Charlotte city leaders and its LGBT and straight ally leadership step up and take action. On Dec. 7, Foxx and the new council will be sworn-in. That means he, and our new proLGBT majority on city council, will have until Feb. 7, 2010, to make good on the promises they’ve handed us for years. Among the tasks to be completed are a fullyinclusive non-discrimination policy protecting city employees on the basis of sexual orientation and gender-identity and an extension of benefits to same-sex partners of city employees. It wouldn’t hurt to also create a new mayoral task force on LGBT inclusion, appoint a few high profile and openly LGBT folks to city and mayoral commissions, issue a letter of support for the Human Rights Campaign Carolinas dinner in Raleigh and a welcome letter for this summer’s Pride Charlotte. It’s an ambitious agenda, I know.And, maybe it can’t be completed in two-months’ time, but Charlotte’s new council and mayor can at least attempt to bridge these gaps. That’s really all I’m asking from them — show some real, concerted effort, instead of just talking about it.

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But this is a two-way street, of course. If we expect Charlotte’s leadership to act on our behalf, then we will also have to undertake our own community-wide effort to make a change. Individually and as groups, we’ll need to reach out to our elected officials: write them letters, send them emails, make appointments to sit down and chat with them in person and invite them to our community events. Our community’s non-profits will have to urge their members to take a more active role in their local politics. Charlotte’s Lesbian & Gay Community Center will need to take a more public role in building, shaping and cultivating its community. Organizations serving large numbers of youth will need to encourage their members to register to vote. Charlotte’s MeckPAC will need to hold their endorsed candidates accountable, even if it means the threat of stripping away future endorsements for failure to act. In short, our community will have to come out of the closet in a public and politically-active way, in much the same way we did countering anti-gay threats in the early-to-mid 1990s. After 14 years of Pat McCrory’s anti-LGBT veto threat, the Queen City enters into a new era of progressive leadership and a chance to finally include all citizens, regardless of sexual orientation and gender-identity, into the full life of our city. Once Charlotte makes these changes, it will be that much easier for Mecklenburg County to do so, as well. Now is the time in which we have been handed the preciously rare chance to make proLGBT change in Charlotte. Let’s not waste it. Q

••••••••••••••••• Do you think Charlotte’s new mayor and city council will pass LGBT-inclusive protections and benefits sooner, later or never? See the options and vote at www.q-notes.com/qpoll

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Letter from the Publisher by Jim Yarbrough

Exciting changes for Q-Notes The Q-Notes staff is excited to announce two new changes we hope will streamline your experience as a reader and strengthen our ability to deliver you the best and most up-todate LGBT news, arts, entertainment and opinion across the Carolinas. CityPages Coinciding with the distribution of our Oct. 31 print issue, we unveiled our new “CityPages” at www.q-notes.com. Readers can now view news, opinion and arts and entertainment features by city and metro region. Each CityPage features local news stories, local links of interest and links to Q-Notes’ QGuide, featuring local listings for community organizations and non-profits, nightlife venues, restaurants, cafés and bookstores, LGBT-inclusive faith institutions, AIDS service organizations and other LGBTfriendly businesses. Listings in the QGuide are free and can be submitted online at www.q-notes.com/qguide/submit/. Current CityPages include Charlotte, Raleigh/Triangle, Triad (Greensboro,WinstonSalem, High Point) and Columbia. Other CityPages are coming soon, including Eastern N.C.,Western N.C., Upstate S.C. and Coastal S.C. Distribution strategy Our second change comes as all print media struggle to find ways to shift and adapt strategies for surviving in a tough economic climate

and a new media reality. Many readers have surely noticed that our print version, delivered to home subscribers and hundreds of newsstands across the Carolinas every two weeks, has decreased in page count as a result of this changing marketplace.We’ve had to make a tough decision to realign our print distribution strategies and focus resources where they might best serve our readers and enable us to continue our more than twodecade service to the LGBT community. Without cutting our 11,000 bi-weekly print run, we’re dropping much of our print distribution in South Carolina starting with the Nov. 28 issue and will begin consolidating distribution in the Columbia area.We feel we can make an impact in local and state politics by focusing our print copies in the Palmetto State’s capital city.As much of our news and features focus on our community’s political and social movement, we think increased QNotes distribution in Columbia will help provide a more effective platform on which your needs can be placed right on the doorstep of the South Carolina State House. For those readers living in other parts of South Carolina, we know this might come as a

disappointment.We want you to know that we haven’t and won’t forget you.We’ll be adding Upstate S.C. and Coastal S.C. CityPages to our website soon and will continue to cover your events and local news online and in print when possible.We intend to initiate similar print consolidation strategies in North Carolina, as well. Home subscriptions are available for reasonable and affordable rates as low as $10 per year (see our subscription form on page 4). We hope you’ll subscribe. Your feedback is valued We want you to know that Q-Notes appreciates and values your comments, suggestions and criticisms.We take them to heart and put them to use in improving our coverage of the Carolinas’ LGBT communities.We’d love to hear your feedback about our new CityPages and new distribution strategy, as well as any other comments or suggestions you might have.As always, feel free to email or call us at anytime. You can reach us at [email protected] and 704-531-9988. We appreciate and thank you for your readership and support, your patronage of QNotes’ advertisers and the support and encouragement you’ve continually given us for almost 24 years. Q

Send your letter to the editor or any other thoughts to [email protected] or click on over to our website at www.q-notes.com and join the conversation there.Web comments will be featured in each issue. Limit letters to the editor to 150 words or less and include your name, city and state and a phone number where you can be reached.

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Fearless Leader Julia Boseman honored by Equality North Carolina by Matt Comer . Q-Notes staff

progressive,LGBT-inclusive piece of legislation, codifying protections for sexual orientation and gender-identity into North Carolina statutes for the first time. First elected to the Senate in 2004, Boseman didn’t waste anytime getting to work for the people of her district. The North Carolina Center for Public Policy Research ranked her the 20th most effective senator out of 50 in her freshman year and said she was the second most effective freshman legislator

State Sen. Julia Boseman (D-New Hanover) is North Carolina’s only openly gay or lesbian state legislator. In the General Assembly, Boseman is our community’s seat at the table. And for her hard work and dedication to our state’s LGBT community, and her tireless service on behalf of the people of North Carolina, Boseman is this year’s recipient of Equality North Carolina’s Legislative Leadership Award. This year, North Carolina’s legislature passed and Gov. Bev Perdue signed the LGBTinclusive School Violence Prevention Act. Effective at the turn of the year, all public school systems will have to adopt stringent anti-bullying Julia Boseman speaks with General Assembly colleagues Rep. Susan Fisher (D-Buncombe) and Rep. Paul Luebke (Dpolicies inclusive of protecDurham) at an Equality North Carolina legislative panel. tions for LGBT youth. Photo Credit: Equality NC Boseman was the legislation’s lead sponsor and chief proponent in the in the 28-year history of their research. N.C.Senate.Along with her colleagues in the Q-Notes joins Equality North Carolina in N.C.House,Boseman’s work on the issue made congratulating and honoring Sen. Julia the School Violence Prevention Act our state’s first Boseman. Q

FYI: State hate crimes laws still needed On Oct. 28, President Barack Obama signed the much-awaited federal hate crimes legislation expanding protection to victims on the basis of sexual orientation and gender-identity.While the legal advancement is good news, LGBT citizens might not be as protected as they think. Columbia’s Free Times reported Nov. 4 that state-level hate crimes legislation are still needed. “The new federal law is no substitute for state hate crimes enforcement,” Human Rights Campaign Deputy Communications Director Trevor Thomas told the Columbia weekly.“The new law is a federal backstop to help local authorities investigate and prosecute these crimes. States will continue to have primary jurisdiction in the vast majority of cases.” South Carolina state Rep. Seth Whipper agreed:“Local government can respond much more quickly and comprehensively to this kind of behavior,” he said. And state legislation might offer more flexibility for local law enforcement agencies. “We can sometimes offer other alternatives to prosecution or punishment,” Whipper said. “Especially when you’re dealing with adolescents, you want to be able to avoid the sentencing guidelines that the feds use.” South Carolina is one of only three states nationwide without any form of hate crimes legislation. North Carolina’s statute does not protect victims on the basis of sexual orientation or gender-identity. Q info: www.free-times.com

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D O M E S T I C Discrimination Act that includes both sexual orientation and gender identity. The bill would address discrimination in the workplace by making it illegal for companies with 15 or more employees to fire, refuse to hire or refuse to promote an employee based on his or her sexual orientation or gender identity. Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese, who provided written testimony for the hearing, noted,“For the first time in history, the Senate is moving forward with legislation to protect Americans from arbitrary discrimination in the workplace based on sexual orientation and gender identity. Like our neighbors and coworkers, LGBT people simply want a fair chance to succeed and support our families.” ENDA was introduced in the U.S. Senate on August 5 of this year; a House version was introduced on June 24 and the House Education and Labor Committee held a hearing on the measure on September 23.An estimated 87 percent of Fortune 500 companies include sexual orientation in their equal employment policies, and more than onethird also include gender identity.

National News Notes by David Stout . Q-Notes staff Gay-themed book ok’d for fair NEW YORK, N.Y. — After meeting with media watchdog group The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, powerhouse bookseller Scholastic Inc. has decided to feature an LGBT inclusive book in its spring Scholastic Book Fairs, which will be held in middle schools across the nation. The company had declined to sell the book at its prior round of fairs. The flap began when members of the LGBT community alerted GLAAD that Scholastic was excluding Lauren Myracle’s “Luv Ya Bunches” from its book fairs. “Bunches” features a young girl, Milla, being raised by lesbian parents. “Scholastic is offering ‘Luv Ya Bunches’ in our Book Clubs. We decided we would not offer this title in Fairs…,” the company stated on its website. GLAAD reached out to executives at Scholastic to ask that the company reconsider its decision.In addition,Change.org,the web-based organizing community,generated over 4,000 signatures on its petition requesting that people make their voices heard on the matter.These efforts led Scholastic to change its stance.

Inclusive ENDA gets first hearing WASHINGTON, D.C. — On Nov. 5, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee held the Senate’s first-ever hearing on a version of the Employment Non-

Panel study looks at polling LOS ANGELES, Calif. — A groundbreaking new report presents the findings from a multiyear effort of an expert panel of scholars to identify the best practices for asking questions about sexual orientation on surveys. Researchers from 14 universities and 9 organizations were included on the Sexual Minority Assessment Research Team, a multidisciplinary

and multi-institution collaboration, whose goal is to increase the quantity and quality of data on gay, lesbian and bisexual people. Team members note that public policy debates have heightened the need for data on the sexual orientation of adults and young people in the U.S. Randy Sell, a researcher at the Drexel University School of Public Health, said,“The lack of sexual orientation questions on surveys had led to an invisibility of lesbian, gay, and bisexual people, which can have serious social and public health costs.” The report addresses the issues researchers confront after they have decided to ask about sexual orientation, including what to ask, where to ask it, and how to analyze the results. The full report can be viewed online at www.law.ucla.edu/williamsinstitute.

Neil Patrick Harris to be honored LOS ANGELES, Calif. — The Trevor Project, the leading national organization focused on crisis and suicide prevention efforts among LGBT and questioning youth, will honor Emmy-nominated, openly gay actor Neil Patrick Harris and communications giant AT&T at Cracked Xmas 12, the group’s annual holiday event and biggest fundraiser which will be held here on Dec. 6. at The Wiltern Theatre. Harris, star of the CBS sitcom “How I Met Your Mother” and host of the 61st Primetime Emmy Awards in September,“has emerged as a compelling example for LGBTQ youth through his extraordinary professional and personal success. The Trevor Project is pleased to bestow him with The Trevor Life Award,

which annually honors an individual who, through his or her example, support, volunteerism and/or occupation, is an inspiration to LGBTQ youth,” the group said in a written statement. “For many years, I have been a passionate and enthusiastic supporter of The Trevor Project’s lifesaving work, and I’m deeply honored to be recognized by an organization which has such a vital mission,” said Harris.

HIV travel/immigration ban ends WASHINGTON, D.C. — The Obama administration has published a new rule lifting the HIV travel and immigration ban by removing HIV from the list of communicable diseases of public health significance for immigrants to the U.S. With this change, the nation joins the vast majority of countries around the world that do not restrict the travel and immigration rights of people living with HIV. Last year, Congress repealed the statutory language barring people with HIV. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of the U.S. Department of Health announced in late summer its intention to eliminate the ban and after a period of public comment approved the new rule removing the prohibition. Kevin Cathcart, executive director of Lambda Legal said,“We applaud the Obama Administration for its leadership in ending this kind of government sponsored discrimination against people living with HIV. The 22year ban was discriminatory, violated basic human rights, and could not be justified on public health grounds.” Q

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C A R O L I N A

North Carolina News Notes

host for Summer 2010. Hosts benefit from posiby Lainey Millen & Matt Comer . Q-Notes staff tive publicity and the satisfaction of providing a top quality COASTAL experience for the only LGBT and ally leadership camp of its kind in the nation. Get your groove on High preference will be given to campuses who believe in the camp mission and offer a WILMINGTON — Noted DJ David Knapp quality, competitive bid. will bring his beat to Ibiza Nightclub, 118 For more information, call 704-277-6710 Market St., on Dec. 12. or email [email protected]. A 25-plus city fall tour showcases his latest To download a bid proposal form,visit CD release,“Global Groove: Dance 2.” Dancers, http://www.campuspride.org/campbid2010.doc. a pop-up performance and more will highlight the evening’s festivities. Training dates set Knapp was penned GQ Magazine’s CHARLOTTE — Stop the Hate, a national America’s Favorite DJ. bias and hate crime prevention program for Over $50,000 worth of gifts from sponsors colleges and universities, has announced the will be given out to everyone who attends. dates for its upcoming Stop The Hate Train The “We are very excited to have Global Groove Trainer program. The three-day training will Tour stop in Wilmington, N.C. and allow us to begin on Dec. 3 at 8:30 a.m. and will conclude use local favorite DJs,” Ibiza co-owner on Dec. 5 at 2:30 p.m., hosted on the campus of Christine Cheyene said. the University of North Carolina-Charlotte. “This will be our largest party to date and Registration is open until Nov. 26. we expect a huge turn out,” said the club’s proFood Lion and the Charlotte Lesbian Gay motions manager Daniel Bigham. The nightFund, a collective giving and endowment iniclub will be requesting two canned goods to tiative of Foundation For The Carolinas, proget a $100 valued gift bag. They will be donatvided grant support to fund scholarships for ing all canned goods to the local food bank to area colleges and universities. Stop The Hate help those who have been effected by the curalong with its founder Shane L.Windmeyer are rent economic crisis. based in Charlotte.According to Windmeyer, DJ Primal (Josh Powers) will headline the this is the second year for the training being event,along with support from Raleigh native DJ offered in the Carolinas and the goal is to host Gustav (Josh Weaver) who was winner of the the training annually in Charlotte. 2008 North Carolina Pride Festival DJ of the Year. Registration is $495 per participant which For more information, visit www.ibiza includes the 250+ page training manual, wilmington.com. The album is available in audio-visual teaching aides and all the materiretail stores nationwide, as well as online at als necessary for the three-day training. www.centaurmusic.com. Special scholarships are still available. Register TRIANGLE online at www.stophate.org/events.html. For more information or questions, call Rent it! 704-277-6710 or email [email protected]. CHAPEL HILL — Company Carolina,an See more details on this program online at unaffiliated student-run theater troupe on the charlotte.q-notes.com. campus of the University of North CarolinaSTATEWIDE Chapel Hill,mounted a production of “Rent”on Nov.6-8 and 12-14 at the school’s Forest Theatre. Gala date announced This group exists in part on general fundRALEIGH — The 15th Annual Human ing from the Student Congress. In the last Rights Campaign (HRC) Carolinas Gala will number of years, it has had to subsist on a be held on Feb. 27, 2010 at the Raleigh miniscule budget. Convention Center. “Rent” was an ambitious effort. Company Tickets are available now at a cost is $175. Carolina sought support from the community Host hotel is the Marriott City Center. For in order to help defray costs. those who want to book rooms, ask for the HRC For more information or to provide finanCarolinas special room rate of $134 per night. cial assistance, email Stephanie Waaser at The Gala Committee and the North [email protected]. Carolina Steering Committee are seeking nominations from residents of North and South Game’s on Carolina for the annual Equality and HILLSBOROUGH — A game night for Legacy/Trailblazer Awards. Nominations must LGBT identified people and their allies takes be received no later than Nov. 27. These awards place on the second Friday of each month are to recognize individual and organizational from 7:30-11 p.m. leadership related to the service of the LGBT The event is smoke-free, alcohol-free, drugcommunity in North and South Carolina and free and provides a much needed social outlet to the HRC mission statement.Award recipifor a fun-filled evening playing board games. ents demonstrate a passion and the drive to Light snacks are made available. Donations eliminate discrimination for LGBT people. are accepted. On Oct. 21, Scott Bishop and Ron Sperry For more information, email kicked it off with a table captain recruitment [email protected]. and on Oct. 25 Philip L. Pieper and Daniel L. CAMPUS SCENE Fulkerson launched their efforts for table captains, as well as sharing HRC’s need for supRecruiters sought port for the Federal Club. STATEWIDE — Campus Pride Summer For more information, to purchase tickets Leadership Camp for LGBT and Ally Student or to obtain nomination forms, visit Leaders is seeking recruiters. Campus Pride hrccarolinas.org. Q hopes to identify colleges and universities info: Announce your community event in NC News Notes. across the country that may want to be camp email: [email protected].

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Pro-LGBT mayor, majority for Charlotte council City has yet to expand protections for LGBT citizens by Matt Comer . Q-Notes staff CHARLOTTE — Voters ushered in a new era of local governance and politics on Nov. 3, with an historic 8-3 Democratic majority on city council and the election of Anthony Foxx, the city’s first Democratic mayor in nearly a quarter century. The new leadership is, perhaps, the most LGBT-friendly the city has ever seen. Of Charlotte’s 11 council seats, seven will be held by candidates either endorsed by the Mecklenburg Gay and Lesbian Political Action Committee (MeckPAC) or those who are likely friendly on LGBT issues — good news for local advocates pushing the city to expand its protections and benefits for LGBT citizens. Foxx elected mayor A tight mayoral race in which both candidates spent more than $1 million dollars combined — a city record — ended in victory for Democrat Anthony Foxx. He led fellow Charlotte City Council member and Republican candidate John Lassiter by 51.32 percent to 48.61 percent. For the first time in 14 years, Charlotte will have a new mayor as Foxx succeeds Republican Pat McCrory. Foxx will be the city’s first Democratic mayor since Harvey Gantt left office 22 years ago. He’ll be the city’s second African-American mayor; Gantt was the first.

In October, both Foxx and Lassiter were present for a candidates’ reception hosted by MeckPAC at the Lesbian & Gay Community Center of Charlotte. Foxx received the group’s endorsement and has been consistently favorable on LGBT issues when asked, but such issues have not come up for a vote while Foxx has been on council. Q-Notes attempted scheduling an interview with Foxx for publication in this print issue. Spending time with his family, Foxx was unavailable before press time. His interview appears online at www.q-notes.com. New pro-LGBT majority on council In at-large city council races, voters chose three LGBT-friendly Democrats and an LGBTfriendly Republican. Incumbent Democrat Susan Burgess, the city’s mayor pro tempore, received 15.06 percent of the vote. Burgess has often taken Republican Mayor Pat McCrory’s place at Human Rights Campaign dinners, local Pride festivals and other community events. She was endorsed by MeckPAC. After a leave from elected office, former Councilman Patrick Cannon captured 13.65 percent of the at-large vote. Democrat David Howard received 12.68 percent. Republican Edwin Peacock III received 12.89 percent, one of only two GOP candidates endorsed by MeckPAC this year. According to MeckPAC,Cannon and Howard are “receptive”to LGBT issues.The group said they are “open-minded and positive about LGBT

equality,” but might “not be as effective an advocate as a candidate receiving full endorsement.” A third,MeckPACendorsed at-large candidate, Darrin Rankin,came in fifth in the race,garnering 11.06 percent of the vote. Five incumbent Democrats ran uncontested in their district races. Only one, Patsy Kinsey (District 1), had been endorsed by MeckPAC. She beat out openly gay candidate Owen Sutkowski in the Democratic primary in September. MeckPAC said District 4 Councilman Michael Barnes and District 5 Councilwoman Nancy Carter are “receptive” to LGBT issues. Charlotte has yet to pass non-discrimination policies inclusive of sexual orientation and gender-identity and does not offer benefits to same-sex partners of city employees. By far the largest city in North or South Carolina, Charlotte lags behind several other municipalities offering full or partial LGBT protections or benefits, including Bessemer City, Boone, Carrboro, Chapel Hill, Columbia, Durham, Greensboro, High Point, Raleigh and Winston-Salem. Three counties in North Carolina,including Mecklenburg County,offer employment protections on the basis of sexual orientation; another also offers protections based on gender-identity.Q

Anthony Foxx, elected Charlotte’s next mayor, greets an assistant before appearing on a live online town hall with CLTblog.com held prior to the election. Photo Credit: James Willamor/CLTblog, via Flickr Licensed under Creative Commons

Charlotte’s next city council Mayor Anthony Foxx (D) District 1 Patsy Kinsey (D) District 2 James (Smuggie) Mitchell, Jr. (D) Distirct 3 Warren F. Turner (D) District 4 Michael D. Barnes (D) District 5 Nancy Carter (D) District 6 Andy Dulin (R) District 7 Warren Cooksey (R) At-large Susan Burgess (D); Patrick Cannon (D); David Howard (D); At-large Edwin Peacock III (R) Online: Anthony Foxx Surf over to www.q-notes.com for an online exclusive with Charlotte Mayor-elect Anthony Foxx.

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Watch out Sue Myrick, the Tar Heel State is turning What former red state, larger than Virginia or New Jersey turned a little bluer on Nov. 3? by Jon Ponder . Pensito Review With all the attention on the GOP wins in the Virginia and New Jersey governors’ races this year, the purportedly liberal media is ignoring the fact that voters in a larger, onetime solidly red state went a little bluer on Nov. 3. The state’s largest city elected a Democratic mayor for the first time in 22 years, and despite the fact that this southern city is two-thirds white, the new mayor happens to be AfricanAmerican. Meanwhile, this state’s most famous college town in the world of sports elected a mayor who is a Democrat and openly gay. What state is it? More clues: It is the 10th largest state, with a larger population than either Virginia or New Jersey. It is a Southern state that, like Virginia, flipped from red to blue in 2008, swinging from voting decisively for Republicans in every cycle since 1976 (for the kids, that’s Reagan twice, Bush I twice, Dole in 1996 and Bush II twice) to going for Obama last year. It also elected Democratic women as governor and U.S. Senator last November — and both houses of its legislature have been controlled by Democrats for the last several cycles. Give up? It’s North Carolina, where the voters in Charlotte elected Anthony Foxx, a city councilmember for four years, as mayor. Up the road in Chapel Hill — a Democratic stronghold best known as the home of the University of North Carolina Tar Heels — Mark Kleinschmidt, an openly gay man, was also elected mayor. So what’s the big whoop? While it’s debatable whether the GOP wins in New Jersey and Virginia are bellwethers for the congressional elections next year, the election of Foxx in Charlotte could forebode trouble for long-time GOP congresswoman, Sue Myrick, who also once served as the city’s mayor. First elected to Congress in 1995, she was reelected handily in 2008, despite the fact that President Obama won Charlotte by 25 percentage points. Rep. Myrick comes across as dour and doctrinaire on camera, but she is not as unpleasant and hardcore as the tea bagger Rep.Virginia Foxx in North Carolina’s Fifth Congressional District — who last week said health insurance reform was a more deadly threat than terrorism. Nonetheless, Myrick has made a name for herself as one of the most right-wing members of the House and is especially known for her unfettered expressions of bigotry against Muslims.

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One slightly risky factor in Myrick’s record is that after voting against George Bush’s $700 billion bailout package last year, she voted for the Senate version. This indulgence in runaway spending — even though it may have helped save the nation from financial collapse — could potentially draw a tea bagger challenger in next year’s primaries. Rep. Sue Myrick (NC-09) delivers the weekly Republican address on Sept. 19, 2009. Photo Credit: U.S. House Republican Conference

She’s also Palinesque in her “drill, baby, drill,” call for ending the moratorium on oil production off the North Carolina coast, which includes the Outer Banks, a national treasure akin to the Grand Canyon, as well as an extremely vulnerable ecosystems. But, mainly demographics are working against Sue Myrick. Most of Charlotte’s explosive growth has come from emigration from Democratic strongholds — particularly the Northeast but also from California — often as a result of workers being transferred to work for Bank of America or Wachovia, both of which are headquartered in the city. (San Francisco’s Bank of America was purchased by Charlotte’s NationsBank in 1998; Wachovia was purchased by San Franciso-based Wells Fargo in December 2008.) Just last year, the state’s Eighth Congressional District, a suburban, formerly reliable GOP district adjacent to Myrick’s, switched from Republican to Democratic when Larry Kissell defeated Robin Hayes, the scion of the Cannon Mills textile fortune. But “liberal” media types shouldn’t feel bad for ignoring these significant Democratic wins in North Carolina. Being ignored while their more flamboyant and bizarre neighbors immediately to the north and south (respectively) get all the attention is ingrained into North Carolina’s history. Back in the olden days, North Carolinians were fond of describing their state as a “vale of humility between two mountains of conceit” — the “mountains” being the aforementioned Virginia and South Carolina. Tar Heels even internalized their fate of perennially being overshadowed by the pretentiousness of others into the state’s motto: Esse quam videri — “To be rather than to seem.” Q — Jon Ponder, a North Carolina-native currently living in West Hollywood, Calif., blogs at www.pensitoreview.com. This piece reprinted with permission.

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Despite Maine defeat, a good year for gay elections Maine marriage defeated Voters in Maine rejected new marriage rights for same-sex couples 53 percent to 47 percent. The referendum put a marriage bill passed by the state’s legislature and signed by Gov. John Baldacci in May this year up to a “people’s veto.” Human Rights Campaign President Joe Solmonese said the defeat was likely to embolden spirits, as advocates continue pushing for expanded civil rights protections across the country. “Although we lost our battle in Maine, we will not allow the lies and hate — the foundation on which our opponents built their campaign — to break our spirits.We are on the right side of history and we will continue this fight,” Solmonese said in a release.“I am angry. But more importantly, I am determined that with the anger I feel today from this outcome in Maine, we’ll rise ever stronger to demand equal treatment under the law and equal respect for our relationships in Maine, California, New Jersey, and every state of the Union.” Wash. DPs upheld In Washington state, voters took to the polls to decide whether to keep or scrap new legal protections for same-sex couples registered as domestic parnters. The anti-gay Protect Marriage Washington gathered more than 120,000 signatures to put the Referendum 71 on the ballot after the new passed by the state legislature and signed by Gov. Chris Gregoire.

Protect Marriage and other anti-gay opponents had derided the new law as “everything but marriage.” On Nov. 5, the Associated Press called the tight election for the LGBT community — the new domestic partner law was approved by voters 52 percent to 48 percent. Voters in Washington state last faced an LGBT-related referendum in 1997, when Initiative 677 proposed a new employment non-discrimination law. That measure was rejected by close to 60 percent of voters. Pam’s House Blend blogger Lurleen said the difference between the 1997 defeat and this year’s success is indicative of a shift in public attitudes. “Contrary to the current image of the Puget Sound area of Washington as progressive, not one single county — not even Seattle’s home of King County — voted to approve I-677,” she wrote.“Contrast that with the current election where the electorate as a whole approved R-71 and majorities in 10 of Washington’s 39 counties have approved R-71. But the truly stunning statistic is that the rate of ballot measure approval increased between 1997 and 2009 in all but one county.” Doubts for New Jersey marriage This year’s gubernatorial race has likely decided the fate of New Jersey advocates’ push to offer full marriage equality. Democratic Gov. John Corzine had promised to push through a marriage bill if reelected, but Republican opponent Chris

Christie, who said he’d oppose any attempt to expand marriage rights, defeated the incumbent at the polls, winning by 49 percent to 44 percent with a 100,000 vote lead. Despite the defeat, New Jersey advocates still want a vote on a marriage equality bill. The day after the election, the statewide LGBT advocacy group Garden State Equality launched a new advertising campaign urging voters to write, call and visit their state representatives. If voted on during the lameduck session, Corzine could sign the bill into law before the anti-gay Christie takes the state’s helm. Kalamazoo keeps protections As in Maine, voters in Kalamazoo, Mich., also cast their votes on whether to keep or rescind new LGBT protections. Citizens there voted 7,671 to 4,731 to keep sexual orientation and gender-identity protections in employment, housing and public accommodations passed by the city council earlier this year “There’s a lot of people who will wake up and breathe easier tomorrow knowing they won’t be fired or kicked out of their homes for being gay, lesbian or transgender,” One Kalamazoo Director Jon Hoadley told The Kalamazoo Gazette.“It was astounding the overwhelming support that we had. Kalamazoo said this is what it wants.”. The city is the 16th in the state to adopt such a wide-ranging LGBT rights ordinance. Gay officials win Several openly gay and lesbian candidates were elected to local boards and councils,

while others moved closer to victory and will face run-offs at a later date. Gay blog Bilerico.com “live blogged” results for these races and others on election night: Akron, Ohio — Sandra Kurt was elected the city’s first openly lesbian councilwoman. Canton, Ohio — Eric Resnick won his race for the Canton Board of Education. He is the area’s first openly gay elected official. Chapel Hill, N.C. — Openly gay Town Councilman Mark Kleinschmidt was elected mayor. [Ed. Note — See our story online at www.q-notes.com/4182/.] Detroit — Charles Pugh won his race for council and came in first. He’ll become the first openly gay member of the Detroit City Council and council president. Georgia — Lesbian Simone Bell received 24 percent of the vote in her race against Asha F. Jackson for House District 58. Bell and Jackson will compete again in a run-off. Houston — Openly lesbian Annise Parker led among a field of three candidates for mayor. She will face a run-off election with Gene Locke. Kalamazoo, Mich. — Terry Kuseske, Kalamazoo’s first openly gay candidate, was elected to the city commission. Maplewood, Minn. — James Llanas was elected the city’s first openly gay councilman. Salt Lake City, Utah — Stan Penfold was elected the city’s first openly gay city councilman. St. Petersburg, Fla. — Steve Kornell was elected the city’s first openly gay councilman. Q — by Matt Comer . Q-Notes staff

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Firmly committed: Obama working on DADT, ENDA Q&A with Brian Bond Administration “will not waiver in their support for equal rights,” White House Public Liaison deputy director says

are all very aware there is much to be done. Just this week the administration testified before a Senate committee on behalf of an inclusive employment by Matt Comer . Q-Notes staff non-discrimination bill and last month we testiPresident Barack Obama and his adminisfied before a House comtration are firmly committed to LGBT equality. mittee. I also want to get That’s what White House Office of Public Liaison across that, sure you can Deputy Director Brian Bond tells Q-Notes.On be impatient with “Don’t Ask,Don’t Tell”(DADT),the Employment progress, but we need the Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and a host of help of every member of other issues,Bond says the president is with us. Equality North Carolina to “I want to assure the LGBT community get things done. Not just that this administration and those working on ENDA or DADT, but here under the president will not waiver in also things that affect all their support for equal rights under the law of us like health insurance for LGBT Americans,” he said just days before reform and about getting his appearance as the Equality North America back to work. Carolina Conference keynote speaker in As I’m writing out Urban art by graphic artist Scot Lefavor (www.scotlefavor.com) portraying President Barack Obama is Greensboro on Nov. 14. these questions, the glued to a brick wall on U St. NW, between 16th and 15th Sts. in Washington, D.C. Bond has been a tireless advocate for U.S. Senate was poised Photo Credit: mcanevet, via Flickr. Licensed under Creative Commons. LGBT equality. Once the executive directory of to move on hate the Gay & Lesbian Victory Fund, Bond has crimes legislation. The House has ples. Even with a repeal of DOMA, the Pentagon and in Congress.Also the presialso worked as a Democratic strategist and already passed the bill. But a slew of these state amendments will still be dent has endorsed the Baldwin-Lieberman senior advisor during Al Gore’s presidential other legislation, including repeals of valid. What else will need to happen domestic partnership bill.Again, it took over a bid in 2000. He’s also served as the director of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” and DOMA, to achieve full equality in states like decade to get hate crimes done, I don’t think it the Democratic National Committee’s Gay and ENDA, and Lieberman’s domestic partSouth Carolina? will take near that long to accomplish the Lesbian Leadership Council. nership bill still need to be heard. First of all there are a lot of amazing activists repeal of DADT, and passage of ENDA.What it After Obama’s historic win in 2008, Bond How quickly do you foresee Congress and leaders in South Carolina, people like will take is the support of the president, which was appointed deputy director of the White moving on these issues? Linda Ketner and Nekki Shutt, the work they we have, and a lot of hard work from the comHouse Office of Public Liaison, where he helps I am very proud that President Obama signed do on the ground on a day-to-day basis, along munity and national and state organizations bridge the gap between the Obama adminishate crimes legislation and the Ryan White with thousands of others will change both working to educate the public and talking to tration and the LGBT community. Re-authorization Act into law just last week. attitudes and lives. The president signing hate their members of Congress. Q-Notes got the chance to ask Bond Hate crimes took over a decade to become crimes into law is a first step, and passing Recently, 200,000 citizens marched on some questions via email before his visit to law — I honestly think if we all work togethENDA will also be essential.As the president Washington, D.C., for LGBT equality. North Carolina. er that ENDA will be passed much quicker, has said, day-by-day, law-by-law and mindRep. Barney Frank has said the presiYou’ve had a lengthy career in advocaand that “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” will be by-mind. dent doesn’t need pressure. The presicy and politics, including serving as repealed sooner than people think. The presiLike all American citizens, LGBT peodent has welcomed this pressure, but executive director of the Victory Fund. dent has already begun talking to the military ple are extremely concerned about what are some other avenues LGBT How does it feel to be working and Congress on DADT, but healthcare reform. Many LGBT people activists might try in order to help now for the president of the Congress will need to actually can’t get coverage under spousal Barack Obama achieve these progresUnited States and how is repeal it and we are commithealth plans because they can’t get sive policy goals. working inside the White ted to working with both the married. Some LGBT people with Healthy statewide organizations like Equality House different, at all, from House and Senate. But there is HIV/AIDS find it hard to pay for their North Carolina and South Carolina Equality working as an advocate on the more going on for our comexpensive medicines. What is the Coalition are essential to the grassroots effort outside of things? munity than just legislation. White House’s hope for meaningful that will be necessary for the passage of proGood question. First of all, it is an The departments and agenhealthcare reform? equality legislation. Chairman Frank is right, honor to be working for President cies are moving to ensure That is a really excellent question. The passage while the president welcomes pressure and Obama and working with an incredLGBT issues are addressed. of health insurance reform is crucial for the understands it, he is firmly committed. ible group of individuals that are Housing and Urban LGBT and HIV/AIDs community. Portability Many in the LGBT community are committed to achieving LGBT equalDevelopment is actually and the elimination of pre-existing conditions asking for a timeline on a repeal of ity.As far as the difference, there undertaking a first ever surwill be incredibly important.And, at the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell.” President really isn’t any, I think we all, vey to identify discrimination 30,000 foot level, lowering costs will help us Obama, Secretary Gates and Robert whether working inside the adminisin housing based on sexual all, health insurance reform is important for Gibbs have all said nothing gets done tration or on the outside in advocacy orientation or gender-identity. all of us. in Washington without a deadline. Brian Bond organizations or as individual citiHealth and Human Services is The president inspired a great many When might we see a repeal of the zens, have a responsibility to advocate and moving to provide resources for LGBT senAmericans in the last election, espelaw? Can you provide any insight on speak up for LGBT rights. iors, and last month provided the first ever cially young folks. There’s an entire the topic? Equality North Carolina executive LGBT aging related grant to a gay and lesbian generation of youth ready and willing This is clearly a topic under discussion, a lot of director Ian Palmquist has said he community center. to rise up to the challenge and make groundwork has been done, but more needs to and other staff immediately knew Many LGBT people have been waiting our nation a better place. Many of happen. The president is committed to ending they wanted to bring you to North decades for these progressive and them have dreams of either working DADT and I think it will happen sooner than Carolina when they heard you speak LGBT-inclusive changes and civil rights as an elected official or for an elected people think. I would hope people will take the this summer. What kind of insight on advances. Some older LGBT people official. What practical advice do you president at his word and give him the time to the national state of LGBT affairs will would like to see all they’ve worked have for them to make their aspirado this right. In the mean time people should you bring to Tar Heel State activists for accomplished sometime soon. As tions a reality? be educating both elected officials and the when you visit in November? the president has promised full supThat is easy, get involved and own this movepublic on why DADT does not work. None of While I know people are anxious about the port on these issues, what is the ment. Make a personal commitment to make this is easy or it would have already been speed of progress, I want to assure the LGBT White House doing to work with a difference every day. Be proud of who you accomplished, but I can assure you this presicommunity that this administration and Congress on these matters? are, and stand up for what you believe. There dent will get this done. those working here under the president will As I mentioned the administration spoke just are organizations in our community that focus North Carolina is lucky to be the only not waiver in their support for equal rights this week on the need for passage of ENDA, specifically on helping people get prepared. I state in the Southeast without a conunder the law for LGBT Americans. and the president has made it clear he will end would encourage interested individuals to take stitutional amendment banning marSignificant progress has been made, but we DADT and discussions are underway at both advantage of those programs. Q riage recognition for same-sex cou-

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citypages introducing… news & features by city & metro area

charlotte raleigh/triangle triad columbia www.q-notes.com

Queer cruising Getaways and vacations to escape the dreary winter doldrums It might technically still be fall, but all you Southern boys and gals know what’s coming. It’s 45 degrees outside right now and you’re already freezing your butt off. Whatcha going to do when it hits the freezing mark? Maybe the beginning of winter isn’t so bad, you know. The holidays are coming up and you’ll have plenty of time to spend in the warm indoors with family. But, if I were you, I’d start planning for my winter escape right now. The world’s best and largest gay and lesbian travel companies have exciting trips planned for winter 2010 and they are going fast! Jump on board now, because when it is time for this ship to sail it won’t wait on you.

For the gals Photo Credits: Olivia & Sweet

Olivia, olivia.com Choose from two great winter events from this premier lesbian vacations company! Want an all-inclusive getaway for you, your loved one or friends? Travel with Olivia to Club Med’s Ixtapa Pacific Resort in Mexico for their “Club Olivia” Jan. 2330, 2010. With prices starting at $1,699, entertainment includes Vickie Shaw,

For the guys Atlantis Events, atlantisevents.com Book today for Atlantis Events’ largest gay cruise, Jan. 17-24, 2010. Atlantis takes over Royal Caribbean’s Liberty of the Seas, a 3700-passenger ship offering all the amenities you’d ever want for a winter cruise getaway. Available rooms and packages start as low as $999.

Michele Balan, Lori Michaels and the Wau Wau Sisters. The company’s Western Caribbean Cruise, with more than 1,300 planned passengers, is set for Feb. 28-March 7, 2010. Featuring a full itinerary on the Holland Americ Ryndam, entertainment includes the Indigo Girls, Vickie Shaw, Julie Goldman, Julie Wolf and more! If you want on this boat, you’ll have to act fast. Many rooms have wait lists and others are going quickly. Prices start at $999 for rooms with a wait list and $1,399 for available rooms.

Too late to make it on to one of these trips? Don’t worry — these travel companies offer all sorts of trips throughout the year. Check out their websites for more great vacations.

Photo Credit: Atlantis Events Photo Credit: RSVP Vacations

Sweet, discoversweet.com This new lesbian vacation company has come out kicking and swinging with unique travel experiences including their Feb. 7-16, 2010 Kenyan Safari. The trip begins with a stay at the InterContinental Nairobi Hotel and quickly moves into what you’ve really come to see: the African countryside, wildlife and culture. Visit an elephant orphanage, a rural school, nature preserves and national parks, wildlife conservancies and more! The trip is a bit pricey, coming in at close to $6,000 per person, but Sweet’s 12month, interest-free payment plan just might make your dream vacation a reality.

next issue November 28, 2009

RSVP Vacations, rsvpvacations.com Set sail on the the beautiful, 2100-passenger MS Eurodam with RSVP Vacations and Holland America for their Feb. 13-20 Caribbean Cruise. There’s something for everyone on this ship, including fitness activities, cultural explorations, cooking classes, spas and salons, shopping, swimming, parties and entertainment! Rooms and packages are going fast and many already have waiting lists. Prices start as low as $899 per person. — by Matt Comer . Q-Notes staff

Annual Holiday Gift Guide

World AIDS Day

Winter travel

Awareness & remembrance

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Top gay winter getaways Bask in the sun and be warm this winter Learn more about gay travel in Brazil at gaytravelbrazil.com. Key West Want to stay “at home” for your vacation and avoid the hassles of international travel? Then head down to Key West, Fla., where the straight folks might just be in the minority! Home to a lively beach scene all year round, luxury accommodations

Sydney’s Gay Mardi Gras Parade Photo Credit: Ann-Marie Calilhanna for ACON, acon_online, via Flickr. Licensed under Creative Commons.

Our QLiving feature this issue highlights some of the great gay and lesbian cruises and winter resort getaways offered by vacation companies like Olivia and Atlantis Events. If cruises aren’t your thing, or you prefer the relaxed environment of a personally-planned vacation, there are plenty of opportunities around the globe. Here are some of our favorite gay getaways to keep you warm and feeling bright during the winter months.

attractions, São Paulo is also home to one of the world’s largest gay Prides. If you want beaches and relaxation, check out Rio de Janeiro. Everyone knows about this world-renowned beach town, but you can’t really get to know the treasures it offers unless you visit!

Gay.com sets up shop at a festival in Key West. Photo Credit: Henry M. Diaz, via Flickr. Licensed under Creative Commons.

and exclusively gay and lesbian events and spaces, Key West has been a favorite gay vacation destination for years. The town’s gay Business Guild and Visitor Center at www.gaykeywestfl.com can help you find the perfect places to sleep, eat, drink, shop and relax. Q

Sydney It’s no secret that Australia’s largest city is a favorite among gay travelers. Thousands upon thousands flock to the city every year for Sydney’s Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras. With a festival and parade, tons of parties and lots more to keep you busy into the wee hours of the night, Syndey’s gay scene is hopping during Mardi Gras. Get more information at www.mardigras.org.au. São Paulo/Rio de Janeiro Some say São Paulo is the “undiscovered gay mecca.” It’s the world’s third largest city with a gay community, party scene and nightlife rivaling any other! Full of fine dining, arts, museums, top notch shopping centers and more world-class

As many as two million or more attend Pride in São Paulo each year. Photo Credit: Carlos Cabral, via Flickr. Licensed under Creative Commons.

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Parisian Gay Pride 2007. Photo Credit: Philippe LeRoyer, via Flickr. Licensed under Creative Commons

TripOut: Top travel destinations win in reader awards Logo’s TripOutGayTravel.com highlights best of best by Matt Comer . Q-Notes staff MTV’s Logo network and its TripOutGayTravel.com unveiled the winners of their first ever TripOut Gay Travel Awards this month. Decided by more than 100,000 votes from the website’s readers and Logo viewers, the awards honor the destinations and travel services that deserve such unique titles including “Sexiest Place on Earth,” “Best Breakout Destination,” “Ultimate Luxury Hotel” and “Best Gay Bar in the World” for the gay and lesbian community. “The voting results showcase the places our community loves to visit, where and with whom they choose to spend their time and money, and which destinations and businesses truly excel in welcoming

General Gayety

LGBT visitors,” John Polly, TripOutGay Travel.com’s editor, said in a press release. TripOut Gay Travel Award Winners Best Global Destination: Rio de Janeiro Other nominees: Barcelona, Buenos Aires, London, Montreal, Sydney Best U.S. Destination: New York Other nominees: New Orleans, Philadelphia, Portland, Provincetown, San Francisco Best Gay Bar in the World: The Abbey Other nominees: Exit, Sidetrack, Heaven, The Week, Le Drugstore Sexiest Place on Earth: Paris Other nominees: Buenos Aires, Fort Lauderdale, Las Vegas, Madrid, Mykonos Q

that got Referendum 71 on the ballot with the aim of ditching the by Leslie Robinson . Contributing Writer domestic partnership rights the legislature granted. The purpose of People in the public eye who utter inanities Stevens’ letter was to urge about gays keep me busy. I regularly poke into supporters to pony up more money. the verbal and written slams offered up by At the time, I assumed it would work, folks all around the world, from Oklahoma because her message was Armageddon is state legislator Sally Kern (Homosexuality is coming and it’s dressed in drag: “the biggest threat our nation has, even more “Could this be the final battle? so than terrorism.”), to Moscow Mayor Yuri “Are the homosexuals finally going to take Luzhkov (Pride parades are “satanic.”). control of our culture and push their depraved As a citizen of the state of Washington, I’d lifestyle on our children and families?” like to highlight my homies now and then, but That had to have some reaching for their prominent Washingtonians have been largely wallets and it’s only the start of the letter. I restrained of late — and, thus, uncooperative. give my fellow Evergreen Stater credit for Val Stevens changed all that. The state seneffective writing. She mixes hyperbole, hysteator penned an anti-gay diatribe that is worldria and hate into a paranoid witch’s brew. Just class. She’s suddenly become über-cooperative. in time for both Halloween and the election. Just days before the election on Nov. 3, Further on Stevens refers again to “the Stevens wrote a letter to appear on the website final assault on our families and American of Protect Marriage Washington, the group see General Gayety on 23

The senator makes the grade

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T-Notes

next month. The point is that well-intentioned writers need to be attentive, by Robbi Cohn . Contributing Writer sensitive and must educate themselves. That includes me and Dan Brown. Those who are not well intenThere are several fundamental themes tioned will get whatever that always seem to repeat themselves in slings and arrows are due them. trans matters: if the bathroom issue is most We experience life as individuals. Some of insidious, then the battle over language and those experiences are ones we may share. nomenclature is surely close behind. In his Others are ours alone. Each person’s experilatest book, Dan Brown has drawn attention ences help to define how they see themselves to the latter. and how they see themselves existing in the Although I am neither a freemason nor a world. Each individual solely is entitled to Rosicrucian, I will admit to having a lay interdecide in both cases. All too often, however, est in the history of religions as it relates to the someone other than the individual is doing so-called ancient mysteries. Dan Brown has the defining. The intersection of how we written amply on the subject in his novels define ourselves and how we define each “Angels and Demons,” and of course,“The other is where we encounter problems. DaVinci Code.” His latest book,“The Lost Misunderstanding and miscommunication Symbol,” explores similar subject matter liberinvariably ensue. Use of broad categories by ally, some would say, but not too far from what non-trans persons to unduly categorize, label my lay reading of the literature would support. and delimit what it means existentially to be He manages, however, to make a “fine gender diverse is unacceptable. The same mess of it all” in one particularly inarticulate goes for persons who, themselves, are gender passage. In his books, Mr. Brown often attests diverse. Attempts to homogenize the trans to the accuracy of details within his narraexperience often serve only to alienate us tives. Sadly, his use of the word “transgenderfrom each other. The umbrella metaphor is ing” is completely erroneous, poorly investinot helpful when used to excess. Remember: gated and will only feed the fires of those attentive, sensitive, educated. who say he has thoroughly misrepresented Western civilization’s penchant for binding the truth. He goes on to compare being translabels and definitions is a binary legacy of gender to tattooing and alleged bodily mutipatriarchal thinking which, by itself, has lations, setting him in rather sad company become dogmatic, anachronistic and obsolete. regarding his ignorance of what it means to One might suspect from its dominance that be transgender. this defining bestows some sort innate knowlThe fact of the matter is there is no such edge. This is seldom the case.As I am sure thing as “transgendering.” Being transgender Dan Brown knows from his study of ancient is not a process, a person does not “become” mysteries, there is much wisdom that draws trans, they are trans. I often encounter those upon matriarchal consciousness and women’s who insist on using the expression “transgenarts. Is it not possible that well-balanced ders,” as though people who express gender human beings need a mixture of both patriardiversity are merely things to be described, chal and matriarchal worldviews? categorized and pigeonholed. Even the use of Clearly, we (myself included) see red the word transgender raises hackles on the when others attempt to pigeon hole our necks of some because they feel they are being experiences or to, willy-nilly, lump us all erroneously tagged. This is not necessarily into identical categories. Labels, although by how they self identify. The shoddy use of lanall appearance convenient, quite often guage both within and without the trans become traps. They lead others to erroneous world is rampant and has become a kind of conclusions that can be, at best, a nuisance, “prison of our own devise,” that enigmatic Jim and, at worst, deprive a person of life, liberMorrison lyric. ty or the pursuit of happiness. Yet, is it not As if it isn’t bad enough that we must conceivable that we lose our way when we deal with the problem of incorrect pronoun pursue a divisive agenda within this group usage by the media, the invective of neo-funof loosely affiliated individuals who, for one damentalists and their straw-man argureason or another, have experienced societal ments used to validate their baseless claims, dissonance? We have much in common with and the academically shabby allegations of each other, despite our differences. Overthose clinicians who fabricate diagnoses, reactions run rampant because we allow other verbal expressions keep us trapped in ourselves to personalize so much. We need this prison of words. Some are those we use some kind of balance between practical and ourselves; some are words used by others. I, ideal, perceiver and perception, personal too, am not immune to stepping in the and universal, as well as matriarchal and proverbial mess. Readers of last month’s colpatriarchal. This might be possible if we umn called me on the carpet for, by all could only get past our agendas, which, for appearances, piggybacking trans issues onto whatever reasons, keep us trapped in the those of persons with intersex conditions. I prisons of our own devise. Q do recognize and differentiate trans issues — Comments and corrections can be from intersex issues and I apologize for sent to [email protected]. using less than critical judgment in my To contact Robbi Cohn, email choice of words. I’ll explore the subject more [email protected].

Locked in a prison of our own devise

For up-to-date coverage visit: www.q-notes.com the Carolinas’ multimedia LGBT news source

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Triangle Area

Office Space for Rent:

704.965.5214 144 sq. ft. to 288 sq. ft. • close to Uptown Charlotte Clean, cool, comfortable

Around The Carolinas

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Tell Trinity

to come clean and tell you what you may keep doing wrong! Dearest Trinity, My roommate goes nuts when I’m late, but he knows I’m always late. And, it’s not always my fault. How do I get him to see things my way? Late Excuses, Lincoln, Neb. Dearest Late Excuses, Before you try to get him to see things your way, first see things my way! It starts with you being totally responsible for your actions and completely accepting that it’s always your fault when you’re late, not because you don’t have a good excuse, but because you made a promise, a commitment, a contract and you broke it. Now, sweetie, to help you understand how to be late and have integrity here are:

by Trinity . Contributing Writer

Threeway sex means take care of everyone Hello Trinity, Why would anyone have threeway sex? And, if I do try it, isn’t it complicated and unfair to one of the three? Three’s A Crowd, San Diego, Calif. Hello Three’s A Crowd, Why would anyone want two people at once attending to their erotic desires, their erogenous zones and their endless fantasies? Darling, people end up in threeways because it’s fun, exciting and, BTW, it’s been part of sexual pleasure for thousands of years! So to make it work right the first time remember: 1) everyone must be attracted to each other; 2) everyone must promise to sexually please the others (or, at least, fake it); and 3) if you’re a non-monogamous couple “no fighting in front of the guest!” Hey Trinity, I love eating and I don’t like dieting. Is that wrong? Food Fight, Roanoke, Va. Hey Food Fight, It’s great to eat everything you want, but isn’t it even greater to feel attractive, confident and have your mate yearn to rip your clothes off? Pumpkin, having boundaries, eating healthy, living long and staying medically fit is… is… is so boring. Hey, pass the Ben & Jerry’s Hubby Hubby! (Want some

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delicious ideas on how I handle this. See my cartoon.)

Trinity’s Hard Tips For Being Late

Dear Trinity, After dating many different guys, I still keep getting dumped. Help! Dumped Enough, Fort Lauderdale, Fla. Dear Dumped Enough, Finding the right date means you first have to sift through the pile of wrong dates.And, that could take a while, especially if you live in Fort Lauderdale. Sorry, honey, but that’s the way life goes, for most of us! But more importantly, ask friends, family and some past dates

1. Call if you’re going to be more than 300 seconds late! And, if you don’t think 300 seconds is a long time, stop now and count to 300 with your watch. 2. Communicate as soon as you know you’ll be late, which usually occurs way before you’re actually late. That’s what successful people do. 3. Leaving a message with someone or on an answering machine, even if they won’t get it in time, helps to cover your behind. 4. Excuses are for courtrooms and kindergartens. Just say,“I’m late. It will not happen again.And, please forgive me.” Give no elaborate excuses. 5. Being late is wrong, not evil or nasty, but

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wrong. So, be understanding, be ready to listen to a complaint and don’t act all righteous and innocent. 6.When you’re late for the third time, you owe a free meal, flowers, plus at least three consecutive times when you arrive early. 7. Waiting makes normal, healthy people crazy.And, if you’re unreasonably late, then bring a present. 8.And, eventually, you must realize that being early means, no stress, no worries, no excuses and no problem getting lost. 9. Unacceptable lateness is when you both have active cell phones and you still don’t communicate your lateness. 10. Lastly, if you’re late more than three times in five meetings, get therapy, take integrity workshops and understand that you may always be… lonely! Q — With a Masters of Divinity, Reverend Trinity was host of “Spiritually Speaking,” a weekly radio drama, and now performs globally. info: www.telltrinity.com . [email protected] Tell Trinity, P.O. Box 23861 . Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33307 Sponsored by: Provincetown Business Guild 800-637-8696 . www.ptown.org

The holidays are here! Looking for holiday events? Check out www.q-notes.com/spotlight/ or pick up our Nov. 28 print issue for a complete set of 2009 holiday concerts, festivals and other exciting events.

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Out in the Stars by Charlene Lichtenstein

Nov. 14-27 Venus, the planet of love, moves into passionate Scorpio and squares expansive Jupiter. Who knows what can happen? Dreams of love and fame may wind up on the cutting room floor or on the front pages. Wish upon a star, but be careful for what you wish. Melodious can turn malodorous the morning after. SCORPIO (10.24 -11.22) Expect to feel fits of frenzied panic. So much is happening and so many opportunities appear on your plate, you don’t know which one to bite at first. Sit back, review the choices and give yourself time to choose. Soon the landscape will solidify and you can better discern treasure from trash.Hmm,and yet aren’t you sort of into trash? SAGITTARIUS (11.23-12.22) Gay Archers feel especially magnanimous now. Tap the urge to become more involved in good gay community charities, but be sure that your efforts are put toward the greatest beneficial effect instead of dissipated and wasted effort, false starts, and an ultimate lack of impact.Soon,however,you are a force with whom to be reckoned. CAPRICORN (12.23-01.20) Don’t count on friends to be there when you need ’em, despite their assurances of cooperation. The best pink Caps can expect now is a jolly time or two with more than enough grog to dull the memory. Eat, drink and be merry in moderation. Compadres are apt to leave you slumped in your messy, groggy pile as they head off to the next sordid adventure. AQUARIUS (01-21-02.19) You impressed your boss, but not in the way you think, Aqueerius. Blame your over exhuberance for your corporate faux pas. Thankfully this event is transitory and your setback is only temporary. Pick yourself up off the bottom rung, dust yourself off and try kissing up the ladder again. Bosses have lousy memories these days anyway. PISCES (02.20-03.20) Adventure is in the air! (Do I smell something burning?) Expect the unexpected in any travel plans. Tie up loose ends — Guppies may want to reconfirm reservations and only travel with carry-ons.Even then,an item or two can go astray. However, if you travel with a friend, you will never be without a toothbrush or another set of underwear. ARIES (03.21-04.20)Want to see how quickly a hunk transforms into a troll? Just wait and see what happens as you pursue your heart’s desire. Choose well-lit bars, gay Ram, so you can clearly see who cruises by. Even then, scratch below the surface before you buy that first drink. You want

to experience fireworks, but do it with . Contributing Writer a rocket and not with a nickel firecracker. TAURUS (04.21-05.21) Queer Bulls seem to be keeping score with partners. Some of you may wonder if you are receiving as much as you are giving. (You might not think so now, but let the dander settle a bit before you let the fur fly.) Some of you may take a trip to the moon on gossamer wings, but be sure that the planets don’t deliver you just one of those crazy things. GEMINI (05.22-.6.21) The temptation is to go overboard in any routine task. Variety may be the spice of life, but avoid the urge to experiment now. Gay Twins are usually fairly moderate, but now the pull of the extreme will lead you close to the edge, even at work.You ache to take unnecessary risks, but streaking through the office should not be one of them. It is chilly in November, after all. CANCER (06.22-07.23) Fun can get totally out of control, so look before you leap. Gay Crabs should temper their intake of alcohol or any other addictive additives. The landscape can shift and lead you astray. However, for those romantic souls who wear their hearts on their sleeves, a good forward pass can zero in on an appreciative receiver. Ah, but how far can you touch down? LEO (07.24-08.23) Proud Lions are anxious to mend bridges with family. You have the impression that there can be a meeting of the minds. While hope springs eternal, it might be better if you waited a short while before you pass out olive branches and release the doves. Your dreams and desires outweigh your sense of timing. Wait until timing tips the scales to your advantage. VIRGO(08.24-09.23)Folks hang on your every word. Queer Virgos sound almost sage-like and otherworldly now. Make good use of this burst of imagination and intuition and don’t waste your temporary cosmic gift on mere gab. Strike a stake in the heart of the opposition immediately! Alas, this verbal jolt soon passes and too soon,you’ll be back to easy listening muzac. LIBRA (09.24-10.23) Proud Libras anxiously finger their wallets. The urge is to spend, spend, spend, but try to save, save, save instead.Even less than risky investments are a no, no, no now because you are investing with your heart and not your head. Check the market indicators. There is plenty of time to carefully examine the bottom line.Are you a bear or a bull? Q © 2009 Madam Lichtenstein, LLC. All Rights Reserved. Entertainment.

info: Visit www.TheStarryEye.com for e-greetings, horoscopes and Pride jewelry. My book “HerScopes: A Guide To Astrology For Lesbians” from Simon & Schuster is available at bookstores and major booksites.

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Out and About: Events . compiled by Q-Notes staff Nov. 15 • Greensboro

www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=34606131271.

Film screening

Dec. 1 • Charlotte

The Human Rights Campaign and Guilford Green Foundation present a special screening of “For the Bible Tells Me So,” a documentary exploring faith and religion and homosexuality. The film profiles Episcopal Bishop Gene Robinson, former House Majority Leader Richard Gephardt and family, North Carolina’s Rev. Jimmy Creech and others. The Broach Theatre, 520 S. Elm St. 4 p.m. $5 requested donation. www.ggfnc.org. www.hrc.org.

AIDS names reading

Nov. 17 • Charlotte Disco Ball Kasey King presents her Disco Ball fundraiser for the Regional AIDS Interfaith Network (RAIN) and Pets Are Loving Support! (PALS), featuring a Disco costume contest with cash prizes, a Disco themed drag show and DJ Ghost. The Scorpio, 2301 Freedom Dr. 9 p.m. Admission is free with donations accepted at the door and during the show. www.scorpios.com.

Nov. 20 • Charlotte Trans Rememberance The Charlotte Gender Alliance presents a recognition of the Transgender Day of Remembrance. Several speakers will talk about the purpose of remembrance and the challenges faced by the transgender community, as those present gather to remember transgender people lost to anti-trans hate and prejudice. Lesbian & Gay Community Center of Charlotte, 820 Hamilton St., Suite B-11. 6:30 p.m. Free. www.charlottegenderalliance.info. www.gaycharlotte.com.

Dec. 2 • Columbia ‘Rent,’ Pride style Be one of the first to see the show everyone in Columbia is talking about. SC Pride and Trustus Theatre present a special performance of the hit Broadway musical “Rent,” two days before the production’s opening day! The special performance preparty,“Bohemian Silent Auction” and stage production will be the last major event for SC Pride in 2009. Trustus Theatre, 520 Lady St. Pre-party, 6:30 p.m. Curtain, 7:30 p.m. $40, in advance at shop.scpride.org.

Dec. 5 • Charlotte AIDS Day forum The Charlotte Teens Taking Action Peer Education Program presents the “Respect Yourself Protect Yourself: A World AIDS Day Forum.” Panel discussion will explore the reality of HIV in Charlotte.Also includes entertainment from local area youth, free food and free HIV testing. Holy Trinity Lutheran Church, 1900 The Plaza. 1 p.m. Free. For more information contact Kimberly Gaither at 704-569-9870, ext. 6543.

Dec. 6 • Greensboro Walk for AIDS

Guilford Green Foundation hosts a GGF Takeover at Printworks Bistro, adjacent to the Proximity Hotel. 702 Green Valley Rd. 5:30 p.m. www.ggfnc.org.

Triad Health Project hosts its 18th annual Winter Walk for AIDS, a three-mile walk raising money and awareness to benefit Triad Health Project and those affected by HIV/AIDS in Greensboro and surrounding areas. Learn more, contribute and sign up your walking teams at www.triadhealthproject.com.

Nov. 21 • Charlotte

Dec. 6 • Hickory

Shelita Goes to Hollywood

Winter Gala

The fabulous Shelita and RAIN (Regional AIDS Interfaith Network) team up to present this fall’s Charlotte Gay Bingo. Grady Cole Center, 310 N. Kings Dr. 7:30 p.m. $25. Tickets can be bought at Paper Skyscraper,White Rabbit or RAIN offices. www.gaybingocharlotte.org.

ALFA hosts its 12th annual Winter Gala to raise funds for the organization and the thousands it serves affected by HIV and AIDS. The evening features a four course meal with wine pairings prepared by Youssef Executive Chef Andre Roth. Youssef 242, 242 11th Ave. NE. 6 p.m. Reserved seating with $100 minimum donation. For more information about the Gala call 828-322-1447, ext. 224 or visit www.alfainfo.org.

Nov. 20 • Greensboro Printworks Takeover

Nov. 21 • Charlotte Stars & Lights Join your friends and head out to the Gay Bingo afterparty by Just Twirl at Grand Central, 1000 Central Ave. 10 p.m.-2:30 a.m. Tickets available at www.justtwirl.com.

Nov. 21 • Cullowhee Equality festival Western Carolina University’s UNITY presents Fight for Equal Rights 2009, a festival celebrating and supporting the continuation of equality and civil rights including women’s rights and LGBT rights. For more information, contact the group at [email protected] or through their Facebook page at

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Join the Regional AIDS Interfaith Network (RAIN) for a memorial reading of HIV/AIDS victims names at Charlotte’s Independence Square, corner of Trade and Tryon St. Noon. Free. www.carolinarain.org.

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Dec. 12 • Wilmington Global Groove Ibiza Nightclub hosts DJ David Knapp’s “Global Groove: Dance 2” release party. Gift bags valued at over $100 in travel, music and more will be distributed to those in attendance for those who bring two canned goods for donation to the local food bank. Ibiza Nightclub, 118 Market St. www.centaurmusic.com. www.ibizawilmington.com. Q

info: Announce your community event in Out & About. email: [email protected].

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General Gayety from page 16

culture by the homosexuals.” Clearly she has an exaggerated view of the importance of our state. I mean, I’m fond of Washington and all, but Referendum 71 is no Yorktown. Even if the gays win this particular vote in this particular state, we won’t be taking control of American culture.We lack the infrastructure. Stevens bemoans the state having repealed sodomy laws in 1970,“with government turning a blind eye to a behavior commonly considered perversion — and still the case with a majority of Americans.” Apparently the Arlington Republican was AWOL from the planet in 2003, when that notoriously bawdy bunch, the U.S. Supreme Court, took a different view of consensual gay sex. But, then her aim is to terrify, so she pushes several of the tried and true buttons. In addition to sodomy, she invokes NAMBLA, always a crowd-pleaser. Stevens also points to “the devastation in Scandinavian countries,” apparently referring to the discredited but often cited statistical “proof” provided by conservative pundit Stanley Kurtz that gay marriage destroys straight marriage. I wonder how Scandinavians feel about American social conservatives holding them up as a sociological nuclear winter. Stevens also frets over “the objective of the feminization of the male in our society.” Wow. I wouldn’t want to be a guy in her household. One hint of sensitivity and you’re off to military school. She worries about school children being told that homosexuality is normal and about the Free Speech rights of pastors, two of the drumbeats that have become popular with her set in the recent past.While she bemoans the fact that gays in Washington are,“after 27 years of relentless pursuit,” a protected group, she doesn’t use the phrase “special rights.” Obviously an oversight. Now that the Washington state senator has put herself on the world map of bigots, I look forward to her next offering. I don’t think she can top this for sheer hysteria. On the other hand, if she can tell supporters “we are on the verge of losing the battle of our lifetimes” over domestic partnership, there’s no telling, when the battle really is over same-sex marriage, what hyperbolic heights she’ll climb. Q info: [email protected] . www.GeneralGayety.com

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