May 14-27, 2021
qnotes
1
2
qnotes
May 14-27, 2021
May 14-27, 2021 Vol 36 No 02
connect goqnotes.com
twitter.com/qnotescarolinas facebook.com/qnotescarolinas instagram.com/qnotescarolinas
contributors this issue
L’Monique King, Jack Kirven, Jesse Monteagudo, David Aaron Moore, Ali Nininger-Finch, Julianna Peres, Chris Rudisill, Terri Schlichenmeyer, Gregg Shapiro, Trinity
front page
Graphic Design by Natasha Morehouse Illustration: daboost via Adobe Stock Mission:
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@goqnotes.com Nat’l Sales: Rivendell Media, ph 212.242.6863 Managing Editor: Jim Yarbrough, x201, editor@goqnotes.com Copy Editor: Bailey Sides Production: Natasha Morehouse, x205, production@goqnotes.com Printed on recycled paper.
Material in qnotes is copyrighted by Pride Publishing & Typesetting © 2021 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.
charlotteobserver.com/1166/ a local news partner of The Charlotte Observer
inside this issue
feature
Anniversary of Lesbian Couple’s Death Leaves Spotlight on Wilmington Police
10 Hate Groups in North Carolina
news
The recently engaged women passed in a car crash a year ago. It took authorities over two weeks to find their bodies in their vehicle, despite the fact that a witness called 911 to report seeing a car run off the road. People continue to question why it took police so long, and whether or not the fact that they were part of the LGBTQ community played a role.
4 Anniversary of Lesbian Couple’s Death Leaves Spotlight on Wilmington Police 8 Rally at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center 8 South Carolina Rejects Anti-Trans Bill 8 Lesbian Health Proposals Wanted 8 Briefs
a&e
13 Screen Savor: Not Another Gay Movie 14 ‘Laundry Love: Finding Joy in a Common Chore’ 17 Tell Trinity 18 Holding Space
life
PAGE 4
How Hatred Undermines Wellness
Spending energy feeling hateful can induce physical and mental harm to oneself. Members of hate groups, like white supremacists, face an increased risk for heart disease and other afflictions associated with chronic stress.
PAGE 16
16 How Hatred Undermines Wellness 19 Our People: Surya Swilley
views
12 The Trumpiest State? 14 Cleaning Up Your Criminal Record
events
IN
F CUS TRIANGLE
5 Touring the Triangle 6 LGBTQ Resources in the Triangle
For event listings, visit goqnotes.com/events-calendar.
May 14-27, 2021
qnotes
3
news
Anniversary of Lesbian Couple’s Death Leaves Spotlight on Wilmington Police How Did Recently Engaged Pair’s Deaths Go Unsolved for So Long?
by Julianna Peres qnotes Staff Writer
by David Aaron Moore qnotes Staff Writer
A
pril 15, 2020 was the last day that Stephanie Mayorga and her fiancée, Paige Escalera, were seen alive. The couple was classified as “missing persons” for 19 days after their fatal car accident. Over a year after this tragedy, the Wilmington Police Department (WPD) is still being scrutinized for its massive delay in finding the women’s bodies. On May 14, 2020, Deputy Chief Alex Sotelo held a press conference confirming the WPD discovered the car with the two dead women inside on May 4. That announcement was made, despite a witness calling 911 and reporteing seeing their 2013 Dodge Dart run off the road moments after it occurred. Sotelo claimed that the search lasted more than two weeks for several reasons.
4
qnotes
May 14-27, 2021
First, he emphasized that the couple was not reported missing until April 19. Then, Sotelo stressed that there were “no obvious signs of a wreck. The only evidence of the crash was a faint tire imprint near the curb, as well as scuffmarks on the curb itself.” This was contested by friends and family of the two women, who pointed to the 911 call on April 15, at 11:45 p.m. In the press conference, Sotelo professed that police, firefighters and the EMS crew surveyed the area for only eight minutes, determining that there was nothing that warranted further investigation and “there were no skid marks and no debris.” A Facebook page titled “Missing Girls: Paige Escalera & Stephanie Mayorga” was started by the couple’s family members as a way to garner information on the women’s whereabouts. Once the discovery of their bodies was made, most of the members were shocked and heartbroken, leaving messages that indicated as much. That cop completely disregarded the eyewitness,” wrote one. “So many questions swirl now. Could they have been saved? I’m incredibly disgusted at their lack of investigation and follow up.”
“Just as we had suspected, they didn’t take the 911 caller seriously. Cannot believe the officer didn’t even get out of the car to search. It’s no wonder they were only there a total of eight minutes,” a friend posted. The couple’s sexual orientation has not been addressed by the Wilmington Police Department but does not seem to have any bearing on the case. Wilmington’s LGBTQ community, however, continues to question whether or not Escalera and Mayorga’s sexual orientation and race played a factor in the delay of the eventual discovery of the wreckage and their bodies, which had remained inside the car for over two weeks. Sotelo has remained adamant there was no wrong doing in the initial investigation, pointing out that it was later discovered the car battery broke in half on impact, which shut off any lights or sounds that could have made the crash visible to police and that thick foliage at the back of the car completely covered the taillights and prevented any reflection from searchlights. “This crash happened in the blink of an eye,” Sotelo explained.”From the time the
vehicle hit the curb to the time of the collision, only 0.99 seconds elapsed.” Investigators believe that the vehicle was traveling over 100 miles an hour on Independence Boulevard when it hit the curb to the left of Wilmington’s Watermark Marina entrance, and likely went airborne, completely clearing the ground by about 20 feet. While it has been a year since their deaths, the love and support their parents felt for the two women as daughters and as a soon-to-be-married couple is evident in this post from their Facebook page: Official statement from Stephanie Mayorga & Paige Escalera’s parents It is with our deepest sorrow that we inform you all of the untimely death of our beloved daughters, Paige Escalera and Stephanie Mayorga. We are all heartbroken and trying to process the devastating news. We want to thank each and every one of you for all of your amazing support and love. It meant so much to us and will never be forgotten… Thank you and God bless. Be safe, be kind and love one another. : :
IN
F CUS TRIANGLE
Community Resource Guide
Touring the Triangle Raleigh, Durham & Chapel Hill Attractions
by L’Monique King qnotes Staff Writer
T
he Raleigh State Capitol building is one of the best examples of Greek Style Revival architecture in the United States. Around the turn of the 20th century Durham was a nationally known hub of successful Black entrepreneurs. Downtown Chapel Hill becomes a bustling hub of nightlife on the weekends. COVID-19 Pandemic numbers are down substantially in North Carolina since the beginning of the year. Vaccines are readily available, and summer is on the horizon. Most people are happy to see the end of curfews, quarantining at home and television reruns as they once again look forward to getting out and about. Even though Out! Raleigh Pride has been on hold since 2020 and will remain off the calendar until 2022 to safeguard progress with the pandemic, regional travel is once again an opportunity many are returning to. If you’re looking for an extended weekend getaway or something even a bit more extended, the triangle area of Raleigh, Durham and Chapel Hill offer a variety of places to go, see and do. Chapel Hill is the home of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (where Michael Jordan played college basketball for the Tar Heels), and it’s the perfect place to relax at the edge of the triangle. From the website chapelhill.org: “Our community has a long-standing reputation as the most welcoming place in the state for the LGBT community,” says Lydia Lavell, the state’s first lesbian mayor. The area hosts The North Carolina Botanical Garden (ncbg.unc.edu/visit), which offers events, exhibits and guided tours. Main gardens are open to the public, free and don’t require reservations. It’s a great place for getting in touch with nature or tying the knot. This spring and summer the Garden is allowing small outdoor gatherings of up to 50 people. Indoor events permit as many as 25 individuals, but you’d better move quickly. Applications are no longer being accepted for May or June, and they’re already beginning to book for the remainder of the summer, fall and into 2022. If you’re looking for an activity that’s a little less flowery, head over to the Ackland Art Museum (ackland. org) Wednesdays through Saturdays (1-5 p.m.). They’ve reopened and admission is free, but you will need to reserve your free timed tickets online. Currently there’s a riveting exhibit, “Holding Space for Nobility: A Memorial for Breonna Taylor.” Get there before it leaves on July 4, and don’t miss the “Clouding: Shape and Sign In Asian Art” installation during your visit. It explores the diverse forms and functions of clouds in Asian art, with different works from different time periods. Last and certainly not least, you can’t take a trip to Chapel Hill without visiting Franklin St. Considered the center of nightlife for university students and a social destination for all residents of the town, it is home to numerous
The North Carolina Botanical Gardens (Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons)
coffee shops, restaurants, museums, music stores and bars. Durham has a busy downtown with an artsy warehouse district with many renovated warehouses now serving as apartment complexes. Its rich history includes a four-block area known as Black Wall Street — formerly a hub for Black business and the Black middle-class. A historical marker on Parrish St. tells the history of the area with details of early 1900s Durham accomplishing national success because of the many Black-owned businesses in the area. Among them were N.C. Mutual Life Insurance Co. and Mechanics & Farmers Bank. Well known authors Booker T. Washington and W.E.B. DuBois celebrated those achievements in their writings. By the 1960s desegregation and eventual gentrification brought about the demise of Durham’s Black Wall Street, though the influence still remains. If you’re interested in exploring the history of the area, check out Duke University. The school is a depository of historic information like no other in the country and well worth a visit. If you’re looking for a more theatrical experience, you should make your way to the Durham Performing Arts Center-DPAC (dpacnc.com) for Broadway style entertainment and more. A bevy of various musical performances by national and local bands began as early as July. If you’re in Durham around lunch, stop by Dame’s Chicken & Waffles (dameschickenwaffles.com) on Foster Street for some sweet and savory deliciousness. Dame’s is
North Carolina’s state capital. (Photo Credit: Visit Raleigh) just recently purchased a house [there.] We’ll be moving back sometime in June. “[We] love everything about the city [and] there are a lot better places to eat that aren’t chain restaurants,” he continues. “One of our favorites is a vegan restaurant called The Fiction Kitchen (thefictionkitchen.com) and our favorite coffee shop is Cup A Joe” (cupajoe.com). Once you get to Raleigh, and you’re interested in places to visit after lunch, consider visiting the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences (naturalsciences.org). They’re open Tuesdays through Sundays (10 a.m.–4 p.m.) with a new [COVID-19] procedure and plans in place to help ensure everyone’s safety. There is an endless list of things to experience: Have you ever touched the bones of a Right Whale, sat in the center of the earth to hear a scientist talk or come face to face with a scary carnivore? You can do all of that and more in exhibits at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences.
Destinations
The North Carolina Botanical Gardens 100 Old Mason Farm Rd., Chapel Hill 919-962-0522 ncbg.unc.edu/visit A historic building on Parrish St. (Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons) known for their “Almost World-Famous Chicken & Waffle Inspirations,” which offer palette pleasing pairing varieties that will suit just about everyone. In case you’re wondering how to end the day or evening in Durham, pay a visit to 21c. Located in the center of downtown Durham, the 21c Museum Hotel (21cmuseumhotels. com/durham) offers 10,500 square feet of art-filled exhibition and event space, a full-service boutique hotel with luxurious guest rooms and a restaurant. You can explore the current exhibit, dine among thought-provoking works of art at their Counting House restaurant or lounge in the original bank vault — transformed by contemporary art. Raleigh offers The North Hills shopping area. It’s filled with an array of shops and stores; among them is the specialty shop Beyond Blue, where you can find hand crafted furniture, excellent design advice, unique gift items, wine and locally roasted coffee. There’s just about anything a shopper could want at North Hills, including gyms, boutiques, eateries, a gourmet grocery store and more. As you might imagine, there’s more to Raleigh than shopping. In addition to being the home of the state capital (the Greek revival style main legislative building is generally open Monday through Friday for self-guided tours), N.C. State University and Shaw University. It’s also a place Matt Martin can’t wait to return to. Martin is a Professional Grass-roots Advocacy Manager currently living in Burlington. “[I] left Raleigh in 2017, when my partner got a job out of town, and we’ve wanted to get back ever since,” he explains. “That’s where all our people are. We miss it [and]
Aclkland Art Museum 101 South Columbia St., Chapel Hill 919-966-5736 ackland.org Durham Performing Arts Center 123 Vivian St., Durham 919-680-2787 dpacnc.com/home Dames Chicken and Waffles 530 Foster St., #130, Durham 919-682-9235 dameschickenwaffles.com 21c Museum hotel 111 North Corcoran St., Durham 919-956-6700 21cmuseumhotels.com/durham The Fiction Kitchen 428 South Dawson St., Raleigh 919-831-4177 thefictionkitchen.com Cup a Joe 3100 Hillsboro St. Raleigh 919-828-9665 cupajoe.com North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences 11 West Jones St., Raleigh 919-707-9800 naturalsciences.org : :
May 14-27, 2021
qnotes
5
IN
F CUS TRIANGLE
Community Resource Guide
Academic Duke University Center for Sexual and Gender Diversity csgd@studentaffairs.duke.edu 919-684-6607 studentaffairs.duke.edu/csg
Wake County HIV Support Group: Under One Roof wake.nc.networkofcare.org/mh/services
LGBTQ Center at UNC Chapel Hill lgbtq@unc.edu 919-843-5376 lgbtq.unc.edu
Compass Center clientservices@compassctr.org 919-968-4610 compassctr.org
North Carolina Central University LGBTA Resource Center nccu.edu/lgbta/index.cfm
LGBT Center of Raleigh info@lgbtcenterofraleigh.com 919-832-4484 lgbtcenterofraleigh.com
North Carolina State University GLBT Center oied.ncsu.edu/divweb/glbt
Addiction Recovery D-icers— CMA Meeting dicerstriangle@gmail.com North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition loftinwilson@gmail.com 919-370-0671 nchrc.org Pipe Down — CMA Meeting 725 N Boylan Ave, Raleigh NC 27605 pipedownnc@gmail.com
Business / Professional Raleigh Business and Professional Network (RBPN) RaleighBizNetwork@gmail.com raleighnetwork.org Bull City LGBTQ Professionals tacnc@aol.com RBPN — Raleigh’s LGBT Chamber of Commerce RaleighBizNetwork@gmail.com 919-349-0063 raleighlgbtchamber.org
Community Service ReachOUT N.C. info@reachoutnc.org gayforgood.org/raleigh-durham
Community Support N.C. State University GLBT Center glbtcenter@ncsu.edu 919-513-9742 diversity.ncsu.edu/glbt N.C. Central LGBTA Resource Center nccu.edu/life-nc-central/health-and-wellbeing/lgbta-center The Counselor Education Research Center for Community Mental Health at N.C. State ajhebard@ncsu.edu 919-515-6358 ced.ncsu.edu Flex 2 S West St., Raleigh, NC 27603 flex-club.com
6
qnotes
May 14-27, 2021
Entertainment
PFLAG Triangle pflagtriangle@gmail.com pflagtriangle.org
Triangle Gay Men’s Chorus, tgmchorus.org North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival — The Carolina Theatre 919-560-3030 carolinatheatre.org/films/festivals/ncglff
Family Raleigh Area Gay Families/Triangle Families mnysewan@gmail.com facebook.com/groups/255750047888031 Nathanson Adoption Services 919-844-5212 nathansonadopt.com
Oak City Cares Kathy.Johnson@oakcitycares.org 919-790-8533 oakcitycares.org
Health, Medical & Wellness
Triangle Empowerment Center, Inc. triangleempowermentcenter@yahoo.com 800-806-3558 triempowerment.org
Alliance Of AIDS Services — Carolina info@aas-c.org 919-834-2437 aas-c.org
Wellness and Education Community Action Health Network (WECAHN) — Siler City ricky@wecahn.org 919-742-3762
Durham VA Health Care System 919-286-0411 durham.va.gov/services/lgbt/index.asp
LGBTQ Center of Durham info@lgbtqcenterofdurham.org 919-827-1436 lgbtqcenterofdurham.org
Crisis
N.C. AIDS Training and Education Center at UNC 919-843-8604 med.unc.edu/ncaidstraining/prep/PrEPfor-consumers Planned Parenthood (Raleigh Health Center) 919-833-7526 plannedparenthood.org/health-center/ north-carolina/raleigh/27603/raleighhealth-center-3338-90860
Trans Lifeline 877-565-8860 translifeline.org Trevor Project Lifelin 866-488-738 thetrevorproject.org/pages/get-help-now Wrenn House / Haven House Crisis Line 919-832-7866 havenhousenc.org/ Durham Crisis Response Center crisisline@durhamcrisisresponse.org 919-403-6562 durhamcrisisresponse.org HopeLine, Inc. 919-231-4525 hopeline-nc.org Orange County Rape Crisis Center info@ocrcc.org 919-967-7273 ocrcc.org
UNC Fertility erica.mccready@integramed.com 919-908-0000 uncfertility.com/understanding-fertility/ lgbt-family-building
Political ACLU of North Carolina contact@acluofnc.org 919-834-3466 acluofnorthcarolina.org Equality North Carolina equalitync.org/ Human Rights Campaign (HRC) hrc.org/local-issues/community/thetriangle NC AIDS Action Network lee@ncaan.org 919-914-0311 ncaan.org NC National Organization for Women northcarolinanow.wordpress.com
Social Mu Chapter of Kappa Psi Kappa Fraternity, Inc. muchapterkpsik@gmail.com 919-520-1331 muchapterkpsik.com Carolina Bear Lodge — Raleigh Den groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/ RaleighNCBears/info Gay Men’s Social Club anthony@copianart.com meetup.com/Trianglegayguys Men’s Abuse Survival Tools playwright1010@yahoo.com RDUCH Prime Timers meetup.com/rdu-pt
Wake County Health Department —Clinic E wakegov.com/humanservices/publichealth/information/hiv/Pages/default. aspx
Queer Women’s Book Club library@lgbtcenterofraleigh.com gbtcenterofraleigh.com/library/librarysponsored-groups/queer-womensbook-club
Student Health Action Coalition HIV shac.hiv.unc@gmail.com 919-956-4000
The Society of Femmes, Inc. info@societyoffemmes.org societyoffemmes.org
UNC Infectious Disease 984-974-7198
Geeks and Gaymers meetup.com/GeekNC
Lawyers/Legal
Holly Springs Gay and Lesbian Group groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/hollyspringsncgl/info
Elder Care
Duke Health Justice Clinic rice@law.duke.edu 919-613-7169
Village Hearth Cohousing villagehearthcohousing@gmail.com 561-714-800 villagehearthcohousing.com
Lambda Law Students Association at UNC slk8575@live.unc.edu studentorgs.law.unc.edu/llsa
Nightclubs
Legends 330 W Hargett St., Raleigh, NC 27601 legends-club.com
Legal Aid N.C. 866-219-5262 legalaidnc.org
The Pinhook 117 W Main St., Durham, NC 27701 thepinhook.com
Triangle Area Gay Scientists (TAGS) tags.zuberfowler.com Triangle LGBTQ Active Adventures meetup.com/Triangle-LGBTQ-ActiveAdventures
Ruby Deluxe 415 S Salisbury St., Raleigh, NC 27601 rubydeluxeraleigh.com
uide
Triangle LGBTQ Couples and Friends info@trianglelgbtq.com trianglelgbtq.com
Spiritual Rainbow Gathering • St. Paul’s Episcopal Church jang7e@gmail.com 919-348-9599 Sunday Assembly Chapel Hill info@sundayassemblychapelhill.org sundayassemblychapelhill.org Beth El Synagogue info@betheldurham.org 919-682-1238 betheldurham.org Holy Trinity Evangelical Lutheran Church info@htelc.org 919-828-1687 htelc.org Pilgrim United Church of Christ pilgrimucc@frontier.com 919-489-1381 pilgrimucc-durham.org Raleigh Friends Meeting (Quakers) friends@raleighquakers.org 919-821-4414 quakercloud.org/cloud/raleighfriends-meeting St. Luke’s Episcopal Church info@stlukesdurham.org 919-286-2273 stlukesdurham.org St. Philip’s Episcopal Church javier@stphilipsdurham.org 919-682-5708 st-philips-durham.dionc.org/
919-265-3904 bullcityrunning.com Durham Queer Sports IG @durhamqueerkickball katyaweissandersson@gmail.com Triangle Front Runners triangle-front-runners@googlegroups.com trianglefrontrunners.wordpress.com/
Transgender Duke Voice Care Center tara.nixon@duke.edu 919-684-3834 Durham Gender Alliance Group groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/durhamgenderalliance/info El Centro Hispano elcentronc.org Hutchison Voice Coaching janebhutchison@gmail.com 919-389-5028 LGBT Center of Raleigh Transgender Initiative gbtcenterofraleigh.com/programs/adultprograms/transgender-initiative North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition loftinwilson@gmail.com 919-370-0671 nchrc.org Triad Gender Association Transgender support group triadgender.org UNC GLBTQ Center Trans Talk Tuesday lgbtq.unc.edu/news-events/calendar
Triangle Insight Meditation Community • Episcopal Center at Duke info@triangleinsight.org 919-383-0179 triangleinsight.org
Kuan Yin — Transgender Health Services kuanyinsep@gmail.com
United Church of Chapel Hill office@unitedchurch.org 919-942-3540 unitedchurch.org
Youth
Watts Street Baptist Church contact@wattsstreet.org 919-688-1366 wattsstreet.org
Sports Durham Rainbow Bowling League facebook.com/groups/1311614945576677/ Sports, Kings & Queens Bowling League kingsqueensbowling@gmail.com kingsandqueensbowling.org Stonewall Sports — Raleigh raleigh@stonewallsports.org stonewallraleigh.leagueapps.com/ Triangle Rainbow Bowling League trianglerainbowbowling@gmail.com trianglerainbowbowling.org Triangle Tennis Club triangletennisclub.com Bull City Running Co. bullcityrunning@gmail.com
NCHRC Trans Discussion Group loftinwilson@gmail.com 919-370-0671
PFLAG Triangle pflagtriangle@gmail.com 919-354-2999 pflagtriangle.org Safe Schools N.C. contact@safeschoolsnc.org safeschoolsnc.org Capital Area Youth and Young Adult Center info@edsisolutions.com 919-758-8453 edsisolutions.com/locations/capital-areayouth-program iNSIDEoUT insideoutsterling@gmail.com 919-706-2941 insideout180.org Friendly, Loving Support thomas.taylor@alliancecil.org 919-833-1117 alliancecil.org Queer Oriented Rap/Rock Day School qordsinfo@gmail.com 503-680-0763 qords.org
May 14-27, 2021
qnotes
7
news Rally at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center
The “Protect Charlotteans Now” rally takes place May 24 at 6 p.m. at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center. Scheduled just before the beginning of Pride Month, the community gathering is organized by the Charlotte LGBT Chamber of Commerce (CLGTCC), LGBTQ Democrats of Mecklenburg County, Sunrise Movement Charlotte, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) and the National Organization for Women (NOW). This rally is an effort to extend nondiscrimination ordinances to Charlotte. The murders of Jaida Peterson and Remy Fennell, two black transgender women who were killed in Charlotte last month, are also a major motivating factor behind this rally. The Facebook event page states, “We especially uplift our Transgender siblings, who continue to face tragic levels of violence and discrimination.” The page confirms the ordinance will protect natural hairstyles, hiring and job security for pregnant individuals, marital or familial status and veteran status, as well as gender expression and sexual orientation. The coalitions and organizations involved in the rally respond to social issues outside of the LGBTQ community. The Sunrise Movement Charlotte defines themselves as “a national movement of young people uniting to stop climate change and bring about climate justice.” Meanwhile, the NAACP continues their efforts to ensure the political, educational, social and economic equality of rights and to eliminate racial hatred towards people of color and discrimination against the LGBTQ community. The interconnectedness of these groups and issues has encouraged the intersectional approach that will be taken by the “Protect Charlotteans Now” rally. According to their Facebook page, the rally’s focal purpose is to ensure that people have equal access to employment, public accommodations and housing. To sign up for the “Protect Charlotteans Now” petition, go to bit.ly/3vNokIy. info: bit.ly/3upnKjZ — Juliana Peres
South Carolina Rejects Anti-Trans Bill
South Carolina’s Judiciary Committee voted against transphobic bill H.4153 on April 27. This bill had posed a significant threat to the athletic participation of transgender middle and high school students. The recent influx of “Save Women’s Sports” bills has further demonized the LGBTQ community; particularly those who identify as transgender, nonbinary or otherwise gender expansive. The judicial villainizing of LGBTQ youth has led to bullying and, in some cases, outright violence. In Connecticut, a cisgender girl’s family filed a lawsuit against the school for allowing transgender girls to play on her same sports team. During this time, one of the transgender players was attacked by her fellow teammates. South Carolina United for Justice & Equality released a statement in response to the H.4153 ruling, “We are relieved and The “Save Women’s Sports” bill has been struck down. (Photo Credit: Ted Eytan) grateful that, once again, lawmakers have rejected their colleagues’ blatant attempts to discriminate against transgender student athletes. Today’s vote sends the message that H.4153, just like its predecessor, H.3477 and any other bill that discriminates against transgender people, has no place in South Carolina. “For months, transgender young people and the many South Carolinians who love them have been making their voices heard to oppose these discriminatory bills, and we won’t stop until we have ensured a South Carolina where trans students are included, affirmed and afforded the same opportunities as any other student. Every South Carolinian deserves an equal opportunity to thrive, no matter who they are, and we will remain vigilant until that day comes.” From State Representative Beth Bernstein came this response: “I think there’s a lot of uneasiness with this bill because what we’re trying to do is create a solution for [a] problem that does not exist.” Organizations outside of South Carolina as well, including the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) have pushed back on South Carolina’s anti-trans measures. From their website: “The NCAA’s Board of Governors firmly and unequivocally supports the opportunity for transgender student-athletes to compete in college sports. This commitment is grounded in our values of inclusion and fair competition.” info: bit.ly/3upnKjZ — Juliana Peres
Lesbian Health Fund Proposals Wanted
In honor of Lesbian Visibility Day, the organization known as Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality (formerly the Gay and Lesbian Medical Association) has opened their annual Lesbian Health Fund (LHF) to public proposals. Applicants will have until July 16 at 11:59 p.m. to submit ideas to the LHF Grant Committee. These grants will range from $1,000 to $10,000 for each of the three to eight accepted proposals. The announcement states that these grants should be able to “identify or address health disparities among sexual and/ or gender minority women, or gender diverse people AFAB [assigned female at birth].” Since the first call for proposals in 1993, the program and content has changed tremendously. The first three LHF grant recipients conducted their studies on the stigmatization of children with lesbian mothers, methods of insemination used by lesbians and sexual orientation data. These topics were ahead of their time in terms of taboo subjects, and, as the range of Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality has increased, so has the subject matter. In 2016, a study was conducted to determine the status of shared management of chronic pain in lesbian couples. Eligible applicants included graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, scholars, nonprofit groups and faculty. Intersectionality (multi-faceted discrimination) is one of the key factors for framing research for potential grants. Health Professionals Advancing LGBTQ Equality specified the following: “Our calling is to illuminate the health needs of our community that too often go invisible and underfunded.” As further ode to Lesbian Visibility Day, LHF launched new social media platforms available on Twitter (bit.ly/3xrFjSA) and Instagram (bit.ly/3sXE3TE). Along with several Charlotte-based groups, LHF posted resources throughout the week to continue spotlighting Lesbian Visibility Day. Charlotte Pride presented social media content to commemorate the day as well, for Charlotte Pride TV, which posted on Wednesday, April 28, with brief interviews and spotlights with lesbian and queer women business owners in Charlotte. info: bit.ly/3upnKjZ — Juliana Peres
8
qnotes
May 14-27, 2021
Briefs North Carolina Community Picnic and Drag Show at Unifour Church On May 16 from 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., Newton’s Unifour Christian Church will be holding a “Family Friendly Drag Show” with the option to drive-in or mill about. There will be games, food, drinks and established Drag Queen Connie Conover. Impersonator, comedian and human rights activist, Conover is also available for event bookings such as this. All proceeds from the community picnic will go to Unifour Church. The event will take place at Unifour Church 2257 Old Conover-Startown Rd Newton, NC; pre-registration is not necessary.
info: unifourchurch.org
Guilford Green’s Give OUT Day This month-long fundraiser will continue through to the end of June; aka Pride Month. The Guilford Green Foundation (GGF) hopes to receive $5,000 for their grand re-opening in June. The Give OUT Day page states that there is a minimum of $10 per donation and that all donors will be eligible to receive prizes. Hosted by Horizons Foundation, this annual event provides a list of LGBTQ organizations throughout the United States and Puerto Rico that are in need of monetary contributions. GGF is encouraging donors to share the event on social media and reach out to Development Manager Lucy Acosta at Lucy.Acosta@ggfnc.org with any questions.
info: bit.ly/2SuMXvD
National Ohio’s Lesbian Prom Queens Two 18-year-old students, Annie Wise and Riley Loudermilk, were voted prom king and queen at Kings High School in Kings Mills, Ohio. They are the first same-sex couple to be awarded the titles at their school. Many parents were upset by this development; one parent even said, “sorry, but I believe that there are still two genders, a male and a female.” This, however, did not deter Kings High School from proudly posting about the coronation on their Facebook page. Loudermilk’s mother also commented, “it made me mad that adults were commenting on a high school dance.” Regardless, the couple enjoyed their time together at prom in the midst of their six-month anniversary celebration.
info: bit.ly/3eZ8yD
International Gay Man Killed by Homophobic Neighbors Normunds Kindzulis was set on fire by his homophobic neighbors in Tukums, Latvia on April 28. Kindzulis died in the hospital from the severe burns. Out Magazine states, “Kindzulis and Jaunklavins [the victim’s roommate] had reported the numerous threats they received from their homophobic neighbors to police, but to no avail.” The police have also not yet ruled this a homicide, rather emphasizing that Kindzulis could have committed suicide. They do, however, stress that if Kindzulis took his own life due to discriminatory harassment, the neighbors may also be prosecuted for driving him to the act.
info: bit.ly/2QYu2IT — Compiled by Juliana Peres
May 14-27, 2021
qnotes
9
views
Hate Groups in North Carolina Are White Supremacist Groups Dying, or Just Hiding?
by David Aaron Moore qnotes Staff Writer
Hebrew Israelites
W
hat is a hate group? For the most part, the question answers itself. However, they do come in all different shapes and sizes, with a variety of flavors, philosophies, theories and fairytales. To determine specifically how a person ends up in a far fringe hate group would require far more space than what we have available here. Various sources point to three specific elements: the general cultural environment an individual was exposed to while growing up, more impacting and specific perhaps, the opinions and actions of a parent or caregiver, and psychological issues, such as paranoia and irrational fear, which could be brought about for a myriad of reasons. While these possibilities certainly don’t excuse the behavior, they may offer some insight, and perhaps a pathway, to changing hearts and minds. Hatred and violence between people of differing cultures has likely existed since the dawn of humanity, but the United States, particularly during the last presidential administration has witnessed an explosion of violence and polarization not seen since the 1960s. The topic has been explored in literature, television and film. One particular film produced in 1951, entitled “Storm Warning,” examines the experiences of two sisters in a small Southern town when one comes to visit and accidentally stumbles on an attack by the Ku Klux Klan against an ethnic foreigner who is suspected of committing a crime. The elder sister (played by Ginger Rogers), sees the face of one of the Klansmen when he removes his hood. Hiding in a darkened alleyway, she goes unnoticed. When she arrives at the home of her sister (Doris Day) a few hours later, she is shocked to find out that her sister’s husband is the murdering Klansmen (portrayed by Steve Cochran). Although a specific state is never mentioned during the film, the town the elder sister visits to see her younger sibling is called Rock Point, a name which bears an uncanny similarity to North Carolina’s Rocky Point and Rocky Mount. While it may sound shocking, it is a historic fact that during the 1950s and 1960s, North Carolina’s Klan membership numbered around 10,000, which was larger than all of the other Southern states combined. Since that time, the state has evolved in a much more positive direction, and Charlotte, as well as many other urban areas throughout the state, are respectable centers for progressive thought and activities. Still, hate groups continue to exist in the state. And though small, even the Klan continues to maintain a presence. That raises a specific question: Who are the people that are the members of these groups, and who do they hate? Predominantly, the hate groups are Caucasian and of European descent,
10
qnotes
May 14-27, 2021
The Southern Poverty Law Center lists over 20 hate groups located in North Carolina. although there is some variation. In North Carolina there are known to be more than 20 documented hate groups, as designated by the Southern Poverty Law Center. Individuals and groups they choose to single out for their wrath and disdain vary widely based on religious beliefs, race and ethnicity, political ideology, sexual orientation, gender identification and more. Here’s a look at some of the most pernicious culture based and religious organizations, as well as other independent and national groups that have, or attempted to have an impact on the state of North Carolina with negative energy, teachings and sometimes, actions. Some are locally based, while others are national.
progressive politicians and hurling insults at North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper. Since Trump’s loss at a re-election bid, the group has either disbanded, lost motivation or gone underground.
Asatru Folk Assembly
In North Carolina there are many chapters of the Hebrew Israelites. In Raleigh there is Masharah Yasharahlla: Government of Israel; in Concord and Raleigh there is Israel United in Christ; in Charlotte, Greensboro, Greenville, Winston-Salem, Durham and Fayetteville there are six different chapters of the Israelite School of Universal Practical Knowledge. Comprised predominantly of individuals of African descent who believe themselves to be original descendents of ancient Israelites, they adhere to certain aspects of both Christianity and Judaism, although they have created their own interpretation of religious texts similar to the Bible. According to the Anti-Defamation League and the Southern Poverty Law Center, some but not all, are outspoken anti-Semites and racists. In an ironic statement made by former Ku Klux Klan grand Wizard Tom Metzger to the Southern Poverty Law Center, he referred to the Hebrew Israelites as, “the black counterparts of us.”
Heirs to the Confederacy
ACTBAC
Headquartered in the tiny town of Snow Camp in Alamance County, ACTBAC, which stands for Alamance County Taking Back Alamance County, has been on and off the Southern Poverty Law Center’s list of hate groups. They claim to be based on the principles of preserving Southern heritage and Southern Pride. Like many of the newer organizations and groups on this list, ACTBAC appears to have ridden the whirlwind of Donald Trump’s presidency, frequently calling out liberal and
While the Asatru Folk Assembly is based in Linden, N.C., in what was once a Methodist church, they maintain a small and quirky presence throughout the United States with roots that can be traced back to pagan beliefs in this country and further back to Nordic culture in Europe. Although they are known to contribute to community programs with efforts like monthly food banking and they defiantly deny accusations of racism and decry the label of hate group, their teachings, in the United States, insist that members must be of Caucasian and European descent. They espouse such values as marriage for opposite sex couples only and steadfastly refuse to recognize the legitimacy of transgender individuals. It is interesting to note that Asatru assemblies in Europe have distanced themselves from their American counterparts largely over a schism related to LGBTQ rights. It comes as no surprise that the American offshoot of Asatru are the ones who take issue with the LGBTQ community.
While they are listed as headquartered in Asheboro, N.C., the neo-Confederate group Heirs to the Confederacy largely flies under the radar. According to various Internet and news reports they frequently appear on the scene to protect Confederate monuments or to protest the removal of Confederate monuments. There is evidence of an ongoing association with the Proud Boys (more on them later), and press reports confirm members of the organization have been arrested. Currently, they have virtually no Internet presence. Regardless, their history from the past two years has been duly noted, and they are considered to be a growing right-wing entity, worthy of monitoring.
Identity Dixie
This group maintains a forceful Internet presence and loves to excite
their followers with some good old-fashioned bigotry, usually aimed at non-Caucasians and people from regions of the country other than the South. From their own website: “For what it’s worth, Asheville is actually a beautiful place, nestled in the midst of some of the highest mountains in the Appalachians, with old-styled homes and the beautiful Biltmore estate nearby. Urban sprawl has also been kept to a minimum thanks to the low population, preserving much of the woods surrounding the city. However, the same cannot be said for the inhabitants of this city – smelly hippie transplants of ill repute. How many carpetbaggers are in Asheville? I do not know. However, I do know that what isn’t a mentally disturbed carpetbagger or displaced Latino is most likely some reprobate.”
The United Nuwaubians
The Ku Klux Klan
(Loyal White Knights of the Ku Klux Klan, Pelham; United Klan Nation, Thurmond) As mentioned earlier in this story, the Klan once held strong sway over the state of North Carolina. Today, that is simply not the case. Their numbers are extremely small and their presence is felt most often in small rural communities, and even then, only in a limited capacity. They are well known throughout 19th and 20th century history for the murders of African-Americans and other minorities, including individuals in the LGBTQ community. While they do continue to exist and are recognized as a hate group, their influence is barely detectable in 21st century North Carolina, and nonexistent in Charlotte.
Nation of Islam
Louis Farrahkhan. (Five chapters in North Carolina: Charlotte, Greensboro, Durham, WinstonSalem, Wilmington) The Nation of Islam (NOI) was conceived in Detroit in 1934, by Elijah Muhammad, who had previously worked with Wallace Muhammad (beginning in 1931) when the organization was known as the Allah Temple of Islam. Under the direction of Elijah Muhammad, the name change was instituted and the new leader then proclaimed himself to be the messenger of God. According to reports from those around him and comments by Muhammad himself, NOI began in response to treatment of Black people in the United States during and following the depression. Muhammad saw Islam as a rallying tool for Black Americans looking for their own cultural identity and a religious faith that did not carry with it the European trappings found in Christianity. Muhammad’s ideology also asserted the notion of a completely separate state for Black Muslims living in America. Needless to say, that never quite took off.
An unknown homophobic hate group spotted in Charlotte. (Photo Credit: David Aaron Moore) When Nation of Islam member Malcolm X visited Muslim countries in the Middle East, he was exposed to a completely different interpretation of Islam. He came back with a distinctly alternate attitude and felt the teachings of Islam were a religion that should be available to everyone in the United States, not just Black Americans. This did not sit well with other members of NOI. On February 21, 1965, Malcolm X was assassinated. Three members of NOI were eventually convicted and given indeterminate life sentences for his murder. Regardless, speculation has continued to this day that Louis Farrakhan may have been responsible for his murder. That theory was only enhanced when Malcolm’s daughter Quiballah Shabbaz plotted to kill Farrakhan in 1995. Farrakhan, who has been the leader of the organization since 1977 (Muhammad passed away in 1975), has steadfastly denied the accusation to this day. Now 87 years old, he continues to control NOI and has spent the past 44 years spewing out a plethora of anti-Semitic, homophobic and racist comments. In Charlotte and North Carolina the Nation of Islam maintains a strong presence, however, the aforementioned issues have not been at the forefront of the organization’s efforts here. While visits by Farrakhan have often stirred controversy, NOI has received positive recognition for efforts in at-large community building and social assistance programs.
Patriot Front
The Patriot Front is a white supremacist, neo-fascist and American nationalist organization founded by Thomas Ryan Russo. While sharing the helm of another similar organization known as Vanguard America, he and his followers participated in the notoriously
anti-Semitic Unite the Right March in Charlottesville Virginia. After receiving an extensive amount of negative press attention, he seized the name Patriot Front from his former collaborator and took the followers with him to the new organization. Members of the Patriot Front were involved in the Jan. 6 storming of the United States Capitol in Washington. In North Carolina, the organization is known to have distributed flyers in the town of New Bern in an attempt to rally new recruits. Reaction from town leaders was swift and likely prevented the organization from gaining a foothold in the state. A visit to their website shows they have taken no actions and made no additional posts since Feb. 2021.
Proud Boys
They describe themselves as a proWestern, chauvinistic fraternity for men. While that sounds vaguely tolerable, the opposite is true: They are misogynistic and anti-woman, anti-immigrant and xenophobic, islamaphobic and homophobic. Following the Jan. 6 riots on the Capitol in Washington , members of the North Carolina chapter of the Proud Boys were arrested and charged for taking part in the far-right uprising. Since that time, the internet provider that hosted their website has since dropped them and shut down their website.
Clearly one of the most unusual of all the organizations that has been labeled as a hate group by the Southern Poverty Law Center, the Nuwaubian Nation is an American religious group of sorts, founded by Dwight Z. York in the 1960s. Initially his organization followed the teachings of Islam, but later incorporated elements of Christianity and Judaism into the mix. By the late 1980s he abandoned that in favor of ancient Egyptian teachings and a dose of UFOlogy. York later moved his group from New York, to Eatonton, G.A., where his followers built an ancient-Egyptianthemed compound and changed their name to the United Nuwaubian Nation of Moors. In the years that followed the organization changed names multiple times and its leader was arrested and convicted of child molestation, resulting in multiple life sentences in federal prison. The compound was eventually sold and demolished, but, it would appear a handful of followers continued to hold on, eventually opening a bookstore in Charlotte called United Nuwaubians Worldwide. It closed during the COVID-19 pandemic. After pleading guilty and being sentenced in 2003, York began to serve a 135year sentence. A year later he wrote this letter from prison to one of his followers: “The Caucasian has not been chosen to lead the world. They lack true emotions in their creation. We never intended them to be peaceful. They were bred to be killers, with low reproduction levels and a short life span. What you call Negroid was to live 1,000 years each and the other humans 120 years. But the warrior seed of Caucasians is only 60 years old. They were only created to fight other invading races, to protect the god-race Negroids. But they went insane, lost control when they were left unattended. They were never to taste blood. They did, and their true nature came out. … Because their reproduction levels were cut short, their sexual organs were made the smallest so that the female of their race will want to breed with Negroids to breed themselves out of existence after 6,000 years. It took 600 years to breed them, part man and part beast.” Now purportedly 75, and imprisoned in Colorado, his release date is July 7, 2120. Note: Of the various organizations reported on here, four of them simply stopped being involved with the world around them when it became apparent there was no way for Trump to recapture his former role in the Oval Office. It raises the question, did they simply give up and walk away, or are they somewhere hiding on the dark web, the deep state or off the grid in Florida, contemplating their next moves? : :
May 14-27, 2021
qnotes
11
views
The Trumpiest State? Jesse’s Journal
by Jesse Monteagudo Contributing Writer
T
his is not an easy time to be a political progressive in Florida. Though the Republican Party held the governorship and the legislature since the 1990s, the Sunshine State was thought by many to be a “purple” state. After all, Florida gave its electoral votes to Barack Obama in 2008 and 2012 and returned Bill Nelson to the U.S. Senate in 2006 and 2012. This perception changed in recent years, as Rick Scott defeated Nelson in 2018 and Donald Trump carried the state in 2016 and 2020. Republican governor succeeded Republican governor and the GOP increased its hold on the Legislature. The GOP now holds 32 seats in the State Senate (to 16 Democrats) and 78 seats in the State House (to 42 Dems). Florida, once purple, is now as red as a tomato, and as conservative as Alabama, Arkansas, Mississippi or Oklahoma. Even Texas seems more likely to turn purple in the near future. A Trump sign in Citrus County, Florida. Most of Florida’s move to the right can be (Photo Credit: Tsado via Adovbe Stock) attributed to the influence and followers of Donald Trump, now a Florida resident. Thanks to the Trumpy crowd, Florida’s GOP governors went from mild conservatives like Jeb Bush and Charlie Crist, to right-wing radicals like Scott and Ron DeSantis, the incumbent. DeSantis served several terms in the U.S. Congress, representing Daytona Beach, where he worked alongside fellow Trumper Matt Gaetz of Pensacola. DeSantis credited his narrow victory against Andrew Gillum of Tallahassee in 2018 to support from the master of Mara-Lago. Though DeSantis’ victory was slight, he went on to govern as if he had won a mandate. In this, he was aided and abetted by a supportive state legislature and an increasingly conservative state Supreme Court. Even the Covid-19 pandemic, which proved brutal to other politicians, was used by this Trumpiest of governors to his political advantage. Like other Republican governors and state legislators, the Trumpy crowd in charge of the Sunshine State used their power to propagate the lie that Joe Biden “stole” the election and to pass legislation dictated from Mar-a-Lago. Under DeSantis’ direction, our GOP Legislature passed a brutal “law and order” bill designed to discourage Black Lives Matter and other progressive protestors. They also voted to punish BigTech, after Trump was banned from his Twitter account and tightened voting laws to discourage African Americans and other majority Democrat communities from voting. And, in the first explicitly anti-LGBTQ move in decades, they passed a bill that would ban trans girls from competing in high school or college sports. Tallahassee’s Trumpian majority also voted to restrict the power of city and county governments which might have Democratic majorities. Through it all, DeSantis and the GOP legislators dealt with their Democratic opponents by ignoring them completely, which in Florida they can do with impunity. Ron DeSantis’s popularity among the GOP is based in part to his ability to espouse Trumpian policies without Trump’s craziness. To his credit, DeSantis does not go on Twitter every morning and send out crazy, nutty, kooky messages. On the other hand, DeSantis knows better than to directly oppose the master of Mar-a-Lago, who is very popular with his base and who still intends to reclaim his throne in 2024. Right now, the governor’s plan seems to include his reelection in 2022 and then to run for president (if Trump does not run again) or vice-president, as Trump’s running mate, in 2024. In either case, DeSantis hopes to continue to carry the Trumpian torch. : :
12
qnotes
May 14-27, 2021
a&e
Not Another Gay Movie Screen Savor
by Gregg Shapiro Contributing Writer
J
ust a few years before gay performer Michael Carbonaro worked his magic on his popular hidden camera illusionist show The Carbonaro Effect, he cast a spell over us in Todd Stephens’ raunchy queer teen flick parody Another Gay Movie (Breaking Glass Pictures). Newly reissued in a 15th anniversary directors’ cut edition, the extended version also includes a bevy of bonus material.
What follows is a series of wacky (and whacking off) episodes in which each of the bros does his damnedest to get deflowered. Andy, who is perfectly happy pleasuring himself, finds himself in a variety of uncomfortable situations at home, where he constantly alarms his parents (played by drag legend Lypsinka and gay actor Scott Thompson), as well as in Mr. Puckov’s dungeon, where the action is streamed live online. Nico’s penchant for older guys results in one disaster (with Survivor champ Richard Hatch playing himself) and one success (Grandpa Muffler as portrayed by George Marcy). Jared is having somewhat better luck in his experiences with Beau (James
Getzlaff of Boy Meets Boy fame), but he almost bites the dust in a penis pump incident. As for poor Griff, a fling with personal trainer/exotic dancer Angel (Darryl Stephens) eventually gives him the courage to pursue the man he truly loves (no spoilers here). Bursting at the seams with offensive humor, particularly the material related to race and disability, Another Gay Movie has a habit of going too far and then going even farther. Most of the characters are overblown caricatures, much more exaggerated than practically anything portrayed in non-gay movies of this ilk. This is especially true of the prominent lesbian character Muffler (Ashlie Atkinson)
who may once in a while drop a pearl of wisdom, but is mostly beyond obnoxious. Even Nico’s citing of Paul Lynde feels more dated than it did the first time around. Perhaps what’s most shocking about Another Gay Movie is that it was directed and co-written by Todd Stephens, the writer of the beloved gay movie Edge of Seventeen, and director of Gypsy 83, as well as the forthcoming and hotly anticipated Swan Song (starring Udo Kier and Jennifer Coolidge). It was probably just something he needed to get out of his system (twice, as it turns out, because a sequel was released in 2008). : : Rating: C-
In typical teen sex comedy style, the movie features a group of horned-up friends all eager to lose the virginity they managed to cling to throughout high school before the end of the summer and the beginning of college. When Andy (Carbonaro, who spends a lot of time in various states of undress) isn’t masturbating, thinking about masturbating or fantasizing about teacher Mr. Puckov (Graham Norton), he’s a clerk at Rainbow Video. Nelly Nico (a kooky Jonah Blechman) also works at Rainbow Video as the business is owned by his mother Bonnie (Stephanie McVay). Hot jock Jared (Jonathan Chase) is ashamed of his lack of endowment and nerdy Griff (Mitch Morris), the bookish one, is harboring a secret crush on one of his buddies.
BUILD THROUGH
US Call Q-Notes 704.531.9988
May 14-27, 2021
qnotes
13
views
Cleaning Up Your Criminal Record Legal Eagles: The Ins and Outs of Expunction Laws
by Ali Nininger-Finch, Attorney Guest Writer
A
ccording to the National Center for Transgender Equality (bit.ly/2RzzqCm), almost half of Black transgender people have been incarcerated at some point in their lives. And with new anti-LGBTQ laws being proposed every year, queer and gender nonconforming folks will continue to have disproportionate run-ins with the criminal legal system. North Carolina has several expunction statutes that allow folks to erase things from their criminal record. Thanks to efforts by coalitions like the NC Second Chance Alliance (ncsecondchance.org), our expunction laws continue to expand to provide relief for more people. This is great news for the 25 percent of adults in our state with criminal records. That said, most folks don’t have the time or patience to wade through a bunch of statutes to figure out whether any of them apply to your specific situation. Generally, the big categories of things you can get off your record are any charges that were dismissed or where you were found not guilty, a first-time conviction of a nonviolent felony and certain nonviolent misdemeanors. Dismissed charges are pretty easy. Anything that shows up as dismissed or not guilty on your record can be removed. The judge has to grant your expunction if everything on your record falls into these categories. If you have a mix of dismissals/not guilty and convictions, the judge can decide whether to grant your expunction. Fill out the form called AOC-CR-287, and take it to the clerk of court in each county you have dismissed charges.
Nonviolent Felonies
You can get one nonviolent felony conviction removed from your record. This means you can’t have been convicted of more than one felony. This includes anything you were convicted of outside of North Carolina. You also can’t have been convicted of any violent (generally* meaning A1) misdemeanors. Nonviolent felonies are generally* class H or I felonies, things like embezzlement and credit card fraud. Anything that involves assault, meth, heroin and possession with intent to sell or deliver cocaine are all considered violent. You have to wait 10 years from the end of your sentence to ask for an expunction. The form you need to fill out is called AOC-CR-281. You also need to include two statements from people who aren’t related to you that say you are a good person. These statements have to be signed in front of a notary. You also have to write a statement saying that you are of good moral character, haven’t had any convictions other than traffic violations during the the 10-year waiting period, don’t have any outstanding restitution orders and that the “Petition is a motion in the cause”. You’ll need to sign this statement in front of a notary. There is a $175 fee to request this kind of expunction. If you can’t afford that, you can fill out form AOC-G-106 to ask to not pay.
Nonviolent Misdemeanors
Nonviolent misdemeanors include everything except class A1 misdemeanors. Anything that involves assault is considered violent. You have to wait five years from the end of your sentence, which includes probation and paying all your fines and fees. You can have multiple misdemeanors expunged if they were all taken care of at the
same time. The waiting period for multiple misdemeanors is seven years. The forms, additional statements and fee are the same as for nonviolent felonies. Unlike with felony convictions where the judge can decide whether to give you an expunction, once you’ve turned in all the correct forms, the judge is required to remove your misdemeanor convictions.
Additional Resources
There are many other things you can get expunged based on very specific situations, particularly related to drug crimes and youthful offenses. There are also many little details related to each of the categories above. The NC Justice Center (bit.ly/33qkKZ0) has a very lengthy guide that covers everything you’d ever want to know about getting an expunction. The Southern Coalition for Social Justice also has a DIY toolkit (bit.ly/33tfIed) that’s written more for the general public. *Lawyers are required to tell everyone who isn’t their client that we can only provide legal information, not advice, under threat that we might reveal secrets that put us out of a job. It is always a good idea to discuss your specific situation with a trusted professional and to not rely on information you read on the internet written by a stranger. : : Ali Nininger-Finch is the lawyer behind Affirming Legal Services (affirminglegalservices.com). She believes in helping folks navigate the legal system to live their authentic lives. Her focus areas are name and gender marker changes, expunctions, and nonprofit and small business startup issues.
a&e
‘Laundry Love: Finding Joy in a Common Chore’ Out in Print
by Terri Schlichenmeyer Contributing Writer Laundry Love: Finding Joy in a Common Chore by Patric Richardson with Karin B. Miller ©2021, Flatiron Books $25.99 185 pages
T
omorrow’s outfit is on a chair over there. That’s where it’s been since you last washed it. What you wore today came from a basket and off a hanger, the shirt needed ironing, there was a tiny stain on the pants but who noticed? And you just bought new socks, so there’s that. Time to do the wash? Yeah, but get a load of this: “Laundry Love” by Patric Richardson (with Karin B. Miller). In one of his earliest memories, Patric Richardson’s uncle holds him aloft so that Richardson could watch laundry swimming in the washer. He was almost a baby then, but the fascination was set: At age three, Richardson was “over the moon” when he received a toy washing machine as a birthday gift. He remembers that it was Harvest Gold. Growing up, Richardson absorbed washday secrets from an extended family of women, and he learned the appeal of laundry hung on a line outside. While at the
14
qnotes
May 14-27, 2021
Author Patric Richardson. (Photo Credit: Jesi Hoolihan) University of Kentucky, he met three professors who taught him about textiles, and employers educated him further. Love of fabric eventually became Richardson’s career, and laundry is his love-language: “Caring for your loved ones’ clothes shows them love.” The first thing to know, Richardson states, is that “our clothes are bossy.” If something you enjoy wearing says
“Dry Clean Only” on the label, lay it on the kitchen counter, grab a pair of scissors and cut that label off because, “anything can be washed at home.” Here, you’ll learn how to save time on wash day. Find out why big-brand-name detergents are unsafe, and see what you need to care for your clothes properly. Learn to iron, eliminate horrible stains, wash woolens and other awkward-to-clean items and see how to rescue yellowed linens and special-event clothing like a pro. Remember, says Richardson: “You don’t have to do laundry — you get to do laundry.” These days, though, author Patric Richardson doesn’t “get to” very often. His husband, he says, does their wash while Richardson runs a clothing store and offers “Laundry Camp” at the Mall of America. But since not everyone can be a happy camper, there’s “Laundry Love.” If you’re thinking that a book about joyfully washing clothes would be a mighty skinny book, you’re right, but laundry is only a part of this story here. The rest is biography and a love-letter to Appalachain and Southern women. In giving props to the women who raised him, Richardson shows how his interest in fabric grew too; the subject of textiles, which may be perceived as mundane by many, is treated in this light as something precious and accessible. If you come for the biography, you’ll be glad you stayed for the hints as Richardson shows how even the most delicate items can be safely home-cleaned. That fur you love? Done. That stinky-perfumed vintage item you found? Clean. Ahhhhhhh, so pick up the undies in the corner, use grandma’s linens, shop thrift-stores with impunity. Go ahead, fear-free. Having “Laundry Love” should take a load off your mind. : :
May 14-27, 2021
qnotes
15
life
How Hatred Undermines Wellness Health & Wellness: The Corrosive Nature of Fear and Loathing
by Jack Kirven qnotes Contributor
“I
hate beets,” I said. “Hate is a strong word,” my friend Ron replied. “You’re right. I abhor them.” Because, you know, sometimes hate isn’t a strong enough word. All kidding aside, the two most powerful emotions we experience are love and fear. And whereas we at qnotes do at minimum two special issues each year dedicated to various types of love (Valentine’s Day, Pride Month, etc.), we don’t necessarily dedicate so much concentrated space to fear. Unfortunately, our community has been the brunt of far too much of it, and we have to report far too often on those consequences. But this particular issue is looking specifically at hate groups, and I wanted to touch a little on the mechanics of this emotional state. But why is hatred so unhealthy? Beyond the psychological and sociological fallout, hatred makes us physically sick. Before we dig a little deeper into why, let’s first consider how to define hatred. According to Robert Sternberg, a Professor of Human Development at Cornell University, there are three main elements: “1) A negation of intimacy, by creating
16
qnotes
May 14-27, 2021
distance when closeness had become threatening; 2) an infusion of passion, such as fear or anger; and 3) a decision to devalue a previously valued object.” Additionally, Freud said that hatred is “an ego state that wishes to destroy the source of its unhappiness.” Note the violence and fury inherent to those descriptions. Both therapists also include the idea of selfpreservation as an underlying motivation, and this compounds the health risks. As I discussed in two previous entries about stress (bit.ly/3vYnNnv and bit. ly/3w6MSgb) and another Hatred can make you unwell, both physically and mentally. about inflammation (bit. (Photo Credit: fizkes via Adobe Stock) ly/3hdxVVb), our bodies speak in the language of hormones. And the only the primitive parts of our brains are on response to stress of any kind is “fight constant patrol for life threatening events. or flight,” and its accompanying stew of So, whether it makes sense or not, we adrenaline, cortisol, and other triggering often perceive that situations are more agents. Although we needed this response important than they are, and that those thousands of years ago to escape from experiences are potentially more danlions, tigers and bears, we don’t need it gerous than they are. This is where the now for the comments section on blogs connection between hatred and survival or a job interview. Unfortunately, it’s the comes into play. only response we’ve got, and it’s because It is common to hear that such-andsuch groups “threaten” to cause all sorts of chaos to the world in general, cultures more specifically, and individual people particularly. The “homosexual agenda” (Did you get your copy yet? I cannot find mine.) will interrupt the continued existence of humanity by reducing the birthrate, which will result in smaller Judeo-Christian populations, and thus place Baptists in the minority (which would then expose them to the same abuses they have been inflicting on others for centuries — and they wouldn’t want that!). So, then LGBTQ people must be “stopped” (i.e. erased, criminalized, isolated, murdered), so that we… won’t… do that… to straight people? I mean, I guess… But that is essentially the logic that feeds hate groups. Whether it be people of color, immigrants, women, religious minorities, queer people, etc. ad nauseam, bigoted organizations perceive a risk that “their own kind” are being abused, attacked or eradicated by the targets of
their loathing. That certainly qualifies as a source of stress that would then invoke fight or flight. Hatred is a form of anger, and anger is a defense mechanism. If a person who is full of hate is by definition also full of fear, that person is also saturated with stress and inflammation. As far back as 2007 the professionals at Psychiatric Times have wondered whether bigotry itself isn’t a mental disorder (bit. ly/3b9DfFl). The National Institutes of Health wrote in 2002 that bigotry “can be a delusional symptom of psychiatric disorders” (bit.ly/3bePRLk). Systemic racism very clearly undermines the health care people of color access and receive; however, white supremacists also experience increased risk for heart disease. According to Science Daily (bit. ly/3uxntvu), in addition to the risk factors associated with chronic stress and inflammation, white bigots are also less likely to form strong social bonds and have a tendency to trust institutions less. They often treat medicine in general, hospitals specifically, and doctors in particular with suspicion, and thus tend to seek care less frequently. But that is a generalized statement about broader racist attitudes that might not be specific to hate groups. But this is: According to April Celeste Robinson Leviton, a sociology researcher at the University of California at Riverside, White Supremacist Terror groups (WST) “thrive on emotional energy — even if this energy is produced by violence and hatred… In fact, WST groups are strengthened by the shared anger, hate and violence of their members because the adrenaline associated with WST activities cultivates a shared energy that bonds the group” (bit.ly/2RI2RC4). Because heightened emotions are a very specific cause of inflammation, it is easy to surmise that the corrosive nature of their feelings can literally exacerbate mental, cardiovascular, gastrointestinal and endocrine system illnesses. Addiction is also a common risk factor for members of WST groups. : : Jack Kirven completed the MFA in Dance at UCLA, and earned certification as a personal trainer through NASM. His wellness philosophy is founded upon integrated lifestyles as opposed to isolated workouts. Visit him at jackkirven.com and INTEGRE8Twellness.com.
a&e
Can an Ex Cheat on You if You’re Not Dating? Tell Trinity
by Trinity | Contributing Writer Well Trinity, I was with this girl for two months until I found out she was telling people she was single. Now I found out that she’s in a threeway with two other women. Isn’t that cheating? And do we have a chance of getting back together? I still love her! Thanks, Love’s Triangle, Minneapolis, MN Well Love’s Triangle, First, you can’t get VD from a doorknob and you CAN’T be cheated on from someone you’re not dating. Second, yes you can get back together, but why? She’s obviously exploring her sexual freedom and doesn’t seem the least bit interested in you. Sorry, but it had to be said! If you have that much love for her, why not give it to someone who wants it? It’s time, baby, to love yourself as much as you love her and release her to the triangle of love! Move On, Trinity Hey Trinity, I can never seem to get ahead. Even when I make a good pay check for the month it never lasts. I know you give dating advice, but I need a little financial advice. Money Woes, Des Moines, IA
Q-mmunity
connections
Hey Money Woes, There’s three ways to make money, “make it, invest (some of) it and/or save it.” Think IRA, TD Ameritrade or “under the mattress!
gay man on earth who goes to bars hoping to meet future dates, not just one-night stands? What am I doing wrong? Sincerely, Not Only Sex, Boston, MA Hello Not Only Sex, If you’re truly going to bars looking for future dates, then don’t waste time flirting with guys after 1 a.m. who, a) are from out of town, b) are overtly sexual and/or c) you think just want a quickie from you. Otherwise, you’ll never meet Mr. Right, just Mr. One Night, which isn’t bad, but it won’t get you a second date. Pumpkin, you have to be strategic with your time at
the bars, not just seduced by sexy guys. Stay Aware, Trinity Dear Trinity, I know I shouldn’t ask this, but isn’t there something I can do to punish someone I was dating for standing me up on our last and final date. Isn’t some revenge appropriate? Yours, Revenge, Albuquerque, NM Dear Revenge, No! Living your own life to the fullest is the best revenge. But if you still don’t believe me, sweetie, then try reading:
Trinity’s Empowering Tips for What You Can and Can’t do to Someone Who Stands You Up
1. Y ou can’t scratch his car or break his windows because you must trust that he or she will be taught a lesson of greater punishment. 2. Y ou can’t continually call or text her just to bother her because you’re not twelve anymore, you grew up, remember! 3. You can’t go to his work and harass him because it was JUST a date. 4. You can’t call the police and have her arrested on bogus charges such as kidnapping or burglary, although it would be fun! 5. And lastly, you can’t have him beaten up, scared or maimed because you don’t want to waste that much energy on ANY date! 6. You can, however, ignore her when you see her knowing that she missed out on someone really great. 7. You can let other people know that he has no integrity! 8. You can discard her phone number, rip up her letters and toss out her toothbrush! 9. You CAN be way choosier of who you date. 10. A nd lastly you can imagine your life being really successful, adventurous, colorful and romantically fulfilling with someone who is really, really into you. : : Hello Trinity, Every time I go out hoping to meet potential dates, I end up wasting time with guys who inevitably only want sex. Am I the only
With a Masters of Divinity, Reverend Trinity hosted “Spiritually Speaking,” a weekly radio drama performed globally, and is now minister of sponsor, WIG: Wild Inspirational Gatherings, wigministries.org, Gay Spirituality for the Next Generation! Learn more at telltrinity.com. Send emails to: trinity@telltrinity.com.
space starting at $22: call qnotes for details 704.531.9988
May 14-27, 2021
qnotes
17
a&e
Holding Space
Time Out Youth Celebrates 30 Years With Mural Reveal by Chris Rudisill qnotes Contributor
N
early 80 people gathered at Time Out Youth (TOY) on Saturday during the organization’s first large in-person event in over a year. Like other community organizations, the pandemic caused TOY, a Charlotte nonprofit serving LGBTQ youth, to go virtual for much of its services since March 2020. When it adapted to virtual platforms and programs, Interim Executive Director O’Neale Atkinson thought for sure they would impact less kids in 2020. “Nothing could be further from the truth,” said Atkinson on Saturday. “We actually impacted over 1,300 (unduplicated) young people directly through programs, services and direct outreach, almost a 30 percent increase from the previous year.” Being socially connected while physically distant has become the impetus for much of the organization’s work. One that will continue post-COVID. “There are so many things that we have learned in the past year that we’ll carry with us,” said Atkinson. Time Out Youth hopes to hold in-person programming in the fall. “All these platforms won’t go anywhere. This transformed the landscape on how we do the work and how we reach youth that otherwise would never be able to walk in front of our doors.” In addition to the temperature checks, The central design of the mural features a vibrant array of birds with various symbolism. (Photo Credit: Chris Rudisill) mask mandates and hand sanitizer stations that we have grown accustomed to, people were welcomed back to the buildin the home of Tonda Taylor on April 8, 1991 and over the A rainbow spectrum of birds and floral patterns cover ing on Monroe Road with a new mural by Bree Stallings. past three decades has provided social, health and supportthe wall, each steeped with symbolism of hope, love, joy It is the newest addition to Charlotte’s growing public ive services to LGBTQ youth ages 11 to 20 years old. and strength to name a few. It is bookmarked by portraits art scene and one of three that Stallings has completed Thanking donors and parents in attendance, TOY of Leo Street and Ken Isaac, two young people from TOY’s in the past two months. board chair Jacob Hamm said, “It has done so with the fiprograms who participated in the workshops. She worked with over 20 local youth to complete nancial support of people who understand the importance Stallings used skin tones “as an allusion to the modern the project at TOY, a culmination of the creative initiaof our mission to foster unconditional acceptance and trans flag.” In combination with the vibrant colors across tive called “Holding Space” that focused on developing create safe spaces for the LGBTQ community.” the wall, “Holding Space” also references the Progress identity-based workshops. The project was supported by Stallings hopes this public art piece will play a role in the Pride Flag designed in 2018 by Daniel Quasar. Quasar’s an ASC Cultural Vision Grant and a “Bear HUG” grant from organization’s future. Before ceremoniously pulling back color scheme included both black/brown stripes as well Charlotte is Creative. the tarp that covered the new mural, she said, “I hope this as those from the transgender flag (pink, blue and white) Stallings spoke about the process of working with public art piece challenges the public to hold space for our in a chevron added to the classic rainbow. Like the new young LGBTQ people on the project. “Through workyouth — to see and know them as beautiful, vibrant, worflag design, Stallings’ mural focuses on the current needs shops based on identity, stereotypes and assumptions, I thy, exceptional, talented, joyful, complex and human.” : : within the LGBTQ community and centers the lives of started to pull together a design – one that is intentional Black LGBTQ people. in connecting people with each other and the spaces they [Editor’s note: Time Out Youth board of directors member This weekend’s event also marked Time Out Youth’s Jacob Hamm is married to qnotes’ contributor, Chris Rudisill.] 30th anniversary. The organization started as a small group occupy,” she said.
18
qnotes
May 14-27, 2021
life
Our People: Surya Swilley How Sun Dances and Shines
by L’Monique King qnotes Staff Writer
N
amed for the sun and needing to be in constant motion, Surya Swilley paces between the living room and kitchen of her North Philadelphia studio apartment. With the exception of an occasional passing bus, no sounds can be heard. Surya is a dancer, and she affectionately refers to Charlotte as her home. Sipping water from a thermos while dressed comfortably in a long-sleeved black tunic and blousy grey pants, she’s been busy preparing to share her journey as a mentor with the QUEER|ART|MENTORSHIP Program, a non-profit arts organization serving a diverse and vibrant community of LGBTQ+ artists across generations and disciplines. The mentorship supports a year-long exchange between emerging and established artists in five different creative fields: film, literature, performance, visual art and curatorial practice. What led you to get into dancing? My mama, she would take me to her rehearsals with her. Your mother’s a dancer? Yes, she is. I think once a dancer, always a dancer. What’s your primary style of dance? I’d say it’s mostly a West African adjacent Post-Modern blending.
experiences it seems, [the more likely they’ll serve as] the gateway to get you to the high places of dance. So, unless you’re born with immense self-esteem, it can be a toxic environment in the classroom or the studio. That’s because it’s a performance-based genre, so [you’re] being seen and presented in your greatest and weakest ways. If we’re not careful about those things, it can do some damaging things to dancers. Who is on your top three list of dancers or dance troupes who inspire you? Urban bush Women, Lela Aisha Jones of Fly Grounds and Pearl Primus. Do you watch any televised dance shows? I do not. Oftentimes I find them corny. How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted your ability to share or showcase your work as a dancer? Oh, it shut down a lot of gigs I had lined up. Theaters and performance gigs were cancelled. My house had to become my studio. I was an adjunct professor at Temple University, so my studio apartment became a teaching space. I didn’t enjoy teaching from home. The fact that I made home my workspace was hard.
Is that your favorite style of dance? That’s always been a hard question for me to answer because when people ask that I’m not sure what they want to know. I overthink it. I like different forms of Afro-Modern.
How’d you come to be involved with the QUEER|ART|MENTORSHIP Program? I got an email one day from Rio, the Programs and Operations Director. She said that someone had selected me to apply for it. They’d done it anonymously so I wasn’t able to thank them.
What have you found most difficult about being a dancer? There are a few things, one difficult thing for me is that it puts you in an arena where you are constantly comparing yourself. Not comparing my body, the range it can reach, it’s been difficult not to compare those things. Like the scope of my experience, it’s that space that measures one’s career. The richer your
Have there been any challenges for you as a program mentee? It’s been hard to land how I want the texture of the movement for this [culminating project] dance to be. Different phrases are coming to my mind and body. I’ll share them with my mentor, but then it doesn’t feel like it’s translated. My creative process hasn’t fully presented itself it seems. Ugh, that’s been difficult.
Can you share with qnotes readers a little bit about the culminating performance piece you’re working on for the QAM Annual showcase in October? Right now, I’m looking at this concept of flirting with death. It will be in a black box space to be presented in person or live streamed. Where sex and death intersect is amazing. There are so many ways to look at those intersections. I started looking at death deities and why death is taboo in conversations, like in circles of Christianity. In thinking about these things, I’ve questioned what it is to truly transition from this realm to another. What’s on the other side. I’ve always been fascinated with death, and the more visible Black death became during the pandemic, the more I began to ask questions surrounding what ways death could be liberatory for Black folks. I started interrogating the history and the chronology of death for Black people since we were trafficked here to the U.S. When Black folks are memorialized, when we see caskets, especially [those] of the young, there’s almost a sweetness — almost a sensual tone towards death. The conversations surrounding a young person in comparison to an elderly person. The language is more endearing, surrounding the
promising youthful life and how that had so much to come, so much more to do and look forward to. Why are programs like these important? I can speak to why QAM is important. Queer liberation is queer folk feeling free. When queer folk are sought out to be in their purpose, which is as an artist and activist, that is a kind of empowerment that is very sacred because it allows every artist to know that they are important, supported and loved. What’s next for Surya Swilley? I will be relocating to a full-time position at a university and will keep working on my art. I am still going to keep creating, I’m still gonna’ keep dancing. If you would, please share some thoughts with up-and-coming dancers who are interested in a professional dance career. What do you want them to know? It just seems like there are more possibilities now to be accepted and celebrated in your bodies and your own style. It’s so much different than it was even a decade ago. So, use what is at your touch, social media. Not necessarily to create a viral sensation for yourself, but to use your gifts and talent to create a vocation for yourself. It’s abundant. Capitalize on your gifts to secure generational wealth. : :
May 14-27, 2021
qnotes
19
20
qnotes
May 14-27, 2021