Archive for December, 2009
COLUMBIA — The South Carolina Pride Movement announced the members of their 2010 Executive Committee on Dec. 30, just days before the mix of new and returning leaders are set to takeover direction of the 20-year-old advocacy, education and community organization. Ryan Wilson, finishing two successful terms as president, will [...]
Looking for an LGBT-friendly or LGBT nightclub or bar to spend your New Year’s Eve. We’ve got the list of the Carolinas’ hottest parties… Asheville The Grove House Eleven, Scandals Nightclub, Boiler Room Three balloon drops with over $1,500 in cash and prizes, hors d’oeuvres, part favors, champagne toast $15/members, [...]
From battling the religious right to battling each other, 2009 was a year full of high profile LGBT news. In the Carolinas LGBT political and social issues appeared on the mainstream media’s radar with surprising frequency. Below are our staff’s picks on the top stories of the year. Be sure [...]
CHARLOTTE — On Dec. 15, the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners made an historic decision to offer health and leave benefits to same-sex partners of county employees. With a party line, 6-3 vote, county commissioners made Mecklenburg the seventh and largest North Carolina jurisdiction to offer such benefits. Without surprise, [...]
Over the past 10 years, North Carolina’s statewide LGBT advocacy organization has grown steadily in political, financial and legislative support and success. Its growing base of community activists and committed donors, coupled with its passionate leadership team, has made Equality North Carolina (ENC) one of the most effective state-level advocacy [...]
One person in the Tar Heel State has done more singularly than any other to advance our equality and place in North Carolina government, law, society and community. State Sen. Julia Boseman (D-New Hanover), the state’s only openly gay or lesbian legislature, has been our community’s face and voice in [...]
Both North Carolina and South Carolina saw legislative, policy and electoral progress in 2009. The news wasn’t always good, but its coverage in local and national mainstream media outlets provided the LGBT community positive attention. On the campaign trail, both Carolinas saw openly gay and transgender candidates on the ballot. [...]
When the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners held initial discussion on extending domestic partner benefits, Republican Commissioner Karen Bentley suggested to county human resources staff a white paper on the potential costs of the benefits. Although the resource, entitled “The Hidden Costs of Domestic Partner Benefits,” has ties to a [...]
Another year has come and gone. A new year and a new decade are upon us. How appropriate a time then to pause and reflect upon our lives and our achievements, shortcomings and dreams? As we embrace our friends on earth and remember friends above and as we think of [...]
Point scholarships available LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Point Foundation, the nation’s largest scholarship-granting organization for LGBT students of merit, has opened its 2010 application season. Students who will be enrolled in undergraduate or graduate programs for the 2010-11 school year are eligible to apply for the multi-year scholarships. Apply online [...]
Bar gets a nod WINSTON-SALEM — A recent post in The Winston-Salem Journal by reporter Laura Graff showcased Club Odyssey as one of the best places to go to dance. On the evening she chose to venture out, Tiffany Bonet was “lip-syncing” ‘Proud Mary.’ People are crowded around the floor, [...]
‘Idol’ RU gets reprieve RALEIGH — The Wake County Board of Elections has curtailed its investigation into Clay Aiken’s voter registration status. On Dec. 9, elections officials stated, according to an AP report in USA Today that there was “enough evidence to indicate Aiken likely voted unlawfully there while living [...]
Bank changes gift program CHARLOTTE — Wachovia, a Wells Fargo Company, will change their employee matching gift program effective January 1. Any donations $25 or more to The Lesbian & Gay Community Center can be matched if made on or before December 31 and submitted through the Wachovia Matching Gift [...]
Meredith Baxter’s announcement that she is a lesbian has put a — you should excuse the expression — kink in the long line of all-American TV moms. It’s not June Cleaver or Harriet Nelson who has come out, but as Elyse Keaton on “Family Ties,” Baxter was a loving mother [...]
A year rocked by financial meltdowns the world over was also a year in which two popular LGBT, Queen City nightspots met their end. Thanks to a new group of owners at one, and an Uptown club owner’s dream of a new gay dance club, the two nightlife losses are [...]
A decade has come and a decade has gone. And LGBT entertainment rocked. Writer Peter Knegt of IndieWire.com — the “leading news, information and networking site for independent-minded filmmakers” — has compiled the decade’s top grossing LGBT-related films. As expected, blockbuster hits like “Brokeback Mountain” and “Milk” are ranked highly. [...]
I am writing this “Holiday Season” column from a hospital in North Carolina, where my teenage son is recuperating after an emergency appendectomy. I was flying back from Oregon to North Carolina, with a stopover in Houston, when I received a text from him reading “Am in the ER at [...]
According to my calculations, 2010 could be the year of emotional enlightenment as expansive Jupiter joins shocking Uranus in sensitive Pisces while Pluto sulks in Capricorn. Errr, of course, it could also be an overly emotional, tempestuous year of way-too-much drama. If you decide to walk on eggs, don’t wear [...]
Dear Trinity, I recently read your comments on threesome relationships and you seem to defend them. Now really Trinity, aren’t threesome relationships guaranteed scenarios for trouble, jealousy and eventual failure? Three’s Troubles, Albany, N.Y. Dear Three’s Troubles, Now really, isn’t it true that relationships between two people also have troubles, [...]
Happy Holidays, kiddies! ’Tis the season for shows and pageants and such. That’s where I’ll start off. I hear I missed the show of shows the Wednesday before Thanksgiving at Scorpio and I am bitter.com! My mother, former Miss America Kerri Nichols, came out after a hiatus and really turned [...]
