Opinion
While thinking about my first submission for qnotes, I began to review the many different types of “firsts” that have happened in my life.
I used to be a travel writer, but these days I’m ignorant about international travel. I don’t even know where gays with money — in this economy, all six of them — go abroad on vacation.
Friends, this is my last issue as editor of qnotes, a position I’ve had the honor and humble privilege to hold now for nearly four-and-a-half years. As you read, my time with the paper has already come to an end.
Rick Perry jumped into the Republican presidential race in August and a spate of verbal blunders followed. The Texas governor is on gaffe-ing gas.
Three… two… one… Happy New Year! Yes, it’s time for well wishes, resolutions and new beginnings. I do it. You do it. We all partake in the annual wish-making and dreaming that is New Year. With a new calendar comes hopes for change, progress and success. And, as much as we each wish better for ourselves, here’s to new hopes that our community and world experiences better days as well.
I’ve taken the liberty of composing New Year’s resolutions for individuals who are just too busy to do it themselves.
Despite this year’s litany of successes, our community experienced loss. No year-end wrap up would be complete without pausing in remembrance of those friends, family and loved ones who passed this year.
I give Jane Schmidt a world of credit. The Iowa high school student held her own in an exchange with Republican presidential candidate Michele Bachmann. At Schmidt’s age, shaking a candidate’s hand was enough to make me forget my name.
Santa Claus is coming to town! And, he’s bringing switches and lumps of coal for some of the state’s meanest and most heartless anti-gay villains. At the same time, there’s plenty of folks in need of rewarding. No doubt, sugarplums and other delicious treats will await them in their stockings Christmas morn.
Diplomacy suddenly got a whole lot friendlier. Leaders of nations and leaders of faiths, instead of shaking hands, are kissing each other on the lips.
Harold Cogdell wants the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners’ chairmanship, but his apparent willingness to partner with board Republicans, especially Bill James, is stunning, shameful and embarrassing.
One of the big challenges for caring and thoughtful North Carolinians in light of the General Assembly’s decision to place a constitutional amendment on next May’s primary ballot that purports to “define marriage” is: What in the heck should the proposal be called?
N.C. House Speaker Thom Tillis has, for the most part, been a statesman and spoken, at least publicly, with respect, care and diligence, especially on LGBT issues. Yet he is wrong on one important issue: Despite his claims to the contrary, marriage is a constitutional right.
I appreciate and can understand editor Matt Comer’s views as expressed in his Nov. 12 Editor’s Note. However, I wish he had called on me to clarify my comment or at least ask why I had called on people to be thankful for his service.
The National Enquirer claims in a Nov. 14 cover story that Chaz Bono will die within four years due to his gender transition. The corpse-to-be is perturbed. His lawyer sent a cease and desist letter to the tabloid, accusing it of defamation and demanding a printed retraction and apology.
Tar Heels across the state reacted in myriad ways to state Sen. James Forrester’s death in October. For LGBT families and their children, news of Forrester’s passing came as a relief. Many said as much, as did I. “Good riddance, bigot,” I noted on Twitter, and for good reason.
My partner and I are both going through withdrawal. It ain’t pretty. We’re not addicted to drugs, alcohol, porn, sex, love, cigarettes, texting or gambling. I’ll bet you a case of gin we’re not. No, our addictions have a lesbian flair. Anne is mad for the Seattle Lesbian & Gay Film Festival, while I’m obsessed with women’s professional basketball.
Damn. I hate writing this particular column. Each year I hope this will be the year I can write that trans homicides have subsided, that trans violence has taken a downturn and that we no longer need to gauge progress through the measurement of death and beatings. Sadly, that is again not the case in 2011.
In the 1980s, one would have been hard-pressed to find objective or positive news coverage of LGBT people in mainstream media. Newspapers, TV stations, magazines and other outlets primarily remained agents of oppression, often painting LGBT people as sick or depraved — especially so during the early years of the AIDS Crisis. The 21st Century offers new and exciting changes, including QNotes’ new partnership with The Charlotte Observer’s Charlotte News Alliance.
Letters to the editor and comments from goqnotes.com.
