Archives: Charlotte

Finding fair housing free from discrimination is a significant challenge to those in the LGBTQ community, and local real estate professionals are determined to do their part to help. Lonnie Hand and Matt Stone, both gay males and real estate brokers serving the Charlotte, N.C. area, have their own takes on the challenges, resources and rewards of being LGBTQ and looking for a home.

The Friends of Fourth Ward are hosting their annual Garden Tour, Time Out Youth has opened its Tonda Taylor Scholarship season, UNCC’s Joshua Burford has taken a summer internship, Campus Pride has a volunteer event and anti-hate training, a Selena tribute band is heading to Charlotte and a film project is gearing up.

Bishop Tonyia Rawls has been named to ESSENCE magazine’s #WOKE100 List, Tegan and Sarah are heading to Charlotte, the House of Mercy’s AIDS Walk shares fundraising numbers, a new trail has been opened in Charlotte, John Love, Jr. has been awarded a Guggenheim Fellowship and an innovative art program is popping up across the Greater Charlotte area.

Mooresville, N.C. Boy Scout and Cub Scout troops have been kicked out of their “home,” the ‘Big Sing’ is coming up, the Charlotte Pride Band is presenting a concert, a 5K run is being held to benefit an ASO and Charlotte Pride is hiring a new staff person and applications are open.

Those who advocate for the LGBTQ community often cite the vulnerability of its youth. While it’s true that queer young people are vulnerable — with higher rates of bullying and suicide — what is not often acknowledged is the incredible strength that LGBTQ young people have.

Across the Carolinas and the world, young LGBTQ people are at the forefront of the community’s fight. Whether it’s an inner conflict to come to terms with an identity, or and outer struggle for acceptance in a trying world, LGBTQ youth represent the best of us.

The Carolinas, as well as the U.S., are filled with scores of LGBTQ-focused support and family groups to provide a shoulder or welcoming arms for those in the community who seek the solace of safety.

A University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s School of Architecture team won a design competition, Blumenthal Performing Arts LGBTQ affinity group is having a “Hedwig” pre-show party, the Charlotte and Lesbian Gay Fund is hosting a soirée, House of Mercy’s Walk for AIDS brought needed funds, the Freedom Center for Social Justice is conducting a survey and seeks participants, Carolinas CARE Partnership presented leadership awards and Transcend Charlotte received a grant.

As January’s Women’s Marches showed, there are countless strong and influential women ready to effect change in the world. Locally, Charlotte, too, has some outstanding female leaders. In honor of Women’s History Month, qnotes wants to honor some of the local women who are paving the way for change, acceptance, and pride.

It’s a rare relationship that can last for 35 years, let alone remain strong and supportive through the trials of health crises. That’s just what Susan Miller, 58, and Cyteria Knight, 60, have: a love that flourishes no matter what fate flings their way. On Jan. 17, Knight suffered a serious stroke and was hospitalized for almost two months — with Miller never leaving her side.

Alan Cumming is a queer renaissance man. He sings, he dances, he writes, he acts — there doesn’t seem to be anything he can’t do.

Torie Dominguez is a Charlottean born and raised, who left the city to pursue dreams of diplomacy, but returned upon realizing that being close to family meant more to her than she might once have imagined. She shared with us her insights into life, work and the importance of presenting yourself honestly to the world.

One Voice Chorus of Charlotte and Nashville in Harmony are teaming up to present a concert honoring Alan Turing and Different Roads Homes is hosting their “Artstravaganza.”

Former North Carolinian, South Florida activist, religious cantorial leader and community volunteer Michael Robert Greenspan died last month after a long illness, Dining Out for Life will be held in three Carolinas locations and the ACLU of North Carolina is having a membership meeting to boost activism.

The Sanctuary Restaurants movement, which seeks to designate eateries where all are welcome, has grown to include more than 300 restaurants across the country. Three are in North Carolina.

One of the many interwoven questions raised by “BootyCandy” is one that all audiences must ask themselves at some point: what is the purpose of theatre? According to the protagonist, a playwright named Sutter, he seeks to make his audience “choke.”

Big Mamma’s House of Burlesque has given the Charlotte entertainment scene a spice of sex and variety for over a decade. Now in the beginning of its 11th season, the troupe is made up of acts much more unique than a simple striptease show.

Spring has come early to the Carolinas, with daffodils already in bloom and trees cascading their blossoms over streets and highways from the mountains to the coast. So now is the time to break away from being stuck inside and venture out to theatres, concerts, festivals and more. With that said, here are some idea starters to whet qnotes’ readers’ appetites.

In the world of thespians (not to be confused with lesbians), the Charlotte theatre scene is diverse and lively. No one knows this better than Martin Damien Wilkins, 37, a local stage director whose newest production, “BootyCandy,” is playing at the Mint Museum on Randolph Rd. until March 19.

In 1992, I walked into a church. I hadn’t done that for a very long time. I have to admit that my motivation was not necessarily all that pure. I was dating a woman who went to church every Sunday evening and I needed to see what or who drew her there.