Charlotte’s LGBTQ+ community: then and now
The story of LGBTQ+ life in Charlotte is a mixture of quiet beginnings, clandestine spaces, resilience, survival and eventual visibility. It was shaped by local courage as much as it was by national change. In the 1950s, queer life in Charlotte existed largely undercover. Across the United States, sexuality other than hetero was criminalized, pathologized…
Former NC Lt. Governor betrayed his state and party – now he’s talking about his misdeeds
In the North Carolina political world, few figures have embodied contradiction and hypocrisy quite…
LGBTQ+ legal concerns: What you can do to protect yourself in NC
Hatred and power-mongering in the political realm harms people in real, cruel and tangible…
Reaction from faith leaders to Supreme Court decision on conversion therapy ban
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled Tuesday, April 1, that Colorado cannot enforce a law…
Proposed 2027 federal budget targets LGBTQ+ health and housing programs
The Trump administration’s proposed Fiscal Year 2027 budget would reduce or eliminate key programs…
OUR PEOPLE
JD Mazuera Arias: a story of community
Four months into his first term on Charlotte City Council, JD Mazuera Arias is still adjusting to the role and the expectations that come with it. The work moves quickly, the volume of information is constant and the stakes are often immediate. “It’s like drinking from a fire hose,” he said, describing the early months…
COMMUNITY IN THE CAROLINAS
South Carolina calls on SCOTUS to overturn Marriage Equality
A coalition of lawmakers in South Carolina is urging the U.S. Supreme Court to revisit and reverse its historic decision that legalized same-sex marriage nationwide, according to reporting by the state’s ABC News 4. Their goal is to shift authority over marriage laws back to individual states rather than leaving it at the federal level.…
OUT IN PRINT
Out in Print: ‘The Remarkable Life of Reed Peggram: The Man Who Stared Down World War II in the Name of Love’
You couldn’t escape it. When you fell in love, that was it: You were there for good. Leaving your amour’s side was unthinkable, turning away was impossible. You’d do anything for that person you loved – even, as in the new biography, “The Remarkable Life of Reed Peggram” by Ethelene Whitmire, you’d escape toward danger.…
OUT ON FILM
Out on Film: An interview with Gina Gershon
Few actors are as versatile as Gina Gershon. From her early role alongside Tom Cruise for her first onscreen love scene in “Cocktail” and her role in Robert Altman’s “The Player” to back-to-back lauded performances in “Showgirls” and “Bound,” she’s long been a queer favorite. Along with such 21st century standouts like “Prey for Rock…
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