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QnotesCarolinas is the longest-running and most trusted LGBTQ+ news publication in the Carolinas. Based in Charlotte, North Carolina, Qnotes provides independent journalism that documents the lives, culture, history and political realities of LGBTQ+ communities across the region.

Founded in 1983, Qnotes emerged during a time when LGBTQ+ lives were rarely represented accurately or respectfully in mainstream media. What began as a grassroots newsletter has grown into a free biweekly print publication and a daily digital newsroom at QnotesCarolinas.com serving readers across North and South Carolina.

For more than four decades, Qnotes has served as a platform for LGBTQ+ voices, providing news reporting, arts and culture coverage, opinion, and community storytelling. The publication exists to ensure that LGBTQ+ people in the Carolinas can see their lives reflected with dignity, context and care.

At a time when local journalism is disappearing across the United States, Qnotes remains one of the few independent LGBTQ+ news outlets still operating in the South. Its work preserves community history, documents ongoing struggles for equality, and creates space for stories that are often overlooked or erased.

Qnotes operates as a free publication both online and in print. This commitment to accessibility ensures that information remains available regardless of income, age or location, while allowing the publication to reach readers across urban and rural communities throughout the Carolinas.

Mission Statement

The mission of Qnotes is to serve LGBTQ+ communities and allies across the Carolinas through journalism that informs, connects and amplifies diverse voices.

Through news reporting, cultural coverage, and community storytelling, Qnotes documents the lived experiences of LGBTQ+ people and provides context around the political, social and cultural issues that shape their lives. The publication seeks to strengthen community connection, preserve local history and ensure that LGBTQ+ stories remain visible and accessible.

Origins

In 1983, the now defunct Queen City Quordinators (QCQ) started publishing a small, monthly newsletter named “Q-Notes.” The newsletter ended its run in 1984. It was reborn in 1986 as a monthly, print newspaper. The first issue of the revived community news source was published in June 1986, to coincide with National LGBT Pride Month.

In its earliest years, Qnotes served as one of the few media platforms where LGBTQ+ people in the Carolinas could find reliable information, discover community resources and read stories reflecting their lives and experiences.

In 1989, when QCQ dissolved, Jim Yarbrough of Pride Publishing and Typesetting, Inc. acquired the publication to preserve it. Under his leadership, Qnotes expanded its reach and influence. By 1996, the newspaper had grown into a biweekly publication serving readers across the Carolinas.

Merger with The Front Page

On May 12, 2006, Qnotes merged with The Front Page, an LGBTQ+ newspaper based in Raleigh that had been publishing since 1979. The merger combined two of North Carolina’s most prominent LGBTQ+ publications and significantly expanded Qnotes’ reach across the state.

Following the merger, Qnotes became the only newspaper in the Carolinas solely devoted to LGBTQ+ news and community coverage distributed free of charge.

Continued Growth

As media consumption shifted toward digital platforms, Qnotes expanded its online presence. In 2008, the publication launched a redesigned website that introduced daily news updates and expanded coverage beyond the print edition.

A major redesign in 2010 marked a new editorial direction and introduced the modern Qnotes brand. The website evolved into a robust daily news platform providing reporting, commentary, arts coverage and community updates.

In 2021, Qnotes launched QnotesCarolinas.com, a project selected by the Google News Initiative (GNI) North American Innovation Challenge to provide an online center for community that amplifies the unique and diverse voices and lived experiences of LGBTQ people in the Carolinas. This significantly expanded its digital presence and strengthened its ability to amplify LGBTQ+ voices across the region. The site serves as a hub for daily journalism, community resources and cultural storytelling while continuing the legacy of the print publication.

Scope, Reach and Community Impact

Today, Qnotes operates as a free biweekly print publication distributed across the Charlotte region and as a daily digital newsroom serving readers throughout North and South Carolina.

Coverage includes political reporting, arts and culture, social justice movements, public health, and stories centered on LGBTQ+ life. Qnotes reaches readers across generations and identities and remains one of the few LGBTQ+ publications in the United States with a complete digital archive documenting regional queer history.

Beyond journalism, Qnotes fosters community connection through initiatives such as Qnotes Connect events and partnerships with organizations including Charlotte Pride, Charlotte Black Pride, the Carolinas LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce and the Freedom Center for Social Justice.

Qnotes is also a founding partner of the Charlotte Journalism Collaborative and a member of the national News is Out network of LGBTQ+ publications.

Why Qnotes Matters

For more than forty years, Qnotes has documented the struggles, achievements and everyday lives of LGBTQ+ people in the Carolinas.

From the HIV/AIDS crisis to the fight for marriage equality and ongoing battles over LGBTQ+ rights, Qnotes has served as a trusted source of information and historical record for the region’s queer communities.

In an era when LGBTQ+ stories are often politicized or ignored, Qnotes continues to provide independent journalism rooted in visibility, accountability and community connection. Its work ensures that the stories, voices and history of LGBTQ+ people in the Carolinas are not lost.

 (Updated March 4, 2026)

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