CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Several events are scheduled to begin today in celebration of Charlotte Black Gay Pride. The annual event celebrates the LGBT African-American community.
Charlotte Black Gay Pride Chair William Singleton told qnotes the events will highlight diversity.
“It is a movement to celebrate who you are, not only in your sexuality, but also celebrate our ethnicity,” Singleton said in the newspaper’s July 5 print edition. “It’s not to segregate, because we do participate with Charlotte Pride, but it is important to celebrate the uniqueness that is our community.”
Tonight, the group will host a town hall with City Councilmember LaWana Mayfield, Charlotte’s first openly LGBT elected official.
“We’ll be talking about issues of our community, where we want to go as a whole and goal-setting for the next year,” Singleton said. The second half of the event will feature speed-dating, couples’ games, mixers and hors d’oeuvres.
Other events include a mixer on Friday and a community expo on Saturday. See a full list below.
Scheduled Events:
G.R.O.W. U.P. Official Town Hall Meeting
Thursday, July 18, 7-9 p.m.
LGBT Community Center of Charlotte
2508 N. Davidson St.
Discussion of community goals featuring City Councilmember LaWana Mayfield.
Mix & Match Meet & Greet
Friday, July 19, 7p.m.
Crowne Plaza host hotel
201 S. McDowell St.
CBGP Expo
Saturday, July 20, 10a.m.-2p.m.
Naomi Drenan Recreation Center
750 Beal St.
There will be Zumba sessions, food vendors, a drag show and an open mic event for singers and poets.
Ole’ School Field Day
Sunday, July 21, 2-6p.m.
Naomi Drenan Recreation Center
750 Beal St.
Fun games like tug-of-war, kickball and other favorites will be played and prizes awarded. A cookout and outside-the-box worship services will be provided.
— Maria Dominguez contributed
OMG. What is America coming too. Racial and Gay ? We are in trouble as a country.
It would not be acceptable to have a White Gay pride event and if there were there would be a lot of eyes scratched out.
so we have black month, black miss beauty, black college funds, etc, if a white groups did it , they would be called racists. are ya wondering why whites are getting fed up with being called racists even when they aren’t. there will be a breaking point
This is newsworthy? We will be praying for ya”ll up there and for the Observer and CLT City Council, too.
Next thing you know they’ll be screaming for rights as a double, or even triple (in the case of females) minority status….
Black fudge!
why are u mad? The blacks cant celebrate their own unique gay culture and experience? Stop judging. Black pride festivals have been going on for a loooong time now and the fight for acceptance in our own community and amongst ourselves is something that the gay comminity as a whole doesnt experience. I wonder would some of u feel the same way if this was an italian gay festival or greek? Irish maybe? would u go and participate or would u accuse those groups of self segragating? Put the word “black” in front of it and the claws come out. calm down a bit. its juuuussst a festival and rather you knew it or not there is a whooole different world out there filled with people who dont read TheAdvocate or love Cher. like… at all.
Its not racist, Blacks continue to fight for acceptance in the gay community. We are still seen as second class citizens in the gay community.