Monroe resident Cristal Robinson recognized a need for a safe environment for queer LGBTQ+ Union County residents. They noticed one of the restaurants in Monroe, East Frank Superette and Kitchen, began to host drag queen performances, and Robinson reached out to the owners of East Frank to ask if they believed the county was ready […]
Posted inArts & Culture
C’mon Barbie let’s go party
I never paid a whole lot of attention to Barbie. I didn’t dislike her, she just never particularly captured my attention. But I would be remiss if I didn’t acknowledge that Barbie has played an important role in the lives of many individuals in the LGBTQ+ community. And now the new movie “Barbie,” seems to […]
Posted inCarolinas
Festive Fall: A guide to the season’s celebrations across North Carolina
As August comes to a close, the fresh smell of apples, cinnamon and all-spice wafts through the air and people dive into their closets to find their collection of autumnal sweaters and spiced scented candles. Fall is just around the corner, and the season’s arrival is more than just overpriced pumpkin spice lattes or hues […]
Posted inCharlotte
Our People: Tori Wheatley
Tori Wheatley is the eldest of five children, a UNC-Charlotte doctoral student and a self-described Queer “Ratchet” English Teacher. She’s authentic, has a dedicated willingness to relate to her students through an empathetic culturally sensitive lens and she loves hip hop. Originally from Prince George County in Maryland, Wheatley relocated to Charlotte with her parents […]
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Moments of Joy and Celebration at Charlotte Pride
by Liz Schob (she/her), Communications Manager Hey Y’all, There’s a moment in the early morning hours when the sky glows orange with the promise of a day not yet realized. I found myself soaking in that moment during my first festival and parade weekend as a member of the Charlotte Pride staff. A few short […]
Posted inCharlotte
Gains on NC test scores could invigorate Renaissance West’s education village
This is the final installment in a three-part series about Renaissance West, an attempt to revitalize a west Charlotte neighborhood through an education village approach. When Dwight Thompson, principal of Renaissance West STEAM Academy, pulled in around 8 a.m. the morning of July 3, two of his second-grade teachers were already headed inside. “We didn’t have to […]
Posted inTriangle
Angry and in shock: students and community gather to demand gun reform after UNC shooting
On Wednesday, August 30 at 1:02 p.m., the Bell Tower at UNC-Chapel Hill chimed three times signifying the time of death of associate professor Zijie Yan, who was shot and killed on Monday afternoon in Caudill Labs. Hundreds of students wielding signs gathered at Polk Place for the This is Our Reality Rally — hosted […]
Posted inTravel
Canada issues travel advisory to LGBTQ+ travelers visiting US
The Canadian government has updated its U.S. travel advice, warning LGBTQ+ citizens that laws passed in some U.S. states may directly impact them while visiting. The update, posted August 29 under the “Laws and culture” section of Global Affairs Canada’s United States travel advice, reads as follows: “Some states have enacted laws and policies that […]
Posted inCharlotte
Here’s how Charlotte’s Renaissance West project has evolved
1970 2007 2009 2010 2012 2013 2014 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023 This story was produced by WFAE with support from the Charlotte Journalism Collaborative. WFAE and Qnotes are part of the Charlotte Journalism Collaborative (CJC), launched by the Solutions Journalism Network with funding from the Knight Foundation. The CJC strengthens the local news […]
Posted inCharlotte
A new COVID variant has arrived, Charlotte hospitalizations on the rise
COVID-19 hospitalizations are rising in Mecklenburg County, but new boosters could soon be available to protect against the latest variant. EG.5, also referred to as “Eris,” is the newest omicron subvariant rapidly spreading nationwide, according to the World Health Organization. Symptoms of EG.5 are similar to those caused by previous variants and include fatigue, sore […]