NC election board takes aim at mail-in ballots
The North Carolina State Board of Elections approved on Monday a measure to disqualify certain absentee ballots ahead of the 2026 midterms. Members voted 3-2 along party lines. The measure allows county elections board staff to take further action on ballots with “irregularities.” Examples include not properly sealing a ballot or using the wrong type…
Our People: Joshua Jernigan
If you were a parent or loved one of a 10-year-old who just unexpectedly told you they are transgender or nonbinary, where would you go for support? If you’re reading this — you will quickly learn, help is available. There’s a wonderful and impassioned gentleman living in Union County who just so happens to also…
From shuttered church to vibrant community hub
It’s becoming more common every year. A church finds itself aging out, its membership dwindling, and the church is disbanded. The big question then is, what do you do with the empty church buildings? In the case of Christ the King Lutheran Church in Greenville, South Carolina, a congregation of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in…
‘Rent’ comes to the Flat Rock Playhouse
The Pulitzer Prize-winning musical “Rent” opens July 24 and continues through August 15 at the Flat Rock Playhouse in Flat Rock, North Carolina. The play, now celebrating its 30th anniversary since opening on Broadway at the Nederlander Theatre in 1996, follows a group of young artists and friends in New York City’s East Village as…
South Carolina Presbyterian church hires transgender minister in Anderson
A small, struggling Presbyterian church in Anderson, South Carolina, has taken the bold step of hiring an openly transgender woman as its new pastor. North Anderson Community Church, Presbyterian (NACCP), a member congregation of the mainline denomination, Presbyterian Church (USA), has hired the Rev. Laura Bethany Buchleiter as its stated supply pastor (a temporary minister…
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Tucked into the heart of southwest Michigan, Kalamazoo is a vibrant town which blends creativity, culture, and community in a way that feels both refreshingly unpretentious and quietly progressive. Long known for its craft beverage scene and artistic spirit, Kalamazoo is increasingly becoming a destination for LGBTQ+ travelers seeking a welcoming Midwest escape filled with…
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Our People: Earl Martin
We’re living in stressful times. Anti-LGBTQ+ legislation seems to be at an all-time high and most media outlets are inundating us with tragedies that just make us want to go back to bed with the covers pulled over our heads. However, there are still rays of hope and people right within our communities doing the…
