Champions awards noms open
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — On June 6 Charlotte Pride announced the first-ever Champions of Pride Awards honoring outstanding dedication, service and commitment to the Charlotte area LGBTQ community. Any individual may be nominated for the awards until the July 15 deadline.
The awards seek to recognize those whose work and dedication exemplify the spirit of Pride. Champions endeavor to empower and unite LGBTQ and allied people through their leadership, service and support. They understand the importance of celebrating the community’s past, present and future while advancing LGBTQ rights and visibility.
The Charlotte Pride Executive Committee encourages a wide range of nominations in order to honor a diversity of our community achievements. Any individual or couple may be nominated in the following four categories:
Harvey Milk Award: Given annually to an individual or a couple to honor exceptional leadership, service to the community and those who champion LGBTQ causes that impact the Charlotte community and beyond.
Outstanding Ally Award: Given annually to an individual or a couple to honor those who do not identify as LGBTQ, but who have stalwartly supported the LGBTQ community with a demonstrated, ongoing passion and commitment to better LGBTQ lives.
Young Catalyst Award: Given annually to an individual or a couple to recognize a young adult leader under the age of 30 who is an “up and coming” leader within the community and/or whose contributions to the community have carried significant impact over the last year.
Legacy Award: Given to an individual or couple to honor a lifelong commitment of outstanding leadership and service to the Charlotte LGBTQ community for an extended period of years; this special award may be presented from time to time by the committee.
Each award will be presented at the 2013 Charlotte Pride Festival and Parade, Aug. 24-25, in Uptown Charlotte. Nomination details and nomination forms can be found online. Award recipients will be chosen and notified by July 18 by the committee and will be asked to participate in this year’s festival and this year’s Charlotte Pride Parade, the first held in the Queen City since 1994.
Champions of Pride Awards coordinator is Shane Windmeyer.
info: charlottepride.org/champions/. media@charlottepride.org.
— Lainey Millen and from releases
Center hosting monthly bingos
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The LGBT Community Center of Charlotte, 2508 N. Davidson St., is hosting monthly drag bingo events. Their most recent event, Beach Blanket Bingo, on June 15, featured Trixie Zenyon. The events are held once each month, with next month’s event scheduled for July 20, 7-10 p.m. The center has not yet announced entertainment or the host for the event.
In other news, the center will host its Stonewall Celebration on June 29, Noon-8 p.m., in commemoration of the Stonewall Riots. The center says entertainment, music and food will be provided. Entertainers and other activities have yet to be announced. As reported last issue, the center is still seeking entertainers. In addition, vendor spaces are available at a variety of costs. For more information, email programs@gaycharlotte.com.
info: gaycharlotte.com.
— Matt Comer
Symposium slated
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Regional AIDS Interfaith Network’s (RAIN) Trinity Project will hold its third annual pastoral symposium, “Ministering Outside the Pulpit,” on June 29, 5:30 p.m., at CN Jenkins Presbyterian Church, 1421 Statesville Ave.
The event speaks to the “importance of providing pastoral care to individuals infected and affected with HIV/AIDS within the faith and surrounding communities. Competent pastoral care is knowing when to speak, when to be silent and often providing more than ‘I’ll pray for you’ through tools of listening and empowering without judgment,” RAIN said.
Church leaders and clergy, as well as faith communities will be assisted in understanding the “importance of preaching and teaching, from a biblical perspective, focusing on what Jesus spoke of often which is love, while teaching the value of each human-being with an understanding that we are to love all of God’s creation regardless of their sexual orientation, behaviors that stem from substance abuse, etc.”
The symposium is free and open to the public. Dinner will be provided, preceded by a reception. Onsite HIV testing will be available.
An RSVP is required to attend. Call Geneva Galloway, director of community services, at 704-372-7246, ext. 115, or email g.galloway@carolinarain.org.
info: carolinarain.org.
— Lainey Millen
Share your news with us
Does your organization or special interest group have events or great information to share with our readers? If so, be sure to send in your information to specialassignments@qnotescarolinas.com. In the upcoming months, we’ll feature one of you in our news notes section in each issue. Are you a part of a Meetup, Yahoo or Google group and do you do something that’s really newsworthy? Do you provide a service for the community or hold fundraisers for worthy causes? Do you educate the public about LGBT issues or concerns? Of course, this is only a sampling of things we are interested in. It’s the aim of these pieces to inform, enlighten and educate our readers about what we’re doing here in the Carolinas to champion LGBT rights, as well as offer resources for those who may be interested in what your group is doing.
info: Have news or other information? Send your press releases and updates for inclusion in our News Notes: editor@qnotescarolinas.com.