Pride event successful
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Second Annual Pride was held on Oct. 1 at Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU), 100 Beatties Ford Rd.
Throughout the day, over 100 attendees were able to enjoy exhibits, stage performances, speeches, a critical mass action candle lighting in memory of those lost to suicide by transgender youth (one of whom was Blake Brockington, a trans activist who died in 2014), awards ceremony and more.
The event was held to engage campus students and guests on issues pertaining to the LGBT community at the university and nationally.
It was presented by Sexuality Advocacy for Equality (S.A.F.E.) Pride, Multicultural Student Affairs, Charlotte Black Gay Pride, Campus Pride, Hearts Beat As One Foundation, Counseling Center, Freedom Center for Justice, PowerHouse Project, Charlotte LGBT Chamber of Commerce and Time Out Youth Center. Others invited to the event were Equality North Carolina, I Matter at JCSU, Spiritual Life Center at JCSU, Southern Equality for North Carolina, the Student Governing Association.
Warren Guene S. Radebe, S.A.F.E. Pride vice president and sponsorship coordinator, shared, “Out of 400 S.A.F.E. Pride members, we were able to impact 75 students, and were excited to recruit another 35.”
Colorful and innovative costuming was utilized by emcee James Rice III who served as the event’s program director. And, university President Dr. Ronald C. Carter, along with the school’s administrative board, permitted the organization to fly a rainbow flag, along with the U.S and JCSU flags. “The rainbow flag was flying with prde, and proclaimed a symbolic step into [the] diversity and inclusion process in our HBCU [historically black college and university],” Radebe added.
info: 980-345-9781. wsradebe.2011@jcmail.jcsu.edu.
‘Gayborhood’ group set
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Who’s In Your Gayborhood group will host its monthly soirée on Nov. 22, 2 p.m., at EagleSpeak Coffee House, 3907 South Blvd.
Attendees will be able to enjoy “game day” playing whatever games together that are brought to the event, as well as keeping tabs on the Panthers.
Coffee, wine and beer service will be available. Order-in pizzas can be purchased from a restaurant next door or attendees can bring potluck dishes.
The Gayborhood group was initiated through a steering committee consisting of Sandy Schmit, Honey Hartley, Lee Ziglar and Victoria Eves. It was launched as a continuation of the Aging Solutions group, targeting a wider age demographic and morphing into a Zipcode Buddy Network for the community. It kicked off on Sept. 9. Its aim is to bring together like-minded individuals from nearby neighborhoods for support and friendship.
More information will be available in an upcoming qnotes issue as the group continues to settle in. One goal that the steering committee has agreed upon is that decisions will be made by consensus, rather than on a hierarchal structure.
The network encourages LGBT- and LGBT-friendly individuals from the extended Charlotte metropolitan community to join in.
info: vixclt@yahoo.com.
‘Madonna’ honored in song
CHARLOTTE — One Voice Chorus will present “Madonna/Madonna” on Dec. 4 and 5, 7:30 p.m., and Dec. 5, 2 p.m., at Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte, 234 N. Sharon Amity Rd.
The holiday concert explores both the secular and sacred polarity of Christmas. It centers around the biblical Madonna, as well as the pop culture icon and singer Madonna. “Cherish the Immaculate Conception ‘Like a Virgin’ this holiday season,” organizers shared.
Tickets for the evening performances are $27.97/adult and $18.65/student with ID and $18.65/adult and $13.99/student with ID for the matinee are available online.
info: onevoicechorus.com. facebook.com/OneVoiceChorus.
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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@goqnotes-launch2.newspackstaging.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.