PFLAG presents ‘Laramie’
GASTONIA, N.C. — The Gaston County chapter of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) will present a staging of “The Laramie Project,” a three-act play retelling the events of Matthew Shepard’s 1998 death in Laramie, Wyo.
Originally written by Moisés Kaufman and the members of Tectonic Theatre Project, the play will be staged for two days at Events on Main, 326 W. Main St., in Downtown Gastonia. Performances are Aug. 3 at 7:30 p.m. and Aug. 4 at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets, $5, may be purchased from any cast member, PFLAG members or by emailing pflaggaston@yahoo.com.
info: facebook.com/pages/Gaston-County-Chapter-of-PFLAG/76006788191.
— Matt Comer
National group to host book discussion
CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Out & Equal Workplace Advocates, a national organization working on LGBT workplace equality, will host a book reading and panel discussion with top LGBT and ally executives.
Out & Equal Founder and CEO Selisse Berry will be joined by Renee Brown, senior vice president, director of social media at Wells Fargo; Julie Hogan, vice president North America services, NCR Corporation; and Cynthia Martin, former president of global services, Eastman Kodak.
The four will discuss the book, “Out & Equal at Work: From Closet to Corner Office,” an anthology of 37 stories edited by Berry.
The event will be hosted on Aug. 4, 2 p.m., at Park Road Books, 4139 Park Rd.
info: outandequal.org.
— Matt Comer
Film, discussion slated
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The Human Rights Campaign North Carolina and Time Out Youth are teaming up to present a series of film screenings and talk back sessions about LGBT issues and elementary schools as part of their Welcoming schools initiative.
The first one will be held on Aug. 6, 7 p.m., at the LGBT Community Center of Charlotte, 2508 N. Davidson.
Welcoming Schools, a project of the Human Rights Campaign Foundation, offers tools, lessons and resources on embracing family diversity, avoiding gender stereotyping and ending bullying and name-calling in elementary schools. qnotes reported on the partnership in its “Schools program partnership formed” story on June 7 (qnotescarolinas.com/23371).
info: timeoutyouth.org. welcomingschools.org.
— Lainey Millen
Dems seek volunteers
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — The LGBT Democrats of North Carolina are coming to the Queen City for Charlotte Pride on Aug. 24-25 and are in search of volunteers for its booth.
District Chair Roy Smith serves as coordinator and can be reached via email at southernboundaries@gmail.com.
The group is also setting up at other upcoming Pride events across the state. Volunteers are needed at Triad Pride, Sept. 14, Greensboro; NC Pride, Sept. 28, Durham; Blue Ridge Pride, Oct. 5, Asheville; and Pride Winston-Salem, Oct. 19, Winston-Salem.
info: lgbtdemocrats.org.
— Lainey Millen
Theatre group mounts production
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Queen City Theatre Company (QCTC) is bringing “Les Liaisons Dangereuses” (“Dangerous Liaisons”) to the stage from Aug. 8-24 at the Duke Energy Theatre at Spirit Square, 345 N. College St. Times are 7:30 p.m. on weekdays and 8 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.
The play is a complete reinvention of the French classical novel by Pierre Choderlos de Lacios.
QCTC’s Artistic Director Glenn T. Griffin serves at the shows director. It was adapted to the Broadway stage by playwright Christopher Hampton. The story delves into exploration of decadent sexuality, morals and manipulations fleshed out as the ultimate game of lust and revenge. Pepper in a bit of deceit and lies and you have a recipe for all-out intrigue. It is intended for mature audiences.
The cast includes theatre veterans Kristian Wedolowski and Cynthia Farbman Harris in the roles of Valmont and Merteuil. Also starring are Amanda Berkowitz, Grant Zavitkovsky, Emma Curtis, Aubrey Young, Johanna Llambias, Robin Tynes and Ginger Heath in the role of Rosmonde. Directed and conceived by Glenn T. Griffin.
Tickets are $22-24 and can be obtained by calling 704-372-1000, online at carolinatix.org or in person at the Blumenthal Performing Arts Center box office, 130 N. Tryon St. Student and senior discounts are available, as well as group rates for 10 or more. A special discounted performance will be held on Aug. 14 which is audio described.
info: queencitytheatre.com.
— Lainey Millen
Charlotte Pride seeks honor guard, Pride Week events
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Organizers of Charlotte Pride are partnering with the Charlotte Pride Band and members of the Citadel and Virginia Military Institute Gay and Lesbian Alliance (GALA) to present an honor guard that will march in this year’s inaugural Bank of America Charlotte Pride Parade on Sunday, Aug. 25. The honor guard will also be present at Charlotte Pride’s opening ceremony on Saturday, Aug. 24. Current and former servicemembers, police, firefighters, EMT, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, along with JROTC or ROTC cadets, are encouraged to participate. For more information and to express your interest, visit charlottepride.org/colorguard/.
The organization is also looking for community organizations and businesses who are presenting special events during the lead-up to the festival and parade. Charlotte Pride will help publicize special Pride Week events held between Aug. 16-25 on their website and elsewhere. For more information on how to submit your event, visit charlottepride.org/events/#prideweek.
— Lainey Millen
Org offers volunteer opportunity
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Campus Pride will bring its College Fair to Charlotte Pride on Aug. 24-25. In order to ensure its success, it welcomes prospective and current college/university students to help staff this annual event.
The Southeast Region LGBT College Fair Program partners host Campus Pride with Charlotte Pride. The fair program is unique, in that LGBT and ally prospective students can ask LGBT-related questions and get answers from numerous colleges and universities from across the country.
The next day will find Campus Pride taking part in the Charlotte Pride Parade. It is encouraging students from surrounding colleges/universities to join in the event and wear their college apparel to display Pride for their campuses. Email ally@campuspride.org to reserve a spot and join the parade contingency.
info: campuspride.org.
— Lainey Millen
info: Have news or other information? Send your press releases and updates for inclusion in our News Notes: editor@qnotescarolinas.com.
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.