Summer in full color: June events across the Carolinas
Summer is officially underway across the Carolinas, and June is packed with opportunities to connect, celebrate and explore. From Juneteenth festivals and community wellness events to drag performances, concerts, storytelling nights and outdoor gatherings, organizations across the region are launching a season filled with art, culture and community. While Pride celebrations remain a major part…
Our People: Heidi Hemphill Samples
No matter when an individual joins the LGBTQ+ community through self-acceptance, everyone has an opportunity to make an impact that resonates. Heidi Hemphill Samples is one such individual. Born in Toledo, Ohio, reared in the suburbs of Cincinnati and landing in Charlotte in 2018, Samples continues to make her mark in a community that might…
Some LGBTQ+ Carolinians are redefining home and community abroad
Every morning in Atenas, Costa Rica, Susan Anderson wakes before sunrise and sits outside watching birds move across the mountains surrounding her home. The doors and windows stay open year-round. There are no screens. No air conditioning. The weather rarely shifts far beyond the 60s and 80s. By evening, the sounds of roosters, tropical wildlife…
Soul Gastrolounge brunch returns with deep LGBTQ+ community ties
Soul Gastrolounge is bringing back Sunday brunch this weekend, reviving a longtime Charlotte tradition with connections to the city’s LGBTQ+ nightlife community. The brunch relaunch begins Sunday, May 31, at Soul’s Sugar Creek location and includes a full day of music, cocktails and evening drag and burlesque performances from The Flamingo Revue. The original Plaza…
Union County Pride conference centers survival, support and LGBTQ+ advocacy
The annual free conference hosted by Union County Pride will return May 28-29 with a mix of in-person and virtual programming focusing on LGBTQ+ advocacy, education and community connection. The two-day event includes hybrid sessions on Thursday, May 28, followed by a full day of Zoom-only programming on Friday, May 29. Organizers describe the conference…
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News
Equality NC announces Charlotte and Metro area endorsements
Equality NC PAC released the following statement and endorsements June 3 at 10 a.m. “The Charlotte Metro area is a critical battleground for the future of our state, and building an inclusive North Carolina starts right here in our own backyards.True progress happens when we invest in public servants who are dedicated to protecting their…
Pride
Small town Pride celebrations growing across North Carolina
Small-town Pride celebrations continue to grow across North Carolina. This June, both Hendersonville and Morganton are preparing for community-centered festivals that organizers say are about visibility, connection and creating welcoming spaces in places where LGBTQ+ people are often overlooked. The Hendersonville Pride Festival returns June 6 from noon to 5 p.m. at Jackson Park in…
Events
Qnotes to host 40th anniversary celebration
For 40 years, Qnotes has documented the lives, challenges and celebrations of LGBTQ+ communities across Charlotte and the Carolinas. On Sunday, April 26, that work comes full circle as we host our 40th Anniversary Celebration from 6 to 10 p.m. at The Scorpio, located at 225 Fairwood Avenue in Charlotte. The event will bring together…
