Charlotte
Bingo looking for volunteers
CHARLOTTE — Shelita Hamm and all her gang need some help during the ever-popular, sold-out return of Gay BINGO on Oct. 18 at the Grady Cole Center.
Don’t despair! You can still have a chance to be a part of the magic. The Bingo Verifying Divas (BVD) can’t do everything and volunteers are needed for set-up, tear down and general assistance during the night of the event. Volunteering guarantees you won’t miss a minute of the action.
In addition, they have sponsorship opportunities available at various price levels to support the many things they use that night. They are seeking sponsorships for costuming and wigs, venue rental, chairs and tables, printing and Jumbotron rental. They even have opportunities to sponsor a BVD.
The 2009 Gay BINGO calendar is hot off the press and on sale now. The calendar features 12 BVDs and Hamm at a cost of $20.
To be a sponsor, volunteer, order a calendar, or to be put on a wait list for tickets call 704-372-7246 ext. 161. For more information, visit www.gaybingocharlotte.org.
Concert to raise awareness
CHARLOTTE — Ten years ago this year, the nation was ravaged by a series of bias and hate crimes, including the tragic murder of a University of Wyoming student named Matthew Shepard. Today his legacy and story live on as national performers Randi Driscoll and Jason & deMarco (Jason Warner and deMarco DeCiccio) throw a benefit concert to “Stop The Hate” on Nov. 7 at 7:30 p.m. on the campus of University of North Carolina-Charlotte. The concert is committed to raising the necessary funds for educating and creating awareness in order to prevent bias and hate crimes in the future. All proceeds benefit the Matthew Shepard Foundation and Campus Pride.
As an observance to “Remembering the Legacy of Matthew Shepard,” the concert will be one of 10 nationally. The renowned lineup of artists are partnering with Stop The Hate (an educational program of Campus Pride) and the Foundation to host the special benefit concert.
One Voice Chorus will also be performing and will accompany the featured artists in the special tribute song entitled “What Matters” which was written by Driscoll in memory of Shepard and all victims of hate. Together organizers dedicate this concert in the Carolinas to the memory of all victims of hate.
The concert is being held in conjunction with Stop The Hate’s national Train the Trainer program (see Sept. 20 story), held Nov. 6-8 at Winthrop University in Rock Hill, S.C.
“We are very pleased to be intimately involved in Stop the Hate and this concert,” said Judy Shepard, mother of Matthew Shepard and the executive director of the Foundation. “I know that such collaborative efforts make a real difference on our college campuses and in the 10 years since Matt’s murder, programs like Stop The Hate have made our college campuses safer places to learn and work.”
According to 2006 hate crime statistics complied by the FBI, school campuses continue to be the third most common place for hate crimes to occur. Stop The Hate and the Foundation are well aware of the countless bias acts and hate crimes in the 10 years since Shepard’s death — one of which impacted the Carolinas directly a year ago, the killing of gay youth Sean Kennedy in Greenville, S.C.
For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.stophate.org/concert. Ticket rates are $15 for students with appropriate identification and $30 for general admission. VIP priority seating is also available for $100 beforehand. Tickets will be available at an increased rate of $10 per ticket the night of the concert.
For more information, call National Program Coordinator Greg Miraglia at 707-253-3035, email at greg@stophate.org or visit www.stophate.org.
Gotta love that art
CHARLOTTE — The Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 820 Hamilton St., Suite B11, will hold its annual silent auction, Whatever Your Art Desires, on Nov. 15. Come browse through the array of handpicked artwork and place a bid to obtain a one-of-a-kind creative treasure. Doors open at 7 p.m., with bidding ending at 9 p.m.
As a special feature, the commissioned sculpture by John W. Love, Jr. and Willie Little from the Center’s original location will be auctioned. Love is interested in creating a new work for the new Center.
Artists are invited to submit digital photos of work they would like considered for the event. Artwork will be chosen by a jury. Email photos to cjvetter@bellsouth.net.
This could be a great way to shop for the upcoming holiday season.
The fundraising event benefits the Center. Tickets will be available at the door.
For more information, visit www.gaycharlotte.com/community.php.
Pride Charlotte 2009 ramps up
CHARLOTTE — Two events have been planned for the Fall in preparation for next year’s Pride Charlotte 2009 festivities which will be held on July 25, 2009, at Gateway Village.
First up is Gay Night at Scarowinds. This fun-filled evening will be held on Oct. 26 at Carowinds theme park. Group rate tickets are available now. Participants are to meet at the front gate at 6:30 p.m.
Next up is a live acoustic concert by gay activist Richard Cortez who will perform at the kick-off fundraising event on Nov. 7 at The Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 820 Hamilton St., Suite B11.
Special guest Adam Smith will be on hand as well. A $7 at-door contribution is suggested. A cash bar, raffles, food and refreshments will be provided.
For those who wish to make PC2009 a huge success, early tax-deductible contributions are graciously being accepted now.
For more information, to purchase tickets or to contribute, visit www.pridecharlotte.com.
Triad
Tomlin to make appearance
GREENSBORO — Lily Tomlin will bring her eclectic charm to the stage on Oct. 11 at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, Aycock Auditorium, 408 Tate St,, at 8 p.m. The show is presented by UNCG Concert & Lecture Series.
Tomlin, one of America’s foremost comediennes, continues to venture across an ever-widening range of media, starring in television, theater, motion pictures, animation and video. Throughout her career, she has been the recipient of numerous awards, including six Emmys, two Tonys, a Grammy, two Peabody Awards and a CableAce Award.
Tickets are $40 for Orchestra and Mezzanine and $30 for second and third Balcony and are available by calling 336-334-4849.
Triangle
Gay bishop to speak at Duke
DURHAM — The openly gay Episcopal bishop at the center of a global theological crisis threatening to break up the Anglican Communion will speak at several events on the campus of Duke University Oct. 6-7.
Bishop V. Gene Robinson of New Hampshire sparked a worldwide controversy when he was consecrated as a bishop in November 2003 and later installed in March 2004. Conservative bishops in the global Anglican Communion, comprised of churches originating from the Church of England, spoke out against Robinson’s election. Those bishops include Nigerian Archbishop Peter Akinola, South American Primate Archbishop Greg Venable and Australian Archbishop Peter Jensen of Sydney. Following the Roman Catholic and Orthodox Churches, the Anglican Church is the third largest Christian body in the world.
Sponsored by Duke University’s Center for LGBT Life, Robinson will speak at two events on Oct. 6 and three on Oct. 7. For more details visit lgbt.studentaffairs.duke.edu.
New folks take the challenge
CHAPEL HILL — Marcellus Brown, Lela Dixon and Karin Rolle have been named as new youth board members for iNSIDEoUT180 for 2008-09.
A few goals on tap for the year for the youth-founded organization include throwing an entertaining and diverse benefit show, hosting a queer-friendly Fall masquerade party and holding numerous workshops for adults and youth alike.
Help from the LGBT and ally communities are needed in assisting them with their efforts.
They will be hosting their Fourth Annual Banquet and Gaiety in Spring 2009 for youth and adults. All are encouraged to attend.
For more information, email insideout180@gmail.com or visit www.iNSIDEoUT180.org.
Art fights AIDS
RALEIGH — The Alliance of AIDS Services-Carolinas (AASC) has announced that its 18th annual Art Auction will be held on Oct. 11 at the Progress Energy Center, AJ Fletcher Opera Theatre. Free public preview is from 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Silent auction is from 6-7:45 p.m. and the live auction is from 8-10 p.m.
Since its inception in 1991, more than 3,200 pieces of artwork have been purchased by Works of Heart patrons. This year the auction will surpass $1 million in total cash revenue and over $710,000 in art sales over its lifetime. With the support of financial partners, 100 percent of the proceeds from the art contributors goes directly to funding AAS-C and its programs providing direct care, housing, education, prevention and faith ministries.
Wake, Durham and Orange Counties report that 2,800 families in the Triangle living are with HIV/AIDS. Over 1,100 are included on AAS-C’s client roster.
For more information, visit www.aas-c.org.
Western
It’s Charlie Brown time!
WESTERN — Join the gang as N.C. Outings hosts their Pumpkin Fest on Oct. 19 from 2-5 p.m.
Carve a pumpkin, enjoy pumpkin cake and celebrate Fall just for the fun of it. Who knows, perhaps the Great Pumpkin will make an appearance.
This casual social time is a great way to meet new people.
For more information, to make reservations or to secure location, email greenlight104@hotmail.com.
Statewide
Documentary on UNC-TV
STATEWIDE — “Coming Out~Coming In: Faith, Identity and Belonging” will be telecast on Oct. 16 at 10:30 p.m. on on UNC-TV, the state’s public television network across North Carolina.
This 30-minute documentary was produced by a team of William C. Friday Fellows of the Wildacres Leadership Initiative in partnership with Minnow Media. The program gives voice to gay and lesbian Christians across North Carolina. It aims to reframe the current contentious debate on LGBT issues in churches. Underneath the biblical debates and theological disputes lie distrust, even hatred among parties. This program seeks to replace the bitter rhetoric with respectful and open dialogue.
As a collaborative project designed by four members of the William Friday Fellowship for Human Relations under the auspices of the Wildacres Leadership Initiative, the film presents a range of perspectives among gay and lesbian Christians, from the sanctuary of churches to the estrangement of closeted lives. The personal stories, woven together with footage from the subjects’ everyday lives, provides a means to move past the rhetoric and provide a safe launching point for dialogue.
Call UNC-TV Viewer Services at 888-292-7070 or email viewer@unctv.org to thank them for airing this important program.
The Fellowship is a leadership program that seeks to identify and nurture committed individuals with the depth of feeling, breadth of knowledge, and network of relationships necessary to meet North Carolina’s social challenges.
The Wildacres Leadership Initiative, the Triangle Community Foundation, the Wesley Mancini Foundation and many other supporters provided funding for this project.
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