With the beginning of spring fresh upon us, Charlotte’s and the Carolinas’ LGBT community is springing forward with a what might just be the gayest weekend on record. Two fundraising dinners. Other fundraising events. Theatre and other arts events. A statewide educational conference. All coming up today through Sunday. Check out this weekend’s events to learn more.
March 20
Continues through April 4
‘The Normal Heart’
Theatre Charlotte
501 Queens Rd., Charlotte
Award-winning production about the early days of the AIDS crisis. Different Roads Home is presenting sponsor. Tickets are $27 and available online.
theatrecharlotte.com
March 20
‘Wishes: Dreams into Reality’
The Great Aunt Stella Center
926 Elizabeth Ave., Charlotte
7:30 p.m.
As part of their continuing celebration of its 25 year history, One Voice Chorus asks those who attend to consider what wishes for the community and world one has for the next 25 years. Tickets are $25 in advance online and $30 at the door.
onevoicechorus.com
March 21
Center forum
North Star LGBT Center
704 Brookstown Ave., Winston-Salem
2-4 p.m.
The board of directors of the North Star LGBT Center in Winston-Salem invites community members to share their feedback, ideas and suggestions to keep the center growing.
northstarlgbtcc.com
March 21
TOY Mimosa Party
JB’s on the Greenway
2128 Greenway Ave., Charlotte
8 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Time Out Youth hosts a fundraising event while cheering on runners in the Elizabeth 8K Road Race. A donation gets you access to bottomless mimosas. In 2014, the event raised close to $10,000 for Time Out Youth. Event details are available online.
facebook.com/events/1528473724078345/
March 21
Equality NC Conference
Durham Technical Community College
1637 E. Lawson St., Durham
The AdvaNCe Equality Conference, hosted by Equality NC Foundation, is the largest gathering of LGBTQ activists in North Carolina. Conference keynoter includes North Carolina-native Jacob Tobia. Information and registration are available online.
equalityncfoundation.org/conference/
March 21
Giving Gala
Label Charlotte
900 NC Music Factory Blvd., Suite B6, Charlotte
6:30 p.m.
The Charlotte Business Guild hosts its annual Giving Gala and Awards Ceremony, featuring speakers Charlotte City Councilwoman LaWana Mayfield and state Sen. Jeff Jackson. Entertainment by Tenya Coleman of the Tenya Coleman Quartet. Tickets start at $70 for members, with a range of options for students, couples and more. Information and tickets are available online.
cltbusinessguild.org
March 21
Forté!
Center Stage @ NoDa
2315 N Davidson St., Charlotte
6:34 p.m.
Gay Men’s Chorus of Charlotte’s annual black tie gala. Tickets $65 available online.
gmccharlotte.org
March 21
Dancing for Life
Levine Museum of the New South
200 E. Seventh St., Charlotte
6 p.m.
The PowerHouse Project presents its second annual Dancing for Life, a dance theatre event featuring several Charlotte dance companies and styles, including ballet, West African, hip hop, vogue, jazz, mime and liturgical genres. A family-friendly event with admission and parking with complimentary dinner catered by Mert’s Heart and Soul. Free HIV testing will also be available onsite.
powerhousecharlotte.org
March 21
‘Wishes: Dreams into Reality’
Redeemer Lutheran Church
1915 S. New Hope Rd., Gastonia
7:30 p.m.
As part of their continuing celebration of its 25-year history, One Voice Chorus asks those who attend to consider what wishes for the community and world one has for the next 25 years. Tickets are $25 in advance online and $30 at the door.
onevoicechorus.com
March 22
Sweet Tooth Festival
Omni Charlotte Hotel
132 E. Trade St., Charlotte
The Regional AIDS Interfaith Network (RAIN) hosts its fourth annual drop-in celebration of all things sweet, featuring the Charlotte area’s best purveyors of cupcakes, candies, cakes and sweet treats. All proceeds benefit RAIN.
carolinarain.org
Bonus:
March 23
Matthew Vines
Hughes Main Library
25 Heritage Green Pl., Greenville, S.C.
7-8:30 p.m.
BJUnity presents a speaking engagement with gay, evangelical Christian author Matthew Vines, author of “God and the Gay Christian: The Biblical Case in Support of Same-Sex Marriage.” Vines is also the founder of the Reformation Project, a non-profit group dedicated to training LGBT Christians and allies to reform church teaching on sexual orientation and gender identity. The event is free but requires registration online.
bit.ly/17YDwHz