Year in Review: 2025
In 2025 we saw a decided increase in disturbing and frightening activity aimed at our community. Despite warnings about a second Trump presidency armed with a MAGA guide book, few of us expected so much. Here’s our look back at the good, bad and ugly. JANUARY LGBTQ+ marriages surge before Trump inauguration day In a…
Charlotte-based authors talk about their books and self discovery
Storytelling remains one of the most important ways we make meaning of our lives and experiences. In this multi-author feature, Qnotes takes a look at some of our community’s local writers. ‘God Does Love Me: My Trans Journey to Finding My True Self’ by Dawn J. Flynn Dawn Flynn is a Charlotte-area author, ordained minister,…
Person of the Year: Holly Savoy
At the time of this interview, Holly Savoy was visiting Minneapolis. An avid traveler, she was there for the premier of “Purple Rain,” a musical based on the iconic recording artist and performer Prince and his 1984 film “Purple Rain.” It’s now slated for Broadway in the near future, although no specific details are available…
Carolina Conference on Queer Youth comes to Charlotte this month
The Carolina Conference on Queer Youth (CCQY) returns to Charlotte on Friday, Oct. 17 offering a full day of training, networking, and collaboration for adults who work with LGBTQ+ young people. The annual conference is dedicated to advancing the well-being and rights of LGBTQ+ youth in schools and community spaces across the region. It brings…
The Carolina Renaissance Festival returns to Huntersville
The Carolina Renaissance Festival will return to Huntersville this fall for its 32nd season of medieval-themed entertainment. The festival will run for eight weekends, opening Saturday, October 4, and continuing through Sunday, November 23. The festival transforms a 25-acre “storybook village” north of Charlotte into a recreation of a 16th-century European marketplace. Visitors will see…
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From Queer Icon to MAGA Ally: Nicki Minaj’s Political Turn
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