Charlotte
Queer Society Charlotte Hosting “Ladies Night”
On September 3, beginning at 8:00 p.m., there will be a sapphic, trans-inclusive “Ladies First Social Mixer.” Hosted by performer Onya Nerves, and featuring Drag King Marty McGuy, this event is open to all LGBTQ individuals and allies. This will take place at Common Market Plaza Midwood, and the party is sure to continue straight through 11:00 p.m. Tickets are free, but registration is encouraged.
info: bit.ly/3BgIY6U
North Carolina
Director Within Carolinas LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce Selected as One of CBJ’s 40 Under 40
The Carolina Business Journal (CBJ) has awarded Erin Barbee, Director of Public Policy & Advocacy at the Carolinas LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce, the title of one of NC’s most accomplished individuals under the age of 40 in 2021. Standing at the forefront of the fight for Charlotte’s recently adopted nondiscrimination ordinance, Barbee has been an LGBTQ and BIPOC advocate for years. Barbee also maintains the title of Senior Vice President of Programs and Services at DreamKey Partners; an organization that provides resources, aid and advising for those in need of affordable housing within the Charlotte-Mecklenburg area.
info: bit.ly/2Y7Xxvf
National
US’ First Gay Ambassador Passes Away at Age 88
From 1999 to 2000, James Hormel acted as the United States Ambassador to Luxembourg. Originally nominated by former President Bill Clinton, it took presidential maneuvering around Congress for Hormel to be officially appointed the title of ambassador. “Ultimately, regulations were changed in the State Department. Ultimately, other openly gay individuals were appointed without the rancor that went into my case,” Hormel shared with C-Span in 2012. His memoir, “Fit to Serve” outlines the challenges that he faced as a pioneer of governmental opportunities for members of the LGBTQ community.
info: nyti.ms/2YbQ1zl
Restaurant Patron Leaves Waiter Hateful Note
“Service was good but we don’t tip sinfull homosexuals,” a customer wrote, complete with misspelled words, on his bill. Do Good Wisconsin, an organization that stemmed from a Facebook page dedicated to spreading good deeds, was made aware of this slight and decided to take matters into their own hands. Group member, Eric Salzwedel, encouraged other “Do-Gooders” to donate to this server. The original tip should have been $25, but Salzwedel and his team were able to raise $4,500 for the waiter.
info: bit.ly/3mPc21t
Harvard Law Representative Argues to Legalize Polyamorous Relationships
Alexander Chen is the Founding Director of Harvard Law School (HLS’s) LGBTQ Advocacy Clinic within the WilmerHale Legal Services Center. Chen argues that, as four to five percent of Americans are currently in non-monogamous relationships, polyamory is on the rise. From 2020 to 2021, three locations in Boston, the cities of Somerville and Cambridge and the town of Arlington, became the first US-based municipalities to recognize polyamorous individuals as having domestic partnerships. “We’re hoping to not just protect polyamorous people, but those in other kinds of relationship structures including asexual people or aromantic people, who experience a lot of discrimination as well,” Chen concludes.
info: bit.ly/38iuSpc
Married Lesbian Couple Shot in Utah
The bodies of Kylen Carrol Schulte and Crystal Michelle Turner were found on August 19 in Grand County, Utah. An investigation is underway, but the medical examiner can confirm that both women had been shot to death. The married couple was said to have been camping for the weekend when what the Grand County Sherriff’s Office has described as a “third party gunman,” shot them. A GoFundMe has been created for Schulte’s father to attend her burial. To donate to the GoFundMe, go to bit.ly/3ykalem.
info: nbcnews.to/2Y7krmu
International
Third Pride March in Bosnia Is a Success
The conservative country of Bosnia-Herzegovina has lost approximately 9,700 citizens to COVID-19, during which most LGBTQ citizens have been experiencing lockdown with abusers. The August 14 march was a celebration, but it was also a call to action for the Bosnian government. Participants asked for a de-stigmatization of LGBTQ individuals, demanding that same-sex marriage be legalized. “In the year behind us, the rights and freedoms of LGBTIQ+ people have further deteriorated,” marchers stated.
info: bit.ly/3kqPHnN
23-Year-Old to Open Scotland’s First Ever Lesbian Bar
Emily Frood, a transgender woman in Edinburgh, Scotland, was studying for their master’s degree when they decided that what they truly wants to do with their life is to create a safe space for queer, bisexual and lesbian women. “The whole point of this bar is to curate a larger, more cohesive sense of community,” Frood shares, “and if that doesn’t happen by having a bunch of queer people and lesbians build this place together, then what am I doing?”
info: bit.ly/2Wu3phl
Australia’s Same-Sex Penguins are Drawing the Masses to the Melbourne Aquarium
The aquarium’s official Twitter posted: “Gay Penguins! Did we get your attention? Did we get your attention? Two pairs of male Gentoo Penguins have become foster dads at @melbaquarium.” Tiger and Branston as well as Jones and Klaus are the “foster dads” in question who have created partnerships over the course of their nesting season. Tanith Davis, the aquarium’s lead bird keeper, says that same-sex penguins are just as likely to court one another and incubate an egg together as any other opposite-sex pair.
info: bit.ly/3Bdt1OK
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