Charlotte Black Pride working to keep event afloat as corp funds lessen

Charlotte Black Pride (CBP) hosts its 21st annual festival July 11-18. Live performances, career fairs, mental health panels and a kiki ball (a runway and dance contest held in queer Black communities) will take place throughout the week. For two decades, CBP has stayed committed to creating space for Black queer people. Though the Charlotte…

Cary Pride organizer calls for justice

A Cary Pride organizer is calling for stronger accountability after she says she was struck in the face with a metal flagpole while organizing a Pride event earlier this month.  Sara Buxton, owner of The Night Market Company, was hosting the Alphabet Soup Pride Market at a downtown Cary Park on June 13 when, she…

Myers Park church replaces ‘Baptist’ with ‘Covenant’

What’s in a name? Sometimes, nothing; sometimes, everything. That applies to churches as well. Since the 1980s, the trend has been for churches to drop denominational identifiers from their names.  For example, in the South Carolina Upstate region, New Covenant Church has a significant presence. It is a Presbyterian congregation with ties to the Presbyterian…

From Legacy to Liberation: a queer journey to Montgomery, Alabama

What happens when three friends and committed community stakeholders come together with a resonating idea? You get change agents stepping into the role of travel agents—creating a journey with the potential to impact lives across generations and leave a legacy that endures for years to come. What began as a simple conversation has evolved into…

When community shows up: a look back at Pride Winston-Salem 2026

As the Pride Winston-Salem parade moved down Fourth Street on June 13, the strongest display wasn’t on the floats. It was happening along the sidewalks, where strangers made room for children to see, shared candy and cooling towels and cheered as friends and loved ones marched past. Those small acts of kindness created an atmosphere…

Something went wrong. Please refresh the page and/or try again.

Join the Qnotes Press Club

Your support makes our work possible. Every story we publish, every event we cover, and every community voice we uplift exists because of readers like you. Behind every headline is a story worth telling, and your membership helps keep those stories alive.

As we move into 2026, our goal is to welcome 1,000 new Press Club members by June 1 and grow the community that makes this reporting possible. Join the Press Club today and help us reach our goal.

$
$
$

Your contribution is appreciated.

Related Stories

features

July in full color: events across the Carolinas

Summer is in full swing across the Carolinas, and July offers plenty of opportunities to celebrate, connect and explore. From Charlotte Black Pride programming and cultural festivals to drag performances, live theater, poetry, concerts, gaming nights and civic conversations, organizations throughout North and South Carolina are continuing the season with events for nearly every interest.…

arts & culture

Out in Print: ‘Whistler: A Novel’

You were there the whole time. From the moment you were born, until you were an adult, you were around for every minute of your childhood. It’s not like you could escape it, or erase it, or undo it, it’s not like you made it all up. You were there. But, as in the new…

community

Our People: Adrian Parrish

Tucked away in Charlotte’s vibrant NoDa neighborhood is a warm, witty and creative community builder whose passion for authenticity has helped strengthen connections throughout the local LGBTQ+ community. For the past decade, Adrian Parrish has called Charlotte home, embracing the city’s creative spirit while organizing events that bring people together, celebrate identity and encourage belonging. â€¦