Happy Friday, everyone! I hope you had an amazing holiday with your loved ones. My name is Taylor, and I’ll be bringing you the latest headlines from Qnotes this past week. It has come to my attention when I do these newsletters, you don’t have a face to associate my name with. So to kick off the this edition of QWeekly, I’ve included a picture of myself that was taken on my trip to visit my grandparents in Maryland for Christmas. Now you have a face to a name when you get these emails every week!
What did you do to commemorate the holiday season? Feel free to share your favorite holiday traditions with me by emailing me at taylorheeden@qnotescarolinas.com.
As we go into 2024, we must recognize the importance of the moment of time we’re in now. There will be an election that could very well define the course of Civil Rights for years to come. We need to come together and continue to fight for the rights of LGBTQ+ people of today and for our future generations. We need to show up, stand up and be a voice for our loved ones, our children and ourselves.
I cannot speak for the rest of my fellow Gen Z peers (I was born in 2000, putting me at the cusp of Gen Z and Millennial), but I am sick and tired of watching the state I’ve called home for my whole life become a place where not all fellow North Carolinians are welcome to live their lives. If we’re going to have a chance at changing the route North Carolina is going, LGBTQ+ identifying and allied North Carolinians need to unite and fight back the hateful policies and politicians where it matters most.
Call your representatives. Sign up to support an advocacy group, organization or nonprofit of your choosing. Speak at public meetings or help a candidate who believes in true equality on the campaign trail. Just simply showing up to vote is a way you can directly advocate for change in our communities.
In 2023, there were times of immense joy, as well as times of great sadness, maybe even helplessness. We’ve created two different recaps of the year for our readers this year: a traditional review of the year, and a special “Worst of the Worst” list for 2023.
You can read them below.
Qnotes remembers the headlines of 2023
This year saw some historic leaps and bounds for the LGBTQ+ community across the country. It also saw some regressive policies targeting trans and queer youth, and it further showed now more than ever, LGBTQ+ North Carolinians need to stand together and fight for their rights. […]
Ripped from the headlines: the worst of 2023
In a society and time when breaking news is constant, it’s actually quite difficult to keep up with everything that happens in a year’s time. We thought it would be a good idea to dust off the past 12 months and remind you of some of the less pleasant moments that occurred. […]
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LATEST HEADLINES FROM QNOTES CAROLINAS
Newly introduced GOP-sponsored bill could expand Florida’s ‘Don’t Say Gay’ policy to the state workplace
By Taylor Heeden
Florida’s GOP legislators are on the attack against the state’s LGBTQ+ population, but this time, it will impact government workers and contractors.
The proposed House Bill 599 (HB 599) — which is sponsored by political newcomer Rep. Ryan Chamberlin (R-Belleview) — if implemented would block state-funded entities from requiring employees to address trans or nonbinary colleagues by their preferred names or pronouns.
Trump posts Christmas day message telling opponents to ‘rot in hell’
Former President Donald Trump shared a special holiday message with followers on his social media […]
Review: Beetlejuice
What better way to end 2023 than a musical about death, right? Based on Tim […]
Read this week’s online issue.
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IN OTHER NEWS…
Former President Trump endorses Mark Robinson for N.C. Governor
Former President Donald Trump held an event at his Mar-a-Lago estate last week to show his support for North Carolina Lt. Gov. Mark Robinson and his campaign to become the next governor. Trump compared Robinson — the current frontrunner for the Republican nomination for North Carolina’s governor’s race — to Civil Rights leader Martin Luther King Jr. […]
ICYMI
Housing program for trans and non-binary Charlotteans to close
Rev. Debra Hopkins knew she wanted to help others in the community after she experienced […]
Person of the Year: Karen Graci
At the end of each year, Qnotes staff reflects on the extraordinary work completed by […]
LGBT+ Chamber Annual Awards Gala honors members
The Carolinas LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce held its THRIVE Annual Awards Gala on December 12, […]
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