Charlotte
Be a hero
CHARLOTTE — There’s a crisis in the community and One Voice Chorus needs your special abilities at their concert on June 20.
Help in the fight against boredom and Right-Wing Crazy thinking.
Assistance is being sought with the silent auction, pre- and post-setup, selling tickets and behind the scenes support.
If you cannot aid them with your backs, buy a ticket or donate money to champion future concerts. Remember, contributions are tax deductible.
To volunteer or for more information, call Tom Im at 704-996-1046 or email thomashim@hotmail.com.
Coastal
Get listed
WILMINGTON — Out Wilmington’s Pride committee is seeking sponsorships for its print and online business directory. This support helps to fund the various events and services of Out Wilmington.
This year they are supporting Coastal Carolina HIV Care Consortium, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, The Children’s Foster Care Fund, The Frank Harr Foundation, Equality North Carolina, Safe Schools NC, St. Jude’s Metropolitan Community Church and the University of North Carolina-Wilmington Pride.
Circulation is around 2,000. Statistics indicate that the LGBT market have 76 percent brand loyalty to businesses that advertise in local LGBT publications. Deadline is May 30, but continued support from the community is always appreciated.
There are a number of levels of commitment that are available. For example, $150 nets a business card listing. Both individual and businesses may be part of this endeavor.
Of course, volunteers are always needed for events. Visit outwilmington.com to learn more about how to become vested into the area’s efforts.
For more information, email Frank Efird at frank@efird.us.
Eastern
Center in exploration mode
GREENVILLE — Kevin Boyette is on a mission. He wants to show the community of Pitt County and Greenville that there is a need for a GLBT Community Center. He is seeking to not only create just a community center, but also a non-profit organization for N.C.’s eastern region and for the southeastern states.
He says his mission is to create an open place and programs that “welcome the GLBT community and its allies.” Hopes are high to unite the Pitt County LGBT community across the lines of age, race, gender and economics. There is a need to give visibility to the history, culture and diversity of the LGBT community. Plans are in the development stage to seal the political and cultural future for the community.
“Our vision is to create a open and loving community through the shared values and beliefs that each GLBT member can provide, while also bringing in their own individual views. We want to create a place where members of the community can come together and discuss what can be done to better our community, to help the coming of age GLBT members, and bringing support to all GLBT members and their allies,” he continued.
One of his dreams is that the Center will become a non-profit organization available for youths and teens. Boyette grew up without a GLBT mentor. He felt alone, but strived forward with his life to figure out who he was as an individual. He wants the organization to help those who are coming out or at least coming to terms with their sexual and/or gender identity. Ultimately, he desires a type of safe house available for the ones who have been kicked out from their homes or who have run away because of fear of hate.
Boyette has a huge wish list. He hopes to have housing and jobs available and be able to put these marginalized youth back on track in school. Many live on the streets because they have nowhere else to go, he adds.
Interested parties who want to be part of this important initiative may email glbtgreenville@gmail.com for inclusion or more information. Get on the ground floor of the development of the Center by joining them online at www.facebook.com/home.php#/group.php?gid=79592109143.
Triad
Strut your stuff
GREENSBORO — Aspiring garment designers, get out your sewing machines and join the family-friendly Fashion Boot Camp to become a “fierce” competitor in the fashion industry. The camp is intended for rising high school students and career-minded individuals who want to enter the fashion industry.
The event is scheduled for June 22-26 at Studio B from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Heidi Klum can’t be there, but don’t fret. Karen Best, event planner and a former employee with Hanes Brands, Inc., will be the host of this “Project Runway” styled clinic.
Future fashionistas will learn about sketching, draping, fashion illustration, computer-aided design, portfolio development, couture 101, millinery, sustainability and more. Best will provide a sewing kit, sketch pad, T-shirt, camp photos, professional portfolio, hair and makeup, hat supplies, sketch tools, shopper allowance and lunch daily.
A fashion show/winner’s reception will be held from 5-7 p.m. on Friday of the session.
Tuition is $395.
Best was featured on WXII12-TV recently. Visit www.wxii12.com/video/19501164/index.html to get a heads up on what to expect.
Other events are slated for the following month — July 13-17, Magnolia Manor in Colfax and July 27-31, at a location yet to be determined — if you miss the first one.
To learn more about how to participate and apply for a spot at this fab clinic, visit www.FashionBootCamp.info. Need to get more 411, call Best at 336-605-5800 or email kb@matrixpc.com.
Triangle
Raise the roof
RALEIGH — Equality NC PAC needs to raise $25,000 to support pro-equality candidates. Make a gift now in support of its 2009 PAC Challenge Reception and it will be matched. Challengers will match all gifts dollar for dollar up to $12,500 through June 9. The event will be held June 9 at the RBC Plaza, 23rd Floor, 301 Fayetteville St., from 6-8 p.m. One does not have to attend for gifts to be matched.
Special guests will be House Speaker Rep. Joe Hackney, Sen. Julia Boseman and Rep. Rick Glazier.
Pride season is approaching. ENC invites everyone to join us them as they come to local communities. They are in need for volunteers to help staff tables, as well as simply meeting folks to broaden the circle of supporters.
To attend, send an email by June 8 at noon to kay@equalitync.org.
For more information on all ENC initiatives and events, to contribute or to volunteer, visit equalitync.org.
Center obtains non-profit status
RALEIGH — The LGBT Center of Raleigh’s Board of Directors has announced that it recently received a federal government non-profit status, meaning that contributions made from this point on are income tax deductible.
The board considers this its first big step to embarking on a major fundraising campaign in the coming months, as well as future solicitations in the years ahead.
As a result of this development, the Center is now looking for a volunteer in the accounting field for assistance with the Center’s finances. They are specifically seeking a CPA, if possible.
In other news, Early Design Group has been retained to design a new website, which is expected to be up and running shortly.
For more information, email lgbtcenterofraleigh@gmail.com or visit raleighiscomingout.com.
Western
Lend a hand
BOONE — High Country Pride is seeking volunteers for its event on June 13-14.
Want to do something meaningful and fun that builds a coalition between the LGBT and area communities? Look no further.
People are needed to assist with tasks such as dance set-up, clean-up, staffing promotional tables and more. All skill levels are welcome.
Proceeds from the two-day event go to support local initiatives.
For more information, email Jennifer at 2009@boonepride.org.
Campus Scene
A free cruise or cash?
STATEWIDE — Do you consider your campus to be gay-friendly? Does your campus have work to be done on transgender issues? What does it mean to be an LGBT student, staff or faculty member on your campus? Does the possibility of winning a free RSVP cruise or $500 sound inviting?
No matter your experience, Campus Pride wants to hear from LGBT students, faculty, staff and administrators. Participation is confidential and data specific to higher education institutions will not be identified in the final analysis.
National trends and experiences from the study will be shared biannually as a way to better understand LGBT needs and render informed decisions on policies, programs and practices impacting LGBT campus life. To be released in 2010, the national report will be compiled in a research summary of findings from Campus Pride titled the “State of Higher Education for LGBT People.”
Deadline is June 30.
The National LGBT College Climate Survey is a comprehensive assessment to document annually the experiences of students, faculty, staff and administrators who identify as LGBT at America’s colleges and universities. The survey is conducted through the Q Research Institute for Higher Education owned and operated by Campus Pride. The annual assessment examines emerging issues, trends and changing demographics of LGBT people in higher education. The Research Director is Dr. Susan R. Rankin of The Pennsylvania State University and Associate Research Director is Dr. Warren J. Blumenfeld of The Iowa State University.
This project is approved by the Office of Research Protections at The Pennsylvania State University.
To participate, visit www.campuspride.org/research. For more information, email info@campuspride.org.
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