Back to Charlotte Pride 2015 Index…
With Charlotte Pride’s annual festival and parade comes more than a week’s worth of community, nightlife and other events leading up to the main event. Check out some of these best bets and mark your calendars. For more detailed listings on these events and others, visit charlottepride.org/calendar/.
Aug. 7: Charlotte Pride Youth Dance
7-10 p.m., Midwood International and Cultural Center, 1817 Central Ave. Hosted by Time Out Youth, Charlotte Pride, Charlotte Black Gay Pride and Campus Pride for LGBTQ youth ages 13-20. Entertainment by Ilean Dover, Flex Jonez, Aurora Carlisle, Evelyn Rose. Chaperoned, drug and alcohol free event.
Aug. 9: Interfaith Service
4 p.m., Caldwell Memorial Presbyterian Church, 1609 E. Fifth St. Charlotte Pride’s annual Interfaith Service is growing by leaps and bounds. This year, more than two-dozen congregations and faith leaders will participate. A reception follows.
Aug. 9: Charlotte Pride Pageant
7 p.m., The Scorpio, 2301 Freedom Dr. Charlotte Pride will crown this year’s Miss and Mr. Charlotte Prides. Mr. Pageant begins at 7 p.m., followed by the Miss Pageant at 9 p.m.
Aug. 10: Transgender Social and Keynote
6 p.m., Levine Museum of the New South, 200 E. Seventh St. Charlotte Pride will host a free evening social and keynote with special gusts Kristin Beck, former Navy SEAL and Congressional candidate, and openly transgender U.S. Army Sgt. Shane Ortega. Free.
Aug. 11: LGBT Community Candidate Forum
6:30 p.m., Le Méridien Hotel, 555 S. McDowell St. QNotes co-sponsors this forum for candidates for Charlotte mayor and at-large City Council races. Free.
Aug. 11: Trivia Tuesday Pride Edition with Lana Cane
8-11 p.m., Petra’s, 1919 Commonwealth Ave. Join Lana Cane and her crazy cast for a wild night of Trivia fun as we celebrate Pride Week and Charlotte Pride where we will also give away a big door prize for two!
Aug. 12: Latin@ Pride Night
6:30-9 p.m., Charlotte Pride Office, 1900 The Plaza. The first-ever Latin@ Pride Night. Come mix, mingle, drink, eat and make new friends. Free.
Aug. 14: Pride Shabbat
6-8 p.m., Temple Beth El, 5101 Providence Rd. A special Pride-themed Shabbat service celebrating inclusion and diversity and a speaker discussing transgender issues. On Saturday, Aug. 15, join Temple Beth El again for a special service and Torah reading to kick off the Pride celebration at 9 a.m., Romare Bearden Park, S. Church St.
Aug. 14: Bear Happy Hour
7-11 p.m., Crown Station, 1425 Elizabeth Ave. An evening mixer with beer specials, games, food and more.
Aug. 14: Takeover Friday
7-11 p.m., Le Méridien Hotel, 555 S. McDowell St. One of the most anticipated pre-Pride events of the year. Now at a new location.
Aug. 15: After Party with Prancing Elites
10 p.m., Nickel Bar, 2817 Rozzelles Ferry Rd.
The Prancing Elites party it up at the Nickel Bar for a night of fun and entertainment. Come on out!
I was afraid at first that some of the bars who have turned their back on us had forgotten about still using Pride and other events as money grabs. Well, Scorpio and of course – Petra’s, did not disappoint. Since they aren’t gay bars, it’s good to see they are still trying to make money off of gay events! How convenient. Now where is Cathode and Bar 316? Not as notorious as Petra’s for hammering away that they aren’t a gay bar, but 316 still gets credit for all the ‘gay friendly’ label they had splashed all over the news recently when the owner got into a brawl with an intoxicated customer.