Looking back over Charlotte’s LGBTQ+ cultural history, some names are remembered, honored and revered. Many in our community remember the names of individuals like political activist Don King, cultural contributor Dan Kirsch and drag legend Boom Boom LaTour.
Far too often, people who make a difference slip through the cracks. They don’t have awards named after them and the homage they deserve never happens. Not everyone needs that kind of attention, but it doesn’t mean they’re any less deserving.
One of those people is Robert Sheets. Born Jan. 9, 1951 in Charleston, W. Va., he spent several years living in Charlotte beginning in the early 1980s. Public records show his last residence in Charlotte was vacated Jan. 23, 2003.
So who was Sheets, and just what did he do?
He was instrumental in founding Queen City Quordinators (QCQ), an LGBTQ+ action and community organization known for some of the city’s earliest gay and lesbian media, Pride picnics at Bryant Park and local cultural events.
As a member and president of QCQ for a time, he was key in the creation of Qnotes and served as an original publisher.
“I met him in early ’86, or late ’85,” recalls Qnotes Publisher Jim Yarbrough. “And he asked me to join the board of Queen City coordinators. He was the president, and I joined as the treasurer. He brought up the idea of making Qnotes a newspaper and at the same time he wanted to produce a Charlotte-based leather contest associated with the National Drummer Contest.
“So we produced the event, it was a preliminary to Mr. Drummer, which was usually held in Chicago. We had this contest at the Grady Cole Center, and it was really out there,” Yarbrough laughed. “It was well attended. People came from all over the country to participate and compete. It’s definitely history for Charlotte. After it was all over with the city told us, ‘don’t ever do that again or you’ll be arrested.’ We featured the contest on the first edition of Qnotes,” Yarbrough added.
Fortunately, the two men turned their attentions to producing Qnotes, and didn’t face any legal action over the Mr. Drummer Contest. Although Sheets was really the idea man in this case, he eventually drifted towards other projects.
Of all his efforts and accomplishments in the Queen City, Sheets was probably best known as the first openly gay man to run for Charlotte City Council. Not just once, but twice. Regrettably, he also lost twice. But he was a presence to be reckoned with and he dared to tempt the societal standards of the times to provide representation for his community.
“That’s correct,” Yarbrough recalls. “He did run twice and he didn’t win either time. But he was there, and he was the first gay man in Charlotte to attempt it.”
Multiple attempts to track down Sheets prior to his passing on July 9, 2024 were unsuccessful but additional information on his later years can be gleaned from an obituary posted from his hometown of Charleston, W. Va.
“Robert was an icon to Charleston, not only the gay community. His love and compassion showed in every selfless act he took,” wrote one friend on his memorial guest book. “I will certainly miss seeing you around and always being greeted with your big smile and wave,” posted another. “And a kind word when we would speak.”
Sheets was listed as 73 years of age when he passed away at the Charleston area Medical Center. Although he didn’t win a seat on the Charlotte City Council, he did serve as a City of Charleston council member for three consecutive terms, between 2007 to 2022.
He was lauded in the obituary for much more: his role as an LGBTQ+ activist in the area; his job as the former manager of a local establishment known as The Tap Room and for founding the annual Pride picnic held in Charleston’s Coonskin Park.
But it didn’t stop there. Sheets was the president of Charleston’s chapter of Prime Timers, the vice president of the Living AIDS Memorial Garden; a long time member of the Kanawha County Democratic Executive Committee; a Power of One recipient and a mentor to multiple nonprofit organizations.
While he may have stayed out of the social media spotlight, comments on his obituary from friends show that he was well loved for his efforts here in North Carolina and West Virginia.
Although Sheets is no longer with us, be a part of Qnotes’ history and an important early contributor to Charlotte’s LGBTQ+ history.
Portions of this article previously appeared in Qnotes.
