Charlotte
Mancini accepting applications
CHARLOTTE — The Wesley Mancini Foundation is accepting applications until Nov. 1 for the grant period of Jan.1-Dec. 31, 2009. Grants are awarded to fund specific projects and are not awarded to cover general operating expenses.
The Foundation’s mission is to provide funding for projects that promote the inclusion of LGBT individuals as full participants in the Charlotte community, seek to eliminate censorship and/or work to foster and support freedom of expression. Since its inception in 2000, the Foundation has awarded 15 grants to 11 organizations. Projects must benefit residents of Mecklenburg and surrounding counties, and are project specific.
Past recipients have been: Actor’s Theatre of Charlotte, Barebones Theatre Group, Campus Pride, The Charlotte Coalition for Social Justice, Charlotte Lesbian & Gay Partnership Fund, The Echo Foundation, William C. Friday Fellowship for Human Resources, The Lesbian and Gay Community Center of Charlotte, Metrolina AIDS Project, Off Tryon Theater Company, One Voice Chorus, Playworks, Time Out Youth, Unity Fellowship Church and The Urban Institute at the University of North Carolina-Charlotte.
Federally-tax exempt organizations or those with tax-qualified sponsors interested in receiving a grant application should contact Bob Scheer at 704-375-4275, ext 11 or via email at bscheer@wesleymancini.com.
Ready to shuffle?
CHARLOTTE — The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) will hold an evening of skating and retro ’80s music on Nov. 12 at Starlight Roller Rink, 8830 W. Harris Blvd. from 6-9 p.m.
Roll around the ring while enjoying favorite ’80s tunes and enjoy a night of fun.
Cost is $15 in advance, $20 at the door, and include light refreshments and an annual HRC membership.
Advance tickets should be purchased by 5 p.m. on Nov. 11.
Tickets are available online at www.hrcactioncenter.org/actioncenter/events/ncskate08/.
Time to vote
CHARLOTTE — Pride Charlotte 2009 is holding its annual theme contest online until Nov. 14. It is open to the entire community.
The winner will be notified by email or phone, announced on the website and other media, as well as introduced at the upcoming Pride Charlotte Theme Reveal Party.
He or she will receive $50, two 2009 T-shirts and recognition online and in the Pride Guide.
Make your selection now online at www.PrideCharlotte.com.
Triad
Couple gets hitched in Calif.
WINSTON-SALEM — A multitude of same-sex couples have been rushing to the altar ahead of California’s ballot referendum on Proposition 8, the constitutional amendment that would roll back the historic State Supreme Court ruling that knocked down the state’s gay marriage ban.
The San Diego Union-Tribune profiled the N.C. couple Ken McLeod and Terry Schadegg, who flew to California for their wedding.
“We timed it now to be before the Nov. 4 election — just in case,” McLeod, 42, told the daily paper.
The number of marriage licenses issued have skyrocketed across California as gay and lesbian couples rush to beat the Nov. 4 election. Still under dispute is whether marriages between same-sex couples performed prior to any passage of the amendment will still be recognized afterward.
The California Secretary of State has said the amendment would go into effect as soon as Nov. 5, if passed the day before.
San Diego County officials told The Union-Tribune that license numbers look more like the number issued in an average June.
“Obviously there is an election in a little more than two weeks that people are aware of. And our good weather is coming to an end too, so that probably plays into it as well,” said Dale Kelly Bankhead, a manager for the No on 8 campaign.
Triangle
Raising voices with song
DURHAM — The Common Woman Chorus is celebrating their 25th anniversary this year with a concert, “Divine Secrets of the La La Sisterhood,” on Nov. 22 in the sanctuary of Eno River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship, 4907 Garrett Rd., at 7 p.m.
The name of the group, started by Nancy Agnew and Barbara Anderson, is derived from a Judy Grahn poem that reads, in part, “a common woman is as common as a common loaf of bread… and will rise.” The Chorus began in the early 1980s as a feminist chorus and has evolved into a woman-positive choral community that celebrates all lifestyles and gender identities. They are committed to musical excellence and social change and perform music that showcases the integrity and inherent worth of each of its members. They celebrate their heroes, reflect on the personal and political struggles of women and the disenfranchised and honor creation, creativity, and song. Since 1983, their performances have instilled their audiences with pride, resolve, empathy and appreciation.
A post-concert reception will follow in the Fellowship Hall.
For tickets or more information, email infocwc@yahoo.com or visit www.commonwomanchorus.net.
Family seminar planned
DURHAM — Bobby Hilburn, a financial advisor at Ameriprise Financial, will hold focus meetings for the LGBT community that examine the current economy as well as review important information regarding domestic partners and the LGBT community. He is interested in holding these in a location that is convenient to participants. He is able to host a group in his office or an alternate local location.
Topics discussed in seminars include current situation, protection planning, wealth management and accumulation, tax planning and strategies, retirement and estate planning.
Interested parties should send an email to bobbyleehilburn@yahoo.com.
Statewide
Safe schools targeted in 2009
STATEWIDE — ENC and a broad coalition of partner organizations are working together to ensure that all children in North Carolina are safe at school and need assistance.They are bringing the discussion about school bullying to the community in the form of roundtable and town hall meetings across the state.
The School Violence Prevention Act, which would standardize how bullying and harassment is treated in public schools in North Carolina has still not passed. It would include protections for those bullied due to sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, among other characteristics.
To be part of the solution, contact Community Organizer Rebecca Mann at 919-699-3501 or rebecca@equalitync.org.
Transgender survey available
STATEWIDE — ENC has announced the launch of the first North Carolina statewide survey to address the policy needs of trans-identified and gender non-conforming individuals. The survey will ultimately help ENC better understand policy issues that are important to this community.
The ENC survey was released just weeks after the National Center for Transgender Equality (NCTE) and the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force released the Comprehensive National Survey on Transgender Discrimination. This survey will collect data on discrimination against transgender people in housing, employment, public accommodation, health care, education, family life and criminal justice.
Both surveys are immensely important in helping ENC and the national organizations collect data so that they can better serve members of the transgender community.
Transgender-indentified or gender non-conforming may complete the ENC survey online at www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=_2faIjkJI399pSWfLSAe6ZGQ_3d_3d.
Those who consider themselves transgender or gender non-conforming in any way may complete the national survey at https://online.survey.psu.edu/endtransdiscrim/.
Relationships study needs you
STATEWIDE — Iva Naydenova, a University of Tennessee-Knoxville researcher, is conducting an empirical study examining attitudes, feelings, and experiences associated with being a lesbian, gay, or bisexual person. Participants must be at least 18 years old and have experienced same-sex attraction.
The survey is anonymous and takes about 30 minutes to complete. As an incentive, all participants will be given the chance to enter a raffle awarding $100 each to three randomly selected individuals. For those interested in participating in this study, visit
survey.utk.edu/mrIWeb/mrIWeb.dll?I.Project=PSYCHOLOGYSURVEY.
This will take one to the consent form and questionnaire. This research has been approved by the Institutional Review Board for protection of human subjects at the University of Tennessee. The compliance officer’s email is blawson@utk.edu.
For more information, email inaydeno@utk.edu.
Researcher requests assistance
STATEWIDE — Kris Goodrich, a doctoral candidate in Counseling and Human Services at Syracuse University, is currently engaged in his dissertation research which explores the experiences of heterosexual parents with LGB-identified children.
The research focuses its investigation into the various factors that impact parents’ experiences after their children disclose their identity as lesbian, gay or bisexual. Volunteers will be asked to complete an online research packet which includes demographic information and a number of brief survey instruments. The instruments should take approximately 20-25 minutes to complete. All information provided on the research survey will be kept confidential. A number of steps have been taken to guarantee privacy as explained in an informed consent form which volunteers are required to sign.
Participation is totally voluntary and one may withdraw at any time.
To participate, visit https://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=klSmOZak3Vr7k9esEuaVBg_3d_3d.
For more information, email Goodrich at kmgoodri@syr.edu or contact his faculty advisor, Dr. Dennis Gilbride, at 315-443-2266 or email at ddgilbri@syr.edu.
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