‘Bat Boy’ on stage
RALEIGH, N.C. — “Bat Boy: The Musical” is coming to the state at the Gaddy-Goodwin Teaching Theatre, 301 Pogue St., with theatrical dates of July 15-24. It is being mounted by Raleigh Little Theatre’s Teens on Stage and Teens Backstage. Show times are 7 p.m. on July 15-16, 20-23 and 3 p.m. on July 16-17 and 23-24.
The teen intensive program runs for five weeks and allows students to become immersed in all things theatre, from conservatory classes, rehearsals and hands-on set construction and other aspects of behind-the-scenes work.
This project is funded in part by the City of Raleigh based on recommendations of the Raleigh Arts Commission.
“There is an incredible amount of talent shared by the 23 members of this year’s Teens on Stage conservatory allowing them to conquer with ease the challenges of this fantastic show. ‘Bat Boy, the Musical’ has an amazing score of songs people will be humming for days. The story is beautiful, bizarre, touching, strange, hilarious and sad, but the underlying theme of the struggle for acceptance in a world filled with prejudice and hypocrisy is a strong one to which everyone can connect,” said director Linda O’Day Young.
On July 22, there will be a post-show discussion led by Young and Kelly Taylor of the LGBT Center of Raleigh, along with members of the LGBT youth leadership team, WRAL News Executive Producer Scott Nagel and “Bat Boy” cast members on the themes of the play — “hypocrisy, prejudice and the loneliness of otherness.”
Tickets are $12 and can be purchased online or at the box office at 919-821-3111.
info: raleighlittletheatre.org.
Post conference meeting slated
DURHAM, N.C. — A post 2016 United Methodist General Conference meeting will be held on July 23, 4 p.m., at Bethany United Methodist Fellowship Center, 2903 Guess Rd.
Participants will be able to further explore and gain answers to questions that might be prevail after the historic event last month.
Some questions on United Methodist’s mind now may be: Is human sexuality the only hot-button issue causing the denomination to consider splitting? How will actions taken at the General Conference impact local churches?
On hand will be Rev. Dr. F. Belton Joyner, Rev. Dr. Gray Southern and LaNella Smith. Joyner is a member of the North Carolina Conference and has been a delegate to eight general conferences and served on the Judicial Council of the United Methodist Church for the last two quadrennia. Southern is the lead pastor of Apex United Methodist Church and was a clergy delegate to the 2016 General Conference. Smith is a member of New Creation United Methodist Church and served as a lay delegate to the conference.
All are welcome to attend.
info: rum-nc.org.
Housing survey seeks participants
RALEIGH, N.C. — Services and Advocacy for GLBT Elders (SAGE) Raleigh is conducting a survey on current and future housing needs for seniors.
The organization is working with local government agencies, as well as non-profit and for-profit developers to promote affordable senior housing that is LGBT-friendly, safe and respectful. Participant feedback will provide the data necessary for SAGE Raleigh to move forward in its effort to establish affordable housing.
The survey is online at svy.mk/29oQSm9.
SAGE Raleigh is a program of the LGBT Center of Raleigh. Additional information about the work of the organization is available on the center’s website, including meeting minutes as it relates to the housing initiative.
info: lgbtcenterofraleigh.com.
State budget includes HIV/AIDS assistance
RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina General Assembly in its last week of the legislative session passed a budget that included a provision authorizing AIDS Drug Assistance Program to create a health insurance premium assistance program, North Carolina AIDS Action Network (NCAAN) Executive Director Lee Storrow shared.
Additionally, the legislature passed legislation legalizing syringe exchange programs in the state.
“Even with these significant victories, I’ve been reminded of the challenges still ahead to make sure everyone in our community is afforded dignity and respect. The syringe exchange language was added at the last minute to a bill limiting public access to police body cameras opposed by many of our partners working in social justice. Even in light of big victories, we must recommit ourselves to advocating for our entire community,” he added.
“Studies in other states have shown that premium assistance programs lead to better health outcomes and better viral suppression rates for patients. When someone is virally suppressed, it means they have very low levels of HIV in their body and they’ve significantly reduced the risk of transmitting HIV to another person. Moving ADAP clients onto health insurance programs will help them access important health services to manage other health needs that are currently out of reach for many. This expansion of ADAP is good news for residents living with HIV in North Carolina.”
NCAAN, along with the North Carolina Harm Reduction Coalition, will host the HIV/AIDS Advocacy Conference on Sept. 10 at Winston-Salem State University. Although the agenda has not been released, some activities such as a pre-conference day focusing on PrEP access, workshops and networking with movement leaders from across the state have been revealed. qnotes will have more information at a later date once is is made available.
In other news, the organization is seeking a grassroots advocacy coordinator, a full-time position, that reports to the executive director. Responsibilities include developing and implementing grassroots advocacy and field organizing to support policy campaigns and voter education.
More information is available online. For those who wish to apply, send a cover letter, resume and references to jobs@ncaan.org.
info: ncaan.org.
Dems break records
RALEIGH, N.C. — The North Carolina Democratic Party’s delegation to the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, Penn. will feature a record number of youth delegates — 44 of North Carolina’s 120 delegates, committee appointments and convention pages will be Young Democrats (under the age of 36).
“Young Democrats will play a historic role in Philadelphia,” said Timothy Webster, president of the Young Democrats of North Carolina (YDNC) and a 2016 delegate. “Our record-setting youth delegates are ready to work hard to beat Donald Trump and other Republicans in November.” Youth delegates make up 37 percent of the state’s delegation.
The youth delegation includes elected officials, candidates and county party chairs and are: Danielle Adams, Durham; Nida Allam, Raleigh; Isra Allison, Charlotte; Andrew Barnhill, Wilmington; Marshall Bennett, Greensboro; Cecil Brockman, Greensboro; Fox Brown, High Point; Vonnie Brown, Charlotte; Ryan Butler, Greensboro (Replacements, Ltd.); Noah Cartagena, Hickory; Johnelle Causwell, Charlotte; Justin Conley, Franklin; Nervahna Crew, Raleigh; Jeff DeLuca, Chapel Hill; Alyssa DeRonne, Asheville; John Easterling, Laurinburg; Larken Egleston, Charlotte; Akilah Ensley, Greenville; Jennifer Faasii-Smith, Charlotte; Hubert Sebastian Feculak, Charlotte; Brian Fitzsimmons, Raleigh; Anne Hamilton, Asheville; Jessica Holmes, Cary; Matt Hughes, Chapel Hill; Emily Lovette, Asheville; Gus Madrid, Greenville; Ray McKinnon, Charlotte; Jill Merchan, Charlotte; Tyson Miller, Pittsboro; Zachary Pate, Greenville; Matthew Pepper, Durham; Evan Redmond, Charlotte; Ralph Rodland, High Point; Jeff Rose, Asheville; Chris Sgro, Greensboro (N.C. state representative and executive director for Equality North Carolina); Sam Spencer, Charlotte; Caroline Sumpter, Red Springs; Logan Wallace, Franklin; Uriah Ward, Greenville; Timothy Webster, Greenville; Ebony West, Greenville; and Dave Wils, Greensboro.
info: ydnc.org.
Retailer asks pointed question
HILLSBOROUGH, N.C. — Adam & Eve, an adult product store, has announced its findings in its sex survey.
Over 1,000 adults were asked if they had ever sexually experimented with someone of the same sex.
Thirty percent of females and 19 percent of males admitted they had.
“Same sex experimentation may involve anything from fantasy, to making out to sex. It can help us to learn who we are and what we desire as we develop a healthy sexuality. We have to remember that anyone can identify anywhere on the spectrum at different times of their life as well,“ the company resident “sexpert” Dr. Kat Van Kirk said. “For many people, sexuality is proving to be more fluid than we once thought.”
The web-based survey, conducted by an independent third party survey company of over 1,000 American adults age 18 and up, was sponsored by Adam & Eve to study sexual preferences and practices.
info: adamandeve.com.
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Share your news with us
Does your organization or special interest group have events or great information to share with our readers? If so, be sure to send in your information to specialassignments@goqnotes-launch2.newspackstaging.com. In the upcoming months, we’ll feature one of you in our news notes section in each issue. Are you a part of a Meetup, Yahoo or Google group and do you do something that’s really newsworthy? Do you provide a service for the community or hold fundraisers for worthy causes? Do you educate the public about LGBT issues or concerns? Of course, this is only a sampling of things we are interested in. It’s the aim of these pieces to inform, enlighten and educate our readers about what we’re doing here in the Carolinas to champion LGBT rights, as well as offer resources for those who may be interested in what your group is doing.