Collective stages play
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Different Stokes! Performing Arts Collective is presenting “Incongruence” through June 29, 7:30 p.m., at ACT/35below, 35 Walnut St. to benefit Blue Ridge Pride.
“Incongruence” is an original work by Carla Pridgen, which features monologues and vignettes derived from interviews with transgender men and women of all generations and backgrounds. “This work embraces the fact that we are all on the same journey despite gender, orientation, race or ethnicity,” promoters said.
The show is directed by C.J. Breland. It features Dalton Allen, Garrett Funk, Paul Gallaher, Kirby Gibson, Patrick Hackney, Darren Marshall, Pridgen and Elizabeth Wunderlich.
Sponsors are P.J. Easton & Associates, Tempus Fugit Design, Diva Deluxe Design and Beak Creative.
Advance purchase of tickets is strongly recommended and are available online at eventbrite.com/event/6745416723?ref=ebtn. Singles are $15 plus fee and groups of eight or more are $12 each plus fee.
info: differentstrokesavl.com.
Org offers workplace workshops
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Just Us For All (JUFA) has announced that it is offering LGBTQIA workshops for businesses and non-profits.
JUFA’s facilitators can give staffs a run down on the “LGBTQIA spectrum, definitions of identities, answer all questions and teach people how to advocate in the workplace,” JUFA’s leader Basil Soper said.
A strong emphasis on trans identity will be part of the educational process. Businesses and non-profits can receive certification as an LGBTQIA-friendly business. Those names will be added to a public list available on the JUFA website and Facebook page. Stickers for placement in windows allow patrons and current and future employees know that equality is taken seriously.
A sliding scale fee of $20-35 is currently being requested for businesses and non-profits can obtain the training for free.
JUFA was founded on Aug. 2, 2010, in response to bias-related incidents that occurred in the Montford community.
info: justusforall.org.
Website launched
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — A new online resource for the Western North Carolina area has been launched.
Organizers have pulled together information on organizations, gay-welcoming places of worship and a calendar into one. A full list of resources is available online, complete with a description and contact information.
At the end of the year, any monies remaining after expenses, will be contributed to a different LGBT non-profit in the area.
They are also resurrecting the Asheville gay newspaper, Community Connections, which was produced in the 1980s. The publication is an online-only magazine. It is currently in the development stage and will flesh out over the next few months.
Site sponsorships and supporters are being sought.
There is also a form that visitors can fill out to request information about the area prior to venturing there.
Additionally, they have generated an iPhone app for those with Apple phones.
info: gayashevillenc.com.
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.
info: Have news or other information? Send your press releases and updates for inclusion in our News Notes: editor@goqnotes-launch2.newspackstaging.com.