Dragon boaters score big
LAKE LURE, N.C. — The Honey Badgers Dragon Boat team captured its first gold medal on June 11 at a race held in the mountain resort.
Badgers organizer Marcy Badertscher shared that they were elated and surprised to have won their divisional race in a highly competitive field of paddlers. They were victorious over teams from Charlotte, N.C., and the Carolinas region.
All this comes at a time for the year-old organization who simply race for the love of it. Their coach, Denise Bauer, and others formed the team to provide a truly inclusive, LGBT and allied community where everyone was respected for their uniqueness and contribution.
In fact, until just a few months ago, the Honey Badgers did not have a viable team for racing. They are pleased with their accomplishment. “We are without a doubt the most amazing and fun mix of LGBT and straight ally misfits to paddle a dragon boat and we won that race on pure heart (and expert coaching),” Badertscher added.
Members of the team come from all walks of life. Some, like Badertscher who was looking at something to do outdoors, had not engaged in a regular exercise program or training. Being a star athlete is not necessary to participate. “Bauer is a phenomenal coach,” Badertscher shared. A couch potato previously, she has developed arm and core strength that she never thought possible. Receiving coaching through encouragement and empowerment from Bauer spirited her toward increased confidence and a better sense of self.
The team practices are on Saturdays from 12-2 p.m. at Latta Plantation Park. Cost is $5 which is used to defray boat and equipment costs.
info: honeybadgersdbc.org.
‘Stonewall’ reading slated
ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Malaprops Bookstore and Cafe’s LGBTQ Book Club will hold a reading of author Ann Bausum’s “Stonewall: Breaking Out in the Fight for Gay Rights” on June 27, 7 p.m., at Battery Park Book Exchange, 1 Page Ave.
After the reading a discussion will be held among attendees.
The short book was written for audiences as young as 14 and provides a short history of the events that spearheaded the Gay Rights Movement.
info: malaprops.com.
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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.