PAGE 6 Q-Notes | June/July 1986
GAY HISTORY - GAY PRIDE
The Charlotte Struggle
By richard Epson
It has been 19 years since the Stone
wall uprising in New York’s Grenwich
Village. In that time Charlotte’s Gay
and Lesbian community has also had a
history it can take pride in. That is the
consensus of people that have lived
here through many events having posi
tive and negative impact on the strug
gle for recognition and equal rights of
all people without regard to sexual
orientation or preference.
Stonewall has bcome a symbol of
the struggle for Gay and Lesbian rights
and each year at this time we celebrate
the accomplishments of our commu
nity, and highlight the work yet to be
done. We call it “Gay Pride” because
it is a time to be proud of who and
\yhat we are.
Twenty years ago, according to Ed
DePasquale who talks of “coming
out” in Charlotte 32 years ago, the
only activity was cruising Trade
Street, 5th Street, Church Street and
the Bus Station. There were no bars,
no churches, no other activities or
organizations of any kind like we have
today. You just went down the block
and cruised and “if you were down
there more than ten or fifteen minutes
you’d better go home ’cause you’re
ugly!” Of course, there was police
harrassment and entrapment. There
were a few brave people who went to
court to fight the police entrapment
and won.
Each time that the cases went to
court they would win, but the majority
of people would take the charge and
pay the fine because they did not want
to be branded. Those that stood up
and questioned the system are today
heroes and pioneers that stood on
behalf of all of us and because of their
sacrifices the consciousness of the
larger community has been changed.
According to Ed, the first bar that
gays frequented was the Hornet’s Nest
that was located in the Barringer Ho
tel. Traveling salesmen would stay at
the Barringerr and pick up local peo
ple. The first bar that was known for
being a gay bar was The Brass Rail,
which was, at the time, located on the
corner of Tryon and Morehead
Streets. It was managed by Oleen. The
bar was a “straight” bar until 10:00y
p.m. and, according to Ed, at that time
“it was as though a switch was thrown
and it changed from straight to gay.”
Later, Oleen opened her own bar.
“Oleens,” still open today, is the old
est currently operating bar in the city.
Ed tells the story of a time when
Oleen asked some lesbians to leave the
bar because they were wearing pants;
women at the time were not allowed in
bars wearing pants. As Ed says, “the
times, they are a-changing.”
Clearly, the changes that Ed has
witnessed over the years have been
dramatic for Gays and Lesbians in this
city. “The progress has been phenome
nal; the fact that we have gone from
nothing to what we have now, all the
groups trying to help gays and lesbi
ans, is unbelievable.” Charlotte now
boasts a number of bars, and all types
of organizations - including but not
limited to PFLAG, First Tuesday,
Queen City Friends, MCSP, two Met
ropolitan Community Churches,
MAP, and, of course, Q-Notes.
Don King, another prominent gay
activist, has lived in Charlotte since
1972. He attests to many changes in
the Charlotte area in terms of gay and
lesbian groups and support organiza
tions. The first group he was associ
ated with was the Charlotte Gay Alli
ance, in ther mid 1970’s. The group
was short-lived but had one session
with Contact (now known as Reach
line), a telephone counseling service.
Memberrs of CGA in-serrviced Con
tact counselors concerning gay and
lesbian callers.
In 1975 the first gay church was
formed in Charlotte and there was an
article written about it in the local
press. It was formed by a non-paro-
chial Catholic priest. Friar Bruce
Wood who also worked at Bethlehem
Center, which ministered to the Black
community. Services were originally
started at Oleen’s Bar at the request of
some people Friar Wood met there.
After a month or two there, the ser
vices were moved to a home on Haw
thorne Lane rented by Don and Friar
Wood.
In 1977 (approximately) a chapter
of Dignity (a gay Catholic organiza
tion) was formed and later evolved in
Acceptance. “The energy for many
other groups sprang from Acceptance,
including the Gay and Lesbian Switch
board.” The first political group,
which started in 1980, was called the
Gay and Lesbian Political Alliance
(later known as the Lambda Political
Alliance). Its major accomplishment
was helping Harvey Gantt get elected
as Mayor of Charlotte in 1984.
Don relates that the first Gay Pride
celebration in the Charlotte area was
held in 1981. It was a week-long
celebration that had such events as a
softball tournament, an outdoor disco,
and guest speakers from Philadelphia
and Boston. Part of the activities were
held on the campus of UNC Charlotte
and the entire celebration was pro
duced at a cost of approximately
$4,000.00. The primary producers
were Don and Billie Stickle. Since
then. Pride celebrations have included
picnics, bar events, and concerts.
Many of these events were sponsored
by Queen City Quordinators.
Charlotte will celebrate Gay Pride
in a big way this year with a variety of
activities. A bus load of area activists
will travel to Raleigh on June 25th to
participate in a Gay Pride March
there. A full calendar is listed below.
Gay Pride Week
Activities
PICNIC
Steven’s restaurant, 318 Rensular
St., June 18th
Stevens is sponsoring an ‘All You
Can Eat Burger Buffet’ for $3.00
Local organizations will sponsor in
formation booths
Volleyball and Horseshoes will be
available
Mr. Hotlanta Contest
Charades, June 24th
Charades will sponsor the Mr. Hot
lanta Contest as a preliminary for
the finals to be held in Atlanta, Ga.
There are $450.00 in prizes and
winner will also receive entry fee
money for the Atlanta event along
with hotel paid in Atlanta.
The March on Raleigh
June 25th
If you missed the Washington
march, NQW’S YQUR CHANCE!!!
Book your seat on the bus now. Call
DON KING at 704/332-3834 for
more information.
The bus is leaving folks. Don’t be
left behind. Give Charlotte a large
representation.
The Carolinian of the Year Awards
Banquet, Fortuna Restaurant, Mon
roe Road, June 28th
It’s an annual event, wherein mem
bers of the gay and lesbian commu
nity are recognized for outstanding
service to their organizations and
their community.
Arrive early and stay late. For more
information, call Jim at 704/379-
6904.
1988 North Carolina
Lesbian & Gay Pride
March and Celebration!
Diverse &
United For
Equality:
Lesbian & Gay
Rights Now
A Guide to Events and
Accommodations in the
Raleigh area on the
Weekend of June 24-27,
1988
The 1988 N.C. Pride March and
Celebration is sponsored by the
Triangle Lesbian and Gay Alliance,
endorsed and supported by the work
and generosity of lesbian, gay, and
progressive organizations across the
state.
For more information, write TLGA at
P.O. Box 3295
Durham, NC 27705-1295
or call Jim (919) 942-3858 or Mandy
(919) 682-6374
Schedule of Events
Please check the schedule in The Front
Page or call the information numbers
for more up to dale info about events
as it becomes available,
Friday. June 24
8:00 pm (Raleigh) "The
Normal Heart"
Man Bites Dog Theatre will
present an encore performance of this
play which recently completed a
nearly sold-out run in the area.
Ticket information and location to be
announced.
9:00 pm - 1:00 am (Durham)
3rd Annual Lesbian and Gay
Health Project Pride Dance
At the Eno River Unitarian
Universalist Church on Garrett Road in
Durham (about 1/2 mile behind
Darryl's and Starvin' Marvin's off US
15-501 (Chapel Hill Blvd.) Proceeds
to benefit l.GHP and Pride 88.
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Saturday. June 2.5
March and
Celebration
see map below
11:00 am Gathering
Assemble at the Hillsborough St.
side of Pullen Park, near the NC State
University Bell Tower. Please arrive
as close to 11am as possible.
12:00 noon March Begins!
We will begin marching down
Hillsborough St. at noon sharp!
2:00 pm RALLY
State Capitol Grounds
After the March, the celebration
begins!
Speakers for the Rally include:
Nan Hunter
American Civil Liberties Union
Michael Mauk
Natl. Gay & Lesbian Task Force
Jill DuVall
Lesbian & Gay Health Project
Confirmed Entertainers (so far):
Suede
Common Woman Chorus
Brandy Alexander
Jay Britt
Drinks will be on sale, and
Vendors will be selling a limited
amount of food. We do advise that you
bring food along if you want to eat a
meal during the afternoon. Childcare
will be provided.
8:00 "After the Celebration"
Celebration at GIcnwood Park
Meet us all back at this night
spot for a Pride benefit & party! The
bar is opening early for us, and cover
charges collected from 8 to 9;30pm
will go to Pride!
Address: 1622 Glenwood Ave.
(From Hillsborough St., go north.on
Glenwood The bar is next to the Rialto
Theatre, 3 blocks north of Wade Ave.)
■Sunday, June 26
Inter-denominational
Eccumenical Service
Time and place To Be Announced
Monday. June 27
10:00 am Demonstration at
the Raleigh office of Sen.
Jesse Helms
The North Carolina Lesbian and
Gay Liberation Front will sponsor a
civil disobedience/direct action at
Jesse Helm's office. In order to
participate in this action, attendance
at a training session is required. For
more information, contact Jim at (919)
967-1245.