Q-NOTES
December 1990
PRroE IN PRINT
Switchboard, Charlotte (704) 525-6128
AIDS Hotline, Charlotte (704) 333-AIDS
PFLAG Hotline, Charlotte (704) 364-1474
AIDS Hotline, Columbia (803) 779-PALS
Switchboard, Wilmington (919) 675-9222
Vol. 5, No. 12
BEST BETS
Dec. 1 World AIDS Activities;
1 - MAP Open House
1-6 pm
1/2 - Mint Museum
"Videos Against AIDS"
3 pm
2 - Women and AIDS
candlelight vigil at
Government Center
6:30 pm
Dec. 4 First Tuesday
addresses substance
abuse 7:30 pm
Men Of All Colors
Togetlier at ART
7:00 pm
Dec. 8 QCF Christmas Party
7:30 pm
Dec. 11 Sports Alliance Mtg.
7:30 pm
Dec. 15 ONE VOICE
Christmas Concert at
Unitarian Church
8H5 pm
Dec. 19 WOW Christmas
Party
INDEX
AIDS Vaccine Page 6
Business Cards Page 19
Calendar Page 2
Gays and the Bible Page 5
Have You Heard Page 15
Hey, Helen Page 15.
It's My Opinion Page 2
IvCtters Page 8
Managing Your Doctor
Page 9
News In Brief Page 14
Organizations Page 17
Post-Election Info Page 4
Reflections Page 6
Social Highlights Page 10
Soft Spot Page 6
World AIDS Day Page 3
MAP Moves To Larger Location
By David Stout
Q-Notes Staff
Once again due to increased case load and
community need, Metrolina AIDS Project is
moving to a larger location. The current
location on Euclid Avenue was outgrown in
a relatively short period of time, thus pre
cipitating the move to the new space in the
Charlotte Venture complex at the comer of
Church and Bland Streets.
In fact, the space problem had gotten so
bad that even the Board of Directors could
not meet at the MAP offices.
However, now with the new location, it
appears that many of the growing pains that
MAP had been feeling are going to be
eradicated. The new office offers several
large meeting rooms to accommodate the
many support groups which are overseen by
MAP and includes space for the Board to
hold its sessions in-house now where they
should be.
Also, one of the best features of the new
space is its accessibility for handicapped
persons, with all of the offices and meeting
areas contained on the ground fl(X)r.
When contacted about the decision to
move MAP's offices, John Conley, the Ex
ecutive Director, said, "Unfortunately, we
had outgrown our old space and needed
something to grow into. We found that in the
new location. Also, another factor in moving
to the new space was the issue of handicap
accessibility."
MAP had been offered the rest of the
rental space in the building they were in but,
Ixjcause of tlie difficulty and cost of upgrading
the space to make it handicap-accessible on
other floors, the Board decided that a move
would be in everyone's best interest.
Now everyone seems certain that they
have found an ideal location in the new
complex. "Upon moving to a new space we
Tis The Season
By Jim Fulton
Special to Q-Notes
As we enter this festive season, remember
that for some people the hohdays are a source
of stress and depression. Strained relations
with families often become more apparent as
we stmggle over such issues as whether
perhaps this is the year we refuse to leave our
partners behind and go "home" for the holi
days. Many people turn to alcohol and dmgs
to escape this pain.
Sutetance abuse is a deadly threat to our
community. Do you or someone you love
have a problem with alcohol or drugs? Where
can you find help with a drug or alcohol
problem? Does alcoholism really claim the
lives of more of our Gay brothers and Les
bian sisters than AIDS?
While she has asked not to be billed as an
"expert" on substance abuse, Katherine
Townsend of Recovery Counseling and
Consulting does work with people trying to
recover from sub.stance abuse problems and
has agreed to speak on the subject of sub
stance abuse at the December general meet
ing of First Tuesday Associaticm for Gay and
Lesbian Equality. Learn more about this
important topic by attending this December
4th program at 7:30 p.m. at St. Peter's Epis-
c(^)d Church (comer of 7th and Tryon Streets
in Uptown Charlotte).
First Tuesday meets at this location on the
First Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m.
Ample free parking is available behind the
church and across 7th Street from the church.
Enter at the 7th Street entrance.
After the December 4th presentation, there
will be time for socializing and committee
meetings. If you'd like to "get involved,"
sitting in on a First Tuesday committee
meeting is a great way to get your feet wet!
Call Jim Fulton at 531-8993 or Keith
Bernard at 549-1421 with any questions about
First Tuesday Association for Gay and Les
bian Equality.
have been cautious about signing long-term
leases. But now for the first time we have
signed a long-term lease on the property,"
Conley stated.
He fiirther added that the reason the Euclid
office was bursting at the seams was the
tremendous surge in MAFs case load; last
year at this time, there were 275 persons
being served by MAP; now there are 425.
Another reason for the optimistic outlook
on the move is that for the first time, a
property will be adapted to suit the needs of
MAP instead of the other way around. And
part of that adaptation involves getting some
much needed new furniture and equipment,
most of which is being donated by the com
munity at large.
The move is expected to be concluded in
time for MAP's Open House, which will be
held on December 1, to coincide with World
AIDS Day. The Open House will last from 1 -
6 pm.
New Miss NC-USA Crowned
Miss North Carolina USA 1991, Mahogany fcenter), stands with her court, first
runner-up Tiffany Wellington (right) and second runner-up Akasha Pharrows (left).
By David Stout
Q-Notes Staff
On Novemlier 25, 1990, North Carolina
Pageantry, Inc., presented the Miss North
Carolina USA 1991 pageant at Club Cabaret
in Hickory, NC.
The contest turned out to be one of the best
ever as Miss North Carolina USA 1990,
Lauren LaMasters ended her reign by crown
ing as the new Miss North Carolina, Ma
hogany.
Sponsored by Bourbon Street of Win
ston-Salem, Mahogany finished first in both
Interview and Talent. She displayed the best
type of consistency that a contestant must
possess in order to be Miss North Carolina.
Her court consisted of her first rumier-up
Tiffany Wellington, and her second runner-
up Akasha Pharrows.
Tiffany Wellington showed that she has
what it takes to become among the best in the
state in female impersonation by once again
improving on her finish from the previous
year to come in second this time.
Newcomer Akasha Pharrows found her
self to 1x5 tlie Belle of the Ball by placing third
in only her third pageant. She also won the
Evening Gown category. All three contestants
will be going to the Miss Gay USA 1991
pageant to be held in April in Louisville,
Kentucky.
S
Miss North Carolina USA 1990, Lauren
LaMasters, performs her final number
before the crowning of her successor.
Christmas Concert Dec. 15
After 15 weeks of rehearsal, ONE VOICE
is ready to perform their first Christmas
Concert on Saturday, December 15, at 8; 15
p.m. at the Unitarian Church of Charlotte,
234 N. Sharon Amity Road.
This 60-member gay and lesbian choms
will be joined by a string quartet and other
guests. "ITie holiday season will be celebrated
with music as diverse as "O Magnum
Mysterium" and "Cum Sancto Spiritu" to
such standards as "The First Nowell," "Away
In The Manger," "Deck the Hall," "Jingle
Bells" and "Have Yourself a Merry Little
Christmas." Following the concert, the au
dience will be invited to join the chorus for
some refreshments.
Tickets for the concert are now on sale
and available from chorus members or by
calling 704/536-1372. Tickets are $5-10 on a
sliding scale. The choms believes the sliding
scale policy allows a person to determine
their level of abihty to pay, thereby providing
dignity and empowerment to persons of
various economic backgrounds.
Twenty menabers of the Choms recently
sang for the North Carolina Theatre Con
ference which was held in Charlotte. In ad-
dirton to preparing for the Christmas Concert,
they have begim auditions for their planned
cabaret show, and they will go caroling the
week following their Christmas Concert.
For more information on Choms activi
ties, please call Dan Kirsch, President, at
704/536-1372.