PAGE 6 ▼ Q-Notes ▼ April 14,2001
VoL 15, No. 24-April 14,2001
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Contributing Writers: Elizabeth Birch, David
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and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation, Rachel
Gold, Jim Grigg, Robert Marcus James, Pat and
Wally Kuttcles, Charlene Lichtenstein, Lainey
Millen, Mike Mings, Brian M. Myer, Cindy
Nardozzi, Sam Nixon, Clay Ollis, Cathy Renna,
Robert S. Rosen, David Scondras, Ronda Shouse,
Randy Siegel, Winnie Stachelbcrg, Trinity,
Q-Notes is published every other week in Charlotte,
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Index
Articles
ACLUs “Equality Toolkit” can be helpful 30
Dr. Laura show is euthanized 1
Federal government addresses GLBT health 23
Local Law Enforcement Act gets new push 5
Man faces murder charge after bar
trick leaves gay man dead 1
Judy Shepard, U-WY President, Dr.
Phil DuBois to speak at UNCC 1
Juvenile Court action gives credence
to claim that CA courts show bias 5
Non-Discrimination bills okayed by MD 8
Window Media, parent to
Southern Voices buys Blade papers 23
Features
A Tradesmen long-timer
recalls groups 15 year history 3
Author Dave Eggars signs books 29
Fundraiser offers nostalgic look .'31
Greta would find new bar quite divine 28
How Congressional rcdistricting
impacts the GLBT community 10
Internet filtering software impacts GLBTs 21
Life’s saga: Surviving in the eyes of truth 19
OutCharlottes April Film, A Union
in Wait, shows Deacons vs. Dykes I
Parents speak out: Our lives were shattered 4
PrideFcst America 2001 to honor Sir Ian
McKellan with International Arts Award 29
Columns
Anatomically incorrect 28
Between the covers 29
Classifieds 33
Community Cards 30, 31
Curbside 34
F2ditorial : 6
cPlay 21
GLAAD notes 24
News notes 33
Out and about 34
Out in the stars 26
Organizations 35
Poll Question 24
QFYI 16
Reason for hope 28
Tell Trinity 24
Viewpoint 6
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AIDS Walk 2001 7
Agoiiron Pharmaceuticals 11, 12
The Art of Massage 30
Atlantic Shores 18
Beck Imports 8
Blue Bungalow 8
The Brajis Rail 22
eSA Real Estate 31
Charlotte Community Center 28
Carolina Funeral &L Cremation 16
Central Records 31
Central Station 23
Center City Festival 7
Center for Positive Living 19
Charlotte Pride 15. 20
Charlotte Realty Group 13
Charlotte Sting 31
Chasers 14
Jeff Childs, Broker/Realtor 30
City Dog USA 13
Closet &L Storage Concepts 21
The Cove 7
The Cove II 7
Doug Detwiler, Psychotherapist 30
Connie DeVersa 30
M. A. Dixon, I..aw Office 30
Equality Mortg.age Services 31
Edwin G. Farthing, Attorney 30
Foo’s Advanced Tattoo 8
Ricki Geiger, Psychotherapist 30
Georgetown Body Works 3
Genesis ; 15
Good or D.ays 27
Good Year Tire 31
Gotham 18
Lisa Griffin 5
Hair Club for Men and Women 18
Holy Trinity Church 23
Independence News 32
In Pouch Body ’I herapy 23
J8dW (’omnumications 36
jem.sek (ilinic 3, 30
Klutts Property Management 27
Jellrcy (iran.it Koenig, Attorney 27
Robin Langley ^0
I .iaisons ■*
Lysistrata 19
MAP 32
Mr. Gay USA 9
Markham I.andscape Products 31
The Melting Pot 27
Menu by Melissa 31
Merritt Homes 10
Z.I.. Met/ Homes 3
Bruce Moyer 10
New Life MCC 31
Norman Ru,ssell 24
Joe O’Connor, Realtor 24
One Voice 5
OutCharlotte Film Fe,stival 29
Parliament Social Club 14
Parkview Video & News 14
Posh Pets 30
Premiere Plastic Surgery 17
Queen City Antiques 32
Carol Reinard, Realtor 30
Release Party 17
Scorpio 16
Scott Lawn & laindscaping 30
Sharon Memorial Park 26
Sheraton Airport Hotel 25
Sir Speedy Printing 4
■Sleepy Poet Stuff 21
Joel Smith, Hair Designs 31
So Very Divan 2
Summit Grandview Apartments 8
TuttoMondo 27
Scott Thomp.son, Hair Design 31
Thrailkill Counseling 30
Tile Impre.ssions 31
Timberfell Lodge 26
Hme Out 26
The Tradesmen Leather/Levi Club 25, 31
Trish Works 31
Unitarian Universalist Church 32
Andy Vernon, Realtor 30
Connie Vetter, Attorney 31
Nan Walker, Ciounselor 31
Vinson Washburn, Realtor 14
White Rabbit Books & Phings 28
m ' 29
7:
Lainey Millen
Associate Editor
editorial
WeVe come a long way, baby?
My, how things
have changed. Mores
and customs have re
aligned themselves and
brought GLBTs into
the mainstream. Mov
ies, such as Tootsie, Bird
Cage, If These Walls
Could Talk 2, And The
Band Played On, and
others have shed a
much needed light on
societal diversity and
encouraged favorable attitudes towards GLBT/
straight differences.
I remember a time when there was a great
division in the lesbian community between
hutches and femmes. Nowadays, there appears
to be more of an androgenous attitude among
women. As for the guys, it seems that similar
attitudes are ingrained there as well. As for the
bisexual members of this vast group, the fabric
shows no seams. Dressing in drag no longer is
considered odd! And, lastly, those in the
transgender community have made large strides
toward obtaining acceptance, as indictated by
HRC’s recent addition of “gender identity” to
it’s mission statement. Having a GLBT friend
is now in vogue!
There have been too many who have shed
their blood for this plateau. The mountain was
quite high. Even as recently as 20-25 years ago,
it seemed almost insurmountable. Now, we can
look back and see how far civil liberties have
come.
Yet liberty is not easily won. And there are
still gteat battles to wage. No matter what we
have done, we must still fight the “good fight.”
We seem to be a society that is bent on faction-
alism. Be we lesbian, gay, bisexual or
transgender, only a handful have bonded to
gether to work as a single unit. It is just fine.
viewpoint
Talking about gender diversity
In March, the Human Rights Campaign’s
Board of Directors and Governors voted to ex
pand the organization’s mission statement to
include gendet expression and identity. This
action was taken to memorialize and build upon
the organization’s growing and substantial work
in this area.
HRC recognizes there are organizations and
leaders that have been focused on issues related
to gender identity as their core mission, and
that these leaders and institutions will neces
sarily be the primary voice on issues that affect
the lives of transgender Americans.
Adopted in 1998 as part of HRC’s five-year
strategic plan the previous mission statement
read as follows:
“As America’s largest gay and lesbian orga
nization, the Human Rights Campaign pro
vides a national voice on gay and lesbian is
sues. The Human Rights Campaign effectively
lobbies Congress; mobilizes grassroots action
in diverse communities; invests strategically to
elect a fair-minded Congress; and increases
public understanding through innovative edu
cation and communication strategies.
“HRC is a bipartisan organization that wotks
to advance equality for lesbian, gay and bisexual
Americans to ensute they can be open, honest and
on a more social level, to find comfott with
those with whom we find similarity. But when
it comes to the big picture, many painters are
needed to cover the entire canvas that is pulled
tightly across the frame.
The Human Rights Campaign has made
great “noise” to push through the Washington
slush and mud to gain victories on some initia
tives. It appears, with the new administration,
that some of the ground that was conquered
could be lost, in patt or in whole, if we do not
stand together. AIDS also brought with it a
considerable amount of clamor. Early in the
recognition and history of the disease, those
infected and affected dodged bullets from fam
ily, friends and the community at large. Edu
cation assisted in understanding the effects of
this dreaded demon. AIDS broke through ori
entation batricades into the world at large, and
thereby lost (at least for many) its label as a
“gay” disease.
Heroes, like Matthew Shepard and Brandon
Teena, died on the battlefield, defending their
right to be “just as they were.” It created an
incredible public awareness of the plight of
those in the GLBT family. Hate crimes aware
ness and legislation became a national passion.
So what now? Have we come a long way on
this journey? Or is there still much left to do?
The answer is unequivocally: Yes!
To do this we must not think of ourselves in
our own small sector of the group. We must
band together, to walk as brothers and sisters
in the truest sense of the word. Next time there
is an election, a referendum, an initiative or
someone in need, reach out and lend a helping
hand. Write or talk to legislators, register and
participate in the election process. We have seen
all too well that one vote can really count in
the final tallies.
I am asking each of you — along with my
self — to pick up a brush, select a color from
the rainbow of paints available and help create
a masterpiece through which we can share our
pride. Do it for yourselves, for your commu
nity and for all the worldwide “family.”
United, we can make a difference. T
safe at home, at
work and in the
community.”
In the newly
amended mis
sion statement
the second para
graph has been
replaced with:
“HRC is a bi
partisan organi
zation that works
to advance
equality based on
sexual orienta
tion and gender
expression a
nd
Elizabeth Birch
HRC
Executive Director
identity, to en
sure that gay, les
bian, bisexual and transgender Americans can
be open, honest and safe at home, at work and
in the community.”
We at HRC believe that changing our mis
sion is an honest reflection of HRC’s wotk at
this moment in the institution’s history. Al
though HRC’s primary focus is on issues re
lated to sexual orientation, it also has an im
portant institutional commitment to issues re
lated to gender expression and identity. HRC
views this step as honest and proportional.
Through the years HRC has worked to build
alliances with transgender organizations and
See VIEWPOINT on Page 9
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