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“The OutsideTrack’* 17
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APRIL 12 . 2003
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“A symphony Of voices
united in a cry of siience”
by Charles Karim 13
SfHfth Camlina 29
Thunder & Lightning honors
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NC Senators introduce pro-LGBT legislation
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Bilb address hate violence,
sodomy law, and employment
discrimination
by Ian Palmquist
Equality North Carolina
RALEIGH — North Carolina lawmak
ers for introduced three bills to protect the
rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans
gender North Carolinians. Senate Bill 736:
Expand the Scope of Hate Crimes; Senate
Bill 969: Sexual Privacy and Senate Bill
1007: State Government Equal
Employment Opportunity, were all very,
recently introduced. Equality NC, the
statewide LGBT advocacy group has been
lobbying to get these bills and other pro-
LGBT legislation introduced in the North
Carolina General Assembly.
Hate Crime Bill first in NC history to
explidtly include gender expression
Sen. Jeanne Lucas (D-Durham) rein
troduced legislation she sponsored in the
2001 session seeking to add gender, sex
ual orientation, disability, and age to the
categories protected by the state’s exist
ing hate crime law, which currently cov
ers race, color, religion, nationality and
country of origin. New to the bill this year
is gender expression.
Although the 200 i language was writ
ten broadly in an effort to protect the
transgender community, SB 736 marks
the first time in North Carolina history
that any bill includes gender expression, if
passed, this language would ensure all of
the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender
community would be fully included in
hate crime protections.
“Equality NC is committed to the
inclusion of gender expression in legisla
tion, and we are proud our lobbying
efforts have been successful in getting
both sexual orientation and gender
expression included in this bill,” said jo
Wyrick, the group’s Executive Director.
“However, we have a long road ahead
of us, and a lot of education to do as we
seek passage. 1 call on transgender North
Carolinians and their allies in the lesbian,
gay, bisexual and heterosexual communi
ties to speak out publicly on the impor
tance of this bill."
The bill has a record six co-sponsors,
five more than in 2001. Wyrick credited a
dual strategy of professional lobbying and
grassroots advocacy through Equality
NC’s online action center for the group’s
success in gaining legislative support. The
co-sponsors include Senators Charlie
Dannelly (D-Mecklenburg), Katie Dorsett
(D-Guilford), Robert Holloman (D-
Hertford), Eleanor Kinnaird (D-Orange),
Vernon Malone (D-Wake), and Stephen
Metcalf (D-Buncombe).
Sexual Privacy Bill seeks repeal
of archaic sex law
The recently heard US Supreme Court
see LEGISLATION on 20
Caller claims he's a
Carolina activist,
mugged in LA, no
wallet, wire $$
by Leah D. Sepsenwol
The price of increased visibility has just gone up.
A phone scam, reminiscent of one in February of
2000, is happening once again to Carolina commu
nity leaders.
Within the last few weeks, leaders in both
Carolinas have been impersonated by a still-uniden
tified telephone scam artist
Publishers Jim Yarbrough of Q_-Notes in Charlotte
and Jim Baxter of Front Page in Raleigh, as well as a
successful Durham real estate agent and a South
Carolina activist reported attempts, one successful,
to scam money from gay businesses, organizations
and individuals, using their names.
The scam
The imposter calls from Los Angeles, California,
saying he has been mugged — robbed of credit
cards, cash and all identification and needs money
for return airfare.
In each case, the scam began just before or dur
ing the weekend, to make verifying information
more difficult. Each instance involved posing as a
well-known local community member.
The shrewd caller contacted remotely-connected
indivduals to wire him money through Western
Union. The caller was very believable and even
sounded like the person he was impersonating,
according to some who spoke to him.
see SCAM on 20
Pride Prom exceeds its promise
by Brent James
what a great city this is! What great oppor
tunity resides here! The First Annual Pride Prom,
sponsored by Charlotte Pride, was a great suc
cess with over 150 revelers.
Held at the Airport Sheraton, the gala was a
great way to kick up heels and dance into Spring
and spring into prom.
Amidst an array of rainbow colors, balloons,
glitter, glamour and glitz, a fantasy finally came
true along with an old high
school fervent wish — attend
ing the prom and taking the
prom date of your honest-to-
goodness choice.
, Charlotte Pride director, Jeff
Schmehl, who was very
pleased with the turn out and
the apparently good time every
one had, confirmed what every
one hoped: The Pride Prom will
definitely become an annual
signature Charlotte Pride event.
“There was not one negative
comment, everyone left happy,"
Schmehl said.
We all remember our first
prom. You know — the hetero
sexual one? Now, as attitudes of
those bygone days have evolved
a bit, we take comfort in who we are and cele
brate ourselves and each other with a fervor akin
to none!
It is fitting that this year’s Charlotte Pride
theme is all about being comfortable in our own,
real skin: “UBU." And even if you choose not to
be you, you can count on me to be me, anyway
and always!
The Pride Prom was beautifully colorful in
ways well beyond decor. Everyone was there —
a great, diverse mix of lesbian and gay couples,
and our region’s marvelous transgender com
munity. (Some of the prettiest women in the
house were our fabulous trans charmers!)
Attendees had traveled from far and wide —
Virginia, Kentucky and Georgia, just to name a
few. And both young couples and young at
heart couples danced to Dj Jazzy Jill whose
super spins brought everyone onto the floor
and kept their feet just flying!
One anonymous lipstick lesbian said, “It was
lovely. It could not possibly have been better...a
woman on each arm, great entertainment and a
killer Soul TYain dance line!"
Performers Monica Shupey and Vanity Fair
provided positively premiere entertainment for
the wildly appreciative crowd.' And, of course,
the King and the Queen were crowned, even
though choosing the queen was next to impos
sible given the vast number of them in atten
dance!
We left the prom as we were meant to leave
— fulfilled and fun-filled.
The Pride Prom gave “‘Steppin’ Out with My
Baby” grand, new meaning and also served as a
marvelous first step on the way to the third
annual Charlotte Pride festival May 2-4. See you
there! Charlotte Pride ad & schedule on page 32