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REGIONAL Lesbian senator votes against Jesse Helms resolution Twenty-six legislators walk out of House, Senate chambers by Matt Comer . Q-Notes staff Sen. Julia Boseman (D-New Hanover), North Carolina’s only openly gay or lesbian state legislator, voted against a resolution honoring the life of the late Jesse Helms on Wednesday, June 10. She was the only legis lator in the entire N.C. General Assembly to vote against the hon orary resolution. Twenty-sbc of her col leagues in the House and Senate, meanwhile, sat out of the vote. The resolution, which passed the Senate 41-1 and the House 98-0, states, “The General Assembly of North Carolina expresses its appreciation for the life and pub lie service of Jesse Alexander Helms, Jr., and honors his memory^ A resolution honoring the late U.S. Sen. Jesse Helms passed the N.C. General Assembly, but not without some vocal protest from the state's only openly gay legislator. Helms was a conservative radio and TV commentator before serving on the Raleigh City Council and later serving as a U.S. senator. Boseman told Q-Notes that she couldn't bring herself to vote yes and felt she had to be heard. “To me. Helms represented hate and intolerance — his opposition to civil rights and AIDS funding, his opinions of gays and lesbians. There was absolutely no way I was going to vote for the resolution, nor was I going to take a walk.” While no other legislator voted against the resolution, 26 House and Senate members did walk out of the respective chambers in silent protest. Most declined to comment when approached by the Greensboro News and Record’s MarkBinker. On why she didn't participate in the walkout, Boseman said,“I thought it was important to stand up for what I believe. Jesse Helms certainly would have done the same thing. In fact, he might have given me more respect for voting no than wallang out on it.” She said many of her colleagues fdt voting no would have showed disrespect to Helms’ famdy. Eat Charlotte Eatery owners unite to promote local dining scene The general manager of a popular Uptown Charlotte casual dining restaurant has launched a new local dining alliance and hopes to “ignite the local dining scene” in the Queen City. ^ sen?.'.?::" EatCharlotte of Sonoma Clinnnrt Modern American Cuisine on N. SUpP0ll Tryon St., says that EatCharlotte.net will serve to promote locally- a.nd independently-owned restaurants and create strong relationships between businesses, own ers, patrons and the community. “Eat Charlotte is all of us working together to promote local restaurants and local philan thropic groups,” Cohen says in a release. Originating members of EatCharlotte.net include Andrew Blair’s, Aquavina, Barrington’s, Blue, Bonterra, Cafe Monte, Carpe Diem, Custom Shop, Fenwick’s, Global, Good Food on Montford, La Vecchia’s, Las Ramblas, Latorre’s, M5 Modern n Ilf Mediterranean, Mimosa Grill, 11C L Nix, Noble’s, Pie Town, Press, I I Ratclilfe on the Green, Rooster’s, 10 u OI Sonoma, Upstream, Zebra, and Zink American Kitchen. The project launched at EatCharlotte.net on Friday, June 19. Through the site, the alliance will offer exclusive spe- • dais at each of their restaurants. The first spe cial included half-price bottles of wine through June 27. Be sure to check out EatCharlotte.net for their next round of specials. I Connie J. \fetter Attorney and O-tunsellor at Law CJVLaw.com 704-333-4000 1208 The Placn Cdinrlotte “That was their decision, their personal decision,” Boseman said of her 26 colleagues. “They felt what they did was appropriate.” One of the last lines of the Helms resolu tion reads, “North Carolinians mourn the death of this dedicated public servant who was known and respected for his love of his home State and his nation.” Helms has been criticized, past and pres ent, for his conservative racist and homopho bic views and legacy. He was a chief opponent of HIV/AIDS funding during the 1980s AIDS crisis. He said gay men were “weak, morally sick wretches” who contracted the disease through their own “deliberate, disgusting, revolting conduct.” In 1988, Helms said, “There is not one sin gle case of AIDS in this country that cannot be traced in origin to sodomyl’ The legislature routinely hears and passes honorary resolutions for state leaders and com munity members. It is rare for legislators to vote against them or to boycott them altogether. In fact, Boseman said her no vote on June 10 was the first such vote she’d seen while in office. I — Read the full text of the Jesse Helms resolution via the online version of this story at www.q-notes.com/2745/. fi 415 Academy Dr. • Abingdon, VA 276-628-50b5 • www.WKrac.org HOURS 10-9 lucsday, 10-5 Wcdiu'sda\-S.Uui\.Li\', 1-5 Sunday A('( n dited AtHct ii. uit. L ui'iru > d \lit'^ciif-;.s. PiirltU'i'. Miijifdii ;\fiiseuni >f f m.‘ Ariw .Mi /iihrr. r/r-.v.'/,/ /.uw.,- of iUhl Soiiiluii'yL ' !■ Mhm'ihhs ■. Blue Windmill Galleries See what you’ve been missing... FINE APPALACHIAN ART MM 370 East Main Street ’ Abingdon, Virginia 24210 Phone:276-608-9903 WWW. bluewindmillgalleriesJIn^^^^^^^^l JUNE 27.2009-({Notes
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