IB
news notes:
carolinas. nation, world
compiled by Lainey Millen I Matt Comer
Charlotte
Conference features 'Project Runway' winner
CHARLOTTE — The Annual United States Conference on AIDS was held during early
September and local advocates and healthcare workers were able to attend and represent the
Charlotte area.
Advocates from all over the U.S. joined
together to share experiences and learn from
each other during the educational conclave.
Included in the contingency was Different
Roads Home CEO and President Dale Pierce.
"The atmosphere was one of revitalization
of the spirit of what we do," he said.
Pierce added, "One of the themes that
came out of the conference was that as great
as the Affordable Care Act may be for those
with HIV, we still have to advocate for more
changes and make sure the focus does not
shift off of education and prevention."
A spotlight on HIV/AIDS in the south was
targeted during the conference.
Conference-goers were able to meet Denver, Colo.-native Armando Thomas "Mondo"
Guerra, a winner of "Project Runway All Stars." During his time on the reality show, he re
vealed his HIV status.
Guerra spoke at the conference's main plenary and reminded everyone about being aware
of one's HIV/AIDS status, as well as being true to dreams and desires, no matter the circum
stances. He tirelessly works to educate the public about the issues surrounding HIV/AIDS.
In other news. Different Roads Home is seeking Ryan White Memorial Scholarship Fund
applications. Deadline is Nov. 1. Recipients will receive the awards at the 4th Annual Evening of
Hope & Inspiration on Nov. 23.
The Good Road Project is in search of mentors who can share their experience with those
who have received a positive diagnosis and "is having difficulty coping with illness, and/or
struggling with treatment, knowledge and adherence. Training for the post must be completed
before pairing with a mentee. Email kstrong@differentroadshome.org to learn more. An ap
plication is available online.
info: nmac.org. mondoguerra.com. differentroadshome.org.
— L.M.
Triad
Foundation to host fundraiser
WINSTON-SALEM — The Adam
Foundation will hold its 24th Annual Adam
Festival on Nov. 2,7-11 p.m., at the Milton
Rhodes Center for the Arts, 251 N. Spruce St.
This year, attendees will be able to enjoy the
"big top" with a fun circus atmosphere, meetthe
2013 grant recipients and enjoy food, dancing,
silent and live auctions, door prizes and more.
Monies taken in for the event will fund the
2014 grant cycle.
All festival sponsors who contribute $250
or more through Oct. 31 are entitled to receive
tickets to the event as part of their sponsor
ship package. They are listed on the founda
tion's website.
A pre-party for sponsors will take by place
by special invitation on Nov. 1,6-8:30 p.m., at -
Sawtooth School for Visual Art, 251 N. Spruce
St. It comes complete with heavy appetizers,
drinks and other treats.
Tickets are $80/advance and $15/students
which are available online and ,$85/atthe door,
info: adamfoundation.org.
— LM.
Law students lend hand
WINSTON-SALEM — The Associated
Press reported that Wake Forest University gay
and lesbian law students availed their services
for free at Winston-Salem Pride on Oct 19.
6 qnotes Oct. 25-Nov. i. 2013
They were joined by friends as they dis
pensed legal help to who needed it with regard to
completion of healthcare power of attorney forms,
info: wfu.edu.
~LM
Triangle
Robinson addresses religion issues
RALEIGH — Bishop Gene Robinson, who
was the first openly gay Episcopal bishop,
was at North Carolina State University on Oct
14 speaking on the subject of God Believes
in Love, Straight Talk about Gay Marriage at
Witherspoon's Campus Cinema. This event was
part of the school's Diversity Education Week.
The Technician reported that during
his introduction, the university's Center for
Leadership, Ethics and Public Service Vice
President Dani Lechner presented Robinson
with an honorary Role Model Leader Award.
During his address, Robinson shared that
"thirty years ago, most Americans would have
told you that they didn't know anyone who was
gay.. .And now, there isn't a family left in America
who doesn't know one family member, one
coworker or one classmate who isn't LGBT."
He added that society had advanced and
evolved, thus making it possible for the LGBT
community to be more accepted. He also said
that even with progress, there are still "some
elements of religion" that place pressure on
the LGBT people, however, he indicated that
Cooper to be keynote speaker at gala
Award winners to be recognized
GREENSBORO — The Equality NC Foundation has an
nounced that the state's Attorney General Roy Cooper will
serve as the keynote speaker at its 2013 gala, "A Celebration of
Home," on Nov. 9 at the Empire Room, 203 S. Elm St.
gnofesreported on Oct. 15 that equality advocates in North
Carolina have praised Cooper's supportive personal remarks
with regard to same-sex marriage. "The Attorney General has
long been an advocate for equal rights for all people and we
applaud him for publicly aligning with a fast-growing majority
of North Carolinians who now support the legal relationship
recognitions between committed LGBT couples," Chris Sgro,
executive director of Equality North Carolina, said in a release.
Cooper was a vocal opponent of anti-gay Amendment One.
During the evening's program, the Equality NC Foundation
Gala Awards will be presented to:
N.C. Sen. Josh Stein, Jamie Kirk Hahn Ally Award; Janet
Joyner, Bob Page Equality Champion Award; N.C. Rep. Tricia
Cotham, Legislative Leadership Award; and Freedom Center
for Social Justice, Organization of the Year Award.
Stein, of Raleigh, voted against Amendment One and
believes that sexual orientation and gender identity should be
included in the state's workplace non-discrimination law and
actively worked to include sexual orientation and gender iden
tity the School Violence Prevention Act, the K-12 anti-bullying
legislation that passed the General Assembly in 2009.
Joyner, of VVinston-Salem,
has been a decades-long
proponent of safe schools and
as such helped to formulate
the statewide anti-bullying policy proposal to the State Board
of Education in 2004, but it failed. Subsequently, it did become
a basis for the model of legislation for 2009's School Violence
Protection Act
Cotham, of Charlotte, was
an opponent of Amendment
One and has spoken out
against discrimination as well.
In 2013, Cotham upped the
pro-equality ante, sponsor
ing historic legislation that would offer statewide workplace
protections for all state employees and teachers. The bill
hasn't yet passed, but Cotham remains committed to seeing it
through.
Bishop Tonyia Rawls,
founder of Charlotte's Freedom
Center for Social Justice, will
accept an award honoring her
organization. The work of the center focuses on enhancing the
quality of life by increasing the number of healthy options and
opportunities available to low income communities, communi
ties of color, sexual minorities and youth.
Registration is $160 until Oct. 27 and will increase to $190
until the day of the event. Active-military duty rate is $50.
The Proximity Hotel, 704 Green Valley Rd., serves as the
hospitality host for the gala. Reservations can be made online.
Be sure to ask for the special gala rate when booking accom
modations. Cost is $159/night for king loft and $169 for double
queen. Transportation to the gala is included in the room rate,
info: equalityncfoundation.org. proximityhotel.com.
— LM&M.C.
\
religion could become ap "integral part" of the
LGBT community.
The day after his engagement. The
Technician reported that there was some back
lash from its anti-LGBT student body.
Gregory McClanahan reported that Robinson
was being demeaned, even after he received the
highly distinguished role model award.
$ome students felt that Robinson was a
hypocrite. They even questioned how he could
believe in God.
These attacks, McClanahan shared, "In a
world where Christians claim to want love and
peace, there is an awful lot of hatred around
the Christian community." He even went so
far as to say that every student should take
"courses like USC100, Transition into a Diverse
Community" to develop more understanding
about those "who are different from them."
McClanahan indicated that by if a "stable
social environmentthat promotes the care
and respect from every single member of this
university" could not be maintained, "then
how are vve going to have a community that
see News Notes on 8