Newspapers / Q-notes (Charlotte, N.C.) / Dec. 1, 1989, edition 1 / Page 1
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-NOTES December 1989 ^3^ PRIDE 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 Call Line, Wilmington (919) 675-9222 (704) 338-1138 BEST BETS In Unity There Is Strength! Anonymous HIV Testing Unanimously Retained! 4.^ i r _'x *1_ . . « . . Deal WorU MD& Daj Dec. 2 Mature Gay Men Dca5 fet Tuesday Meetirg Dec7 730 pm Qi^anizational Meetirg for G/L Ghorus Dec. 8 10 pn Glosetbusters on GabteNlsion Ghannel 33 Dec 13 Queen Qty Friencb back Godfathers Cfea - Paib DdJ 730 pn Dec 14 DflAG/Gay Parents Goalition Dec 17 Ghristnias Gantata at MGG Gharlottc By Nancy Campbell Q-Notes Stalf Last month Q-Notes urged our readers to attend one of the open hearings on the ques tion of anonymous HIV testing across the state of North Carolina. We are happy to report that your activism - your attendance at this hearing and the attendance of others in Raleigh earlier this month - resulted in the unthinkable. North Carolina is now the only state in which HIV positive testing is report- able, that retains anonymous testing! Con gratulations, readers! This story began October 1, when the North Carolina State Legislature made HIV positive status a reportable condition. Before that date, only full-blown AIDS was report- able. Each Health Department in the 100 counties in North Carolina kept only the number of positive tests on record, and no names were attached to the results. Dr. Ron Levine, the state Health Director, is charged with proposing rules to support new legislation, and submitting the tentative rules to the Health Services Commission, which approves or alters the proposed rules or sends Dr. Levine back to the drawing board. The new legislation added a 58th reportable condition - HIV positive status - to the 57 conditions that already required docu mentation. It was proposed that confidential testing replace anonymous testing in all but 9 to 15 sites across the state. With confidential testing, a person would have to give his or her name, and the positive results would be re ported to the state with names. Two public hearings were held, one in Raleigh, and one in Matthews, NC, on No vember 1, which Q-Notes asked you to at tend. Dr. Levine began the hearing by char acterizing the responses the committee had received so far. Of 131 spoken or written responses at that time, 126 had been firmly in favor of retaining anonymous testing for HIV status. Among the five negative responses were Rep. Coy Privette, a well-known bigot, and Wake County Senator Johnston. Their con tention was that the proposed nine sites for anonymous testing “flies in the face of legis lative intent.” Those who opted FOR anony mous testing pointed out that legislative inter est in health procedures could legitimately address only two functions. One is to statis tically track the spread of communicable diseases, and the other is to enact measures to control that spread. This legislation, they pointed out, seemed to be an obvious attempt at punitive measures such as harassment and intimidation. Many speakers pointed out that people would not be tested if anonymous testing were not available. Dr. Levine allowed the representatives of the Governor’s and Lieutenant Governor’s jU offices to speak to the issue first. Both stated their opinions that the provision of sites for anonymous testing flies in the face of legis lative intent. They were followed by ap proximately 30 speakers who favored the re tention of anonymous testing in every county. Many of those advocating anonymous test ing were representatives from Duke, state level Communicable Disease personnel, local Health Departments, and other health pro fessionals. Others were HIV positive and AIDS patients pleading for sanity in public decisions. All were against confidential test ing (and for anonymous testing). In the end. Dr. Shuford Abemethy, a member-at-large from Hickory, NC, moved that we retain anonymous testing in North Carolina in all 100 county testing sites. It was seconded and unanimously approved by the Health Services Commission. North Caro lina is now unique in this respect: HIV posi tive status is reportable, but without names! As this article stated in the title, in unity there is strength. Be sure, next time there is an opportunity to attend such a hearing or demonstration, that you attend. Next time, it could be your favorite cause that is involved. Next time, it could be the “Crimes Against Nature” law. Together, we CAN make a difference! Dec. 23 Hannukah Dec 24 730 pm ChrfetiiBs Eve • (Social/U pm Wor-diip (Service at MCC Charlotte Dee 25 Christmas Dec. 31 830 pm Yadkin black and White Men Together 6odal (Spencer, N.C) 730 Watchn^t sodal & 11 pm Communion &rvice at MCC Charlotte INDEX Business Gards Page 11 Galendar Page 2 Gommunity Genter (Survey Page 4 Lie of Omission Page 5 News Briefs Page 10 Organizations Page 2 (Soft Spot Page 6 GLAD Conference Honors North Carolinians By Nancy Campbell Q-Notes Staff A number of North Carolinians were honored by appointment to District commit tees, election to District offices, and other significant events at the fall conference of the Gulf Lower Atlantic District (GLAD) of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Com munity Churches, the denomination with an outreach to all oppressed peoples, including gay and lesbian persons. TTiere are four congregations of the Fellowship in North Carolina at present, with another in the plan ning stages, and three member congrega tions in South Carolina. Rev. Lynn Guerra, of MCC Charlotte, was appointed head of the District Clergy Review Committee, an appointment made by the General Council and announced by Moderator Troy Perry at the conference. Elected members to the committee are Rev. Bob Darst (New Life MCC in Charlotte) and Rev. Liz Leech of MCC Montgomery, Ala bama. Wayne Lindsay of St. John’s MCC in Raleigh, NC, was approved as Student Clergy, as was Mic Hinson of MCC Augusta, North Augusta, South Carolina. Lindsay was also approved as Worship Coordinator for St. John’s. Jay Neely of First MCC in Atlanta, Geor gia, was elected District Coordinator (the equivalent of Bishop in most denominations), and Rev. Janet Pierce of MCC Huntsville, Alabama, was elected Assistant District Coordinator. Cassie Wylie from MCC Kn oxville was elected District Lay Representa tive, and Rev. Steve Fund of All Saint’s MCC in Atlanta was elected Clergy Repre sentative. Darryl Walker (All Saint’s) was elected district representative to the People of Color Commission, and Sandy Under wood was elected to the Faith, Fellowship and Order Commission. It was announced that Rev. Joe Fisher would be moving to Asheville soon, and may be able to start a work in Asheville. Rev. Christine Oscar of St. Mary’s MCC in Greensboro was ordained at the Saturday night service. More than thirty delegates from Charlotte attended the conference, held in Winston- Salem, the first weekend of November, 1989. The fall 1990 District Conference will be held in Charlotte. Gay and Lesbian Chorus To Begin In January This past July, over 2,500 gay men and women from across the United States raised their voices in song in Seattle at The GALA Mr. Gay USA Kimboi Purkerson Story on page 11 Festival III - Gay and Lesbian Association of Choruses. GALA now has 75 choruses in its membership across the country, and 43 of those groups performed in concert at the Festival. In addition, all those voices joined for one final concert together at the Festival site on the University of Washington cam pus. It was a week of joyous music, and an overwhelming sense of peace to be together with that many brothers and sisters. The Emerald City of Seattle provided a week of fun and memories for everyone who attended. Plans are already underway for GALA Fes tival IV to be held in July 1992 in Denver. Dan, a new Charlotte resident was part of one of those groups — the Philadelphia Gay Men's Chorus. The incredible feeling that he felt that week has led him to begin the process of starting a gay and lesbian chorus in Char lotte. Dan recently moved here to take a new job, and misses the comradeship that re hearsals and performances offered from the members of his choms. He has talked to a few folks in Charlotte who are supportive of the idea of beginning a chorus, has found a musical director willing to help out, is search ing for a rehearsal space with a good piano, and is now looking for other interested men and women to join in this endeavor. There will be a brief informational meet ing Thursday, December 7, at 7:30 p.m. Anyone who is interested in finding more out about this idea is welcome to attend. The tentative plan is to begin rehearsals in Janu ary for four Thursday nights, and at the end of the four weeks those people who attend rehearsals will discuss if they want to have a chorus in Charlotte or not. All you need to start is to be able to carry a tune, want to meet people, have fun, and commit to attending weekly rehearsals. People do not have to attend the Decem ber 7 meeting to join the chorus. To attend the meeting or to express your interest in joining the choms, please call Dan at 536-1372. Christmas Cantata Set for Dec. 17 By Nancy Campbell Q-Notes Staff MCC Charlotte will introduce its new choir at a special service Sunday night, December 17, at 7:30 pm, in its “Chapel in the Sky” at 4037 E. Independence Boulevard (next to Camelot Music). The choir will perform a special arrange ment of “Oh Holy Night,” arranged specially for the MCC Charlotte choir. The perform ance will include a narrative retelling of the Christmas story, with hymns by both the full choir and the men’s choir. The cantata ends with a solo rendition of “Oh Holy Night.” The choir will be wearing the new robes given by an anonymous donor. All are invited to join MCC Charlotte for the special service, which concludes with a communion service, and for a reception af terward in the fellowship hall. Both the regular 11 am worship service and the traditional Christmas Eve service at 11 pm will be held December 24. On New Year’s Eve the church will host a Watchnight party beginning at 7:30 pm, and concluding with a worship service at 11 pm.
Q-notes (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Dec. 1, 1989, edition 1
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