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PAGE 16iT»Q*Note» ^c'S«pteri*t>sr 5> 4598'’ V/^A -i, *. C’4|- Restore your vehicle to near-new condition ’ - CHIPS • • SCRATCHES• • BUMPERS • Come Since 1988 (704) 521-8966 More economical than body shops Call For Appointment Today! In-Shop Services Include: Paintless Dent Removal & Detailing rsmj srsu COLORS Quick — Quality — Economical 4438-D South Blvd. Charlotte, NC Would you Buy a used house from this man? Joe O’Connor An openly gay man that deals ‘straight’ in business: a vocal activist within the L.G.B.T. community, seeking your continued support. “I SELL CHARLOTTE” 704-569-0806 http://members. aol.com/charncj oe * We all agree, Joe is the one to call for your real estate needs. ThePnidentiali| CaroMnas Raalty CHARLOTTE 1998 OutCharlotte98 Festival coming October 7-11 Take part in the many activities planned for this year’s festival. There will be films, engaging stage productions, comedy, workshops and much more. Not to be missed will be TINSELTOWN, the dance. You can be an active part in the community art project this year focusing on family. Simply provide a photo that defines family for you and submit it in a self-mailer which can be obtained from OutCharlotte. For more information on the festival and other OutCharlotte activities, to be put on the mailing list, or to offer your help as a volunteer, call: (704) 563-2699, or visit our web site at www.outcharlotte.org . UFMCC Continued from page 4 marched toward dawn, our expensive array of flowers wilted. Yet we waited. When most of us had tired, we began singing “We Shall Over come” — over and over, louder with every re frain. The irritated police were not pleased, but Bill and Tony were released. There was no celebration for Tony. He man aged to make his way into my automobile be fore I saw the full extent of his mental agony. To say he was upset would be a colossal under statement. He was really upset! His clenched fists showed white knuckles. Moans of agony came from deep inside him. He refused to be touched by so much as a fingertip, and he re sisted any word of consolation. “Have you got anything to drink at your place?” Tony said while I was driving. I nod ded, and 20 minutes later, as he sat at my break fast table with early rays of the sun on his face, I let Tony pour his own glass of bourbon. When he had drunk a little of it, he was no less upset, but appeared calmer. “Man, you know I never been arrested in my life for anything before,” he said, wiping his mouth with the back of his hand, “''^at am I going to do?” Before I could think of a reply, Tony began reflecting on something that had particularly galled him in jail. “You know,” he said, “there was a Chicano cop in there, talk ing to me through the bars, in Spanish. He called me a puto, a male whore, and he said he was going to call where I work and tell my boss there’s a puto working for him!” “Tony, you just have to ignore...” “I tried to ignore! But do you know how it feels?” “Yes.” “No, Troy, you only think you know. You never been arrested! You don’t know how it is when the cell door bangs shut and you’re in their cage. I felt like a freak in a sideshow. Puto Latino!” “Take it easy.” “Do you know what everybody says about queers?” “Come on, listen, it’ll work out all right.” “No, it won’t,” growled Tony, standing. “I’m going to get a bus and go home. Nothing’s go ing to be all right. I don’t want to hear that crap. You live in an ivory tower. We’re just a bunch of dirty queers and nobody cares about dirty queers!” “Somebody cares.” “Who?” “God cares.” Tony had walked to the front door. He paused and uttered a terrible, painful laugh. “No, Troy,” he said, “God doesn’t care. What do you mean, ‘God cares.’ Be serious! I went to my priest for guidance when I was 15 and he wouldn’t even let me come back to Sunday school. I guess he thought I might contami nate somebody! He said I couldn’t be a homo sexual and a Christian, so that was the end of church. And for me, in my religion, that meant the end of God!” “You don’t need the church to speak to God.” “I do.” “Just get do\vn on your knees and pray.” “I can’t.” “God will hear you.” A look of increased sadness seemed to en velop Tony’s face. In his culture, religious exal tation was all-consuming, as it was in mine, but in a different way. He could not go to God without the intercession of a priest — but I could — because I knew it was possible to meet God anywhere. “I’ll catch the bus,” my friend said. Tony shut the door. As he walked out of my line of vision, I was still Pentecostal enough that I knelt down and urgently lifted my clenched hands in prayer. Somehow I knew I was ap proaching the culmination of my life, and I felt a building excitement. I went out of the house. The rest of the world still seemed to be sleep ing as the bright sun arose. A short time later, I lay on the bed in my room upstairs, tired from a night without rest, but nevertheless unable to sleep. I said, “Lord! You know I’ve prayed and I know you love me. You’ve told me that. I feel your Holy Spirit. What should I be doing? I can’t help thinking of Tony, alone, bitter, cut off from talking to you. I wish I could find a church somewhere that would help him. I wish there was a church somewhere for all of us who are outcast.” Suddenly, as if there was an electric spark in my head, I began asking myself, “What’s wrong with Troy Perry? Why are you waiting for some body else?” Then I prayed a little later that same morn ing, harder than ever before, and in the sort of talking I do, I said, “Lord, you called me to preach. Now I think I’ve seen my niche in the ministry. We need a church, not a homosexual church, but a special church that will reach out to the lesbian and gay community. A church for people in trouble, and for people who just want to be near you. So, if you want such a church started, and you seem to keep telling me that you do, well then, just let me know when.” Whereupon, I received my answer to an impossible dream. A still, small voice in my mind’s ear spoke, and the voice said, “Now." ▼ [ The full story ofthe founding and expansion of UFMCC is told in the book. Don’t Be Afraid Anymore, written by Rev. Perry and published by St. Martins Press. Ordering information is available online by sending an e-mail to ResourceCenter@uJmcchq. com.] R o c li y Co Mow Accepting Appointments Tuesday - Saturday 10am - 9pm We use the best of ‘^REDKEN and ©frames! products. Specializing in Color Available exclusively at Rocky's Salon The NACA DIET Rocky's Salon 5212-C Monroe Road Charlotte, riC 28205 (704) 567-8997 S A 1. O X SEBASTIAN
Q-notes (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Sept. 5, 1998, edition 1
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