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The Carolinas’ Most Comprehensive Gay & Lesbian Newspaper 0/i, CbacCcfy! A scene from a gay parenting video? Hardly! See our... Queer c^€f-o[k preview on page 17. Published Every Two Weeks On Recycled Paper • Volume 15, Number 14 • November 25, 2000 • FREE Lesbian wins seat on conservative New Hanover Commission WILMINGTON, NC — In the crowded New Hanover County Courthouse, Julia Boseman and her mother made their way into a pew on November 7, election day, waiting anxiously as results from precincts all over the county kept telling her that out of the three scats up for grabs, she was fifth. “I definitely know how it feels to lose, because when I was watching [the results come in], I was losing 44 out of 48 [precincts].” Julia says. But as the final precincts began to report, a different story began to unfold. With each new precinct reporting, Julia climbed higher and higher, until the results of the final precinct made it clear that Julia Boseman won a seat — and actually finished second out of the three. When the results came in, Julia said, “ It was unbelievable, here 1 was with Melissa [her part ner] and my mother, the women in my life, and we won! They have seen me through so much, and we were together to share in this victory!” Mrs. Boseman, when asked how she felt prior to walking to the courthouse, said, “I am proud — very proud. Win, lose, or draw.” Later though, after the dust settled and the chants from supporters in Boseman tee-shirts Democratic commissioner-elect Julia Boseman (L) with her partner Melissa. calmed, there came the news that 1600 pro visional votes had yet to be counted. With only a few hundred votes separating the candidates, those votes could significantly alter the election’s outcome. So, with faith and tenacity in hand, the wait was on. When the provisional votes were counted on Friday, November 10 at the board of elec tions, the openly lesbian candidate not only held her place on the board of commi.ssioncrs, she actually placed first! “It is a huge victory for gay and lesbian people but especially for New Hanover County. Our county has been run by the ‘good old boys’ for a long time, and the voters sent a clear me.ssage by only re-elect ing one incumbent,” she said. Julia Boseman has made history. She is the first openly gay candidate to hold a couiity coni- See LESBIAN on page 9 GLBT candidates win state races by Sloan Wiesen Special to Q-Notes WASHINGTON, DC — Openly gay and lesbian candidates scored several historic suc cesses at the polls on November 7, especially at the state legislative level — where about three- cjuarters of out GLBT candidates have prevailed. Victories in Georgia, Michigan and Califor nia are particularly noteworthy. With Karla Drenner’s victory in Georgia, for example, the Deep South is about to see its first openly gay or lesbian state lawmaker. “Despite continuing instances of gay-bait ing, this year has brought some historic victo ries for-openly gay and lesbian candidates for state legislatures — and state legislatures are increasingly key to securing equal rights for ail Americans regardless ofscxual orientation,” said Brian K. Bond, executive director of the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund, which works to elect qualified openly gay and lesbian candidates as a means of ending discrimination. “We’ve seen a doubling of our community’s open representation in the California state Leg islature. We’ve seen the election of the first open state lawmakers in the Deep South as well as in Michigan. The triumphs in Michigan and Georgia are especially important because these states are among the 39 that do not yet protect their citizens from discrimination based on sexual orientation,” he added. Of the 39 candidates from 17 states who were endorsed by Bond’s group, 23 office seek ers from 13 states prevailed and two will enter run-off elections. Those candidates included Republicans, Democrats and independents seeking office at the local, state and national level. Bond underscored the overwhelming impor tance of state legislative victories and pointed to the September 15 Washington Blade analysis wlijch found that four of the five states that The Tradesmen kick into high gear pas.sed pro-equal rights laws this year had openly gay, lesbian or bi.scxtial state Icgi.slators who were key to those successes. But three of the four states that passed anti-gay laws this year had no openly gay, lesbian or bisexual state legislators to speak up for equality. “Clearly, open representation at the state level helps to overcome discriminarion and de livers positive results for gay and straight Ameri cans alike,” said Bond. “So our state legislative victories are vital. Also noteworthy in this elec tion is that — as with the agonizingly close presidential campaign — many of our races have been decided by narrow margins. The year 2000 elections remind us that every vote truly does count, and that we each have an opportu nity and a responsibility to make our votes count and our voices heard.” Of 20 state legis lative races in 13 states, 15 GLBT or allied can didates won, two lost, and three remain un clear at this writing. At the federal level, gay and lesbian incum bent Reps. Tammy Baldwin, (D-Wl), and Jim Kolbe, (R-AZ), were both re-elected, while House challenger Gerrie Schipske came within one percent of victory and has refrained from conceding the race, pending the tallying of 7,000 as yet uncounted ballots, and U.S. Sen ate hopeful Ed Flanagan of Vermont failed to unseat Republican James Jeffords in a race where both candidates had been endorsed by other GLBT activist groups. Flanagan had made history in his primary by becoming the first openly gay U.S. Senate nominee of a major political party. There were also 15 GLBT or allied candi dates who ran at the local or county level in five states who were endorsed by the Victory Fund. Of those races, six won their seats and two will enter run-off races. However, five lost their bids and two elections remained unde clared at this writing. ▼ by Jim Grigg Special to Q-Notes CHARLOTTE —The Tradesmen, one of the South’s oldest leather/levi chibs, have made a significant comeback in the last few years. The ravages of the AIDS epidemic suffered by the gay community hit The Tradesmen hard. On the verge of disbanding in the late 90s, three dedicated members decided it was time to dig in and reclaim The Tradesmen’s former glory. Through hard work and diligence. The Tradesmen, who hail from Charlotte, have re- emerged as a premier levi/leather club in rhe Southeast with 21 full local members as well as over 30 associate members across the country. This past May, The Tradesmen resurrected their annual Club Run, Trademark, at the Sheraton Airport Plaza. The run had been held on their anniversary, the first weekend of May. Trademark XIV was their first run in several years and proved to be a fantastic succe.ss. Ap proximately 100 leather men and women from Texas to Vermont came by car, mo torcycle and plane for a memorable weekend of fun, games and leather camaraderie. As part of the Trademark XIV festivities, the cltih prc.sentcd a plaque to curator, Chris Zimmerman, of the Leather ArchieVes and Museum. The museum depicts the club’s history and ries to other Southeast clubs. The Conduc tors of Nashville helped esrablish the Trades men, who in turn fostered The Panrhers of At lanta, Menamore of Wilmington and Greensboro’s Tarheel Leather Club. Thankful for rhe club’s own survival. The Tradesmen are working diligently to raise money for The Sisters of Mercy’s “Flouse of Mercy” in Belmont, North Carolina. Selected monthly club night fundraisers (including the December 1 Christmas Party at the Brass Rail) and nexr May’s “Trademark XV” will benefit the nine-bed hospice lor people with AIDS. .On November 3, The Tradesmen traveled to Atlanta to celebrate the twelfth anniversary of their brother club. The Panthers. The Pan thers were “born” out of a Tradesmen club night friendship in 1988 at Charlotte’s Bra.ss Rail. At the anniversary celebration. The Tradesmen hosted The Panthers’ formal cocktail party prior to the main banquet. To everyone’s surprise. The Tradesmen had chosen this event to pre mier their new dress uniforms — the restilt of months of effort by all the mem bers. The hard work and par- ticipatioti didn’t gt) uniioticed - the club re turned to Char lotte with the weekend’s first place trophy! On Novem- See GEAR on page 22 The Tradesmen, Charlotte's levi/leather club, in their brand new uniforms. Citizens organize against proposed ordinance to close clubs at 2:30 am by David Stout Q-Notes Staff CHARLOTTE — A proposed city ordi nance intended to give the police greater con trol over juveniles attending raves is receiving criticism from nightclub owners and patrons because the measure draws no distinctions bc- rween the unliccn.scd all-night dance parties and legally operated nightclubs and becau.se it would impose a curfew on clubs carering to adults as well as those targeting youths. The orditiancc, which has already been pre sented to the City Council’s Public Safety Com mittee, would close juvenile “dance halls” at 11:00 pm during the week and midnight on the weekends; adult “dance halls” would be shut down at 2:30 am throughout the week. Additionally, no one over 17 would be al lowed to enter a juvenile “dance hall” and youths would be banned from adult establish- • ments. Currently, .some clubs allow under-age patrons in their establishments after 2:00 am, when state law requires that all alcohol sales must end. According the proposal, the Charlotte- Mecklenburg Police Department’s Vice and Narcotics Bureau would issue permits to all “dance halls” in the city and oversee them. Nightclub owners argue that this would add a burden.some and unwarranted level of bureau cracy to their industry because they are already regulated by state authorities. And since the permits would be renewed each year at the sole discretion of the Police Department, they say the chances of personal and political manipu lation of the system arc great. While opponents acknowledge that stop ping unregulated raves is nece.s.sary (a widely circulated flyer against the measure states, “The Charlotte Police have shown concern that the.se events encourage drug u.se, predatory sexual crimes and are un.safe for juveniles. We couldn’t agree more.”), they argue that the ordinance, a.S currently written, would effectively kill the city’s nightlife. To register public opposition to the mea sure, the ad hoc group Charlotte Citizens Against Adtilt Dance Club Curfew has initi ated a petition and contact-your-Councilperson campaign. The petition can he signed at the front desk of local establishments or online at www.PctitionOnline.com/3758765/ petition.html. The collected signatures will be delivered to the City Council. Charlotte Citizens Against Adult Dance Club Curfew .say that it is crucial for Council members to hear from their constituents on this matter. Those requiring the name or contact information of their City Council representa tives can call 704-336-2241 for details. The complete text of the propo.sed measure can be read online at www.charlottcravc ordinance.com. T The latest Q^Poll results Do you believe your vote makes a difference? Yes, and I intend to use it - 32% Yes, l)ut I’m still not voting - 23% No, so I’m not voting - i : Maybe not, but I’ll vote anyway - 18% Tq participatejn our new Q-Poll access www.g-nofes.con2 . 7%
Q-notes (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Nov. 25, 2000, edition 1
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