OutCharlotte Blue Party
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noted . notable . noteworthy GLBT issues
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Former President Bill Clinton makes the
closing speech at 14th International AIDS
Conference in Barcelona, Spain
Photo and Article by Rex Wockner
Sharon Thompson pulls out of
2002 NC House bid, blaming
newly drawn districts; will
regroup to run in 2004
Dance floor drugging is target
of Senate bill — club owners
could lose big
Rev. Troy Perry, head of MCC
speaks to Clergy Code of
Conduct in place for years
Fighting the gay Right
Final: part 3
Women’s Pro Football
Final: part 2
VOLUME 17 . ISSUE «
SINCE ±9BA
WWW.Q-NOTBS. COM
AUGUST 3 . 2002
From virtual to Central — LGBT Cen^is a reality!
Ed note: After twenty years of hoping; after 3 years hard working; after
Ic
building and maintaining a virtual Community Center on the
web; after raising awareness; after keeping after us;
after keeping the plan and the dream andthe hope
alive; after brilliant strategy and meticulous
approach — it's here. Thank you very much
our superb Community Center volunteer Board.
Thank you, contributors.
by Darryl Logsdon
Leah D. Sepsenwol
CHARLOTTE — Columbia, SC has a very
active one; Wilmington, NC led the way
earlier this year and will dedicate its LGBT
Community Center in August. And now all of
us, here, really understand how proud they
feel having established a place of their own.
A dream takes shape
At its annual membership meeting. The
Lesbian & Gay Community Center Board of
Trustees announced their plan to open
Charlotte’s first Community Center later this
year.
“It’s a momentous day for us,” said Curtis
M. Tlitt,- Board chairperson. “Various
individuals and groups have been working to
create a Lesbian & Gay Community Center for
more than 20 years. Thanks to the leadership
gifts of more than 80 individuals, we can
make that dream a reality.”
Keith Bernard, Facilities Committee Chair
said, “Ten years ago, I don’t think we could
Right next to the White Rabbit Books & Things, Charlotte's
new Community Center will open later this year.
have done this. Generally, people were more
closeted. This sets the goal for everybody —
that we can be out and visible.”
Everyone loves the eclectic, diverse nature
of the area that even boasts Charlotte’s first
Dairy Queen.
“We are very excited to be a part of the
Plaza-Midwood neighborhood,” said Keith
Bernard, Facilities Committee Chair.
The Center is located at 1401 Central
Avenue — right next to White Rabbit Books
and Things, which recently relocated to the
building. 1
Owner |ohn Neal offered to
share half of the 8500
square foot bookstore space, with the
Community Center.
Neal, who owns two other White Rabbit
bookstores said, "We complement each
other;’’ it was his idea to contact the Center
Committee — an idea inspired by Charlotte’s
LGBT support and “the informal partnership
which White Rabbit Books already enjoys
with the community here.” he said.
see CENTER on 21
Civil Union photo in Fayetteville
Observer wedding section
South Carolina ZT
I ' Q-POLL 1
f www.c|-notes.com
I '
i (
Would you I
“go public” with your
Civil Union or
;
Commitment j
Ceremony? [
' ■[
• Yes ;
‘ .No
by Brian M. Myer
Leah D. Sepsenwol
The Fayetteville Observer made
Carolina history on Sunday, July 28 when
it published the Civil Union
announcement and photograph of Rabbi
Richard jernigan and John Nitzche of
Hope Mills, NC.
Rabbi Richard jernigan is an ordained
orthodox Rabbi, born and raised in
Fayetteville and educated in New York
where he received his rabbinical training
and ordination. Though he currently
does not have a pulpit, he has formed
what he terms “a loose coalition, known
as Beth David (House of David)” for
LGBTs who need or request a Rabbi for
any ceremony or participation.
His partner John Nitzche is the last
living descendant of German
philosopher Frederick Nietzche.
They were joined together in civil
union in Hartland, VT on June 28 at
11:00 am. One of a handful of Carolina
couples who’ve made the northern trek
to Vermont to take advantage of the
state’s same-sex union law, the jernigan-
Nitzche union is unique in that its
arguably the first same-sex union to be
Rabbi Richard Jernigan (L) and partner John
Niizche's Civil Union portrait photo
see PHOTO on 10
ALFA celebrates
year 15 and its
volunteers
by Lisa Miller
Over 70 people turned out to celebrate
the 15th anniversary of ALFA; the only
HIV/AIDS service organization in the
Unifour. Past and present people connected
to the AIDS Leadership Foothills area
Alliance (ALFA) came together to celebrate
some of the amazing individuals and
achievements from the last 15 years. The
dinner party was held Uiesday, )uly 16th,
2002 at the First Baptist Church in
Morganton, NC. Blue Ridge Healthcare
System sponsored the dinner.
ALFA Executive Director, Maria Giannini
Reese, Paul Dickens, Tim Arnette, Michele
Francois, Ed farthing, Rebecca McLeod, Pete
PrunkI, Carolyn Sheets, Pam Yount, and
Tammy Yount formed the planning
committee. “As the Anniversary Committee
met and planned, we decided that the
program would serve as a snapshot of ALFA
through the years....”, said Maria Giannini
Reese, Executive Director of ALFA. .
Speakers highlighted the various eras of
ALFA. Rebecca McLeod, Burke County
Health Educator, and Carolyn Sheets, RN
see ALFA on 16