National Adoption Month pg 7
&
CAROLIN
noted . notable . noteworthy GLBT issues
NO vote IS a vote: one Less for our fanlLles s partners
JESSE IS RNALLY IJn
Nov 2.8-10 pm
Meet HRC Host Elizabeth Birch
Real Estate Ckilumn:
“Urban. Suburban” 9
: iy^ar-} i’‘ido^! _i3
columna nueva en espanol
Wilminton pianist fired for
entertaining in bar
frequented by gays 4
City of Durham provides
Domestic Partner benefits 6
Southern Comfort for
some — the Transgender 11
Conference
South Carolina 29
Banned Books by Ed Madden
Q-POLL
www.q-notes.com
. People believe meds
will keep them alive
. They do not believe the
old safe-sex messages
. They need to be educated
. They do not care
VOLUME 17 . ISSUE 11
SINCE 19SS
WWW.Q-NOTES.COM
OCTOBER 2« . 2002
Women of RAIN winners of Ford Foundation's
"Leadership for a Changing World" awards
RAIN, Regional AIDS
Interfaith Network in Charlotte,
was one of twenty nationwide
recipients of the 2002 Leadership
for a Changing World awards.
RAIN received the one-time
$ 100,000 (over two years) award
for their incredible community
contributions. Its core leaders
received an additional $30,000
—split between them— for
personal projects or continuing
education.
Rev. Deborah Warren, RAIN
Executive Director, Rev. Amy
Brooks, Regional Program
Director, Rev. Stephanie Speller-
Henderson; Minority Program
Director and Rev. Debra K. Kidd,
Program Director are a team of
four ministers motivated by a
strong, passionate vision of the
worth and dignity of every
person, and a sense of
overwhelming need for this
vision to be made real,
particularly among people living
with HIV/AIDS.
Their individual calling reflects
the “shared equity leadership”
homosexuality and
model they present. Each
woman spoke to the
need to go beyond
their schooled
understanding of
ministry and reach
out to become a
vital community
link between those
who need care
and those
who could
be taught
how to give
it.
One of
the highest
rates of
new
HIV/AIDS
Jcf — R®''* Deborah C. Warren, Founder and Executive Director of RAIN;
ine i>ouineast Amy E. Brooks, Regional Program Director; Rev. Stephanie Speller-
rich in religious Henderson, Minority Program Director; Rev. Debra K. Kidd, Program Director
heritage.
ackknowledged some of their
members are -struggling. with
this infection. “The stigma and
fear associated with HIV/AIDS
... undermines the potential for
healing — particularly in the
Southern faith-based groups
have great cultural influence and
can be especially important in
shaping public response to
HIV/AIDS. However, there is
often a code of silence regarding
application essay. “As ministers,
we are grounded by our various
faith traditions calling us to
create a more just, loving and
hopeful world.
see RAIN on 24
Alan Rosenberg: a legacy of community caring
by Lainey Millen
“The mark of a person is shown in the
number of friends one has.” This statement
was written for Alan Rosenberg, 74,
Charlotte community leader, who died on
October 14 from cardiac complications. He
was surrounded by his devoted partner and
by his adoring, loving children.
On October 18, at a memorial service to
celebrate his life, there was an assembly of
such incredible diversity— marking the
depth of Alan’s reach into every community
he touched.
They came to pay homage to a man
who gave selflessly and enthusiastically
wherever the need. Gays, lesbians,
straights, clergy, community leaders — all
his friends joined together without
judgement, to console one another in their
shared loss. This was testament to Alan’s
good works.
Temple Beth El was Alan’s spiritual
home and site of the memorial service
which was led by Rabbi James Bennett and
Cantor Andrew Bernard.
Alan was remembered through prayers
and psalms honoring his life.
Fighting back against his own sense of
grief. Cantor Bernard offered the eulogy. He
told of meeting this incrediblesman who
Alan Rosenberg
always had a smile to share. He recounted
Alan's life — from his beginnings in
Chicago, IL, where he was born, married,
and where his three children were born, to
his life in Charlotte.
He shared Alan’s long-time struggle
with his sexuality and his ultimate return to
his faith, looking for peace and tolerance.
The Temple Beth El family of friends were
there for him, embracing and accepting
Alan as he was.
He served on the Social Action
Committee. Alan was one of the Temple’s
early RAIN Care Team members, tending to
those whose lives were ravaged by AIDS.
And through the committee, he began the
process of championing GLBT acceptance
within the Temple and religious context in
general.
Rabbi Bennett and the Temple Beth El
congregation made the courageous
decision to embrace disenfranchised lews
who had stepped away from Judaism due
to non-acceptance. The Temple invited
them to become part of the congregation.
This became the first initiative of the Task
Force on Inclusion — and Alan was at the
forefront. He was there to ensure a warm
and energetic welcome for all newcomers.
Alan persevered, challenging the group
to increase its visibility. When the Task
Force completed its work to foster a gay
and lesbian havurah (community of
friends), it bowed out from regular
guidance. That was four years ago. Things
have changed.
From the tiny group of 10 - 20 regular
participants, supported by Temple Beth El,
the group has grown to over 60 members
on an e-list. It was Alan who opened his
home for Jewish holiday celebrations.
see ALAN on 23