Same Professionalism- Same Commitment- Same Smile. TIM O'BRIEN has joined the real estate team of Helen Adams A HELEN AD^S REALTY Email tobrien@helenadamsrealty.com Web Site www.helenadamsrealty.com Tim. O'Brien 704-777-1741 Ballantyne Commons Shopping Center* 15235-J John H. Delaney Drive Charlotte, NC 28277 (Office) 704-401-2954 BARBARA HOLLINGSWORTH ATTORNEY & MEDIATOR Specializing in Negotiation and Mediation of Relationship Issues Domestic Partnership Agreements Collaborative Negotiation & Mediation of Disputes Wills & Powers of Attorney 704/433''8241 6725 Robinson Church Road • Harrisburg, NC 28075 .Welcome to Gastonia's ^fkst gay-friendly club!. Dance Club Crmd Opening} Saturday, ftebruary (Domestic Beers only $1.50 on both opening dates) • One Year Memberships Available for only $5 • Members $3 / Non-Members $5 on show nights and weekends Everyday McesI Domestic Beers $2 / Imports $2,50 / Well Drinks $2.50 Top Shelf $3.50 and up Pool Every Night! , Open 7 Days a Week, 3 pm - 2 am wf Full Moon Saloon and l>ance Cluli 532 East Club Drive, Gastonia. NC 28054 Call 704-867-7678 for more information. Q-NOTES • JANUARY 18 . 2002 Mancini Foundation Grants CHARLOTTE — The Wesley Mancini Foundation provides funding for projects pro moting the inclusion of gay, lesbian, transgen der and bisexual individuals as full partici pants in the Charlotte community. The 2002 recipients are: Time Out Youth: $4000; The Lesbian & Gay Community Center: $2500; and Metrolina AIDS Project: $3500. Time Out Youth • To support the billboard campaign for TOY’S programs and services. Founded in 1991, TOY provides support for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender youth ages 13-23. in 2001, TOY ran a successful bill board campaign funded through the Skylark Foundation to increase community awareness of their programs and the presence of the proud gay and lesbian youth in our communi ty. This grant will support a new round of bill boards in five locations for one month. Info: Tonda Taylor, Executive Director info@timeojtyouth.org. 704-344-8335 Lesbian & Gay Community Center • To support an cxtenstion of a study examin ing audience development Founded in 2001 and soon to open its first home. The Center will house offices for four gay and lesbian organizations as well as be available for meeting and program space for over 40 organizations providing LCBT servic es and programs. Earlier this year The Gill Foundation awarded The Center a two-year grant of $30,000 through its 21 st Centrury Initiatives for Emerging Community Centers program. Coupled with the Mancini Foundation grant, the goal is to open gay and lesbian-oriented program ming to a larger audience with works pro duced by either gay/lesbian groups or main stream groups. info: Dan Kirsch, Executive Director CommunityCenter@GayCharlotte.com. 704-333-0144 MAP: Metrolina AIDS Project Founded in 1985, map is the Charlotte region’s leading provider of comprehensive case manatgementb, support services, pre vention education and direct financial assis tance to individuals and families living with HIV/AIDS. “HiV/AIDS is a disease affecting us all — regardless of sexual orientation, race, sex, reli gion, nationality or age. And it affects our families, too — biological families and families of choice,” said Director Les Kooyman. “Wesley’s annual contribution provides for a holiday gathering for all people in our com munity affected by HIV/AIDS. This event enables them to come together for support and assistance during the holidays.” info: Les Kooyman, Executive Director lkooyman@metrolinaAIDSproject.org. 704-333-1435 Teens set the standards “Amazing Teens" chosen by newspaper stajf to be honored for their courage and their contributions by Zenaida Serrano Espanol Hawaiian Advertiser Within the past year. Hawaiian students made the news with their inspiring stories. Ivy Ka'anana, 18 Ivy Ka’anana is a fighter — a title she wasn’t looking for the day she asked officials at Baldwin High School in Maui if she could wear shorts or slacks instead of a dress to her May 31 graduation ceremony. But when she was told that she would not be allowed to participate in the ceremony if she did not adhere to the dress code, she refused to take “no” for an answer. “That was very unfair, very unfair,” said Ka’anana, of Kahului. “For me, that was like, my hopes just went all down the drain for one little thing. Like 1 worked for something, for nothing.” At one point, the American Civil Liberties Union offered to file a gender dis crimination lawsuit on behalf of Ka’anana. “1 wasn’t fighting (to) make a big deal about it ...I just was fighting for what I believe in, for my rights,” said Ka’anana, who added that she had never worn a dress before. Helen Rosaga, Ka’anana’s mother, said she supported her daughter throughout the con flict. “I’m proud that she hung, in there because it was very hard for her,” Rosaga said. “1 told her, ‘just hold your head up high and just be proud that you finished school.’” When Ka’anana learned that the area superintendent who oversees Baldwin High had overruled the school’s decision, she was thrilled. She wore a dress shirt -and khaki shorts to the ceremony. The lesson she hopes others learn from her experience: “Never give up, and always fight for what you believe in.” Kalaheo High's Gay-Straight Alliance Diversity is a beautiful thing, according to nearly a dozen Kalaheo High students who fought hard to establish the Gay-Straight Alliance. Member Krystopher Lomu, a 17-year-old senior, said the club was established “basical ly to lend a helping hand out there for teenagers who kind of didn’t feel safe, to say that we’re here and we’re supportive, and just to make the campus a little more aware.” The Kalaheo club, founded in February, became the first in a Hawaii public school to openly refer to sexual orientation in its name. “In today’s world, where kids don’t always stand for things, I’m really proud of them,” club co-adviser Sue Reardon said. “They fought hard, and they risked being ostracized by fel low students.... I think it took a lot of courage.” Reardon said students had a difficult time establishing the club because of resistance at the administrative level, but they finally gained acceptance months later, with help from par ents, a minister, the National Center for Lesbian Rights and the American Civil Liberties Union. "It was hard for us to get where we are at right now and to keep it as a club,” Lomu said. “But it’s just like, if you want to do something, you have to stick with it.”...