MAY 22; 2004'* Q-NOTES
North Carolina
I
ews notes: nc
fmm the tarheel state
love Unadridgeir presentedat Thalian Hall
WILMINGTON — Inspired by .similar
awards given throughout the state by other
organizations, the Wilmington Community
Spirit Awards were created to present an
opportunity for
members of a vast
and diverse coast
al community to
come together to
celebrate each
other, to identify
and get to know
those who serve
the lesbian, gay,
bisexual, trans
gender and allied
community, and
to acknowledge
with the honor of
an award those contributions. The awards,
entitled “Love Unabridged,’ were presented
Apr. 24 at Thalian Hall.
Through the Internet, community
members nominated the individuals, busi
nesses and/or organizations to be voted
on in six different categories. All those who
were nominated, with the exception of one
nominee for whom the advisory board of
Outwilmington.com had special plans,
were then placed on the community center
website where community members cast
their votes. Cards were distributed at local
Bo Dean,
OutWilmington
founder (left) and
Devon Crosbie
venues for those without
Internet serve and were
included in the count as
well.
Awards were bestowed
upon:
• Outstanding Community
Business: Michael Moore: for his store
Michael Moore Antiques;
• Outstanding Community Organization
on behalf of CARE: Caye Heib, director of
the Coastal AIDS Resource Effort and long
time volunteer, Dallas:
• Outstanding Ally non-Political: Cape Fear
Chapter of PFLAC;
• Outstanding Ally Political: Equality North
Carolina:
• Outstanding Community Event: Dixie
Queen Premiere;
• Outstanding Nightclub or Entertainment
.Venue: Ibiza;
• Outstanding Activist Female arid Male for
2004: Gayle Tabor, head of the Coastal
North Carolina Lesbians and president of
OWCC and Wilmington Legend and long
time activist. Bob lenkins;
• Outloud and Proud Award: Michael Moore,
for years of selfless involvement and
activism;
• Boseman-TenHuisen Scholarship: Devon
Crosbie;
• Giving Spirit Award: Dave Robertson and
Mark Griffis, for their amazing generosity
and commitment to the community.
Legislative alert
RALEIGH — Two specific areas in the
HIV arena that need special attention in
N.C. are the AIDS Drug Assistance
Program (ADAP) and Primary and
Secondary Prevention. Gov. Mike Easley
will be working soon on next fiscal year’s
budget. Contact Gov. Easley and advocate
for the additional $12.1 million needed to
address these issues.
If N.C. receives the needed funds, ADAP
could raise it’s income eligibility level from
125 percent of the federal poverty level to
200 percent.- C,urrently set at 125 percent,
(the lowest income level in the nation), an
individual can’t make more than $11,225
to qualify for this program. ADAP would
also be able to take the 591 individuals off
of the waiting list and enroll them in ADAP.
Nearly half of all people on the waiting list
across the U.S. are from N.C.
The state also needs $3.3 million to
prevent new HIV infections. There is a
need for prevention programs that are
designed to support and educate people
living with HIV/AIDS. The Tarheel State
government should be committed to HIV
eradication. Send a letter to Gov. Easley
voicing support for adequate HIV program
funding:
Gov. Michael F. Easley
Office of the Governor
20301 Mail Service Center
Raleigh, N.C. 27699-0301
For more information on how to advocate
for HIV related topics, contact Patrick M. Lee,
J.D., president of N.C. Positive Living Council
at ncaan@NCPositiveLiving.org.
liender identity and gender expression
added to prohibited discrindnation iist
CHAPEL HILL — The Chapel Hill Town
Council unanimously approved May 10 an
amendment to town policy prohibiting dis
crimination in employment to include
"sexual orientation, gender identity and
gender expression."
Gender identity or expression refers to
a person’s internal sense of being male,
female or androgynous and includes all
the ways a person expresses their gender,
including mannerisms, behaviors, dress
and appearance.
The town’s policy previously used the
term “affectional preference” and this was
changed to “sexual orientation.” With the
revision, the Town Code now states: “All
personnel responsible for recruiting and
employment will continue to review regu
larly the implementation of this personnel
policy and relevant practices to assure that
equal employment opportunity based on
reasonable job-related job requirements is
being actively observed to the end that no
employee or applicant for employment
shall suffer discrimination because of age,
sex, race, color, religion, non-job-related
disability, national origin, sexual prefer
ence, gender identity, gender expression or
marital status.” Language in the town’s
Comprehensive Plan was similarly revised.
The Town Council voted unanimously
on Apr. 14 to request that the North
Carolina General Assembly repeal the
Defense of Marriage Act.
Tabor speaks about domestic iflolence
WILMINGTON — Creating awareness
among allies and friends, Gayle Tabor,
board president of the OutWilmington
Community Center, spoke to a group of
about 20 at the monthly PFLAG meeting in
see NC NEWS NOTESon 26
ives
May 30
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