JULY 17 . 2004 • Q-NOTES North Carolina ews notes: nc fi'om the tarbeel state Outwilmington.com founder resigns WILMINGTON — The Outwilmington Community Center announced that as of July I Bo Dean, founder of Outwilmington.com and a board member after the Wilmington Cay and Lesbian Community Center merged with the popular web resource to form the successful Outwilmington Community Center venture, has left the organization pursue other goals and family interests. The Community Center Board expressed its b)est wishes to Bo. “[He] will be missed by the entire Community and the Board. My thanks to he and his partner Michael for all the time, devotion and love for our Community,” said Maryellen A. Wheeler, treasurer for Outwilmington and president of the Cape FearAVilmington Chapter of PFLAG. Students With N.C.ties awarded prestigious gay and lesbian scholarship CHICAGO, III. — The Point Foundation has awarded Point Scholarships to two college students with North Carolina ties. Tonia Poteat, a native of rural North Carolina, is currently attending Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health to secure the Masters in Public Health degree she needs to become a leader in national and international LGBT, women’s and HIV/AIDS health care. Poteat has supported herself since leaving home at age 16 and graduated magna cum laude from Yale University and summa cum laude from Emory University’s Physician Assistant program. Marcie Fisher-Borne, the other recipi ent, is currently attending the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill with a con centration in social work. Fisher-Boone was born and raised in southern Mississippi; her coming out was not well- received by her family. She completed a master’s degree in both public health and social work at UNC-Chapel Hill, where she is now working on a Ph.D. in social work. Duke ends pact with YMCA over DPs ^ DU-RFIAM — Duke University has pulled the plug on a deal with the YMCA after the agency said it would not honor the university’s domestic partner plan. Duke offers the same-sex partners of its staff and faculty the same benefits it offers married couples. Under an agreement with the ’Y’, Duke promoted the agency in its employee handbook in exchange for Duke employees receiving discounted member ships. But, the YMCA has refused to pro vide family memberships to same-sex cou ples. The two sides have been arguing over the issue since April. The ‘Y’ is also under scrutiny from the city of Durham which gives it $70,000 a year to provide services for youths and senior citizens. City Councilwoman Diane Catotti has suggested the city cut its ties with the YMCA if its leaders refused to change the policy. Multi-faith community foims alliance to promote same-sex marriage WILMINGTON — A number of groups from the religious and secular gay and lesbian community have come together to help secure the rights of same-sex couples. The Southeastern Alliance for Marriage Equality (S.A.M.E.) was formed from members of the Unitarian Universalists, Unity Christ Church, Outwilmington Community Center, Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays, St. Jude’s MCC, IntegrityAViimington Episcopal Group, and other community members, with the goal of informing the public on legal, moral, social, economic and health issues of civil marriage. Sir Speedy^ PRINTING • COPYING • DIGITAL NETWORK Fast, Friendly and Courteous Service Printing •Typesetting • High Speed Copying • Binding • Notary • Invi tations • Laminating • Resumes • Business Cards •Full Color Copies • Rubber Stamps • Holy Union Announcements • MUCH MORE! 301 North Caswell Road (Across from Mercy Hospital, comer of 5th St.) (704) 375-8349 / FAX (704) 342-1066 Carolina Gem Lab The Only Thing More Precious ^ Than Your Jewelry is Your Appraisal. ^ 704-341-5886 i (By appointment only) www.carolinagemlab.com