^nortK & sout CAROLIN Stop the S,C. anti-gay marrige amendment! r a Q-Uving: Top 10 Halloween Costumes VOLUME 20 . ISSUE 12 SINCE 19S« OCTOBER 22.2005 Melissa Etheride is back 25 Just who is Harriet Mieis? Notes from a gay soldier 18 Pope considers denying Holy Sacrament to pro-gay politicians 13 Charlode club omer victim of email hoax 22 North and South Carolina North Carolina: Log Cabin’s Guerriwo dodges a pie in ChapeiHiii 08 South Caroiina: Rainbow Radio goes on the air 10 OHUNE Q.POLL www.q*no1^. Would you volunteer for Charlotte Gay Pride? yes .no Top 10 straight advocates for LGBT rights include actors, musicians and politicians Next issue: ThrowinqThe Ultimate Party by Jay Smith Brown WASHINGTON, D.C. — In celebration of National Coming Out Day, Hiesday, Oct. II, th6 Human Rights Campaign Foundation released a list of the top 10 straight advocates for LGBT equality. Included in the list are actress Kristin Chenoweth, the Rev. Al Sharpton, Salt Lake City Mayor Rocky Anderson, actress Felicity Huffman, talk show host Cristina Saralegui, the Rev. Norm Kansfield, Peter Hams, IBM executive Ted Childs, hip-hop artist Kanye West and Spanish Prime Minister lose Luis Zapatero. “Being out and open about our lives is not just for gay, lesbian, bisexual or trans gender people, but for everyone who cares about equality," said HRC President Joe Solmonese. “These 10 leaders for fairness represent millions of family members, peo ple of faith, friends and co-workers who are helping make America fairer and more equal.” The list emphasizes this year’s Coming Out Project theme “Talk About It," which encourages fair-minded people to talk open ly and honestly about their lives and the inequalities LGBT Americans face under law. “Every single time we talk about it, we are one step closer to equality," said Solmonese. “Each word helps build bridges see STRAIGHT on 19 HRC Carolinas' team preparing for '06 dinner Group wants more South Carolina involvement by Donald Miller The Human Rights Campaign Dinner held in Charlotte earlier this year proved to be a tremendous success and gained nationwide attention. Organizers for next year’s dinner want to outdo themselves once again with a splashier performance presentation arid larger attendance figures — hopefully leading to more funds raised for the nation’s largest LGBT lob bying organization. “We had 1.350 people attending the event last year,” says Jay Biles, co-Ohair of the 2006 dinner. “We have a room that will hold 1,600 people — so we’re looking at 1,500 but hoping for 1,600.” In keeping with the tradition of building the dinner party around a theme, organizers have chosen “Fire and Ice" as this year’s moniker. So just what does “Fire and Ice” mean? “It’s specific enough and vague enough to do see HRCon 4 'Fire & Ice' takes pIcKe Feb. 25 at the Charlotte Convention Center. Charlotte gay Pride in trouble? Current director unclear on future of event by David Moore Q-Notes staff , ' The future of Charlotte’s annual gay Pride celebration isn’t looking too bright these days. Earlier this year the festival was held in the city’s downtown Marshall Park, reportedly attracting a crowd of 3,000. Although figures for the previous year’s event were reportedly higher, organizers were undaunted by the increased presence of the the Concord-based anti-gay organi zation Operation Save America (OSA). For many festival attendees, however, the presence of OSAers added yet another strike against Charlotte Pride. “The blaring music and the anti-gay rhetoric definitely made me feel very harassed,” said Q-Notes Associate Editor David Stout. “I heard one see PRIDEon S will Charlotte have a Pride celebration in '06?