2006 — volunteer!
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Queer Carolinians talk about the new year
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Block History Month
Winter Getaways
From community activists and leaders
. to drag divas and politidans, the LGBT
community is exdted about 2006
by Donald Miller
Making resolutions for the new year —
for some people — is an annual way of top
ping off the holiday season. After a two-
month period of celebrating that generally
begins with Halloween and continues
through November with seasonal dinners,
parties, the Thanksgiving holiday and a
repeat of the same through December lead
ing up to Christmas and Hannukah, the most
common resolutions tend to be lose weight,
eat less, drink less, exercise more and eat
healthier foods.
Some people — on the other hand —
don’t make resolutions at all.
“1 figured out long ago that I was always
doomed to fail," says native Carolinian Steve
Richardson. Now living in Birmingham,
Richardson was recently back in Charlotte
visiting friends and family for the holidays.
“After trying so hard to live up to what I want
ed to achieve and falling short, I figured out I
didn’t ne^ to be so hard on myself. I could do
whatever I wanted any time of the year — so
why place the bar so high at the beginning?”
From across the Carolinas we’ve gathered
here a collection from both camps: resolutions
for the upcoming year — some of them per
sonal, others political —
and hopes and desires
for change in 2006.
Harry Browiv Ashevilie,
N.C
I’ve been very fortu
nate over the last 16
years to be able to
direct benefits that have
raised over $2 million in revenue for HIV/
AIDS causes. I have only accomplished that
through the unselfish dedication of hundreds
of volunteers that helped make it happen.
After being immersed in fundraising for
so long, my hope for the future is that there
is never a need for me or anyone else to ever
have to have one more AIDS benefit. Another
hope I have for the neyv year is for our young
people — there are so many with time and
talent to offer to others. I look forward to
seeing them step up and make a difference
in our community.
Harry Brown is a longtime LGBT
community activist in the southeast.
LS. "Bo" Dean Jr,, Vfilniingtoiv N.C
There are some
things I have been
thinking of regarding
“resolutions” to help me
be a better person and a
more effective commu
nity member aside from
a frontal labotamy and
botox! I am going to
wait 24 hours before I say yes to any new
project or activity. I am going to ensure that
prayer has at least a partial balance with
meditation. I am going to have at least one
day a week that is my day off completely and
one night a week for my husband and I to just
be together regardless of what is going on.
I am totally committed to reading at least
one novel or major work per month by an
LGB or T author and the most important res
olution regarding my activism is to be
agressive in working on HIV/AIDS outreach
for our youth as well as the community at
large, not only addressing HIV/AIDS but pos
itive, healthy behaviors for us all. Our suc
cess as a community is directly proportional
to how well we nurture the health and well-
Notes from a gay soldier
Iraq during the
holidays
Eifitor's Note: These ore the thoughts of a gay sol
dier — a North CaroGna native — who has been
I to Iraq. Beroose of the imfitary's "Don't
Don't Te^ poBcy, he must remain anonymous.
By the time you read this, the holiday sea
son will have come and gone. It’s been a time
of reflection for me — thinking about about
new year’s resolutions and starting the year
on a good note. My first holiday season spent
in Iraq has been unlike anything I’ve ever
experienced before.
I had a Christmas tree and many wonder
ful gifts, but it was a day like any other day in
the desert, except we had holiday music and
a lot better chow in the mess hall.
The past few weeks have
been extremely stressful. Our
security levels have been
heightened from the recent
Iraqi elections and extended
through the Christmas and
New Year’s holidays. 1 have
seen many things that 1 will
never forget. From the elec
tion day jubilation to a dead
ly Christmas week, the ten
sion levels have been high
and the possibility of an
attack at any moment has
been a continued reality.
Since 1 came to Iraq I have seen death
very graphically and firsthand. It’s worse
than any horror film or car accident I have
ever seen. War is ugly. On the 22nd of
being of our own. All the political and social
activism makes no difference if we are not
being as healthy as we can be.
LS. “Bo” Dean Jr. is the president of the
OutWilmington Community Center.
Miss Dellq, Charlotte, N.C
Well, I should start
with a diet, but that’s
no fun. I’d love to get
my act together in
2006, but if you know
me, that’s so much eas
ier said than done. I’d
love to enjoy life more,
and not just chocolate
and Latin men. One thing 1 am looking for
ward to — things will start heating up where
the next presidential election is concerned.
I’m sure we’ll have plenty of opportunities
over the next year to watch DUBYA squirm.
The days of that pompous ass being in the
White House are numbered, baby!
Miss Della is the author of Drag Rag a monthly
column appearing in Q.-Notes, that focuses on
drag and female impersonation.
Mark Kleinschnwit, Ch^ H^ N.C
I’m so bad at New
Year’s resolutions, Last
year’s was to get re
elected — I’m glad that
one worked out better
than the promise to
myself to get to the gym
3-4 times a week. This
year I hope we can
continue to turn back a marriage amendment
to the N.C. Constitution. I also plan to do
more to support gay-owned enterprise and
businesses that support our community. In
2005 I was swamped with professional and
see LGBTon 10
December, I witnessed the aftermath of a
very deadly explosion at the south entrance
to our camp. The entrance to our camp is off
see NOTES on 18