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& sout
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VOLUME 20 . ISSUE 21
SINCE 198«
Profile:
Mitchell Gold &
Bob Williaim
25 I
■5^
FEBRUARY 2 5 . 200«
on life and Itw pursuit
ofcreathfily
25
The show that started the
personal style revolution 28
Cool companies for
LGBTfbIk
12
L6BT afdnity gmups 13
The uncounted cost of ‘
Don’t Ask, DonUeir 18
North and South
Carolina
North Carolina:
LGBT vegetarian group
forms in Charlotte 08
South Carolina:
Clergy action group holds
press conference 10
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Theater
Performing Arts
Gay buyinq power projected
at $641 biinon in 2006
New analysis shows $31 billion
increase since '05
by Michael Daniels
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The total buying
power of the U.S. LGBT adult population in
2006 is projected to be $641 billion, accord
ing to the latest analysis by Witeck-Combs
Communications and Packaged Facts (a divi
sion of MarketResearch.com). The estimate
was originally derived in a joint study by both
organizations entitled, “The U.S. Gay and
Lesbian Market.” In 2005, the gay buying
power projection was estimated at $610 bil
lion, comparing favorably with the African-
American, Hispanic and Asian markets.
in sharing the 2006 projection. Bob
Witeck, CEO of Witeck-Combs Com
munications said, “Estimating buying power
is a standard business tool for companies
and policy decision-makers. This offers us a
»5inA»22
snapshot of the dynamic economic
activity of America’s diverse gay, les
bian, bisexual and transgender popula
tion.” Since 1993, Witeck-Combs Com- jstir.vMi:
munications has provided expert mar
keting communications counsel to
Fortune 500 companies in their strate
gies to reach the gay consumer market.
Witeck emphasized that “buying
power does not equate with wealth nor
can one infer that same-sex households
are more affluent than others. We have
seen evidence from researchers that gay
men may earn slightly less than their
heterosexual counterparts.
“The 2000 U.S. Census data on
same-sex couples supports the conclusion,
however, that gay populations are more con
centrated in major metro areas, and less like
ly to live in rural areas — a characteristic
generally associated with higher than aver-
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Money, money, money!
A new WHeck-Combs study snows that,
collectively, America's LGBT community has
some pretty substantial buying power.
see BUYINGon 5
Mecklenburg County
Commish Parks Helms
receives HRC Award
Helms instrumental in introducing non-discrimination
policy for region
by David Moore
Q-Notes staff
A graduate of UNC-Chapel Hill, Mecklenburg County
Commissioner Parks Helms’ political career spans four decades.
As an attorney, a former member of
the N.C. House of Representatives and
now the Chairman of the Mecklenburg
County Commission, Helms has had his
hand in molding Charlotte into the ever-
evolving progressive city it is today.
it seems only fitting that he would be
the recipient of the Human Rights
Campaign (HRC) Equality Award.
“It’s truly an honor,” says Helms. “1
think for me it’s an affirmation of what I
believe about my relationships and other
peoples’ relationship with one another.”
The father of three and grandfather
of two. Helms and his wife Eleanor are
long-term members of Park Road
Baptist Church, where Helms has served as a Deacon.
In 2005, Helms was credited with successfully introducing a
sexual orientation non-discrimination policy for Mecklenburg
County employees.
In years past Helms was largely responsible for introducing
liquor by the drink to Mecklenburg County (1978) and restoring
county funding to the arts (1998).
Long-time Charlotte residents might see
remember the Republican debacle: follow- COMMISSIONER
ing the staging of ‘Angels in America” on 19
Helms on receiving HRC
equality Award: 'It's
truly an honor.'
A soldier's story
Nerves of steel
Editor's Note: These ore the thoughts of o gay soldier — a North Corormo native —
who has been deployed to Iraq. Because of the military's "Don't Asl^ Don't Tell" pol
icy, he must remoin anonymous.
We’ve had a few trying days here recently in Iraq. A mortar went off
less than 250 meters from our compound. I could feel the concussion of
the blast, as the waves of energy passed through our 12-15 foot concrete
walls around our compound. It was a bit nerve-fattling. '
1 was running in the area where the mortar exploded not more than
five minutes earlier. 1 had just finished and came into the compound for a
cool down. I was chatting with an officer friend and then booml Everyone
was scrambling to find their
gear and get to the bunkers
or their rooms. Radios start
ed squawking to get the
information. It was a serious
rush.
That same night 1 had
duty at our headquarters,
and had to stay up working
until noon the following day.
There was an Iraqi soldier
killed just before my duty started, so I had to complete the paperwork in
addition to my assigned duties. The radio didn’t stop all night — it was
crazy. Finally the morning came and I was off duty. I had no sleep in over
24 hours when I got back to our compound, but was asked to take our
interpreters to the front gate.
I did as requested, as 1 enjoy talking and visiting with them. I got them
through the badging office, then walked with two of them to the parking
area. After leaving them I was approached and threatened by two local
nationals with some very unkind words. They asked if I was scared walk
ing back by myself — then they told me 1 should be scared. They contin
ued with some pretty nasty rhetoric.
“I’m not scared. I have a nine millimeter to shoot anyone who even
thinks about starting something,” I said cooly. “I’m a very good marks
man and I don’t need to be tempted to shoot
someone. seeSOLDIER^Son 4