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Editor’s Note
by David Moore
Ready to show your Pride?
It seems like only a short time ago when it
became apparent that the group producing the
previous Charlotte Pride Festival had dropped
the ball.
We’ve never really been quite sure exaedy
what happened and I’m not one to dwell on
past negatives — but I have to admit it was
alarming to learn that they had not applied for
the permit for the annual May event held in
Marshall Park. In fact, one of the groups that
had protested at Charlotte Pride in ’05 had
managed to snag the permit for their own
gathering.
I can still recall the conversation I had with
Q-Notes publisher Jim Yarbrough in mid
February regarding the situation.
“We’re the largest city between D.C. and
Atlanta,” I moaned. “We can’t let this slip
through the cracks. If we don’t have a Pride
then you know Operation Save America will
run around telling everybody they’re responsi
ble for it not happening.”
Both Yarbrough and I have full plates, but
that thought certainly got the ball rolling.
Earlier in the year I had spoken with
Lesbian and Gay Community Center Director
Laura Witkowski, inquiring as to whether she
thought the Center would be interested in tak
ing on Pride as a signature event.
After a few more conversations, we sent
out this mass email to a list of Charlotte and
area LGBT community members. I’ve always
hated sending out mass emails but this was
important. Lucky for us, it grew wings and
was posted and re-posted on multiple sites
around the internet:
Forgive me for the mass email, but were in
a hurry and trying to get the message out to as
large an audience as possible. As many of you
know — last year’s Charlotte Pride Festival was
badly mishandled (for a number of reasons).
Following conversations with the former direc
tor — who indicated that he was not particu
larly interested in continuing with the event —
The Charlotte Gay and Lesbian Community
Center has decided to create a totally new Pride
Celebration. Q-Notes Publisher Jim Yarbrough
and myself are acting as advisers to the Center
and Center Director Laura Kane Witkowski in
this effort to make sure that Charlotte has a
Pride Celebration to be proud of
Despite protests from area anti-gay forces
and even negative comments from city Mayor
Pat McCrory, PRIDE will be held — on a new
date and in a new location.
We’re in negotiations with a number of area
venues and are currently working as fast as we
can to iron out those details.
We need your help — whatever you can
bring to the table — be it volunteer time, a tax
deductible financial donation or taking on a
position as a task force member. Maybe there’s
some way that you can help that we haven’t
thought of yet — let us know. All would be
appreciated.
Some of you I’ve never met before in person
— while others I have spoken with by phone
and some I know personally. I hope you’ll join
us in making this event a stable constant for
Charlotte’s LGBT community by placing it per
manently in the hands of the Community
Center.
This year is perhaps the most imperative
ever for our community to stand up loud and
proud. If we don’t. Mayor McCrory and the
anti-gay forces of Operation Save America will
claim victory in silencing our voices with their
tactics of hate and divisiveness. We MUST NOT
let that happen.
We’re having a meeting Wednesday, March
I at 6p.m. at the Community Center (1401
Central Ave.) and we’d love to have you attend
if you’re available....
The responses were quick and heartfelt.
Over the next few days so many individuals
jumped up to the plate I can’t even recall the
numbers — but what a few of them had to
say has stuck with me to this day:
“/ was appalled at the way the anti-gay ter
rorists (Operation Save America) were able to
infiltrate and disturb our festival last year.”
“There is no reason for any civil disturbance
to occur within the festival grounds. IMHO, the
city and the Mayor “dropped the ball"on pro
tecting our right to assemble peacefully, and
prevent any other group from gathering and
violating city noise ordinances.”
“I want to be a part of the fight against this
homophobic bigotry.”
“It’s time for Charlotte’s LGBT community to
stand up and take their rightful place in society
— time to say this is who we are and we are
proud and were not going to take any of your
aap anymore.”
“Sign me up. There are more of us then
there are of them. We just need to be louder
than they are this time.”
Six months later, the day is finally here.
After countless weekly meetings, endless
debates about venues and some pretty incred
ible volunteer work from a dedicated task
force, the newly renamed PRIDE Charlotte is
upon us.
I’m tipping my hat to that task force: Rev.
Robert Arrington, Devin Baez, Raine Cole,
Michael Curtis, Darryl Hall, Jessica Kane,
Jermaine Lee, John Quillin, Jeff Schmehl,
Toryn Stark and co-chairs Laura Witkowski
and Jim Yarbrough. Thanks for saying yes.
Thanks for picking up the ball and running
with it. Thanks for getting the job done. And
thanks for turning a somewhat panicky email
into a reality.
To everyone who shows up for the events
that lead up to Pride and for the big day itself
(Aug. 26 at Gateway Village) — enjoy your
selves. This is our time to relax with old
friends and make new ones. Happy Pride! I
PRIDE Charlotte
August 21 -27
4 AUGUST 12.2006 • Q-NOTES