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North Carolina News Notes
by Lainey Millen . Q-Notes staff
Save the center
CHARLOTTE — There will be a town hall
meeting to discuss the state and future of The
Lesbian and Gay Community Center, 1401
Central Ave., on Feb. 13 at 7 p.m.
Members of the board will be there to talk
with the community, answering questions and
brainstorming. Members of the PRIDE
Charlotte Task Force will also be in atten
dance.
The entire LGBT community and friends
are encouraged to attend to find ways to save
the Center and keeps its vision alive.
For more information, call 704-333-0114.
Take action for equality
RALEIGH — On Jan. 25, Sen. Jim
Forrester (R-Gaston)
(pictured) once again
introduced an anti-
LGBT, anti-marriage
state constitutional
amendment, S. 13.
Equality NC (ENC)
is asking for help to stop
this attack on our
Constitution and our families.
As in recent years, the proposed amend
ment is so broad that it not only puts the
state’s denial of marriage rights to same-sex
couples into the Constitution, it also bans any
other form of relationship recognition for all
unmarried couples. It could even stop private
companies from offering partner health bene
fits in N.C.
We must act now to send a message to the
legislature that North Carolinians oppose this
kind of bigotry and discrimination. Let your
voice be heard by visiting eqfed.org/
campaign/amendment07/7wies5206e7e75?.
A similar bill is expected in the House.
ENC and its allies prevented this amend
ment from passing in 2004,2005 and 2006,
but they have to fight hard to stop it again
this year.
In order to become law, the amendment
must pass both houses of the legislature with
a 3/5 majority and be approved by a simple
majority of voters on a statewide ballot.
Take action now to help us keep discrimi
nation out of our state constitution.
Email your senator and representative now.
Guild to feature Carter
CHARLOTTE — Durham-native Mandy
Carter, one of the nation’s premier lesbian
rights activist and founding board member for
the National Black Justice Coalition (NBJC) will
speak at the Feb. 20 meeting of the Charlotte ■
Business Guild at the VanLandingham Estate,
2010 The Plaza, from 5:30-8:30 p.m.
NJBC is a civil rights organization dedicated
to empowering Black same-gender-loving, les
bian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people.
The Coalition works with communities and
allies for social justice, equality and an end to
racism and homophobia.
In 1993, Carter helped found SONG —
Southerners On New Ground — to help build
allies throughout the South, connecting peoples
of different races, classes, cultures, gender and
sexual identities. Carter has devoted most of her
life to the social justice movement, educating
audiences about LGBT rights. She is also a mem
ber of the national steering committee of the
Freedom To Marry project and a former board
member of the Nationd Black Lesbian and Gay
Leadership Forum and of the International
Federation of Black Prides. Recently, she was
nominated for a Nobel Peace Prize as part of the
1,000 Women for Peace nominations.
Beginning with the February event, the pro
gram portion of the evening will begin at 6:45
p.m. rather than 7 p.m. Cost is $15 for mem
bers and $20 for guests and non-members.
To make reservations, call 704-565-5075 or
email businessguild@yahoo.com by noon on
Feb. 16. Individuals making reservations who
do not attend will be charged for the event. $5
will be added to the entrance cost for those
without reservations.
In other news, the Guild has started a
monthly social on the second Wednesday at
5:30 p.m. The venue will be Jolina, 500 S.
College St., Suite 150.
For more information, email businessguild
@yahoo.com.
ENC across the state
RALEIGH — The 2007 Session of the
North Carolina General Assembly began in
January. Among the first orders of business
was the election of a new Speaker of the
House. Rep. Joe Hackney (D-Orange) was
selected as speaker on a 68-52 vote, with all
the Democrats supporting him. He was
opposed by Rep. Paul Stam (R-Wake).
Speaker Hackney, who previously served
as majority leader, has been a long-time ally of
Equality NC (ENC) and has consistently
received the endorsement of Equality NC PAC.
In the Senate, Sen. Mark Basnight (D-
Dare) was re-elected as President Pro-
Tempore, that chamber’s leader.
ENC looks forward to working with
Speaker Hackney, Sen. Basnight and the rest of
the legislature to make North Carolina a state
that treats its people fairly, regardless of sexual
orientation or gender identity.
Also announced was that respected lobby
ist Randolph Cloud will be representing the
organization in the 2007 General Assembly.
Over the past 20 years Cloud has represent
ed over 40 organizations before the N.C.
General Assembly. Among other groups he
currently represents are the American Lung
Association, the N.C. Psychological
Association, the Autism Society and the
Multiple Sclerosis Society. He also is a contract
lobbyist for the N.C. Academy of Trial Lawyers.
In the 2005 ranking of lobbyists by the
N.C. Center For Public Policy Research, Cloud
was ranked 15th, most effective out of the
roughly 450 registered lobbyists in the state.
“Having a lobbyist of Randolph’s stature
and expertise is an exciting step forward for
Equality NC and LGBT North Carolinians,”
said Ian Palmquist, ENC executive director.
Cloud will be working on ENC’s policy
agenda, including blocking anti-LGBT legisla
tion, securing anti-discrimination protections
for state employees and working for legal
changes that will provide additional protec
tions for same-sex couples in the absence of
marriage equality.
Cloud is the president of Randolph E.
Cloud and Associates.He is a native of
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