tUe Opening Soon Check out this non-surgical face and body lift at www.kptv.com/news/14445915/detail.html. Then email us at JGM.Ltd@choiceonemail.com for further information and opening date. PROJECTIONS CLUB 828-322-8103 101N. Center St. Hickory, NC 28601 Open Thursday-Sunday 9:30 pm - until www.cluDcaliaret.net NewYeat! A look ahead to 2008 from page I (ENDA) will continue to be a focal point for the LGBT community. Transgender protec tions are still excluded from the bill and more Capitol Hill wrangling over the legisla tion is likely to occur. Rumor has it that US. Rep. Barney Frank and other Democratic leaders will continue to push the trans-less version. ENDA must pass the Senate and be signed by the president to become law. Although the former may happen, don’t bet too much on the latter happening until a Democrat takes office in 2009. Hate Crimes In 2007, both the House and the Senate passed hate crimes legislation. In late November, however, the Senate dropped its version from the defense reauthorization bill, effectively killing the issue for the year. The likelihood of Bush signing any form of hate crimes legislation is infinitesimal, but at least the LGBT community might finally see the bill through Congress and onto the presi dent’s desk. Safe Schools In May 2007, the N.C. House of Representatives passed the first LGBT-inclu- sive bill to ever make it through either cham ber of the N.C. General Assembly. The bill, the School Violence Prevention Act, con tained enumerated categories for protection, including specific safeguards on the basis of sexual orientation and gender- identity/expression. Once the measure was sent to the Senate, the categories were stripped out. House leaders have promised a confer- South Carolina Equality Coalition bill early this year. They say they’ll do all they can to get the enumerated categories — including the LGBT protections — put back in the bill. The legislation’s chief sponsor. Rep. Rick Glazier, said he’d never agree to a bill that didn’t include the specific protec tions. By the end of 2008, North Carolina just might have statewide school safety, anti-bul- lying and non-discrimination regulations for our LGBT youth. Religious Right While the national wingnut groups will work to shroud their hate and bigotry in pseu do-political terms (“special rights,” First Amendment protections, etc.), the anti-queer. on-the-streets radicals of the Carolinas will give us more fire-and-brimstone preaching and protesting. Expect groups like Operation Save America (OSA) and Coahtion of Conscience (CoC) to be evangelizing outside the Human Rights Campaign Carolmas Gala in February, organizing more “forums” for “dialogue” (read: bashing), protesting at Pride events around the Carolmas and anywhere else that we gather to be ourselves. “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell’’ The mihtary gay ban signed by President Chnton in 1993 faced more criticism in 2007 than it has received since its inception. Gay servicemembers outed themselves; others were outed, booted and then spoke out; for mer and retired generals and other military leaders stood up for DADT’s repeal; and, all Democratic presidential candidates promised to scrap the policy. Expect 2008 to be no dif ferent. On the campaign trail, in the halls of Congress and in our neighborhood diners and hangout spots, DADT is going to be debated again and again. With each passing month and with each additional mihtary leader who publicly denounces tbe policy, the result becomes more obvious. DADT wih be repealed — if not in 2008, then sometime soon thereafter. Community Organizing Equality North Carolina and the South Carolina Equality Coalition have a lot of ground to cover in 2008. Equality NC is becoming a political powerhouse with their smart strategies and abili ty to forge aUiances with legislative leaders in Raleigh. SCEC recently hired a new executive director, C. Ray Drew, with the national organizing experience to move South Carolina forward on issues like hate. crimes legislation and non-discrimination. Utilizing Drew’s extensive lobbying and lead ership experience and taking cues from what has worked in places like North Carolina, SCEC is poised to make real gains in Columbia. The advocacy of Elke Kennedy and her Sean’s Last Wish foundation should also prove to be significant. The Carolina’s LGBT community is well-positioned for advancement (even if in small steps) throughout 2008 and in years to come. I EQUALITY NORTH CAROLINA 16 JANUARY 12.2008 • Q-NOTES