news notes:
from the Carolines, nation and world
comp/Zet//?/LaineyMillen:;lainey@goqnotes.com | David Stout:: david@goqnotes.com | Matt Comer:: matt@goqnotes.com
Crossroads CLT, TOY host dialogue
CHZtRLOTTE—On Oct 17, a form was held among Crossroads
Charlotte, Time Out Youth and Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools at
the Jewish Community Center entitled "Bullied Until Broken? The
Impact of Bullying on LGBT Youth in Charlotte-Mecklenburg and
Community Responses."
The hopes of the event were high, so said TOY'S Steve Bentley.
Crossroads Charlotte's Executive Director Tracy Russ wanted to
be sure to provide a space for safe conversation. All this came on
the coattails of media attention paid to anti-LGBT bullying and its
sometimes tragic consequences.
About 60 attended and heard stories from area gay and lesbians
teens about their experiences during the 90-minute panel, who also
featured TOY Services Director Laurie Pitts, Deb Kaclik, a Charlotte-
Mecklenburg Schools administrator and youth participants Dang
Pham and Loan Tran.
"It's a chance to engage the broader community in a conversa
tion," Bentley said. "Regardless of what the nature of the bullying
is and the target of the bullying, its effects are hurtful and damaging
and the consequences are severe."
Russ added, "We've always thought of Crossroads Charlotte
as having the capacity to be part of the civic space in this com-
munrty, much like a town square or public hall. It's where people
can come together around any number of issues and the intention
would fee to involve as many people as we can from a diverse
background across a variety of viewpoints and come together
to talk about these issues. Maybe we arrive at a resolution, and
perhaps.we don't."
"I think that you can see a number of examples [of progress)
that are very visible and some not so visible but important," he
says. "The fact that there was a skyscraper uptown illuminated in
the rainbow flag —that was a huge step forward. Does that affect
policy? No. Does it mean that you have the right to do something
that you didn't have yesterday? No. But it is an important acknowl
edgment by very senior, powerful leaders in this community that the
LGBT communhyisapartofwhowe are."
Bentley hopes recent conversations on LGBT youth can turn
from mourning those lost to keeping those still alive safe and
included. Enforcement of local and state policies or laws protecting
LGBT young people must be a priority, he says.
"One of the things we know about policies, whether in business
or in schools, is that the decision on howto enforce those policies
are left to individual decision makers, for example school princi
pals," Bentley says. "How sternly it's enforced, how effectively
consequences for violations are meted out can vary from school
to school. It does invite the community to be able to step in and for
every parent to have a conversation with his or her child's school."
Reporter Tim Funk wrote in the Charlotte Observer, "ft ended with
a prayer from Rabbi Judy Schindler that no more candles will need
to be lit because others—friends, family, teachers, clergy, politi
cians —stood up and spoke out against torture and torment of the
vulnerable."
Temple Beth El and Temple Israel joined Crossroads Charlotte
and Time Out Youth to organize the event.
— LM.&M.C.
Charlo'tte
Pageant rated tops
CHARLOTTE—Von Entertainment was
awarded the Best State Preliminary in the
Miss Gay America system on Oct 17 at the
Lifestyles Auditorium in Columbus, Ohio, at
the national pageant held there. Owners Larry
Tyger and Terry Eason, along with outgoing
Miss Gay ZVnerica Coco Montrese presented
the honors. Von also captured the Best Set
Design designation as well.
In order to gain a nomination a preliminary
must obtain a perfect scorecard from their
judges and their visiting system dignitary. Only
three states are given the nod. This was only
the second time in the 34-year history that
the North Carolina pageant won. Rick Wilds
purchased the system for the Tar Heel state
on two separate occasions.
The national pageant which was won by
Cottin Collins from Raleigh, had all 52 contes
tants present
. —LM.
Church welcomes lesbian pastor
CHARLOTTE—Piedmont Unitarian
Universalist Church, 9704 Mallard Creek Rd.,
has hired a new pastor.
Rev. Robin Noelle Tanner, 26, is a
graduate of the University of Rochester and
Harvard Divinity School. She and her partner,
Stephanie, had already moved to Charlotte.
"I am honored and excited to be called by
a congregation who believe in the power of
love to heal and transform our world," Tanner
said in a release.
Tanner was raised with the teaching of
both Jesus Christ and Buddha. She says she
discovered Unitarian Universalism while in
college and that it felt "like coming home."
The congregation unanimously approved
Tanner's call. She says she is excited to serve.
For more information, visit puuc.org.
— M.C.
Triad
Isaacson highlights Gala
GREENSBORO — Sara Isaacson, a
University of North Carolina ROTC student,
will be a featured workshop co-leader at the
upcoming Equality Conference & Gala on Nov.
13. She will be sharing information on how
college students can lobby their legislators.
Isaacson was discharged for disclosing
her sexuality to her commander last spring as
a result of "Don't Ask, Don't Tell."
A plethora of panelist will be lead
ing other workshops that day and include
Mayor of Franklinton Elic Senter, Mayor of
Chapel Hill Mark Kleinschmidt Tryon Town
Commissioner Doug Arbogast and Orange
County Commissioner (and former Carrboro
Mayor) Mike Nelson.
To register or for more information, visit
equalitync.org.
— LM.
GGF disperses $52,000 to grantees
GREENSBORO—The Guilford Green
Foundation (GGF) awarded $52,000 to area
LGBT community groups on Oct 13, with Mayor
Pro-Tern Nancy Vaughan in attendance.
Foundation leaders say the grants will be
used to further community needs, interests
and services across the Triad area. Vaughan
praised the group and its "long-term efforts to
unite community through its support of groups
that promote fairness, diversity, and inclusivity."
Despite the recent difficult fundraising
environment, GGF has increased its endow
ment to over $325,000 and is able to continue
its annual funding tradition. Since 1996, GGF
has granted over $600,000 to LGBT projects
and programs. According to Funders for LGBT
Issues, LGBT grantmaking by US founda
tions makes up only 0.2 percent of all dollars
awarded by American philanthropy.
For a full list of grant recipients and grant
totals, read more at goqnotes.com/8936/.
In related news, GGF's executive direc
tor, Luck Davidson, has announced she is
stepping down from her position to spend
more time with her family. Board co-chair Ivan
Canada will temporarily step in to the execu
tive director's role.
— M.C.
Eastern
Hate crime investigated at ECU
GREENVILLE, N.C. — Police have arrested
one man in connection with a potential anti
gay hate crime and assault on two women on
the campus of East Carolina University (ECU).
Investigators are also looking for a second
man they think was involved in the incident.
ELECTION 2010
which occurred in the early morning hours on
Oct 15 outside of a campus dormitory.
Two women, 18 and ISyears old, were
exiting the dorm when a group of men alleg
edly began hurling anti-gay slurs at them. One
woman was spat on when she confronted
the group and was later hit by Bryan Berg, 18.
Berg was arrested for assault on a female.
He's been released under a $27,(XX) bond.
Both women were treated at Pitt County
Memorial Hospital. One was released, buttiie
other remains hospitalized after suffering a
broken jaw.
"We have to look at all the elements of
the incident to see if they meet the federal
requirements to be classified as a hate crime,
including what was said and the actions hat
occurred. At this time, we believe it was an
isolated incident," Assistant ECU Police Chief
Dawn Tevepaugh told The Daily Reflector.
Updates to this story, if any, and more are
available online at goqnotes.com/8892/.
— M.C.
Triangle
Mall apologizes for discrimination
FIALEIGH — Officials with Cameron Vil!a;e
shopping center have apologized to a lesbian
couple after they alleged a security officer
there booted them from the premises after
showing "gentle affection."
CaWin Breedlove, co-director of the Triangle
area social justice group Southerners on New
Ground (SONG), and her girlfriend had just
finished eating lunch at The Flying Biscuit on
Oct 13 when they sat outside the restaurant
hugged and shared a brief kiss. They allege a
security officer and his supervisor asked them
to leave the property after doing so.
r/notes contacted a spokesperson with
Cameron Village property and security manag
ers York Properties, but a request for comment
wasn't returned. On Oct 15, however, Cameron
Village officials updated their Facebook fan
page—which had become host to several
comments chastising the mall for their actions
— and apologized for the treatment Breedlove
and her partner received.
"Cameron Village is a family friendly
shopping center that welcomes the entire
community," the Cameron Village wall post
read. "We sincerely regret Wed. events & we
have contacted Ms. Breedlove and have set
a meeting. Cameron Village is committed to
maintaining an open and welcoming environ
ment for everyone."
Later in the comment threads on that posL
Cameron Village said, "We wanted you to
know that the officer involved was immedi
ately suspended. The supervising officer and
all security officers will receive additional
sensitivity training."
SONG held a demonstration against the
mall, demanding LGBT-inclusive sensitivity
training for Cameron Village security officials,
on Oct 17.
For the full story, visit goqnotes.com/8843/.
— M.C.
Local and state LGBT groups have made their endorsements inthrsyear's midterm elec
tions, to be held on Nov. 2.
This election season has been marked by extremely partisan rhetoric, negative ads and
campaigning and a "Tea Party" insurgence as the nation continues to climb out of one of its
worst economic recessions since the Great Depression.
Log on to goqnotes.com/8935/ to see this year's endorsenwilsfiom the Mecklenburg
Gay & Lesbian Political Action Committee (MeckPAC), Greensboro's Replacements, Ltd. PAC
and Equality North Carolina PAC.::
12 qnotes Oct. 30-Nov. 12.2010