news notes:
from the Carolines, nation and world
co/npZ/eflf/?/LaineyMillen:: lainey@goqnotes.com | David Stout:: david@goqnotes.com | Matt Comer:: matt@goqnotes.com
Advocacy group on pulse of
equality efforts
RAUEIGH This year, amidst Ihe rise
of a Republicamfed legislature which has
already brought an anti^LOBT consti
tutional amendment to the floor of both
chambers, Equality North Carolina (ENC)
has it's plate full.
Wantto lend your supportto help
thwart anti-gay legislators' designs? Then
take action wii^ ENC by joining their email
and postcard campaigns to convince
lawmakers to work on the side of fairness
and equality. At press time, over 10,(HK)
Equality in Action cards has been sent out
to a variety of people to help educate them about
how bad the anti-LGBT amendment is to North
Carolina's LG8T citizens. AH across ihe state,
there have been stops on the Equality in Action
between a man and a woman or be
chaste." References to sexual orien
tation would have been removed if it
has passed.
All 173 presbyteries across the
U.S. will have to come to a consen
sus by May. The approval of a total
of 87 presbyteries are needed for the
proposal to take effect.
— L.M.
Triad
visitequalitync.org/news1/theres-never-been-a
better-time-to-party-for-equality.
ENC also encourages everyone to support
the companies who tend their hand to cham
pion equality in the workplace. It is currently
Tour. These local town hall meetings help to raise seeking companies who are willing to take a
funds for initiatives, educate participants on hot
topics and energize those who want to become
engaged in the valuable work of ENC.
Daytime office volunteers are still urgently
needed to mobilize the postcard campaign.
Future nighttime volunteer opportunities are
also available. Contact organizer Josh Wynne at
josh@equalitync.org or 919-829-0343, ext. 113 to
learn more.
Additionaily, there's no time like a party, and
ENC is encouraging everyone to host a fundrais
ing party to help collect the necessary war chest
tiiat is needed to defend it's initiatives. For details
on how to throw one of tiiese fun-filled events,
stand against the anti-LGBT amehdment North
Carolina has a number of companies who score
high on the Human Rights Campaign Corporate
Index. But, that might not be enough. Employers
who want to get on board should contact Kay
Raminio at kay@equalitync.org. Whether one
can take a public stand or help ENC communi
cate with key legislative leaders, help them take
bottom line strategic action that will make a real
difference for protecting the dignity of North
Carolina's LGBT community.
For more information, to volunteer or to make
a contribution, visit equalitync.org.
-LM
Charlotte
TOY seeks volunteers
CHARLOTTE — Time Out Youth is currently
searching for volunteers to staff its 20th
Anniversary Gala Weekend, June 10-13.
The highlight of the weekend is a gala
fundraiser, an evening honoring what Time
Out Youth has done and continues to do to
strengthen the community.
On June 11, Glam, an alternative prom for
youth, is slated as part of the festivities.
Sponsors, either individual or corporate,
are also needed for their platinum event
The organization is also co-sponsoring
the premier of "Rent" on May 12 at Theatre
Charlotte. Appetizers, dessert and a silent
auction are being planned. Volunteers are
needed between 5:30-10 p.m. Complimentary
tickets for another show will be made avail
able to those who serve.
For more information, email volunteers®
timeoutyouth.org or visit timeoutyouth.org.
— LM
make such a ban more stringent, banning
recognition of "domestic legal union" by
same-sex couples, including civil unions, mar
riages and domestic partnerships.
The ceremonies were officiated by Rev.
Nancy Ellett Allison of Holy Covenant United
Church of Christ, Rabbi Judy Schindler of
Temple Beth El and Rev. Robin Tanner of
Piedmont Unitarian Universalist Church.
Several other local congregations
supported the initiative, including Pilgrim
Congregational UCC of Charlotte, Unitarian
Universalist Church of Charlotte, Unity
Fellowship Church Charlotte and Wedgewood
Baptist Church. Sponsoring organizations in
cluded RAIN, Time Out Youth, attorney Connie
J. Vetter and the Human Rights Campaign.
On April 4, a special "Celebratory
Champagne Toast" was held. During the
event, Rev.Jay Leach, along with Rev. Dr.
Chris Ayers and others, blessed and toasted
the couples upon their return.
— M.C.
j New center improves
I AIDS care
GREENSBORO — Moses Cone
Health System has partnered with
three agencies, including Triad
Health Project, to open their new
Regional Center for Infectious
Disease. The facility, which opened
April 4 across the street from
Moses H. Cone Memorial Hospital,
promises to greatly improve care
for people with HIV AIDS and other
infectious diseases.
By partnering with other HIV/
AIDS providers, it will offer multiple
services for patients in one conve
nient setting.
The Center has a nurse practitio
ner and also has space for two case
managers from Triad Health Project
and one mental health counselor
from Family Service of the Piedmont.
Those two community agencies
worked with The Infectious Disease
Clinic in the past when it was
located in the basement of Moses
Cone Hospital.
The long-term vision to develop the center
came from Dr. John Campbell, an infectious
disease physician with the Internal Medicine
Training Program at Moses Cone Health
System.
The Cone Health Foundation, Central
Carolina Health Network and the University of
North Carolina are providing funds including
federal funding totaling $1,237,468, a total 55
percent of the Center's budget.
— compiled from release
Triangle
Eastern
Couples wed in D.C.
CHARLDTTE — Seven couples spent the
weekend of April 1 -3 in the nation's capital
while they tied the knot with family, friends
and clergy as witnesses.
The couples were forced to travel to D.C.
for their ceremonies because North Carolina
does not recognize marriages by same-sex
couples. An anti-gay constitutional amend
ment proposed in the state Senate would
Presbytery says no
ELIZABETHTDWN —The eastern North
Carolina governing body of the Presbyterian
Church (U.S.A.) gave a thumbs down to a pro
posal from the national church body to allow
gay and lesbian clergy.
The Presbytery of Coastal Carolina voted
against the proposal by a nearly2-to-1 mar
gin. The church's current Book of Drder states
that its clergy must be in a "faithful marriage
Public forum held
CARRBDRD — Students and youth
gathered at Dpen Eye Cafe, 101 S. Greensboro
St., at an open mic Speak Dut after the Day of
Silence. It was sponsored by iNSIDEoUT.
Dn the previous day, countless par
ticipants across the nation refrained from
speaking for a full day to raise awareness
and express their solidarity with LGBT youth
who remain muted and isolated. Every day,
they face disproportionate rates of harass
ment and bullying in schools, as well as an
increased tendency for self-injury, suicide and
depression. The Speak Dut was an opportu
nity for students to share their stories with an
audience in public about their experiences
observing the Day of Silence and being les
bian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, ques
tioning or allied in school, more generally.
The event is a project of the Gay, Lesbian,
Straight Education Network (GLSEN). In 2005,
GLSEN's National School Climate Survey
found that more than 64 percent of.LGBT
students reported verbal, sexual or physical
harassment at school and 29 percent reported
missing at least a day of school in the past
month out of fear for their personal safety.
Discrimination and harassment is widely
overlooked by school administrators due in
part to the lack of effective bullying policies,
said iNSIDEoUT representative Amy Glaser.
The School Violence Prevention Act, which
was passed in 2009, is supposed to help
protect youth against bullying. Equality North
Carolina has prepared a kit to assist systems
in the implementation of the law.
For more information, visit iNSIDEoUT180.
org and equalitync.org.
— LM.
Conference tackles bullying
RALEIGH — North Carolina State
University held a statewide conference on
March 29 to assist educators and students in
dealing with harassment in elementary and
secondary schools.
Attendees focused on finding ways
to implement the state's School Violence
Prevention Actthrouqhout an entire school.
Also, intervention and parental support meth
odology were addressed.
WRAL reported, "Justine Hollingshead,
director of N.C. State's Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual
and Transgender Center, said school adminis
trators, teachers and counselors need to take
the initiative to stop bullying."
Worsening the issue is the "advent of
online bullying."
Morgan Hayes, a seventh grade student
at North Garner Middle. School, attended the
event for a Girl Scout project with a friend.
She is spearheading an effort to have her
school become a no-bully zone.
— LM
Exec supports gay rights
RALEIGH — Workplace Dptions President
Alan King says that "being gay doesn't define
my ability to do my job well. I don't wrap
myself in a rainbow flag," the News and
Observer reported.
His company is the lead sponsor of
DutRaleigh, which is taking place on May
14. And, that is only the tip of the iceberg.
He thinks that this event is just the place to
make a "visible statement in the community
we live...and celebrate diversity...thus being
viewed as a niodel in the business world."
Workplace Dptions is an employee assis
tance program company and provides well
ness programs, backup care for children and
elderly parents, diversity training, financial
counseling, mental-health support and more.
It employs 325 people worldwide. Most of
them, 240, work in Raleigh.
They have concern over the Republican-
controlled General Assembly's efforts to
restrict gay rights, like thp gay marriage ban.
The News and Observersa\d, "A recent
survey of N.C. workers by Public Policy Polling,
a firm that's owned by [Workplace Dptions
CED] Dean Debnam, showed that about one
in four said they would be uncomfortable if a
co-worker or boss was openly gay."
6 qnotes April 16-29.2011