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Annual LGBT Newcomer & Community Resource Guide
Challenge and Change in LGBT Charlotte
Local LGBT groups, businesses move forward amid transformed culture
by Matt Comer :: matt@goqnotes.com
CHARLOTTE—Last month, the LGBT
community witnessed history. One of the last re
maining vestiges of federal anti-LGBT discrimi
nation was wiped away when the Supreme
Court struck down a portion of the Defense
of Marriage Act The ruling, while not perfect,
removes yet another hurdle from full federal
LGBT equality. The historic change came about
on the anniversary of yetanother historic event
the Lawrence v. Texas decision striking down
anti-gay crime against nature laws.
The 10 years between Lawrence and this
year's pair of pro-LGBT Supreme Court rulings
are no ordinary decade. The world today
has been transformed — legally, socially,
religious, technologically and more.
Some leaders in Charlotte's LGBT com
munity say those changes have brought both
positive growth and challenges.
"If you go back 10 years, or even seven
or eight back then the only place an LGBT
person could really go was to gay bars and to
have a community center was a necessity for
them to have a place to rally around and get
to know people and be comfortable and safe,"
says Roberta Dunn, vice-chair of the LGBT
Community Center of Charlotte.
Ten years ago, the Charlotte center was
just two years old. The internet was still young
and LGBT resources were sometimes hard to
access. Mass online socializing was a new
concept; Myspace had just been born and
Facebook would come just one year later.
"When I was coming out everything just
seemed to be self-discovery," says Glenn
Griffin, the Charlotte center's operations direc
tor. "You could go to the clubs or visit Stonewall
in New York City. That was all I could find."
Things today, are different Griffin says.
"Things have gotten much more out in the
open," he says. The internet— perhaps the
most transformative communication tool
in the history of humanity — has played a
significant role.
"You can go online now and find any
answer you want or find 10,000 answers," he
says, noting the ease of access doesn't nec
essarily solve all LGBT resource challenges.
"Atthe same time," Griffin adds, "you're still
alone. At the center, what we are striving to do is
have groups and a community come together."
Jim Yarbrough, who owns and publishes
this newspaper, says he, too, has experienced
the powerful changes of the last decade. His
White Rabbit, which sells books, magazines.
Pride-ware, clothing, novelties and other
items, hasn't been immune to the changes.
"I think that LGBT bookstores as a rule
have struggled a lot over the past 10 years,
because our community has become a lot
more mainstreamed," he says.
Online book retailers have cut into print
publishing profits. Large booksellers are more
likely to carry LGBT titles.
Like the center, which finds itself adapt
ing to new needs, Yarbrough says that White
Rabbit is moving forward.
"I think it's important to make changes and
to stay up with the times, changing merchan
dise, changing your look, but that's with any
retail business," he says.
But, in a time where LGBT resources and
products are available atthe clickof a mouse,
are groups like LGBT community centers and
LGBT-themed stores, and even newspapers,
still relevant?
Out in the open: Charlotte's LGBT community has changed and become more outspoken over the
past 10 years. Still challenges remain, and leaders say they are being faced, for groups like the
LGBT Community Center of Charlotte and businesses like White Rahbit (pictured).
Dunn, Griffin and Yarbrough all say yes.
"I think the LGBT store, not necessarily
a bookstore, still serves the community with
a variety of merchandise that they can't find
anywhere else or, at least is harder to find any
where else," Yarbrough says. "They can feel
comfortable coming hereto buy. Some people
are still not out or still aren't comfortable."
Dunn and Griffin say the center is fulfilling
needs that didn't exist a decade ago.
"Our Gay & Gray group," says Griffin.'
"Before, you never would have heard of
something like that. That group of people is
now older and they are out and they need
resources."
The center, says Dunn, will remain a
central community resource.
"We have to really change operations and
outreach, but we are still the focal point for
LGBT people," she says. "You look atthe list
of events the center holds — it's a page full."
Dunn adds, "It's justthe comfort and
relaxation of going in and being around folks
just like you."::
Promoting the diversity,
acceptance and visibility of
the LGBT community.
July 19-Aug. 1.2013 qnotGS 11