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11A LIFESTYLES / The Charlotte Post Thursday, April 10, 1997 Youth talk about problems Continued from page 10A him to receive counseling or even medical care, he would refuse. ‘It’s unfair,” he says. “Someone who has not even made an initi- aitive to try to find out about homosexuality and cut off fund ing for it, is ridiculous. He’s (Commissioner Hoyle Martin, who authored the proposal) not taking the time to find out what we go through as gay or homo sexual people. “It’s good if your parents and your loved ones do know. But not all the times are our situa tions and families right for them to know. People get kicked out their houses. It’s tough they know you as one way and that is not who you are.” Michael says if he was forced to publicly acknowledge his sex ual orientation, he would do it. “I guess I’d make do,” he says. ‘Tve made do most of my Hfe.” Michael’s not siue what would happen if he told his mother. He doesn’t think he would have to leave, but it would strain the relationship. “My mother and I are close,” he says. “But knowing would change our relationship.” He feels the group is positive and has helped him come to terms with his confusion. He is adamant about not being recruited to the group or homo sexuality. “You can’t recruit somebody for such a thing that causes you so much ridicule from other peo ple,” he says. ‘That’s just igno rant speaking from a person that just doesn’t know.” Maybe next year Chuck, 21, is the quietest of the group. He appears to be uncomfortable talking about himself He asks that his name not be used as well. “Oh no,” he says with a wave of his hand. “Everybody else knows my name. My parents don’t know yet.” He’s been a member of TOY for almost two years. But he hasn’t told anyone yet. “I just want to have all the fact,” he said. “And just trying to take in the reactions of different people.” He says he feels everypne “knows” he is gay, but telling them is another story. “With your parents you have to be just one way and one way only,” he says. “They would flip.” Chuck says he’s known he was gay since sixth grade. “Maybe I’ll, come out next year,” he says. Brother on the street Dressed in a Tommy Hilfiger shirt and baggy jeans,-.John looks like any “brother on the street,” he says. He was brought to the group by a straight black man who knows he’s gay. Co-owner of a small cleaning business, he asks that his name not be used. Although his parents and sib ling know, he doesn’t want any one else to. “I know a lot of people,” he says. “Using my last name, if 1 walked in on a client with my partner they would automatical ly stereotype me. They’d put my name and face together. I don’t want to be stereotyped. 1 don’t want them to look at me and say ‘get out of here.’ It’^ basically for business purposes. I don’t care about anybody else. They ain’t putting no food in my face or paying for my car. “You know how some people are.” I am just me At 24, Eric Cureton is very secure. Handsome, outgoing and well-spoken, the Concord native speaks eloquently and openly on his homosexuality. He is not afraid of being gay, he says. Nor is he afraid of being black. “It was different, than coming out in the big city” he says of announcing his orientation. “I had a lot of support in both the black community and the white community. That kind of sur prised me.” Cureton says he hates when people try to categorize him. Around Charlotte Friday •Johnson C. Smith University will present the Last Poets at 8 p.m. in Biddle Auditorium. The concert will feature original members Umar Bin Kassan and Abiodus Oyswole. Monday •The ABLE Center learning education program is looking for volunteers. An orientation ses sion will held at 6 p.m. at City View ABLE Center. Training sessions will be held Wednesday and April 23 at 6 p.m. at Christ Church, 1412 Providence Road. Tuesday •The Caregiver Support Group, affiliated with the Alzheimer’s Association, will meet at 7 p.m. at Adult Care Charlotte’s Largest Flooring Showroom gm~ 01 4600 N. 'Tryon St. ^ ^ rc->lrf T D.D. Neal “The Captain" Captain’s Treasure Chest “Your 14kt Gold Connection” Join the “Captain’s Club” for additional savings. (704) 536-7352 Office i4kt. Gold Jewelry (704)378-9337 Pager Quality Gems r”” PHOTO/PAUL WILLIAMS II Eric Cureton makes points during Monday TOY meeting. Cureton says he will continue to fight discrimination. ‘1 think that has a direct effect on the gay black communify,” he says. “You can’t feel part of the whole because you’re black. You can’t feel part of the whole because you’re gay. In a sense you’re totally separate from everyone else and you tend to keep yourself that way. “1 can’t let what other people view me as keep me from where I want to go.” He says the importance of groups like TOY is immeasur able. ' “The support, the camaraderie, the information they give out,” he says. “When you come here every question you have can be answered. They don’t pressure you do anything or say anything. How you are is how you are.” Cureton laughs when asked if the group recruited him. “A lot of youth come just to hear,” he says. “Maybe the topic for the night is what they’re thinking or feehng.” Cureton says the commission ers’ decision makes him feel even more committed to fighting for gay rights.. “I’m determined to prove myself and prove them wrong,” he said. ‘Tf you view me as this. I’ll show you what I truly am and it’s totally opposite. I’m not a rapist or anything negative...I’m not saying we’re here were queer. You don’t have to hke me. Just realize that I am human.” itnnouncity The Release of Order Your Copy Today Send Check Payable To: Enheart Publishing P.O.Box 560576 Charlotte, NC 28256-0576 Poetry By: Pat J. Schulz $11.95 ’NC Resident Add6% Available At: • Barnes & Noble Pineville, NC •Bytes, Bauds, & Boxes; University Place •Heritage House; Kings Drive • Media Play; Town Center Plaza IS/H $2.95ea .75ca. Addt’l Endorsed by E. Lynn Harris. Author of "Invisible Life" Please send articles for Around Charlotte by Monday at 5 p.m. Pictures will only be returned if accompanied by self-addressed stamped envelope. U.S. $1.85 CLEANERS // says... Clean with U.S. in '97 COUPON - - - Any Dry Cleanable Garment TOP COATS TO TIES 3203 Eastway #4 across from Wal-Mart, by Food Lion 531-8084 7-7 Mon.-Sat. Advance Payment Required COUPON Any Dry Cleanable Garment .991 Except Suede & Leather Plus Tax Cljnrlottc $)oSt .j No Limit Pre-Paid w/Coupon | Exp. April 19,1997 | .99c Except Suede & Leather Plus Tax ftnlottE $0«t No Limit Pre-Paid w/Coupon Exp. May 3,1997 SPECIAL SAVINGS and Share, 6709 Idlewild Road. The facilitator will be Terri Ayior. •The Parkinson Association will meet at 7:30 p.m. at Community Health Services, 1401 East 7th St. The guest speaker will be Tina Lentz of Pace Challenge. •The Carolinas Association of Black Women Entrepreneurs will meet at 6 p.m. at Renaissance Place, 631 N. Tryon St. Anthony Hunt of Anthony V. Hunt and Associate Architects and Stoney Sellars will discuss building “An Organizational Coalition for the African American Community.” Several CABWE members will be featured, including C. Maria Macon, who will sign copies of her book, “Obsidian 11.” Join Tom, Tilly and Tiny in their imaginative adventures as they care for their house and garden and venture forth for small-sized discoveries from which they learn important lessons about how the world works. Look for the Tots on your hometown station Saturday Mornings at 6 am Browse the TOTS TV homepage at http://www.pbs.org/totstv and bring your tot. Provided by Ragdoll in partnership with The itsy bitsy lintertainment Co. &} PBS ONLINE is developed by Outreach Extensions in association with PBS,'^temet PubhshingIDjoup. fchOr Bay Enteft^
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