Jan. 23-Feb. 5 . 2010 qnotes

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Jan. 23-Feb. 5 . 2010 qnotes 

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qnotes Jan. 23-Feb. 5 . 2010 


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inside 

Jan. 23-Feb. 5, 2010 Vol 24 No19 

news & features 

5 Trans workers protected 

6 Gala speakers announced 

10 Charlotte lawsuit dismissed 

11 MCC celebrates 30 

qliving/arts & entertainment 

14 A&E: ‘Spring Awakening’ 

14 A&E: On stage 

15 RiverRun expands 

16 A&E: Concerts 

17 A&E: Dance 

18 A&E: ‘Madhouse’ 

19 A&E: Television 

19 A&E: Books 

20 Tell Trinity 

21 21 events 

22 Out in the Stars 

23 Drag Rag 

11 

16 

opinions & views 

4 On Being a Gay Parent 

9 General Gayety 

Online: Editor’s Note 

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contributors this issue 

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Grooms/Miss Della, Charlene Lichtenstein, Lainey 

Millen, Leslie Robinson, David Stout, Trinity, Brett 

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Jan. 23-Feb. 5 . 2010 qnotes


on being a gay parent 

by brett webb-mitchell :: qnotes contributor 

The word is… 

When I was a child, one of the favorite 

game shows I watched with my grandmother 

on her color television in her room in our house 

was “Password.” It was a simple game show 

with lots of laughter and witty banter, sometimes 

with Betty White on as a contestant, 

with her husband Allen Ludden as the emcee. 

For those not fortunate to watch the show in 

the 1960s, the rule was simple: there were two 

couples vying for money. A couple comprised 

a celebrity and a contestant from the general 

public. One person was given a word that the 

other person had to guess correctly. The trick? 

The person who knew the word could give syllogisms, 

but not the word itself, nor act out the 

word while the other person tried to guess the 

correct word. For me, I learned a thesaurus 

amount of words while watching Hollywood 

stars I thought were incredibly sexy. 

The power of words to win a game show, 

create worlds, shape viewpoints as we discover 

their meaning, whether it is on a game 

show or in our actual lives, was not lost on 

me recently when my son was going over his 

vocabulary words for his high school U.S. history 

course. As I was cooking ground turkey in 

a skillet, my son came up to me and said, “Hey 

Dad, we learned the word ‘pogrom’ today, 

talking about the Holocaust and Nazi Germany 

in the 1930s. The Nazis carried out a pogrom 

against Jews.” Affirming that I was glad he 

was learning an important word in connection 

to the atrocities of Nazi Germany and the pogrom 

that brought about the annihilation of not 

only Jews, but LGBT people, gypsies, people 

with disabilities, he went back to his studies 

and I finished cooking the meal. 

After this brief conversation, I could 

almost hear Ludden’s voice inside of me “The 

word is…pogrom.” 

After supper, and while watching part of 

MSNBC’s “Rachel Maddow” show, my son’s 

divided attention to his homework and 

Maddow’s coverage of the Ugandan bill 

known simply as “Kill the Gays Bill,” the 

proverbial “light bulb” of new thoughts and 

new connections went on with a brilliance I 

could not have scripted. My son drew the new 

vocab word and the atrocities of the Ugandan 

bill together quickly: “Now that’s a pogrom! 

People who are 

simply gay are 

being killed by 

the government 

of 

Uganda simply 

because 

they are gay? 

That’s just like Nazi Germany with the Jews,” 

he said with a certain level of amazement as 

history was repeating itself. I quickly affirmed 

his conclusion: yes, the government of 

Uganda is threatening to carry out a pogrom, 

which is technically an organized, often officially 

encouraged massacre or persecution 

of a minority group, this time being carried out 

against lesbians, gays, bisexual or transgender 

people in Uganda. 

As an educator who believes that the best 

way to teach and learn is in the middle of life’s 

unexpected educational moments, which is 

usually a serendipitous minute or two where 

we can teach a lesson that will last a lifetime, 

I grabbed this opportunity to connect the 

dots. My son, partner and I discussed openly 

about the anti-gay bill promoting the killing of 

gay people for being gay and the members of 

the secretive evangelical Christian group of 

legislators — senators and representatives 

alike — along with reparative therapy enthusiasts, 

who are known as the “Family” who 

live on “C St.” in Washington, D.C., who have 

been supportive of the Ugandan government’s 

legislative agenda. With incredulity rising in 

his voice, my son reiterated the argument that 

sounded more and more inane as he spoke, 

“They want to kill gays for simply being gay? 

Really? That’s horrible.” 

We all experienced a lesson about a word, 

connected with an ungodly situation that is 

occurring today and it is a lesson that will last 

a lifetime. I could not have planned this better 

if I had tried. “Pogrom,” an historical word 

learned for a U.S. History course, designated 

for the killing of Jews in WWII, was re-born 

and re-assigned to a modern atrocity of savagery 

in our world today in the middle of our 

already filled family life. But, we made room to 

learn that word today. 

The word is…“Pogrom.” : : 

qpoll 

Have you or do you plan on contributing to Haiti relief efforts? 

Visit goqnotes.com/to/qpoll to vote. 



WASHINGTON, D.C. — With the turn of 

the year, the Obama administration, through 

the Office of Personnel Management, 

has started to list gender identity among 

the classes protected by federal Equal 

Employment Opportunity (EEO) policies. By 

including gender identity as a protected class, 

the government has taken a significant step 

toward ending employment discrimination of 

LGBT people in the federal workforce. 

Although a long-standing federal law 

prohibits any federal employment decisions 

that are not based on merit and another law 

prohibits sex discrimination, the new EEO 

policy marks the first time that gender identity 

discrimination has been explicitly banned 

from the federal workplace. 

The policy is now on the federal 

government’s jobs website as a link from 

more than 20,000 current federal job listings. 

The American Civil Liberties Union praised 

the Obama administration for initiating the 

change in EEO policy and urged Congress to 

continue to work for further protections for 

LGBT Americans. 

“This new policy is a very significant 

development,” said Christopher Anders, ACLU 

Senior Legislative Counsel. “The inclusion 

of gender identity in federal EEO policies 

is a very clear statement that the federal 

government will not discriminate based on 

gender identity. The Obama administration 

is demonstrating a strong commitment to 

an effective workforce by making clear that 

the federal government will not discriminate 

against transgender employees.” 

The new EEO policy protects federal 

employees and applicants for federal 

employment, but federal legislation is still 

needed to protect millions of LGBT employees 

working for businesses and state and local 

governments. The U.S. House and Senate 

currently have versions of the Employee Non- 

Discrimination Act (ENDA) pending. ENDA, 

if passed, would be the first-ever federal 

ban on employment discrimination of LBGT 

Americans in the workplace. 

“With this new policy and ENDA pending 

in both the House and Senate, we have an 

unprecedented opportunity to protect the 

rights of all Americans at work,” said Anders. 

“When Congress returns later this month, both 

houses should make passing ENDA a priority.” 

Transwoman named gov’t advisor 

Amanda Simpson, who has served 

on the National Center for Transgender 

Equality’s Board of Directors for the past three 

years, has been appointed by the Obama 

Administration as a Senior Technical Advisor 

to the Department of Commerce in the Bureau 

of Industry and Security. 

“I’m truly honored to have received this 

appointment and am eager and excited about 

this opportunity that is before me. And at the 

same time, as one of the first transgender 

presidential appointees to the federal 

government, I hope that I will soon be one of 

hundreds, and that this appointment opens 

future opportunities for many others.” 

Simpson brings considerable professional 


news notes: beyond the carolinas 

Federal trans workers protected 

credentials to her new job. For 30 years, 

she has worked in the aerospace and 

defense industry, most recently serving as 

Deputy Director in Advanced Technology 

Development at Raytheon Missile Systems in 

Tucson, Ariz. She holds degrees in physics, 

engineering and business administration 

along with an extensive flight background. 

In 2004, the YWCA recognized her as one 

of their “Women on the Move” and in 2005 

she was given the Arizona Human Rights 

Foundation Individual Award. 

u WASHINGTON, D.C. — The long-standing 

ban on HIV-positive visitors and immigrants 

entering the country has been lifted. A 

regulation promulgated by the Obama 

administration last summer and finalized in 

November went into effect Jan. 4, removing 

HIV from the list of communicable diseases 

that bar foreign nationals from entering the 

U.S. 

u NEW YORK, N.Y. — The Securities and 

Exchange Commission has directed the Walt 

Disney Company to accept a shareholder 

resolution calling for a vote on inclusion of 

ex-gays in Disney’s sexual orientation policies 

and corporate diversity programs. Disney had 

opposed the ex-gay resolution. 

u WASHINGTON, D.C. — The D.C. Superior 

Court has rejected a proposed ballot initiative 

to roll back legislation recently passed by the 

D.C. Council extending marriage in the District 

by David Stout 

david@goqnotes.com 

to same-sex couples. The ruling concluded a 

challenge to the decision of the D.C. Board of 

Elections and Ethics to bar the measure from 

the ballot. 

u TRENTON, N.J. — Lambda Legal is going 

back to court to seek marriage equality for 

same-sex couples after the New Jersey 

Senate failed to pass a marriage bill this 

session. In 2006, the New Jersey Supreme 

Court ruled that gay couples must be treated 

equally. Lambda says the state’s civil union 

law does not meet that requirement. 

u LOS ANGELES, Calif. — Openly gay actor 

Neil Patrick Harris (“How I Met Your Mother”) 

and out screenwriter Dustin Lance Black 

(“Milk”) have been elected to the Board of 

Directors of the Trevor Project, the leading 

national organization focused on crisis and 

suicide prevention efforts among LGBT and 

questioning youth. 

u KAMPALA, Uganda — President Yoweri 

Museveni appears to be backing down 

from the international uproar over Uganda’s 

proposed Anti-Homosexuality Bill, which 

would make homosexuality punishable by life 

imprisonment or even death. According to 

media reports, he has already hinted that the 

death penalty component could be dropped 

due to the widespread condemnation. In 

the U.S., gay rights groups are calling on the 

White House and Congress to increase 

their pressure. : : 




news notes: carolinas 

Gala speakers, 

award recipients 

announced 

RALEIGH — The Human Rights 

Campaign’s (HRC) Carolinas Gala Committee 

has announced that singer 

Clay Aiken and actress 

Meredith Baxter will be 

guest speakers at the 15th 

Annual HRC Carolinas Gala 

on Feb. 27 at the Raleigh 

Convention Center, 500 S. 

Salisbury St. 

Since coming to 

national attention on the 

second season of “American 

Idol” in 2003 — where 

he was the unexpected 

runner up, only to become 

the biggest selling male 

artist the show has ever 

featured — Raleigh native and resident Aiken 

has toured nine times, authored a New York 

Times bestselling memoir, sold more than six 

million albums, produced and hosted television 

programs, starred on Broadway (Monty 

Python’s “Spamalot”) and devoted considerable 

energy and resources to improving the 

lives of children all over the world. 

Baxter is an acclaimed television, film, 

and stage actress, producer and advocate for 

women’s rights and breast cancer research. 

She recently came out as a lesbian on 

by Lainey Millen 

lainey@goqnotes.com 

national television during an interview with 

Matt Lauer on “The Today Show” and in an 

interview in People Magazine. 

She also just signed a deal 

with Broadway Books to write 

a candid and revealing memoir 

of her personal life which, in 

addition to her recent disclosure, 

includes her diagnosis of 

breast cancer in 1998, as well 

as her professional life 

HRC President Joe Solmonese 

will also speak. 

Gala Dinner co-chair Joni 

Madison states, “We are 

very excited to 

announce our 

speaker line up 

for our Saturday 

evening Gala. Our 

guests will now 

have the opportunity 

to hear the 

personal stories of 

Mr. Aiken and Ms. 

Baxter, as well 

as HRC President 

Solmonese.” 

Tickets are 

on sale $175 through Feb. 10. Price includes a 

one-year membership and a subscription to 

the quarterly HRC magazine. 

In other news, the HRC Carolinas Gala 

Committee and Steering Committee have 

announced the recipients of their annual 

Equality Awards, which will be presented at 

the Gala. 

This year’s awardees are Greensboro’s 

Guilford Green Foundation (Equality Award, 

Organization), Mary Elizabeth Lennon of 

Charlotte (Trailblazer, Equality Individual 

Award) and David Parker of Colfax, N.C. 

(Legacy Award). 

For the past 11 years, the Guilford Green 

Foundation has promoted diversity and 

inclusiveness throughout the greater Guilford 

County community and distributed over 

$550,000 to organizations serving the LGBT 

community. Through programs such as the 

“Triad Takeover” and “Green Queen Bingo,” 

the Foundation has worked effectively to cre- 



ate both an awareness and appreciation of 

the LGBT community through visibility, solidarity 

and generosity. 

Lennon, the youngest individual to ever 

receive the HRC Carolinas Equality Award, 

founded the Human Rights Alliance at 

Providence Day School in Charlotte, the first 

such organization to address LGBT issues at 

a private school in the area and stood firmly 

by her work and compassion as she rode out 

the storm of controversy subsequent to the 

group’s founding. Her work has since spread 

to other private schools in the area. 

Parker is being recognized for his work 

with and on behalf of the transgender community, 

not just in North Carolina, but nationwide 

and for his work with PFLAG both locally 

and nationally. Not only has he worked to be 

an ally and an advocate, he has mentored, 

counseled, and parented countless transgender 

men and women serving to help them and 

their families understand and cope with their 

transitions. 

For more information, or to purchase 

tickets, visit hrccarolinas.org. 

Charlotte Metro 

Guild and ENC host gathering 

CHARLOTTE — Equality NC (ENC) will 

be hosting a free gathering in partnership 

with the Charlotte Business Guild on Jan. 29, 

6-8 p.m., at Blue Restaurant and Bar, Hearst 

Tower, corner of 5th and College Sts. 

Grab a drink and enjoy free appetizers and 

great conversation. ENC’s statewide board 

and staff will be in town and are eager to connect 

with its supporters. 

To attend, visit eqfed.org/equalitync/ 

events/clt0110/details.tcl, however, walk-ins 

are welcome too. 

Local Pride slated 

SALISBURY — PFLAG NC State Coordinator 

Mike Clawson, founder of the Salisbury- 

Rowan PFLAG chapter, has announced the 

Salisbury-Rowan Human Relations Council 

(SRHRC) has voted to support and endorse a 

Salisbury-Rowan PRIDE event for 2010. 

“I’m proud and excited that the SRHRC 

has stepped up and followed through in it’s 

mission statement”, said Clawson. “We produce 

several events each year to honor the 

African-American, Hispanic and faith communities, 

and for the Council to acknowledge 

that we can celebrate Salisbury-Rowan’s 

GLBT community as well is a huge step.” 

The event will feature entertainment, 

speakers, food, and organizational and 

informational booths, all in beautiful, historic 

downtown Salisbury. A date has yet to be 

set. Clawson hopes a lot of the vendors and 

groups that participate in Charlotte PRIDE will 

come forward to be a part of Rowan’s first 

PRIDE event. Vendors, organizations and/or 

employers are encouraged to call 704-213- 

0181 to get details. 

Brunch! 

CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte Afro 

American Professional Lesbian Meetup Group 

will be getting together for PALs Sunday 

Brunch, Part 2, on Feb. 7 at 2 p.m. at 131 Main 

Restaurant, 1315 East Blvd. 

For more information, visit meetup.com/ 

Charlotte-Afro-American-Professional- 

Lesbian-Meetup-Group/calendar. 

All for the cause 

CHARLOTTE — Join Buff Faye on numerous 

occasions to help support local charities. 

It’s food, fun and drag for the whole family. 

On Feb. 12, head Uptown to Hartigan’s Pub 

& Restaurant, 601 S. Cedar for Eat Your Heart 

Out, a special dining experience from 7-10 

p.m., with proceeds benefiting Regional AIDS 

Interfaith Network and House of Mercy. Didn’t 

get enough for one day, then bounce on back 

on for a Sunday Drag Brunch on Feb. 14 from 

12-3 p.m. 

A fundraiser for Campus Pride and Time 

Out Youth will take place on Feb. 25 at Myers 

Park Baptist Church at 6 p.m. featuring 

Mitchell Gold, author of “Crisis.” Afterward, 

bop on over to Petra’s Piano Bar at 8 p.m. 

to cap off the evening. There’s no cover, but 

donations are welcome. Call 704-344-9335 for 

more details. 

Don’t want to get pinched? Then deck out 

in green and head back over to Hartigan’s on 

Mar. 14 from 12-3 p.m. for Get Lucky!? — 

Luck O’ the Buff Faye. Proceeds will benefit 

Campus Pride. 

Hold on to a few bucks for after Tax Day. 

On Apr. 18, it’s hee-haw time for Rise & Shine 

—Country Barnyard Buff Faye from 12-3 p.m. 

at Hartigan’s. Proceeds benefit the American 

Cancer Society. 

For more information, visit bufffaye.com. 

Strike up the music 

CHARLOTTE — It’s official. The Queen City 

now has the beginnings of an LGBT band. 

As a result of the outcome of the Jan. 14 

organizational meeting, it seems that there 

are about 20 people who are ready to jump on 

board to help get this thing up and running. 

Consensus has established Thursday 

evenings as rehearsal night, with the first 

one to be on Feb. 4, 7-9:30 p.m. at St. Martin’s 

Episcopal Church, 1510 E. 7th St. 

Auditions were held on Jan. 21 and will be 

available again on Jan. 28. 

The band is looking for a music director. 

To schedule an audition, to express 

interest in leading the band or to get more 

information on the band, email Don Niehus at 

d_neihus@yahoo.com. 

Triangle 

Womyn time 

RALEIGH — Chocolate Lovers Meetup 

has scheduled some fun-filled events over the 

next few weeks. 

Join them on Jan. 24 as they take an 

afternoon hike at William B.. Umstead State 

Park, 8801 Glenwood Ave. at 2 p.m. They will 

be jaunting along Sal’s Branch Trail which 

is 2.75 miles and is in the easy/moderate difficulty 

range. The hike will take approximately 

90 minutes and will be graced with remnants 

of days passed — stone bridges, picnic grills 

built by farmers and old roadbeds. Attendees 

are asked to dress appropriately for the 

expected weather conditions, invited to wear 

comfortable shoes and encouraged to bring a 

water bottle. 

In the event of inclement weather, this 

event may be cancelled. Visit the group’s site 

to be included in the email notification. 

Next up is an afternoon on Feb. 7 at North 

Carolina State watching the women’s basketball 

team match up against Virginia Tech at 

Reynolds Coliseum, 2411 Dunn Ave., at 4 p.m. 

Tickets are $7. Parking is free. 

For more information, visit meetup.com/ 

GBLT-Chocolate-Affair/calendar. 

On Jan. 17, the group had an opportunity 

to see “Don’t Go,” an independent LGBT film 

featuring young, diverse groups of friends living 

and working in Los Angeles at the Durham 

County Library Main Branch in honor of MLK 

Weekend. This film 



Afterward, during a live webcast, participants 

were able to do a Q&A with the director, 

Amber Sharp, and cast. Among the cast members 

was Jamora McDuffie, a Durham native. 

They also took the opportunity to view 

the short film, “Dream in Color,” as a paring 

with the screening. This short dealt with 

sexuality and gender in the African-American 

community. 

For more information about the film, visit 

dontgotheseries.com and for McDuffie, visit 

janora-mcduffie.com. 

Sing it out 

DURHAM — A private Valentine’s Blast 

will be held on Feb. 2 on “the other side” at 

Steel Blue, 1426 S. Miami Blvd., at 8 p.m. as a 

benefit for Common Woman Chorus. A contribution 

of $10 is suggested. 

The group had a kickoff potluck for new 

and returning performers on Jan. 12 at Eno 

River Unitarian Universalist Fellowship. It’s 

first open rehearsal was on Jan. 19. The next 

open rehearsal will take place in September. 

To make a contribution or for more information, 

email infocwc@yahoo.com or visit 

commonwomanchorus.net. 

Western 

CNN to quiz Gold 

HICKORY — Mitchell Gold will be interviewed 

on Jan. 28 by CNN anchor and special 

correspondent Soledad O’Brien at Lenior- 

Rhyne University during it’s Visiting Writers 

Series. The free event will take place at 7 p.m. 

in the P.E. Monroe Auditorium. 

Gold is editor of “Crisis,” a compilation of 

stories about numerous LGBT people from 

across the country. 

For more information, see visitingwriters. 

lr.edu. 

Regional 

Survey time 

CLEMSON — Phillip Lipka, a doctoral 

student in the Industrial-Organizational Psychology 

program at Clemson University is currently 

conducting research for his dissertation 

which examines factors that can reduce the 

negative effects of workplace heterosexism 

for sexual minorities. 

He is asking for participants to complete a 

brief online survey, which should take about 

20 minutes. 

Visit surveymonkey.com/s/SDTYCJP to 

join in. 

ENC seeks assistance 

RALEIGH — Pictures are worth a 

thousand words, they say. So, ENC is taking 

the time to collect photographs from area 

residents to fulfill its initiative to educate the 

public on what fairness is really about. 

ENC wants to create a collection of images 

to illustrate the dreams and aspirations 

of LGBT North Carolinians. 

They want to assemble an assortment of 

pictures from all over North Carolina to demonstrate 

exactly what our state hopes for. 

With an emphasis on fairness, freedom 

and family, let ENC know what equality mean 

to you. 

To participate, be creative and take a 

photo of yourself, family and/or friends, telling 

ENC what you want. Write it on a piece of 

paper, on a chalkboard or however you like 

see Carolinas on 9 

Jan. 23-Feb. 5 . 2010 qnotes





general gayety 

by leslie robinson :: qnotes contributor 

The day things change 

If you follow the news, you know that Jan. 

1 was a big day in New Hampshire. 

That’s the day recreational fishermen 

needed to be registered to fish for smelt. 

Days don’t come any bigger. 

If you’re a smelt fisherman. Or a smelt. 

Jan. 1 was also the day same-sex marriage 

became legal in the Granite State. The 

fight for and against gay marriage was vitally 

important to many New Hampshirites and the 

positive outcome a huge, happy deal to the 

LGBT community across the country. 

But from a statutory point of view, when 

New Year’s Day came around, the monumental 

change in marriage law didn’t stand alone. 

No, indeed. Other alterations to state law 

kicked in that day, each important to, well, at 

least somebody. 

Take that fishy law. Seacoastonline.com 

reported that now most New Hampshire 

saltwater recreational anglers and spear fishermen 

must register to fish for “anadromous” 

species, like smelt, in tidal waters. 

I couldn’t find “anadromous” in the 

dictionary, my grasp of fish is slippery and my 

brain preferred to gloss over the dull facts and 

instead imagine the story of Jonah and the 

smelt. 

But, I did get why this new law is important: 

A registry will provide accurate data 

helpful in protecting shared marine resources. 

Makes sense to me. And, since I doubt smelt 

marched to Concord to testify before the 

state legislature, the new law made sense to 

enough New Hampshire humans. 

So did the new rule mandating carbon 

monoxide detectors in homes built after Jan. 

1. That one surprised me, given the state’s libertarian 

tradition. I would’ve expected the bill 

to collapse as some flinty legislator intoned, 

“You’re infringing on personal freedom! If 

somebody doesn’t want a carbon monoxide 

detector, it’s his right to die!” 

Similar concerns probably arose in the debate 

over distracted driving. As of New Year’s 

Day, drivers in New Hampshire may not send 

text messages while behind the wheel. Ditto 

for Twittering and typing on laptops. Getting 

caught will cost $100. 

So, anyone who attends a lesbian 

wedding or fishes for smelt and becomes 

emotional over either must wait to get home to 

tweet about it. 

Another change to state law must’ve had 

an emotional component: There’s no more 

statute of limitations on assisting or concealing 

a murder. If you hid a murder and texted 

about it while driving, you’re doubly in trouble. 

Licensed physical therapists in New 

Hampshire saw their world expand as of Jan. 

1. They can now get special certification to 

practice on animals. Whether most animals 

supported or opposed this measure is hard to 

say. 

The law naming the Chinook as the official 

state dog went into effect last August, but 

Seacoastonline.com included the change in 

its roundup of laws kicking in on New Year’s 

Day. The folks behind the news site must still 

be giddy with the dog’s elevation. 

A sled and work dog, the Chinook is 

the only breed to have originated in New 

Hampshire. It’s joined such luminaries as the 

ladybug and spotted newt as official state 

mascots. 

Who raised the dog to its present lofty 

status? A group of seventh-graders. Their lobbying 

got the job done. If we’d turned over the 

fight for same-sex marriage to students from 

the Ross Lurgio Middle School in Bedford 

we’d have gotten it sooner. 

Now other students are advocating for 

apple cider to be named the official state 

beverage. Maybe on Jan. 1 of next year that 

law will go into effect and the gay couples 

who married this Jan. 1 will drink a tart toast 

to their first anniversary and their state. 

The kids are lobbying for regular cider, not 

hard cider. We got same-sex marriage, but we 

can’t have everything. : : 

info: 

LesRobinson@aol.com . generalgayety.com 

Carolinas News Notes 

continued from page7 

— “I Want” or “We Want” with a simple hope 

or a picture or an image. 

This project was initiated at the 2009 

Equality Gala. ENC has been displaying the 

results throughout the year. 

It was inspired by a video created by 

Basic Rights Oregon. 

They want to collect as many photos as 

possible. Email a picture or send a link to your 

photo to shawn@equalitync.org. For more 

information, visit equalitync.org. 

Grants boost work 

RALEIGH — The Equality NC Foundation 

received a number of grants in December to 

support its educational and advocacy efforts 

to secure LGBT-inclusive, employment nondiscrimination 

protections in North Carolina. 

Grant-making organizations include: 

• Tides Foundation’s State Equality Fund, 

a philanthropic partnership that includes the 

Evelyn and Walter Haas, Jr. Fund, the Gill 

Foundation and anonymous donors: two-year 

grant of $90,000 to be paid in installments of 

$50,000 in 2010 and $40,000 in 2011. This grant 

will assist ENC in its efforts to secure workplace 

protections for state employees and 

work towards comprehensive anti-discrimination 

laws. 

• Triangle Community Foundation: $15,000 

to support communications and community 

organizing around non-discrimination work in 

the Triangle. 

• 2009 Crape Myrtle Festival: made an 

unrestricted grant of $3,000 in support of 

statewide HIV/AIDS advocacy work. 

• The 300 Fund of the Community Foundation 

of Western North Carolina: $3,000 to 

support new community organizing activities 

in the Asheville region. : : 

info: Announce your community event in 

Carolinas News Notes. 

email: editor@goqnotes.com. 




Anti-gay protester’s 

Charlotte lawsuit 

dismissed 

Flip Benham, Operation Save America says they will appeal 

by Matt Comer :: matt@goqnotes.com 

10 qnotes Jan. 23-Feb. 5 . 2010 


CHARLOTTE — The leader of an anti- 

LGBT, anti-choice activist group said he will 

appeal the dismissal of his federal, civil rights 

lawsuit against the City of Charlotte. 

On Jan. 8, U.S. District Court 

Judge Robert J. Conrad, Jr. 

dismissed Flip Benham’s suit 

against the city, saying the religious 

leader had “not put forth 

sufficient evidence” for his 

claims the city had violated his 

First Amendment rights to protest 

and assemble at Uptown’s 

Independence Square. 

In 2006, Benham’s Operation 

Save America, an anti-gay 

street preaching and protest 

group based in Concord, N.C., 

filed for a public assembly 

permit for a Roe v. Wade Memorial 

they wanted to hold at 

the Square, located at the intersection 

of Trade and Tryon Sts. 

Permit official Emily Westbrook 

denied Benham’s request. 

According to court documents, 

Westbrook told Benham his 

event was a demonstration and 

that, as such, it would fall under 

the city’s picketing ordinance 

and no public assembly permit was required. 

The pro-life event was held successfully 

that year. No arrests were made or citations 

issued, although police did issue two noise 

ordinance warnings. 

Flip Benham, of the Concord, N.C.-based Operation Save 

America, says Charlotte officials don’t want to recognize his 

Free Speech rights 

Photo Credit: Mark Lyon 

At issue is the decibel level for sound 

systems under the city’s picketing and noise 

ordinances, Benham told qnotes. 

“The sound ordinance says you cannot 

use a speaker system above 75 decibels, but 

the ambient sound out there [on Trade and 

Tryon] is 60 or 70 decibels alone,” he said. 

“The sound ordinance is totally ludicrous. You 

have a sound system but you can’t even use it. 

At 75 decibels we couldn’t hear anyone.” 

Benham said his group filed for the public 

assembly permit — which is also given to 

community festivals — as a work-around 

to the restrictions imposed by the sound 

ordinance. 

“We filed a festival permit because we 

know that with the festival permit you can 

have sound as loud as you want,” he said. 

“All sorts of things go on down there at Trade 

and Tryon and the festival permit allows us 

free First Amendment rights while the sound 

ordinance does not.” 

Senior City Attorney Bob Hagemann told 

qnotes the city’s ordinances do not violate any 

individual freedoms. 

“When we drafted the [picketing] ordinance 

back in 2004 we did a lot of work on it 

and involved, among others, the [American 

Civil Liberties Union],” Hagemann said. “We 

are pretty confident that the ordinance, as 

written, is constitutional.” 

Yet, Benham and others with Operation 

Save America disagree. Represented in part 

by the arch-conservative legal group Alliance 

Defense Fund, Benham claims the ordinances 

violate the First Amendment and city officials’ 

decisions regarding his event were different 

when compared to those made on events he 

says are similar to his pro-life memorial. 

Pride Charlotte, the annual LGBT community 

festival presented by the Lesbian 

see Benham on 13

On the precipice of change 

Community, growth are the focus at MCC-Charlotte’s 30th anniversary 

by Matt Comer :: matt@goqnotes.com 


In the late 1970s, there were few places 

LGBT Christians in Charlotte could turn for 

spiritual growth, support and family. A few 

faith congregations in the area were welcoming 

of gay members, but that support was 

rarely publicized and limited. A chapter of the 

LGBT Catholic group DignityUSA also existed, 

but a void remained when it came to a fullyinclusive 

and supportive faith community. 

That all changed in 1980, when a small 

group of LGBT Charlotteans set out to start 

the area’s first Metropolitan Community 

Church (MCC). After establishing a study 

group and working to build its local organization, 

the group received its church status from 

the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community 

Churches (UFMCC). 

In the 30 years since, the Metropolitan 

Community Church of Charlotte has grown 

and met unique challenges — both internal 

and external — while serving the LGBT 

community in the spirit of Christian love and 

inclusion. 

In February, MCC-Charlotte will mark their 

30th anniversary with 30 days of celebration. 

Their anniversary observances start on Jan. 

29 with a community celebration and joint 

choir concert with members from One Voice 

and the Gay Men’s choruses and the choirs 

of MCC, Unity Fellowship and Caldwell 

Presbyterian. 

MCC-Charlotte pastor Rev. Catherine 

Houchins says she is 

happy to see the local 

LGBT community and 

other faith communities 

join her congregation in 

marking their anniversary. 

Troy Perry, founder of 

the first MCC and former 

moderator of the UFMCC, 

will also join the church 

for a special worship 

service the last Sunday in 

February. 

The road from small 

study group to a hundreds-strong 

congregation 

has been both 

rewarding and bumpy. 

MCC-Charlotte Board 

of Directors member 

Isy Ross, who joined 

the church in 2000 and has served on the 

board off-and-on since then, says one of the 

church’s greatest obstacles has been building 

a strong, internal sense of community. 

“One of the biggest challenges has been 

the direct dealing with people, calling people 

out on behavioral issues,” she says. “It is not 

just an MCC of Charlotte thing or just MCCs 

in general. All churches go through this stuff 

— how do we deal with each other, encourage 

each other and work with each other in 

mature fashions to confront issues as they 

come around? How do you confront them and 

address them?” 

These sorts of community-building 

issues are as old as Christianity itself, 

Ross points out. Christians of all stripes 

have been asking themselves the same 

questions since the first century. St. 

Paul, the prolific writer whose works 

compile much of the New Testament, 

spent enormous amounts of time teaching 

early Christians how to live in community 

with each other and the world 

around them. 

Because of the unique role MCCs 

play in Christian faith — serving LGBTs 

who have often been rejected by other 

Christians — Ross thinks the journey 

toward sustained community and fellowship 

is often harder and more complex 

within MCC congregations. 

“Our community, in and of itself, is a 

hurting community,” she says. “A lot of 

people come from religious backgrounds 

where they have been bashed and rejected 

see MCC on 12 

Jan. 23-Feb. 5 . 2010 qnotes 11 


MCC 

continued from page 11 

and cast out. They come to us hurting and 

have issues around that.” 

But Ross says she’s seen her congregation 

grow in exciting and rewarding ways. 

She cites the leadership of current pastor 

Houchins as an integral part of the movement 

toward a more stable church community. 

The stability the church experiences now 

wasn’t always the norm. In its early days, not 

long after its founding, MCC-Charlotte faced 

its first internal challenge. In 1983, some MCC- 

Charlotte members left the congregation to 

start New Life MCC, which now finds its home 

with the LGBT-inclusive Holy Trinity Lutheran 

Church on The Plaza. 

As the church grew, internal challenges 

gave way to external challenges — some revealed 

accomplishment, while others brought 

rejection. 

In the early 1990s, MCC-Charlotte, along 

with other MCC congregations in North Carolina, 

gained both acceptance and recognition 

by many mainline and traditional Christian 

communities. The North Carolina Council of 

Churches was just the second state council to 

accept MCC churches into membership. 

Despite membership in the statewide 

fellowship, the congregation still found itself 

facing hostility from anti-gay faith-based 

prejudice. 

In 2003, MCC-Charlotte experience just 

such a challenge from another local faith 

group. When church congregants attempted 

to volunteer their time to prepare and serve 

meals to the homeless at the Charlotte Rescue 

Mission they were rejected. 

Rev. Tony Marciano, the Rescue Mission’s 

executive director, never spoke to qnotes, but 

he told other local press, “We cannot endorse 

a church that openly teaches that homosexuality 

is an acceptable lifestyle.” 

Even after a personal conversation with 

Marciano, Rev. Mick Hinson, MCC-Charlotte 

pastor at the time, said the Rescue Mission 


hadn’t changed its mind. 

“I told him that we weren’t looking for 

them to support our church,” Hinson told 

qnotes in an Oct. 25, 2003 article. “Just the opposite, 

I explained that we wanted to support 

them and their mission of feeding the hungry. 

‘Well, we can’t support your church,’ he kept 

saying. He never could get past that.” 

Such anti-gay run-ins with other local faith 

institutions are becoming rarer these days, as 

the number of welcoming and LGBT-friendly 

faith institutions are rising. MCC-Charlotte is 

growing, too. So much, in fact, Houchins says 

they need more physical room to do the growing 

and MCC-Charlotte is selling their first 

church building on Eastway Dr. 

“There are a lot of people who had 

emotional attachment to this building, but 

we’ve come to realize it doesn’t meet all of our 

needs,” she says. “If we are going to continue 

to grow, we need a larger sanctuary.” 

The church bought the property in 2000, 

and was one of few MCC congregations in 

their region to own their own worship facilities. 

After a decade, the church’s physical 

needs have outgrown what their current 

space offers. 

Houchins says folks are excited about the 

impending move. They’ve got several organizations 

interested in buying the building and 

the congregation has looked at potential sites 

for their future location. 

Ross says the church’s mission will 

always stay the same, no matter where they 

meet. She says their current space is “just 

a building” and thinks a new location more 

suited to their needs will allow them to continue 

to reach out to folks who’ve yet to find 

a church home. She hopes the next decade’s 

progress will be as exciting as the last. 

“Only God knows how much we can grow, 

but I’m excited about our next decade and the 

decade after that,” Ross says. : : 



Benham will appeal 

continued from page 10 

& Gay Community Center of Charlotte, was one of 

several events cited by Benham in his court filings. In 

2008, then Pride co-chair Darryl Hall was required to 

testify during depositions in the case. Pride Charlotte 

has been annually targeted for protest by Operation 

Save America and other local anti-gay organizations. 

In 2006, Pride organizers were forced to move 

their events to private property because of Benham’s 

increasingly confrontational protests. 

Pride Charlotte receives a public assembly permit 

from the city and works with police and other officials 

to shut down some streets during the festival. Benham 

claimed the city’s decisions regarding Pride Charlotte 

proved the city was engaging in viewpoint discrimination, 

and argued Pride Charlotte was a demonstration, 

not a festival, because of the presence of political 

advocacy organizations at the event. 

The U.S. District Court rejected Benham’s arguments. 

For each event Benham cited, including Pride 

Charlotte, Judge Conrad ruled his evidenced failed 

to establish any pattern of discrimination by the city 

against him or his organization. 


Regarding Pride Charlotte, Conrad said the events 

were “not similar to [Benham’s] event in all relevant 

respects” and wrote, “Although expressive activity, 

such as political campaigning and advocacy for gay 

and lesbian issues, took place, there were also commercial 

activities, such as selling food, alcohol, and 

t-shirts.” 

Benham said his appeal should be filed soon, but 

City Attorney Hagemann believes Conrad’s dismissal of 

the suit is safe. 

“We’re pretty confident that officials made the right 

decisions in all those cases,” he said. “The U.S. District 

Court agreed and there is nothing that has happened 

since then that would change this view. Courts can 

take an independent look at the case and if they do 

appeal we’d hope and be reasonably confident that the 

Fourth Circuit will uphold Judge Conrad’s decision.” 

qnotes contacted Benham’s attorney, Frederick 

Nelson, via phone and email. 

Nelson did not return our requests for comment. : : 

— Originally published at goqnotes.com on Jan. 15. 

Haiti: 

the LGBT response 

On Jan. 12, a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Haiti, its epicenter only 

15 miles southwest of the capital of Port-au-Prince. Since then, millions of 

dollars have poured into the Red Cross and other aid organizations. 

The LGBT community has also been responding. The Rainbow World 

Fund is an all-volunteer 

international aid organization 

run by LGBT and allied community 

members. Based in 

San Francisco, the group had 

already begun relief efforts 

in Haiti — one of the worlds 

poorest nations — and had 

already pledged $35,000 in 

programming there before 

LucasTheExperience 

the earthquake hit. 

Rainbow World Fund is looking to increase its giving after this disaster. 

To learn more and to donate, visit rainbowfund.org. : : 

Visit goqnotes.com/to/opinion for editor 

Matt Comer’s take on the LGBT response to Haiti. 



qliving 

arts. entertainment. 


spring a&e guide 

‘Spring Awakening’ proves why it’s 

Broadway’s best musical 

Coming of age hit plays Charlotte and Durham in February, March 

Based on Frank Wedekind’s banned play from 1891, “Spring Awakening” tells the timeless story 

of teenage self-discovery and budding sexuality set to a rocking musical score by Duncan Sheik and 

Steven Sater that won it a 2008 Grammy Award, along with eight Tony Awards including Best Musical. 

“Spring Awakening” goes so much further than the traditional Broadway show. From the intense 

and passionate gay kiss, to the masturbation scene, to the love scene showing bare boobs and butt, 

this is not your parents Broadway show. 

But this play is not about tits and ass either. It’s about schoolmate adolescents growing up in 

sexually-oppressive pre-20th century Germany that could easily be 2010 Anywhere. These teens must 

deal with quite a few issues onstage; sex, abortion, suicide, rape, masturbation and even S&M. 

The very handsome Melchior instructs his friend Moritz Stiefel about the semantics of sexual 

intercourse via an essay he wrote with diagrams. Moritz seeks answers to his own sexual 

awakenings which has stupefied his emotions and distracted his ability to function in school. 

Meanwhile, Hanschen is able to seduce his friend Ernst into what might be the most passionate 

gay kiss seen on Broadway. 

The songs are electrifying, fresh and 

memorable with such titles as “Bitch of Living,” 

“My Junk,” “Touch Me” and “Totally Fucked.” 

It’s no wonder The New York Times said that 

“Broadway may never be the same again!” 

because of this show. 

“Spring Awakening” is a major Broadway 

Want to go? 

“Spring Awakening” will play in Charlotte 

(Feb. 2-7) and Durham (March 2-7). 

For more information visit 

blumenthalcenter.org and dpacnc.com. 

play that not only connects with a younger crowd but is highly entertaining for both young and old 

audiences alike. This show is so rocking that you cannot help but love it. Literally, I have to say that 

this is one of the best shows I have seen on stage in a long time. : : 

— Written for SeattleGayScene.com by “Bill W.” Reprinted with permission. 

Actors Christy Altomare (Wendla) and Jake Epstein (Melchior) in ‘Spring Awakening.’ 

Photo by Joan Marcus 2009. 

Helene Yorke and Marcie Dodd in ‘Wicked.’ 


Photo Credit: Joan Marcus 

on stage 

Spring A&E Guide 

2/2-2/7 // Charlotte 

3/2-3/7 // Durham 

Spring Awakening 

Blumenthal Performing Arts Center in Charlotte and the 

Durham Performing Arts Center host this groundbreaking 

Tony Award-winning fusion of morality, sexuality and rock & 

roll featuring music by Duncan Sheik and Carolinas-area cast 

members including Elon University’s Taylor Trensch and Matt 

Shingledecker along with actors Jake Epstein of “Degrassi: The 

Next Generation” and Seffi D, a top 5 finalist on “Canadian Idol” 

in 2006. 

blumenthalcenter.org 

dpacnc.com 

2/7-3/7 // Greensboro 

Around the World 

TriadStage presents the comic adventure, “Around the World in 

80 Days,” adapted from the novel by Jules Verne. Don’t miss this 

classic tale and fast-paced comedy appropriate for all ages! 

triadstage.org 

2/12-2/2 // Winston-Salem 

Forever Plaid 

Winston-Salem Theatre Alliances brings back, by popular 

demand, the prequel to their sellout production of “Plaid 

Tidings.” 

wstheatrealliance.org 

4/9-4/18 // Winston-Salem 

Trailer Trash Wife 

Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance presents “The Trials and 

Tribulations of a Trailer Trash Housewife” by Del Shores, creator 

of the hit “Sordid Lives.” 

wstheatrealliance.org 


4/21-5/16 // Durham 

5/19-6/13 // Charlotte 

Wicked 

The familiar tale of the Land of Oz looks entirely different 

from the other side of the fence. Spend some time with the 

Durham Performing Arts Center and follow young Elpheba, 

future Wicked Witch of the West, in her journey as a youth 

and her eventual fall from grace — a story as classic as its 

parallel “Wizard of Oz.” 

dpacnc.com 

4/29-5/16 // Charlotte 

Evita 

Queen City Theatre Company presents Andrew Lloyd 

Webber’s “Evita.” The classic, award-winning musical 

profiles the life of Argentine political leader Eva Perón and 

was adapted into a major 1996 film with Madonna and 

Antonio Banderas in the starring roles. 

queencitytheatre.com 

summer sneak peek 

6/6-7/4 // Greensboro 

Providence Gap 

From a small Blue Ridge farm and rolling hills and 

mill villages of the Piedmont to the battle fields 

of World War I, TriadStage’s “Providence Gap” 

blends magic, myth and music into a regional tale 

of fortune and fate, family jealousy and chance. 

triadstage.org

RiverRun expands 

Winston-Salem’s RiverRun International Film Festival, Apr. 15-25 

compiled by qnotes staff 


Started in 1998 in Brevard, N.C., the River- 

Run International Film Festival has made its 

home in the “City of the Arts” for most of the 

past decade. The festival, hosted on the campus 

of the University of North Carolina School 

of the Arts, has grown each year. That growth 

continues in 2010. 

For the first time, RiverRun will stretch out 

11 days and straddle two weekends. The festival 

runs April 15-25. 

“Over the past few years, we’ve been very 

fortunate to receive continued support from 

our audiences as we expanded the size and 

scope of the Festival,” said Andrew Rodgers, 

RiverRun’s executive director. “For the 2010 

Festival, we are excited to grow RiverRun 

even further by adding a second weekend, 

which will allow us to offer more films and 

screening opportunities for our audiences.” 

For most of RiverRun’s history, the Festival 

has been a three- or four-day event. In addition 

to raising the Festival’s profile nationwide, 

its expansion also dramatically impacted the 

organization’s bottom line: From 2006 to 2009, 

RiverRun’s ticket sales more than doubled 

(from $42,146 in 2006 to $85,720 in 2009). 

“Extending the run of the Festival to an 

eleven-day event is a big step for us. It’s 

something that we’ve talked about for a long 

time,” said Rodgers. “Based on the feedback 

we receive from our audiences and supporters 

each year, we like to make adjustments so 

that our Festival fits the needs and wishes of 

the community. With that in mind, this move 

to a longer festival — which should allow 

more people to attend our films and events 

— is an experiment that we hope will become 

permanent.” 

The 2010 RiverRun International Film 

Festival will utilize many of the same Winston- 

Salem venues it has for the past few years, 

including the Stevens Center (405 W. Fourth 

St.), the Ace Cinematheque Complex on the 

campus of the University of North Carolina 

School of the Arts (1533 S. Main St.), the Reynolda 

House Museum of American Art (2250 

Reynolda Rd.) and The Garage (110 W. 7th 

St.). Additionally in 2010, RiverRun will use the 

soon-to-be-completed a/perture cinema (311 

W. 4th Street) in downtown Winston-Salem. 

RiverRun is a competitive event that 

annually showcases new films from both 

established and emerging filmmakers around 

the world. Each spring, RiverRun screens new 

narrative, documentary, short, student and 

animated films, offering both audience and 

jury prizes in competition categories. : : 

info: riverrunfilm.com 

A University of North Carolina School of the Arts film student 

Photo courtesy UNCSA and JDD85, via Flickr. Licensed under Creative Commons. 

next issue u Love and Lust: Second Annual Sex Issue Feb. 6 


Jan. 23-Feb. 5 . 2010 qnotes 15


concerts 


2/12-2/13 // Charlotte 

Rachmaninoff 

The Charlotte Symphony presents 

three classics from Verdi, Borodin and 

Rochmaninoff, with the Oratorio Singers of 

Charlotte and Christopher Warren-Green 

conducting. 

charlottesymphony.org 

2/16 // Durham 

Harry Connick, Jr. 

Musician and actor Harry Connick, 

Jr. and his orchestra take over the 

Durham Performing Arts Center 

stage with tunes from his new 

collection, “For Your Songs,” 

comprised of 14 classic and 

popular songs. 

dpacnc.com 

2/23 // Columbia 

Jimmy Buffett 

The legendary Jimmy Buffett and 

the Coral Reefer Band take over 

The Colonial Life Arena. 

livenation.com 

3/8 // Charlotte 

Dropkick Murphys 

Don’t miss Dropkick Murphys’ stop 

at the Fillmore Charlotte in their 

2010 St. Patty’s Day worldwide tour. 


and relief efforts for African children affected 

by poverty and disease. Many of the choir’s 

members have lost one or both parents to 

AIDS and other poverty-related diseases. 

Child admission free with full-priced adult 

ticket purchase. 


3/12 // Durham 

Gary Allen 

You’ll hear no apologies from this 

rocking Country star. Gary Allen 

performs at Durham Performing 

Arts Center. 

dpacnc.com 

3/15 // Greensboro 

John Mayer 

The sometimes crazy, always cool John 

Mayer brings his “Battle Studies” tour to the 

Greensboro Coliseum with Michael Franti 

and Spearhead. 


3/15-3/16 // Charlotte 

African Children’s Choir 

Comprised of children ages 7 to 12 from 

several African nations, this choir is the main 

fundraising branch of its parent organization, 

Music for Life Institute, which funds education 

John Mayer 

Photo Credit: courtesy P. Keigan, via Flickr. 

Licensed under Creative Commons. 


The Irish Tenors 

Ovens Auditorium plays host the world 

renowned Irish Tenors. The Tenors 

joined forces in 1998 and have delighted 

world audiences ever since with a mix of 

contemporary and classic music like “Danny 

Boy, “My Wild Irish Rose,” and “Fields 

of Athenry.” 

charlottesymphony.org 


Bitch 

Lesbian electronic/folk singer Bitch takes the 

stage at NoDa’s Evening Muse. 

theeveningmuse.com 

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T H R O U G H 

US 

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with qnotes and goqnotes.com 

call or email us today 

704.531.9988 

adsales@goqnotes.com 



dance 


2/9-2/14 // Charlotte 

Alvin Ailey American Dance 

Charlotte native Constance Stamatiou performs with the famed 

African-American culture and dance troupe straight from New York 

City. Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre grew out of a small group 

of performers in the 1950s and celebrates the 20th year of Artistic 

Director Judith Jamison’s tenure this season. 




Lord of the Dance 

For one show only, Michael Flatley’s Lord of the Dance comes to 

Charlotte’s Belk Theatre. Featured cast members include Scott 

Doherty and Michael McHugh, crowned world champions at the 

World Irish Dance Championships. More than 100 million people 

worldwide have taken part in Lord of the Dance’s Irish dancing 

performances in sold out shows in over 67 countries. 


3/9 // Raleigh 

Wonderboy/29 Gestures 

Based in San Francisco, Joe Goode’s award-winning contemporary 

dance company presents “Wonderboy,” a search for love and 

belonging, created in collaboration with avant-garde puppeteer 

Basil Twist. “Wonderboy” is an unexpected tale of a peculiar hero 

isolated by his gift of sensitivity and an intuitive knack that sets him 

apart from others. The program will include Joe Goode’s legendary 

12-minute solo, “29 Effeminate Gestures,” an illuminating (and 

hilarious) look at stereotypes of masculinity. Sponsored by the N.C. 

State GLBT Center. Note: This program contains adult language and 

themes. 

ncsu.edu/centerstage 

Jamar Roberts of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater 

Photo Credit: Andrew Eccles 



television 


‘Tobacco Road’ is a ‘Madhouse’ 

Queer race fans, you’d better set your 

DVRs and clear your TV viewing schedule 

Sunday nights this spring as The History 

Channel zeros in on North Carolina and one of 

the nation’s most popular sports 

Back in July 2008, Winston-Salem Journal 

columnist Tim Clodfelter wrote of a local 

demo shoot for a series then tentatively titled 

“Tobacco Road.” Wake Forest University grad 

Grant Kahler, along with fellow executive producers 

Tim Tracy and Aengus James, were 

taking a look inside the world of modified 

race car drivers at Winston-Salem’s historic 

Bowman Gray Stadium, one of the nation’s 

oldest and NASCAR’s first-ever certified race 

car tracks. 

Kahler’s “Tobacco Road” isn’t just a dream 

or demo now. It premiered on The History 

Channel in early January, but don’t look for 

it under that name — “Tobacco Road” is 

now “Madhouse,” airing new episodes on 

Sundays at 10 p.m. 

The show follows the lives of a select few 

racers, including folks from longtime racing 

families the Myerses and Millers. A mix of 

auto racing tech and real life struggle and 

rivalry, “Madhouse” could very well be a 

guilty pleasure for anyone looking to wrap up 

their weekends with a bit of learning and lots 

of laughs. 

The History Channel compares the 

families’ rivalries to that of the Hatfields and 

McCoys. They write in a press release: “At 

the granddaddy of all NASCAR short 

tracks in the U.S., rivalries between 

racing families run deep and they 

run hot. Bowman Gray Stadium, the 

quarter-mile racetrack…locals call the 

‘Madhouse,’ has a history going back 

to the moonshine-running days of the 

1920s. Then, the cars were made fast 

in order to outrun the police. These 

days, the families race to win for family 

honor and to continue a longstanding 

61-year feuding tradition. And because 

they are settling scores and family 

rivalries that go back generations, ageold 

feuds like the Hatfields & McCoys 

that have festered for years ramming, 

spin-outs, high-speed crashes and 

fistfights are what fans have come 

to expect on Saturday night at the 

‘Madhouse.’” 

Some race fans have said the show 

has set the sport back 20 years or 

more. Others say it is full of caricatures 

and makes a mockery of the dedication 

many racers put into winning. But, hey, 

I’m a Winston-Salem native and my 

family loved Bowman Gray racing. I’m 

not exaggerating when I say that any 

and all of the “caricatures” in “Madhouse” 

are almost true to the core and about 

90 percent accurate. 

So, maybe the show profiles some unsavory 

parts of the amateur side of NASCAR 


Brothers Burt and Jason Myers are two of several Bowman Gray Stadium racers featured in 

The History Channel’s ‘Madhouse.’ 

Photo Credit: Brian Spoor/History Channel 

racing. Or, maybe the show plays up the 

“hickishness” of the rural Piedmont and Winston-Salem. 

But, come on now, how often do 

you get to see Tar Heel rednecks race cars, 

crash into each other and cuss up a storm on 

national TV? 

I think I’ve found my favorite, Sunday night 

show for the the next few weeks. : : 

— by Matt Comer :: matt@goqnotes.com 



television 


Now playing // USA 

White Collar 

USA’s original series “White Collar” 

opened up its second season on Jan. 19, 

just a few days before this print issue hit 

the streets. Maybe you missed the first 

season, but it shouldn’t take you long to 

catch up. All you need to know: actor Matt 

Bomer is hot, and openly gay. Enough said. 


1/25 // FX 

Damages 

It’s all about the money. Glenn Close stars 

as Patty Hewes in the third season of FX’s 

hit series on the leading ladies of Wall St. 

2/2 // ABC 

Lost 

The time has finally come for answers. Or, 

at least that’s what we’ve heard. You’ve 

been waiting forever and a day to figure it 

all out. No more, “What the hell is happening” 

moments. All eyes will be opened. 

3/8 // The CW 

Gossip Girl 

The CW’s hit show of teen angst in the 

world of New York wealth and privilege 

returns with new episodes on Wednesdays 

at 9 p.m., starting March 8. All grown up, 

the teens have left high school behind 

them. Off to college, a future of more scandal, 

secrets and backbiting awaits. 

4/11 // Showtime 

The Tudors 

Really, what’s not to like? Half-naked, beefy 

English guys grappling for power, groveling 

for favor. The gays, and the gals, just love this 

show. But you’ve only got one last chance to 

books 


Within each of us… 

Author and motivational speaker Jonathan 

Craig has been living with HIV for 27 years. 

After his diagnosis he was faced with a lifealtering 

moment of truth and forced to look 

inward for the strength to live life to its fullest. 

Craig’s small, yet powerful book, “You 

Are The Reason,” is his attempt to share that 

personal journey to find hope, peace and inner 

purpose. Believing every person on earth 

“holds the keys to personal happiness and 

success within,” Craig says those searching 

for that lasting, truest reason to live will find the 

most precious gift of all: yourself. 

“You Are The Reason” combines Craig’s 

personal testimony for life and happiness with 

the wisdom of sages past. At the beginning 

of each of the 10 chapters, and sprinkled 

throughout the book, are kernels of knowledge 

imparted from the likes of Lewis B. Smedes, 

Walt Whitman, James Allen, Epicetus, C.S. 

Lewis and Charles Dickens. 

info: 

“You Are The Reason” by Jonathan Craig. 

2009, Borderline Publishing. $9.95. 96 pages, 

includes personal journal space. 

Matt Bomer stars as Neil Caffrey in 

USA’s ‘White Collar’ 

Photo Credit: USA Networks 

see Jonathan Rhys-Myers in this final season 

of “The Tudors.” 

4/13 // Fox 

Glee 

Sing out to your heart’s delight. All the drama. 

All the passion. All the high school, hormonal 

emotion. After a fabulous first season, “Glee” 

returns with more great tunes and laughs. 

Sex and life 

Picture yourself in the 1970s. The arts 

scene is exploding. The Sexual Revolution has 

changed and is continuing to change the role 

of women in society and the place of LGBTs. In 

this time, pioneer film and video artist Barbara 

Hammer brought new and intimate portrayals 

of lesbian sex, menstruation and female 

orgasm into public consciousness as never 

before. Her radical lesbian cinema has served 

as inspiration to decades of filmmakers and 

continues to garner new fans. Hammer is still 

around, too, making groundbreaking films on an 

incredible variety of subjects today. 

“HAMMER! Making Movies Out of Sex 

and Life,” is a candid look at how sexuality 

transformed Hammer’s work and art, and the 

way cultural politics have propelled her into 

new subjects, methods and ways of thinking 

about cinematic expression. As much a story of 

Hammer’s artistic history, the non-fiction is also 

a personal look into the history of the queer 

women who helped to shape the modern-day 

LGBT movement. 

info: 

“Hammer! Making Movies Out of Sex and Life,” 

by Barbara Hammer. 

2009, The Feminist Press. $19.95. 274 pages, 

including appendices. 



tell trinity 

by trinity :: qnotes contributor 

Gays or homosexuals: What’s the difference? 

Dear Trinity, 

You often refer to gay men and homosexual 

men as if they were different. 

What’s the difference? 

Technically Confused : St. Louis, MO 

Dear Confused, 

When a man lies with or lies about 

sleeping with another man, then goes 

home to his wife, mother or closet to 

represses his sexuality, he’s a “homosexual.” 

But, when he finally smells the 

latte, accepts himself with pride and lives 

openly with his homosexuality then he’s 

“gay.” Pumpkin, some homosexual men 

don’t realize their divine “gay” sexuality until late in 

life because they’re trapped inside the morals of heterosexuality. 

But, there are over 400 homosexual animal species (check 

YouTube) and only one gets to be fabulous 

— humans! Isn’t life wonderful! 

Dear Trinity, 

I’m gay with a healthy dating life. I try not to 

have sex before the first few dates, but no 

matter what, inevitably gay men don’t want 

companionship or relationship, just sex. Are 

all men rogues or is it just a gay thing? 

Gay Rogues : Eugene, OR 

Dear Gay Rogues, 

Yes, gay men love sex. Some even “live” 

for it. But, it’s that way with all monsters, I 

mean men. Straight women don’t let their 

men get away with it as much as gay men. But, honey, keep 


being you, keep holding out and keep getting back on the 

horse when you fail. Oh, and try to accept men for what they 

are…oink, oink! (My cartoon sure tells it like it is!) 

Hello Trinity, 

I was dating a great guy who didn’t tell me he had a partner 

“for 10 years.” Even though his partner lets him have affairs, 

since I found out I haven’t talked to him in months. But, he 

keeps emailing me. What should I do or not do? 

Married Date : Toronto, Canada 

Hello Married Date, 

Just when you think you’ve found “the one,” you suddenly discover 

“the spouse!” It happens to me all the time. It seems that 

all the really good single men are also really married. Sweetie, 

if you’re up for it, email him back and send him a “last goodbye” 

because you’ve vowed to have “No More Drama In My 

Life!” And after that, go and find your own unmarried partner. 

Hey Trinity, 

I thought I knew good from bad and sane 

from insane. But recently, I met this gorgeous 

girl who says the most insecure, 

weird things. She’s very confusing. How 

can I know when I’m dating someone 

crazy or when it is just me? 

Date Crazy : Charleston, SC 

Hey Date Crazy, 

Isn’t life just one big psych ward! As soon 

as you think you’ve figured it all out… 

you haven’t. After interviewing many 

professional daters and asking them how 

they detect “crazy” here are: 

Trinity’s Sane Tips For Knowing When You’re 

DSC (Dating Someone Crazy) 

1. When someone is overly, unimaginably, inhumanly picky 

— DSC. 

2. When you say, “Look at that nice tree.” and she says, 

“Honey, do you think I’m blind?” —DSC 

3. When sudden change in plans turns a rational Dr. Jekyll into 

an outraged Mr. or Miss Hyde — DSC. 

4. When you say, “Want some more coffee?” and he says, 

“Honey, if I wanted more coffee I’d ask!” — DSC. 

5. When you yourself begin to think that your own sense of 

judgment and reality has become distorted, irrational and 

crazy — DSC. 

6. When he constantly gets upset over the simplest of things. 

— DSC. 

7. When she constantly questions your actions i.e., “Why 

are you talking to me” or “taking me to dark restaurants?” 

— DSC. 

8. When a night on the town means six hours in a nightclub, 

high on drugs — DSC. 

9. When you say, “I’d love to meet for dinner,” and he (seriously) 

says, “What’s wrong with lunch?” — DSC. 

10. Lastly, when you say, “I’m running late (for the first time in 

months)” and she replies, “Why must you always torture 

me?” — DSC. : : 

— With a Masters of Divinity, Reverend Trinity was 

host of “Spiritually Speaking,” a weekly radio drama, 

and now performs globally. 

info: www.telltrinity.com . Trinity@telltrinity.com 

Tell Trinity, P.O. Box 23861 . Ft. Lauderdale, FL 33307 

Sponsored by: Provincetown Business Guild 

800-637-8696 . www.ptown.org 



Events 

Jan. 24 • Charlotte 

Buff Faye’s Sunday Drag Brunch 

Join Buff Faye for her “Jailhouse Rock” 

Sunday Drag Brunch with proceeds benefiting 

the Human Rights Campaign. Hartigan’s Irish 

Pub, 601 S. Cedar St. Noon. BuffFaye.com. 


Family Feud 

Petra’s Piano Bar and Cabaret hosts 

107.9 The Link’s Matt and Ramona 

for a special game of “Family Feud.” 

Proceeds will benefit RAIN. After 

the game, catch the local radio 

personalities in the Petra’s 

Sound Lounge for a meet and 

greet. Petra’s Piano Bar and 

Cabaret, 1919 Commonwealth 

Ave. 8:30 p.m. $5. 

Jan. 28 • Hickory 

Visiting Writers: Gold 

CNN anchor Soledad O’Brien 

will interview Mitchell gold, editor 

of the book “Crisis: 40 Stories 

Revealing the Personal, Social 

and Religious Pain and Trauma 

of Growing Up Gay in America.” 

Admission to the event is free 

and open to the public. P.E. 

Monroe Auditorium, Lenior- 

Rhyne University, 625 7th Ave. 

NE. 7 p.m. visitingwriters.lr.edu. 

Jan. 28-31 • Charlotte 

GayCharlotte Film Fest 

The Lesbian & Gay Community Center of 

Charlotte presents its second annual GayCharlotte 

Film Festival, featuring all-time LGBT film 

classics, new film festival circuit arrivals and 

other features. Don’t miss “Little Ashes” starring 

Robert Pattinson of “Twilight” fame. For more 

information, including a forthcoming film schedule, 

visit gaycharlottefilmfestival.com. Lesbian & 

Gay Community Center, 820 Hamilton St., Suite 

B-11. gaycharlotte.com. 

Jan. 28-Feb. 13 • Charlotte 

Grey Gardens, The Musical 

Queen City Theatre Company presents the 

Complexions 

Jan. 28 • Raleigh 

N.C. State University’s Center Stage presents Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Under the direction 

of former Alvin Ailey principal dancers Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson, “Complexions” is 

one of the hottest dance companies to be found. Contemporary ballet, classical and modern dance 

converge in high-energy, impassioned choreography. And, yes — this is the same Dwight and 

Desmond whose sexy work you’ve seen on “So You Think You Can Dance.” Stewart Theatre, 2610 

Cates Ave. 8 p.m. $26-$30. ncsu.edu/centerstage. 

treasured, cherished “Grey Gardens — The 

Musical,” based on the groundbreaking, 1975 

cult classic documentary by Albert and David 

Maysles. Duke Energy Theatre at Spirit Square, 

345 N. College St. Various times. 

Various prices. queencitytheatre.com. 


ENC in the QC 

Equality North Carolina and the Charlotte 

Business Guild invite you to a free gathering to 

celebrate our progress together, mingle with 

other supporters of equal rights and welcome 

ENC’s statewide board and staff to Charlotte. 

Blue Restaurant & Bar, Hearst Tower, 5th and 

College Sts. Free. Cash bar. equalitync.org. 

charlottebusinessguild.org. 


Miss Scorpio Pageant 

Scorpio hosts The Legendary Miss Scorpio 

Pageant featuring Miss Scorpio 2009 Beverly 

Iman Johnson. Brooklyn Dior serves as your 

emcee. The Scorpio, 2301 Freedom Dr. 10 p.m.-1 

a.m. scorpios.com. 

Feb. 5 • Charlotte 

Country Night 

Orphaned since the closure 

of the Charlotte Eagle (although they’ve resumed 

Wednesday night lessons at Petra’s), Southern 

Country Charlotte hosts a special, one-time 

Country Club Night at Hartigan’s Irish Pub, 601 S. 

Cedar St. Doors open at 9 p.m. SCC members 

get in free until 11 p.m. $3 cover. hartigans.com. 

Feb. 5 • Durham 

Vagina Monologues 

Help a good cause and visit Steel Blue for a 

special showing of “Vagina Monologues.” 

Proceeds benefit the Durham Crisis Response 

Center. Steel Blue, 1426 S. Miami Blvd. 8:15 p.m. 

$10. 919-596-5876. clubsteelblue.com. 

Feb. 5-7 • Boone 

NC Gay Ski Weekend 

Join your friends and family, and Takeover 

Friday, at the NC Gay Ski Weekend in Boone. 

From cocktails and receptions to dance parties 

and skiing, this weekend is sure to be a blast. 

For more information on ski packages pricing, 

events schedule and accommodations visit 

ncgayskiweekend.com. 


21 

Photo Credit: Columbia Artists Management Inc. 

events 

goqnotes.com/qguide/events 

Feb. 5-7 • Hickory 

Anniversary time 

Carolina Bear Lodge holds its “Sweet 16 Anniversary.” 

Weekend includes a banquet dinner, 

variety show, breakfast, after-hours dance 

party and Sunday church service. For more 

information on events and accommodations visit 

carolinabears.com. 

Feb. 6 • Spartanburg 

Speed Dating 

Hit up the new Club Illusions for Speed Dating 

night, a fundraiser for Upstate Pride. 

Club Illusions, 996 Asheville Hwy. 7 p.m. 

upstatepridesc.org. 

Feb. 11 • Spartanburg 

Straightlaced 

The local PFLAG chapter hosts a screening of 

“Straightlaced,” exploring how rigid gender 

expectations and homophobia are interwoven 

and impact students’ and youth dress, activities, 

jobs and relationships. Spartanburg County 

Public Library, Barrett Rooom, 151 S. Church St. 

6:45 p.m.-8 p.m. 

Feb. 12 • Durham 

Valentine’s Blast 

Join the ladies of Common Woman Chorus for a 

Valentine’s Blast at Club Steel Blue. 100 percent 

of proceeds for the night benefit the chorus. 

Club Steel Blue, 1426 S. Miami Blvd. (Hwy 70). 8 

p.m. $10 suggested donation. clubsteelblue.com. 

Feb. 12-18 • Winston-Salem 

Forever Plaid 

One of the most popular and successful 

musicals in recent memory, this revue centers 

on four male singers killed in a car crash in the 

1950s on the way to their first big concert, and 

now miraculously revived for the posthumous 

chance to fulfill their dreams and perform the 

show that never was. Winston-Salem Theatre 

Alliance, 1047 Northwest Blvd. Various times. 

Various prices. wstheatrealliance.org. 

Feb. 13 • Salisbury 

Marc Adams 

Author and activist Marc Adams speaks about 

his experiences growing up as the gay son of a 

conservative Baptist minister. PFLAG Salisbury- 

Rowan hosts. Haven Evangelical Lutheran 

Church, Fellowship Hall, 207 W. Harrison St. 10 

a.m.-12 p.m. salisbury-pflag.org. 


Buff Faye’s Sunday Drag Brunch 

Join Buff Faye for her “Eat your heart out” 

Sunday Drag Brunch with proceeds benefiting 

RAIN and House of Mercy. Hartigan’s Irish Pub, 

601 S. Cedar St. Noon. BuffFaye.com. 


Charlotte Newcomer 

Scorpio hosts the Miss Charlotte Newcomer 

Pageant competition for drag performers new to 

the scene (less than two years). Entry fee of $20 

and categories include evening gown and talent. 

For entry information, contact Tiffany Storm at 

704-891-4073. The Scorpio, 2301 Freedom Dr. 9 

p.m.-1 a.m. scorpios.com. 


Believe in Youth 

Campus Pride and Time Out Youth present North 

Carolina furniture maker and philanthropist 

Mitchell Gold, editor of the book “CRISIS: 40 

Stories Revealing the Personal, Social and 

Religious Pain and Trauma of Growing up Gay in 

America.” Myers Park Baptist Church, 1900 

Queens Rd. 6 p.m. 704-344-8335. 

timeoutyouth.org. 


Believe in Youth, part 2 

Campus Pride and Time Out Youth host 

Mitchell Gold at Petra’s Piano Bar and 

Cabaret, 1919 Commonwealth Ave. 8 p.m. 

704-344-8335. timeoutyouth.org. 

Feb. 26-28 • Raleigh 

HRC Carolinas 

Grab your tickets, book your hotel rooms and 

pick out your fabulous dinner wear. The 15th Annual 

HRC Carolinas Gala hits downtown Raleigh 

on Feb. 27. Join other LGBT North and South 

Carolinians for a weekend’s slate of events, 

including a Friday “Takeover at Tantra” (310 S. 

West St., 8 p.m.-11 p.m., free admission), 

Saturday Gala and Silent Auction (Raleigh 

Convention Center, 500 S. Salisbury St.) and 

After-parties galore! For more information, visit 

hrccarolinas.org. 



The radiant Sun steps 

into Aqueerius. Look 

around you. Personal 

goals take on a new 

hue and push in a 

strong direction from an 

unshakable force. Carry your dreams to the next 

level, but also know when to stop and smell the 

flowers and enjoy your gotten gains. 

AQUARIUS (01.21-02.19) Aqueerians can let loose 

and just enjoy themselves. You are too good to be 

true with overdoses of charm and charisma. (If 

you could only bottle and store it for a rainy day!) 

Display your merchandise and see who buys. 

Launch new projects and meet many new folks. If 

you can view life from a different angle, the sky is 

the limit. Pack a protractor and get going. 

PISCES (02.20-03.20) Is life feeling dull and meaningless? 

Revitalize by graciously offering your time 

and energy to a worthwhile charitable cause. Volunteerism 

and spiritual redemption are highlighted 

which means that you should give now to reap 

impressive rewards later. Bonus time — expect 

great things when the planets empty out your 

closet. Talk about a breath of fresh air! Whew! 

ARIES (03.21-04.20) Get ready for a wild social 

fest. Gay Rams seek the company of friends and 

acquaintances who can reinforce their goals and 

direction in life. But, don’t let the group-think lead 

you down a primrose path where you feel out of 

place. Hold firm to your ideas and opinions and be 

who you are, warts and all. Real friends love you 

for your entire package, not just the ribbons. 

TAURUS (04.21-05.21) Don’t despair of not 

being properly recognized for your professional 

achievements. You can still bring home the bacon 


out in the stars 

by charlene lichtenstein :: qnotes contributor 

January 23 - February 5 

in a big way in your career. Gay Bulls should use 

this time to their advantage by courting power and 

presenting their best ideas to those with the ability 

to help launch them. Examine your life’s direction 

and see if you are on the right track. If not, 

change trains. 

GEMINI (05.22-06.21) Pink Twins are energized to 

explore and experience foreign places and folks. 

Pack those bags and explore parts unknown. It’s 

an excellent time to feast upon the spicy and learn 

by doing. The knowledge that you acquire now 

may be of especially good use down the road. 

Even lawsuits take a turn for the better, but only if 

you’ve done your homework and remain focused. 

CANCER (06.22-07.23) Gay Crabs are inspired and 

can become perspired. Sexual intimacy is stirred 

and you are shaken. Your hot tub goes from cool 

to full boil. Enjoy every steaming minute. For those 

higher-minded types, introspection or meditation 

on certain issues could result in great psychological 

breakthroughs. Clear the mental clutter to 

make room for the physical shudder. 

LEO (07.24-08.23) Relationships are accentuated. 

Even independent proud Lions can get the warm 

and fuzzies with partners. This is a good time to 

share future plans and mutual feelings. If you are 

still trawling for your dreamboat, send out a few 

search parties. You never know who will cruise by 

and rescue you. Ahoy, sailor! 

VIRGO (08.24-09.23) Even rats on a treadmill get 

a coffee break every so often. And, now, even 

hardworking queer Virgins smell the java. Sip 

and relax; you have struggled too long and hard 

without much reward. Day-to-day jobs ease up 

a bit or, at very least, you begin to see the light at 

the end of the tunnel. Ah, but could it be the lights 

of an oncoming train? Stay tuned. 

LIBRA (09.24-10.23) Proud Libras must admit that 

life is much nicer. Opportunities to enjoy creative 

pastimes increase your energy and frame of mind. 

As things progress, your party train gets ready to 

roll and takes you to new social events. Anything 

(or anyone) you try will get you one step closer to 

where you eventually want to be. So, where do 

you really want to be? 

SCORPIO (10.24.11.22) Gay Scorps plant their feet 

firmly on home plate. Explore your roots to see if 

they are strong, enduring and provide you with 

the firm support you seek. One of your greatest 

attributes is your sense of justice. Use it to right 

a wrong and strengthen a weakness. Is there a 

political cause that needs some attention? Pick up 

the flag. You won’t be carrying it alone. 

SAGITTARIUS (11.23-12.22) Speak out, gay Archer. 

You will upend the landscape and boost your public 

persona. Chalk up this fortuitous turn of events 

to good timing. Gather up your thoughts; It’s time to 

fire off a compelling letter to the editor or a representative 

or five. Your words pack a punch. Make 

them loud, proud and uncompromising. Remember, 

every year is an election year for someone. 

CAPRICORN (12.23-01.20) What do pink Caps 

value most aside from their own good taste and 

breeding? Financial issues move from the back 

chorus to the center stage as money becomes the 

driving concern of the moment. If you need it, you 

find new and ingenious ways to earn it. You are as 

you spend …or so it seems right now. Big bucks 

can make a big splash in your current social pool. 

Everybody dive in! : : 

© 2010 Madam Lichtenstein, LLC. All Rights 

Reserved. Entertainment. 

info: Visit www.TheStarryEye.com for 

e-greetings, horoscopes and Pride jewelry. My 

book “HerScopes: A Guide To Astrology For Lesbians” 

from Simon & Schuster is 

available at bookstores and major booksites. 



Howdy, folks, 

and Happy New 

Year! Where to 

begin? By the 

time this Rag 

comes out, I’ll 

be on my Central American voyage, but that’s a 

completely different story. It’s all about starting 

a new year off flawlessly — in some warmth 

with (hopefully) some brown-skinned babies! 

So much to reflect on…where to begin? I 

would suggest everyone get ready to check out 

the second season of “RuPaul’s Drag Race” if 

you have Logo. Go to the show’s website and 

see the new impersonators who are going to let 

us have it (or not) this go ‘round. One of those 

contestants, Shangela, has just won the firstever 

Miss California EOY, with 2 runners-up who 

are known in larger drag circles: Chad Michaels 

and Shae Shae LaReese. But at press time, only 

the winner will compete nationally. Maybe that 

will change? I understand it was a night full of 

big names. Alec Mapa of “Ugly Betty” hosted. 

Some of the judges included “RuPaul’s Drag 

Race” producer Matthew Rose, Aubrey O’Day, 

Shanna Moakler, Calpernia Addams, Holly 

Madison and New York (of “I Love New York” 

fame), along with former Miss EOY Nina West 

and the reigning Miss Gay America (and former 

Miss U.S.ofA.) Alyssa Edwards. I know I would 

have been just stupid-starstruck if I had been 

there. Y’all know me! 

To mention the holiday parties that I promised 

at the end of the last Rag, my thanks again 

to Macy Alexander and her partner Jason for 

the standing invite to their holiday gala. They 

really out-do themselves each year and the 

food and liquor — oh my! It has become one of 

my favorite holiday gatherings, complete with 

commentary by Elaine Davis. Ha! We know she 

loves an audience! It would take me until the 

next Rag to mention who all I bumped into there, 

but suffice it to say the majority of the big names 

in this area were there. 

I left and went to a smaller gathering with 

my sisters Brooke and Brandonna after we had 

spent the night before together for my birthday. 

Slight change of plans, though, thanks to 

Mother Nature — we didn’t terrorize any Latino 

bars, we had a quiet homemade dinner. At that 

smaller gathering, I did get to chat with our Miss 

NC America, Detra Penucci, about her great 

experience at Miss America this past fall; as it 

turns out, she’s ready to go back after she got 

some great feedback from some judges and 

formers. Here’s wishing Detra a great year as 

our state’s “Symbol of Excellence.” 

drag rag 

by miss della :: qnotes contributor 

What a wild, wonderful year, already! 

Shortly after Christmas, I finally went to 

check out a show at Petra’s and had a nice time 

with Ron, Tracy, Gypsy and Emery. Miss Roxy 

C. Moorecox hosted and did a number and was 

joined by Carmendy, Sierra Santana, Miss Charlotte 

Pride Felicia Monet and Miss Petra’s Pride 

Brandi Andrews, my newest little drag sister. 

Petra’s is a nice bar and they always have something 

going on in ‘da neighborhood! Imagine my 

surprise at the end of the show when former 

Miss Scorpio Big Mama B came bouncing in 

with a group of good-looking kids. I sure wish B 

still did shows! 

I’ve just gotten back from a quick trip to 

Asheville with friends Brooke, Brandonna, 

Karlos and David — we made the trek up that 

mountain to see the show at Hairspray. Former 

Miss U.S.ofA. Classic flew in from California to 

do the show. It was fabulous to see her, as well 

as Adara McDaniels and Briana Love Michaels 

onstage. That crazy Natalie Maria Smalls emceed 

and was very hospitable and introduced 

anyone who was anyone to the audience. Lord, 

she’s a handful, but a true gem of a person. 

Speaking of this past birthday, Linwood 

Dean, aka Talya Kohl, treated me to an exquisite 

dinner as we discussed drag business. It seems 

they have named her the Miss Unlimited at 

Large emeritus and they are planning the first 

national contest from June 3-6, tenatively, 

in Hickory at Club Cabaret. You’ll find on the 

company’s website, usaunlimited.org, that the 

categories will be Personal Interview, Creative 

Sportswear, Talent and Evening Gown. Reach 

the ole gal at missunlimitedat 

large2009@hotmail.com and tell her I sent ya! 

In closing, I actually have a few contests to 

chatter about — like Miss and Mister Holiday, 

which took place at Club Odyssey in Winston- 

Salem. The winners were Paisley Parque and 

Cassius Vain and their runners-up were Miss 

Spotlight and Keoki. Raven Wood has already 

had her first prelim, which was a double crowning 

— Victoria Victors won Winter Wonderland 

and her RU was Ciera Fontaine and Dior won 

Sweetheart and her RU was Vanity Michaels. 

I am still trying to get specifics on this 

Showtime special that (I guess) is a spin-off of 

“Trantasia.” I believe Cassandra Cass, Maria 

Roman and Tierra Russell did it, but my old 

friend Tamalah Taylor had to decline — seems 

she’s married with children instead. You better 

work, sis! More details to follow about the 

show, I promise. : : 

info: Drop me a line, OK? 

TheTeaMissD@yahoo.com 


Jan. 23-Feb. 5 . 2010 qnotes 23

Jan. 23-Feb. 5 . 2010 qnotes

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