QNotes, August 20, 2021
This issue centers around LGBTQ youth. We cover studies that show Gen Z has the largest amount of LGBTQ people. Additionally, we offer multiple articles with advice for those starting their college careers. We also have current local, regional, and national news, along with other pieces, that will serve to enlighten and entertain our readers.
This issue centers around LGBTQ youth. We cover studies that show Gen Z has the largest amount of LGBTQ people. Additionally, we offer multiple articles with advice for those starting their college careers. We also have current local, regional, and national news, along with other pieces, that will serve to enlighten and entertain our readers.
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Aug. 20-Sept. 2, 2021 qnotes 1
2 qnotes Aug. 20-Sept. 2, 2021
Aug. 20-Sept. 2, 2021
Vol 36 No 09
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inside this issue
feature
4 Advice for Transgender
and Non-Binary Students
10 Study of Gen Z
Shows More Youth
Identify as LGBTQ
11 College Search
Process for LGBTQ
High School Students
12 Getting Involved in
LGBTQ Student Life
13 Choosing a Major
and Career as Out
LGBTQ Students
19 Our People: Peyton-Namire
news
6 News Notes
6 Briefs
8 ‘We’ve Always Created
Our Own Resources’
a&e
16 Barbra Streisand’s
‘Release Me 2’ and Morly’s
‘Til I Start Speaking’
17 Tell Trinity
life
18 Olympic City
views
4 Resilience and
Remembrance
14 The Spiritual Journey
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Aug. 20-Sept. 2, 2021 qnotes 3
views
by Kendra R. Johnson,
Equality NC Executive Director
Contributing Writer
As we continue through the blazing heat
of the end of summer, it’s time to take
stock and reflect on recent events. This is
even more true this month because this
is Black August. Black August is a time
of resilience and remembrance of Black
resistance against racial oppression, especially
in the prison system.
Black August began in 1979 following
almost two decades of organizing and
resistance by folks like George Jackson,
James Carr, Hugo Pinell, W.L. Nolan,
Khatari Golden and others while within
the walls of the California penitentiary system.
These men took it upon themselves
to form a brotherhood that solidified a
collective consciousness surrounding
the unjust treatment of Blackness by the
American judicial system and the horrific
atrocities they experienced as Black individuals
experiencing incarceration.
We know that it’s crucial to celebrate
this important work — so let’s take this
Resilience and Remembrance
Political Voices
time to celebrate our wins in the struggle
for justice. And let’s spotlight one in particular
— Charlotte passed a nondiscrimination
ordinance.
On the evening of Monday the 9th, the
Charlotte City Council passed a nondiscrimination
ordinance, creating protections
from discrimination based on gender
identity, sexual orientation, natural hair,
veteran status and much more. It was an
incredible moment for our communities,
and it wouldn’t have been possible without
the incredibly powerful coalition in
Charlotte which has been working towards
nondiscrimination for almost 30 years,
well before I became ENC’s Executive
Director. This fight was all the more important,
given the dangerous situation for
Black trans women in the city — Charlotte
has been identified as one of the most
dangerous cities in the country for the
trans community.
The struggle began as far back as the
90s. More recently, Charlotte voted on
nondiscrimination in 2015 — but due to
some last minute changes, the ordinance
failed. In 2016, Charlotte was finally able
to pass a comprehensive NDO — but it unfortunately
became the target of backlash
at the N.C. General Assembly, resulting in
the infamous House Bill 2 and its later partial
repeal in House Bill 142. With House
Bill 142’s ban on local ordinances sunsetting
in December 2020, local advocates
and activists were poised to push through
nondiscrimination legislation on the local
level. A coalition assembled, with Equality
NC and the Campaign for Southern
Equality, the Carolinas LGTBQ Chamber
of Commerce, Charlotte Black Pride,
Charlotte Pride and Transcend Charlotte.
Our coalition worked and lobbied the
city council hard — and in the end it was
successful. Charlotte, the largest city in
North Carolina, now protects LGBTQ people
from discrimination in many walks of life.
The lesson of the Charlotte nondiscrimination
ordinance is one of the importance
of coalition building. In the face of
unpredictable and powerful opposition,
advocates fought for nondiscrimination
through thick and thin, eventually achieving
a resounding victory. Charlotte was
able to accomplish this because of all of
you — the people who wrote letters to
city council, the people who came out to
protests, the people who said that they
were ready for nondiscrimination. This
spirit of collaboration and mutual aid in
the struggle against oppression is what
Black August is all about.
And Equality NC is working to build on
this tradition of resistance this month. In
celebration of Black August, Equality North
Carolina is selling Black Resilience t-shirts
— and donating proceeds to the QTIPOC
Survival Fund, a mutual aid organization
which gives money to queer and trans
people of color in need in the Piedmont of
North Carolina. You can donate here.
We strongly encourage you to honor
the spirit of Black August this month by
taking a stand against anti-Blackness
and the carceral state in your community,
whether it’s through helping out a
bail fund, participating in a protest, or
donating to mutual aid work through the
QTIPOC Survival Fund.
We all have a role to play in the struggle
for racial and social justice — let’s join
together and make some change. : :
Advice for Transgender and Non-Binary Students
For People Starting College and Those Returning to Campus
am a Campus Pride intern and a fourthyear
student at Syracuse University. As a
I
college student, I have had the freedom
to explore my gender and sexuality while
living on my own. I did not come out as
non-binary until my junior year of college,
and it was difficult at first to navigate the
challenges of being trans on campus.
Whether you’re a first-year student or
are about to graduate, there are more resources
available to you than you realize.
You are not the first or last student going
through this, and you are not alone. Read
below for some of the best advice and resources
I’ve found in my time at Syracuse.
Campus Pride’s Trans Policy
Clearinghouse is a resource for college
and university transgender policies. The
clearinghouse is updated regularly by Dr.
Genny Beemyn, a scholar on trans issues
in higher education and the Director of
the University of Massachusetts Amherst’s
Stonewall Center.
It is important to know whether trans
and non-binary student rights are protected
on your campus. In recent years, colleges
and universities have updated their nondiscrimination
policies to include gender identity
and expression. If you attend a historically
women’s college, make sure you are aware
of your school’s trans admissions and graduation
policies if you plan on coming out or
transitioning as a matriculated student.
Trans-Inclusive School Records
and Legal Identification
At Syracuse University, students can
change their gender designation with legal
documentation, but only if it matches their
4 qnotes Aug. 20-Sept. 2, 2021
“legal sex designation.” Your legal gender
designation is provided on government
documents, like a license or passport,
which many trans individuals don’t have.
Schools like Elon University will allow
you to update your name and pronouns
on school records or through your student
portal. Although you may be unable to
update your “legal sex designation” on
your records, your preferred name and
pronouns will be available to all of your
professors on their class rosters.
If you experience bias or discrimination
in the classroom, you can use Campus
Pride’s bias and hate crime prevention
resources or go through your school’s
official channels. LGBTQ discrimination is
by Julia Schwenderman | Campus Pride Intern
It is important to ensure a college respects the needs of gender-expansive individuals.
(Photo Credit: Gender Spectrum Collection)
illegal at government-funded institutions
under Title IX. For more information about
how the law protects LGBTQ students, visit
bit.ly/3AIZxIh.
Trans-Affirming Campus
Spaces and Facilities
Today, some colleges and universities
offer gender-inclusive student housing. At
Duke University, students living in dorms
can request a gender-neutral rooming assignment
to make their on-campus living
arrangements more comfortable. Some
universities offer LGBTQ Living Learning
Communities for first-year students or
gender-inclusive student housing, like
Shore Hall at Guilford College.
Bathrooms are often a point of contention
for trans and non-binary students.
Student housing at many universities
and colleges still features community
showers or “sex separate” floors and
bathrooms. Contact your residential
housing association to locate gender
neutral bathrooms in the dorms. Check
out your school’s website to see if they
offer a map or list of other trans-inclusive
facilities on campus.
Gender-Affirming Counseling
and Healthcare Services
Finding a LGBTQ health center in
my college town helped me through my
transition and to navigate my mental
health struggles. At the University of
Connecticut and other schools, students
can receive gender-affirming health care
and counseling services.
Student health centers at some
schools offer a variety of gender health
care services like hormone therapy,
general wellness and gender-affirming
consultations. Check out your student
health care center’s pharmacy to see if
they sell trans-inclusive health and wellness
supplies, like chest binders, KT tape
and hair-removal treatments.
But, there are other resources for
finding LGBTQ-affirming therapists and
healthcare providers. Find an LGBTQ
healthcare provider using the GLMA
Provider Directory. For students of color
looking for BIPOC therapists, check out the
National Queer and Trans Therapists of
Color Network. : :
Aug. 20-Sept. 2, 2021 qnotes 5
news
CLT City Council Unanimously Votes Yes On NDO
A unanimous City Council vote August 9 signifies that all Charlotte residents will now be protected from discrimination in the workplace.
The ordinance covers sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression and natural hairstyles. It will also bar discrimination in
public accommodations, such as hotels and housing.
The NDO was originally proposed to apply to businesses with only 14 or fewer employees. This meant that employees at larger companies
would have been required to access protection and legal recourse on a federal level. City attorney Patrick Baker continues to advocate
for this course of action, saying that Charlotte will receive an influx of complaints from larger organizations or businesses that the city is
not equipped to handle.
Despite Baker’s somewhat less-than-logical claims, the nondiscrimination ordinance was passed without restrictions, meaning that all
employers, no matter the company or corporation size, must abide by these regulations. What the NDO does not cover includes religious
and political organizations, public restrooms, private clubs or membership-based groups.
The changes that are being made in professional settings, however, are life-changing all the same. Vice President of the Charlotte chapter
of the National Organization for Women (NOW) Jenny Gunn stood before the Mecklenburg County Government and told her story. As
a transgender woman, she has been the victim of job discrimination in Charlotte, often realizing that her pronouns and identity would not
be respected in the workplace. Said Gunn: “This is about freedom.”
Despite dissenting opinions from a handful of individuals who spoke in Council Chambers, the City Council was not moved by their
attempts at justifying discrimination. Instead, as each member voted in favor of the NDO, reaction from most of the crowd and council
members was upbeat and supportive.
“My adopted city of Charlotte values me, values us,” Gunn offered excitedly, “This is a happy ending.”
In celebration of the victory, the Carolinas LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce, along with Charlotte Black Pride, LGBTQ Democrats of
Mecklenburg County, the Campaign for Southern Equality, Equality NC, Charlotte Pride, the Freedom Center and Transcend Charlotte held
“Charlotte is Ready: A Community Celebration” at The NoDa Brewing Company.
info: bit.ly/3yNvbnk
— Julianna Peres
Campus Pride’s 20th Anniversary Celebration Continues
Campus Pride is celebrating their 20th anniversary this year by commemorating the work they have done with over 1,400 colleges and
universities over the past 20 years. During that time, LGBTQ individuals aged 18 to 26 have and, going forward, will continue to reap the
benefits of Campus Prides’ programs, grants and social groups.
This year has brought with it the promise of a greater media presence and several opportunities for community growth.
“Today we remain committed to our mission in building future leaders and creating stronger communities,” says Campus Pride
Founder and Executive Director, Shane Windmeyer. “The work is never done.”
In advancing the far-reaching efforts of the organization, Campus Pride has also dedicated their Career Connect portal to the facilitation
of relationships between LGBTQ-friendly enterprises, advisors and potential employees. With funds up to $600 each allocated to current
and future students, Campus Pride has made 2021 a great year for those seeking to advance or begin their college education.
Campus Pride recognizes the difficulty that both out and closeted individuals have in finding affirming academic spaces. In response,
the organization launched the Campus Pride Map in March. This online search engine acts as a cheat sheet of sorts for LGBTQ-related
resources at each community college or state university.
Alumni and current staff and faculty (Allied and LGBTQ) at these schools are now recognized through Campus Pride’s Spotlight Series.
Since February 2021, those from universities around the country have been featured on Campus Pride’s Instagram Live.
Cultural Diversity is one of the main focuses of Campus Pride. In the interest of empowerment, education and inclusivity, Historically
Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) have their policies and campaigns prominently placed to keep all Campus Pride users informed.
This includes the HBCU Clearinghouse, an online program that alerts students and faculty about upcoming projects.
The Campus Pride’s Safe Space Training institutions and their members are asked to complete workshops regarding allied, LGBTQrelated
and gender-expansive issues.
Additionally, Campus Pride’s Stop the Hate program extends to multiple racial and cultural groups, from BIPOC (Black, Indigenous and
People of Color) individuals to those with disabilities, in an effort to help show how schools should create a more welcoming and tolerant
environment.
Says Windmeyer, “Our Campus Pride family is strong as we continue to grow and plan for our future.”
info: campuspride.org
— Julianna Peres
Biden Names Another LGBTQ
Community Member to His Cabinet
On August 6, President Biden nominated Scott Miller as ambassador to Switzerland and chief envoy to Liechtenstein; positions that are
headquartered in Bern, Switzerland.
Miller and his husband, Tim Gill, have donated over $390,000,000 to LGBTQ causes. Among these causes are efforts to ensure that
LGBTQ youth will no longer be forced into conversion therapy, experience harassment at school and to provide general protection from
harassment.
Currently serving as Board Member of the Gill Foundation, Miller is responsible for navigating nonprofit and inter-organizational collaboration.
The foundation is based in Denver, Colorado, interestingly enough, just about an hour away from the notoriously anti-gay
organization, Focus on the Family, in Colorado Springs. Miller and Gill have funded local elementary, middle and high schools. During
COVID-19, the pair worked with other volunteers to cook and distribute more than five million meals to those experiencing unemployment
or homelessness.
In addition to his charitable efforts, Miller previously held the title of Vice President at UBS Wealth Management. There he acted as advisor
to those seeking to enhance their portfolios or improve their finances.
“If I’m fortunate enough to be confirmed,” Miller says, “I hope to build on the work of my predecessors to strengthen the already solid relationship
we have with the Swiss and Liechtensteiners, including our dynamic trade, investment and defense partnerships.”
The position of Swiss ambassador has been open since January 2021. Before this time, a South Carolinian native, Edward Thomas
McMullen Jr., was acting United States Ambassador to Switzerland as appointed by former president, Donald Trump, and had served as
vice chair for Trump’s inaugural committee.
Another plus on the Miller list, he has funded several Democratic candidates’ campaigns in the past decade. These donations included
a $365,000 grant to President Biden during the general election. In his international endeavors, Miller has also acted as event planner for
global corporations and entrepreneurs. His interest in politics stems directly from his passion for democracy and human rights advocacy.
If confirmed by the U.S. Senate, Miller hopes to continue his advocacy work for the LGBTQ community in the United States, Switzerland
and Liechtenstein.
info: bit.ly/3CG92tH
— Julianna Peres
6 qnotes Aug. 20-Sept. 2, 2021
Briefs
CHARLOTTE
Carolinas LGBT+ Chamber of
Commerce Facilitates “Visibility =
Empowerment” Networking Event
The Carolinas LGBT+ Chamber of
Commerce is hosting an evening for
Charlotte’s professional queer community
on August 24 beginning at 6:30 p.m.
in the NoDa Company Store. This social
gathering will feature live jazz music,
cocktails, hors d’oeuvres and plenty of
engaging conversation. Certified LGBTQ
Business Enterprise representatives will
be available to discuss diversification
amongst workforces, fellowships and
volunteer positions.
info: bit.ly/3fYW3t7
All-Gender Participants Welcome
to the Charlotte Pride Pageant
This annual drag competition is open
to any interested parties who value
inclusivity and fun. This family-friendly
show will take place on August 28 at the
Northwest School of Arts at 6 p.m. For
those who would prefer to attend the
performance as audience members,
tickets are on sale both online and at
the door. Winners will be determined
by the former Mx. Charlotte Pride, Mr.
Charlotte Pride and Ms. Charlotte Pride.
info: charlottepride.org/pageant
NATIONAL
Founder of the University of
Pennsylvania’s LGBT Center
Has Passed Away
Bob Schoenberg, age 76 at the time of
his passing, was witness to a violent,
homophobic beating on the University
of Pennsylvania’s campus in 1982. It was
after this event that Schoenberg decided
to create an LGBT Center, in which he
served as Director for 35 years. Holding
the title of second-oldest and largest
LGBTQ center in the United States, Penn’s
queer students emphasize the safety and
comfort that they feel at school.
info: bit.ly/3iImxB0
Transgender Woman Running
for New Orleans City Council
Mariah Moore believes that, in order for
minoritized individuals to have a say in
political decisions, they must first be represented
in the government. She hopes to
do just that, envisioning a world in which
“Black trans lives matter,” will be uttered
by a Black transgender woman in power.
With her background in the Transgender
Law Center, the trans-specific permanent
housing nonprofit, the House of Tulip,
and having engaged in the world of sex
work, Moore aims to bring her professional
and personal experiences to the
position of city council member.
info: bit.ly/3AF0e5u
INTERNATIONAL
New Zealand Residents May Do Time
for Performing Conversion Therapy
In a new bill, Justice Minister Kris Faafoi
and the New Zealand government
states that conversion therapy is a
harmful and ancient practice that has
no place in the modern world. This bill
would make it so that those performing
conversation therapy on a minor will be
sentenced to three years in prison and
those who cause harm to minors will be
sentenced to five years.
info: reut.rs/2VUOLzP
— Compiled by Julianna Peres
HRC Takes Aim at Gen Z With Program
to Create an HIV-Free Generation
The Human Rights Campaign (HRC) launched the My Body, My Health campaign on June
22. Now, over a month later, the campaign has expanded with the creation of Generate.
“There is no question that the next generation of health activists will have a
powerful role to play in putting an end to the HIV epidemic and boosting positivity
around prevention and treatment measures,” says Alphonso David, president of HRC,
“Marginalized people disproportionately bear the brunt of social and economic inequities
that fuel HIV stigma and discrimination.”
The goal of Generate is to spark a conversation between one LGBTQ-identified
Black or LatinX person and another, creating a system of role models for those in danger
of contracting HIV or those living with HIV. With the collaborative efforts of Gilead
Sciences, one of California’s top bio-pharmaceutical companies, the Human Rights
Campaign has been able to study the correlation between Black, Indigenous and other
people of color and their sexual health.
Through this research, HRC found that one of the primary factors in each of these
cases is the limitation to adequate health care. Us Helping Us, an organization dedicated
to finding holistic solutions to HIV/AIDS, partnered with HRC as well, allowing interested
parties to have an in-home STD/HIV testing kit delivered to their front doorsteps.
Within the My Body, My Health campaign, the HRC has created an HBCU
(Historically Black Colleges and Universities) Sexual Health Directory. This links university
students to health care professionals and services both on and around campus.
Using a “find your school” search engine, prospective students may also see what
contraceptives, testing or telemedicine is offered in over 50 colleges.
Some of the North Carolina-based universities include Bennett College, Elizabeth
City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, St.
Augustine’s College, Winston-Salem State University and Shaw University. The goal
with Generate is similar: to find advocates in college campuses to spread sexual health
information to their peers.
Sign-ups for the program will continue through August 19. For those interested, go
to bit.ly/3CAaQEx.
Facilitators urge applicants to keep in mind that advocates must be between 18
and 24 years of age, have access to technology that allows virtual training for webinar
participation, be willing to share personal HIV-related stories, be of Black or LatinX
heritage and be fully vaccinated.
Each fellow will receive a $1,000 stipend but will not receive hourly wages. Only
15 individuals will be selected for Generate in 2021. To pose any questions or concerns,
contact HRC’s Associate Director of HIV and Health Equity Vanessa Castr at
vanessa.castro@hrc.org.
info: bit.ly/3iKmZ1z
— Julianna Peres
P-Town Experiences COVID-19
Delta Variant Outbreak
Provincetown, Massachusetts, a town with
3,000 year-round residents, has been a haven for
the LGBTQ community long before COVID-19 hit.
Their annual festivals and parties are dominated
by the gay male circuit scene, but have grown to
include events like Womxn of Color Weekend,
Bear Week and Carnival, all bringing in tens of
thousands of visitors. Although guests are always
welcome to this stretch of mainland, Provincetown
became concerned that they would bring more
than just their enthusiasm; they feared they would
also bring new strains of the COVID-19 virus.
The July 4 holiday weekend confirmed those
fears. Thousands of guests poured into the town, participating in the legendary parties
and activities without wearing any masks. Not long after, between July 3 and July
17, 469 Massachusetts residents were reported to have COVID-19 by the Centers for
Disease Control (CDC). Over 75 percent of these individuals were fully vaccinated and,
as per the state’s face mask restrictions, did not wear any coverings when engaging in
the fun that Provincetown had to offer.
Once the numbers broke, Provincetown natives started to speak up. Director and curator
of the AMP Gallery, Debbie Nadolney, said that she and her partner were one of the
first to demand that all patrons use face coverings and social distance whenever possible.
“Provincetown is such a little place, but obviously we’ve been a petri dish for the
country,” Nadolney explained.
Provincetown’s Manager, Alex Morse, told CNN, “What we’re taking from here is
that this Delta variant is highly transmissible, more contagious, more likely to have a
breakthrough infection, but it’s not likely you’re going to be hospitalized, and you’re
certainly not going to die.”
Despite saying that this variant is not necessarily lethal, Morse laments the 103
new cases of COVID-19 in the town, saying that the most efficient way to rid the
LGBTQ sanctuary from the virus is by getting the vaccine. With local entrepreneurs
and employees taking it upon themselves to create stricter mask and vaccine regulations,
numbers are dropping.
Hotel owner Ken Horgan shares, “if you’re planning to travel and you’re not vaccinated,
please, please don’t come to Provincetown. We really take our health seriously,
and for our local businesses to survive, we need to stay operational. And to stay
operational, we need to stay healthy.”
info: wapo.st/3COfuyE
— Julianna Peres
Aug. 20-Sept. 2, 2021 qnotes 7
news
‘We’ve Always Created Our Own Resources’
Advocates Across the South Tackle Homelessness in Trans Community
by Tonya Jameson
Guest Contributor
The year 2020 will be remembered for
the COVID-19 pandemic and the long
overdue racial reckoning that followed the
murder of George Floyd. Ironically, the
pandemic that will always be associated
with the number of lives lost and the debate
over masks, lockdowns and vaccine requirements,
along with Floyd’s murder — which
sparked an international movement against
racism — were also the two catalysts that
helped LGBTQ communities address the
needs of its most marginalized members.
Yes, a deadly pandemic and yet another
murder of an unarmed Black man
by a law enforcement officer combined to
create some of the most promising solutions
in transgender homelessness.
It’s been well-reported that the shuttering
of businesses left many Americans
unable to pay rent and exacerbated
homelessness in many cities. Tent cities
like the ones in Charlotte popped up in
large cities throughout the country. Visits
to Charlotte’s uptown tent encampment
revealed what many LGBTQ advocates
already knew — a number of Black trans
women lived on the streets.
The National Center for Transgender
Equality reports that nearly one in five
transgender people has experienced
homelessness at some point in their lives.
Family rejection, discrimination and violence
have contributed to a large number
of transgender and other LGBQ-identified
youth who are homeless in the United
States. Social services and homeless shelters
often deny them shelter based on their
gender identity, according to the report.
The murders of Jaida Peterson and
Remy Fennel in Charlotte hotels this
spring brought mainstream attention
to the crisis. Yet, it was nothing new for
LGBTQ advocates. According to tracking
by the Human Rights Campaign, at least
six Black trans women died by violence in
Charlotte since 2016, making it the second
deadliest city in the nation for transgender
and gender-nonconforming people. And,
while the attention regarding the loss
of life is important, it also highlights the
tendency to only recognize trans individuals
in death. The arrest of suspects in both
murders has shoved the homelessness
among trans people out of the spotlight
locally. Instead, in Charlotte, local LGBTQ
organizations turned their attention to the
non-discrimination ordinance.
However, Black trans women are still
homeless here and face the threat of
violence daily. Housing initiatives in other
Southern cities could offer solutions, but
it’s going to take collaboration, coordination
and trust. Advocates in Memphis,
Atlanta and New Orleans have been in the
national spotlight for their efforts to tackle
homelessness among trans women.
Jesse Pratt Lopez, founder of the
Trans Housing Coalition in Atlanta, can
attest to the importance of collaboration.
She started the organization with a
friend to find long-term housing solutions
for Black and brown trans women
in the Atlanta area.
8 qnotes Aug. 20-Sept. 2, 2021
Jayme, Trans Housing Coalition (THC) Case Manager and Peer Support Specialist (right), sits outside
the apartments of one of the program participants. (Photo Credit: Trans Housing Coalition)
The Coalition has helped trans women
get long-term housing by acquiring two
properties in recent years to house Black
and brown trans women. They not only
provide housing, but also connect the
women with caseworkers and counselors
to address everything from addiction to
mental health issues. The coalition is also
working with other organizations to challenge
elected officials to prioritize the safety
of trans women and end over-policing
in Black and trans queer communities.
“It didn’t start with the intention of becoming
an organization; it really started
out of a need. It was a need that has
existed in the trans community forever,”
said Lopez, 24.
It was a need that Lopez and many
other founders of housing initiatives knew
personally, having experienced homelessness
themselves. Providing housing isn’t
cheap. Each organization that is carving a
new path to housing stability found a different
way to get seed money.
Lopez used her talent as a photographer
to launch a GoFundMe campaign.
She became close to a group of trans
women in Atlanta and began documenting
their everyday lives. The photo project
became the basis of the fund. It raised
$10,000 in late 2019. She secured temporary
housing through the winter holidays
and helped the women get necessities,
but then the pandemic hit. By April 2020,
they ran out of money while the need
grew even larger.
This is the part where George Floyd’s
death comes in.
The uprisings surrounding Floyd’s murder
sparked an outpouring of charitable
giving to non-traditional organizations
fighting for Black people or against racism.
Progressive and racial justice groups experienced
a windfall of donations, according
to a June 2020 New York Times article.
According to the article, ActBlue, the goto
site that collects online donations for
Democratic causes and campaigns, had its
busiest period since its founding in 2004.
It even surpassed the highest peaks of the
2020 presidential primary season. ActBlue
confirmed to The Times that racial justice
causes and bail funds led the way.
Lopez’s organization benefited from
the generosity. That $10,000 that she
initially raised and spent is ancient history.
Last June, Lopez’s fund raised $2 million.
This June, it hit the $3 million mark.
Jesse Pratt López, THC Founder & Current Executive Director, and Feroza Syed, Board member and
realtor with Atlanta Fine Homes Sotheby’s International, sit at “Muffin’s Place,” the house THC
purchased back in March. (Photo Credit: Trans Housing Coalition)
Lopez said the lesson learned in her
journey is that the trans community cannot
wait for others to help them.
“We’ve always created our own resources,”
she said, “We’ve been taking care
of each other. We take care of each other.”
Kayla Gore, co-founder of My Sistah’s
House in Memphis, also relied on personal
talent to help raise money for her organization,
which initially started as a resource
for temporary emergency housing for
trans and gender-nonconforming people.
That was back in 2016, when the organization
was basically a shelter, meaning
Gore and co-founder Illyahnna Wattshall
let people stay in their homes. They also
provided advocacy, legal assistance, bail
funds, job placement assistance and permanent
housing.
Then the pandemic happened, and
Gore said they started seeing clients who
had never experienced homelessness
before. People who had been couch surfing
or staying with family members had
no place to go. The eviction moratorium
didn’t help them, Gore said.
Gore also had a GoFundMe donation
page to raise money for their efforts. After
Floyd’s murder she said celebrities and
others started inviting her to takeover
their Instagram pages to raise awareness
about their efforts. Donations started
pouring in, and as of June they raised
about $600,000. As a result, they started
a trust and acquired land to build tiny
houses or renovate or rebuild existing
homes. So far, Gore said they’ve built one
tiny house, and have two duplexes under
construction. They can house four people
in their emergency shelter, which is a fourbedroom
house with two bathrooms.
“We never had a strategic plan,” she
said, “We were basically putting Band-Aids
on situations.”
Gore’s digital organizing background
has been critical. She’s not only been
able to secure funding, but also in-kind
services such as the architect who designs
the homes. She says she has been able
to acquire land at a reasonable rate and
skirt zoning skirmishes because she builds
in underserved communities. These are
forgotten Black communities, as she calls
them, including her childhood neighborhood,
Orange Mound, the first African
American neighborhood to be built by and
for African Americans.
“It’s full circle,” Gore said, “It wasn’t intentional.
The neighborhood is recycling itself.”
My Sistah’s House is the model that
activist Ash Williams, who recently moved
to Asheville, would like to see happen in
Charlotte. Williams recognizes the city’s
dynamics make that vision a long-term
goal, however, saying that there definitely
isn’t alignment here.
Williams, 28, and other local advocates
say they are just trying to handle each crisis
as it occurs. There hasn’t been a windfall
of cash to kick-start a housing program
like what’s happening in Memphis or
Atlanta. The murders this spring garnered
a lot of press attention and goals to raise
$10,000 to provide direct services to Black
trans women in Charlotte.
“Folks don’t need to see us holding
tens of thousands of dollars,” Williams
said, “There’s immediate needs.”
Jayme, THC Case Manager and Peer Support Specialist, consoles Zakiyah, who is a program participant,
as well as her trans “daughter.” (Photo Credit: Trans Housing Coalition)
Rev. Debra Hopkins, who was also
once homeless, runs There’s Still Hope in
Charlotte. She self-funded the transitional
housing program for homeless transgender
and gender non-binary adults. Hopkins’
program also provides money for basic necessities,
but it is also strict. Drugs and sex
work are prohibited. Other organizations
like My Sistah’s House advise against drugs
and sex and explicitly prohibit the activities
on their properties, but the women are
free to do as they like off-site.
Hopkins has a zero-tolerance policy.
Her tough love approach is meant to help
set women up to be successful and comes
with counseling support to help them over
the hurdles. She also requires clients to
find full-time employment within 90 days
of beginning the program.
These rules can be a turn off for young
trans people, Williams said.
“The goal is to try to get them from the
place that we find them in life, and we try
to help them become respected sustaining
individuals,” she said, “If we’re going to
help them to get to be self-sustaining, then
there’s rules that they have to play by.”
Program participants stay in extendedstay
hotels rather than a single house.
Hopkins said she tried housing participants
together, but many of the women
have experienced so much trauma from
living on the streets that interactions in the
house often became combative. Hopkins
was homeless for two and a half years, so
she understands their struggle.
“When you put them under the same
roof with the complexity of each individual,
it becomes violent,” said Hopkins, 65.
Jermaine Nakia Lee, founder of the
nonprofit, Poor No More, would like to see
something like New York-based Housing
Works here. It’s an HIV/AIDS organization
that provides quality housing, advocacy
and healthcare services for individuals
living with HIV/AIDS or at risk of infection.
Their financial model includes grants and
donations along with profits from its thrift
stores. Nakia-Lee is on his way with his
nonprofit, which hosts pop-ups and provides
free resources to help homeless and
low-income people in Charlotte.
There isn’t a lot of alignment among
LGBTQ organizations in Charlotte, which
is what makes the success of programs
elsewhere all the more exciting. Founders
have consistently said that they didn’t
have a plan, but they had a desire to
address a need. There is no shortage of
individuals doing their own thing to help
the homeless trans community here.
And models elsewhere show that the
collaboration will come once a visionary
lays the foundation. It’s only a matter of
time before determination, coincidence
and a dash of magic will help their efforts
coalesce into something groundbreaking.
Hopefully, a pandemic and the murder of
another Black man at the hands of police
won’t be the catalyst. : :
This story is part of qnotes’ special project
“Stories of Black LGBTQ Resilience and
Economic Mobility” which seeks to connect
responses to economic security and
upward mobility to the lives and futures
of Black LGBTQ people. It is supported
by the Solutions Journalism Network.
To learn more about solutions journalism,
visit solutionsjournalism.org.
Ricardo Hernandez, THC Case Manager, signs a lease with Zakiyah, a program participant.
(Photo Credit: Trans Housing Coalition)
Aug. 20-Sept. 2, 2021 qnotes 9
life
Study of Gen Z Shows More Youth Identify as LGBTQ
Research Covers Cultures Across 27 Countries
by L’Monique King
qnotes Staff Writer
Right around the time when rapper
DaBaby was deleting his suspect apology
to the LGBTQ community for insensitive
comments about gay men and HIV/AIDS,
the Charlotte City Council was unanimously
passing a nondiscrimination ordinance
(NDO). That new legislation, which applies
to large and small businesses, provides
expanded protections for LGBTQ+ people
and those who wear natural hairstyles.
Now, as we look to the future,
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI)
discussions are finding their way into
our politics, offices, schools, homes
and communities. Inclusive rights and
a respect for diversity and inclusion are
what protect and make visibility possible
and a progressive world more feasible.
In fact, a recent study on the amount
of young people who do not identify as
straight or heterosexual might actually
be an indicator of the impending change
of the progress and progression DEI efforts,
like the NDO offer.
The global study was conducted in
27 countries and found that four percent
of those in Generation Z (people
born between 1997 and 2012) identify
as transgender, non-binary, gender-nonconforming
or gendefluid. Conducted by
Ipsos, a research organization, the survey
captured the opinions of a relatively urban
group of individuals with internet access.
The Ipsos survey found that respondents
in Generation Z were nearly four
times as likely than those over the age of
40 to identify as transgender, non-binary,
gender-nonconforming, genderfluid or in
another way.
“They were also the age group most
likely to identify as something other than
heterosexual,” says Nicolas Boyon, Senior
Vice President of Public Affairs at Ipsos,
“Overall, nine percent of respondents
identified as lesbian, gay, bisexual, pansexual,
omnisexual or asexual.”
“For Generation Z, the figure doubles
to 18 percent. The patterns that we see
in the U.S. are definitely not unique to
the [United States],” he continues, “It’s a
global phenomenon.”
With changing social ideals and legal protections, younger generations have more freedom in
comfortably expressing their true selves. (Photo Credit: Sharon McCutcheon via Unsplash)
Worldwide, 42 percent of those surveyed
said they have a gay or lesbian relative,
friend or colleague, while 24 percent
said they know someone who is bisexual;
10 percent said they known someone
who is transgender, and nine percent said
they know someone who is non-binary,
gender-nonconforming or genderfluid.
The likelihood is higher among women
than among men in all four groups, and
there is wide national variation. In Brazil,
for example, 66 percent report having a
gay or lesbian relative, friend or colleague,
but in Japan and South Korea, the number
is only seven percent.
Closer to home, Leslie Oliver is an out
K-8 Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools art
teacher who has seen more than a little of
how identity can show up in young people.
She’s been teaching for 19 years with
most of her professional career spent in
Charlotte middle school classrooms.
“10 years ago, even if students were
queer or questioning, they would never
say it aloud. I could sense it or see it, but
they would never dare acknowledge it,”
says Oliver, “They would see it in me or
other teachers, and the subject was still
touch-and-go.
“I’ve seen students beat up for just
suggesting that another student was
gay. Especially here in the south. Now
students talk about it a bit more openly
and more candidly. The bi children are
very vocal about it now. More students
ask me if I’m married and if I’m married
to a woman. They seem to care less
about what they [think they] know and
who knows [who they are] than they [did]
10 years ago.”
Though delighted and relieved by the
change, Oliver still cautioned that efforts
in inclusion and a continued shift in
atmosphere, which would make schools
in general safe spaces, need to continue.
She is grateful for how many more teachers
affirm their students’ identities today
than did in the past, but acknowledged
there is still work to be done.
“Until all students and teachers can sit
in their seats and speak candidly and exist
safely,” Oliver explains, “we still have more
work to do.”
In reflecting upon the statistics the
Ipsos study yielded, she questions their
accuracy.
“I’ve had the pleasure of teaching
trans students who are very clear as
to their identity. I’m pretty sure the
numbers are greater than that [one in
five identifying as non-heterosexual].
I’d say four of six, but because of queer
fear I’d say the statistics are probably
off. You can’t have the type of ignorance
that queer fear breeds and have
accurate numbers.”
Accurate or not, one thing is clear,
Generation X has raised children and
teens who are living in a time that affords
them more protection to to be who they
are than it afforded earlier generations.
And many of those youth don’t mind
letting the world know, either. : :
10 qnotes Aug. 20-Sept. 2, 2021
life
College Search Process for
LGBTQ High School Students
Ensuring Your School is LGBTQ-Friendly
by Julia Schwenderman | Campus Pride Intern
If you’re a high school student currently applying to
colleges and universities, there are many factors for you
to consider when picking the school that’s right for you.
For LGBTQ students, finding a LGBTQ-friendly campus is
often a part of their college decision process. According to
the HRC 2018 Youth Report, “only 27% of LGBTQ youth can
‘definitely’ be themselves in school as an LGBTQ person.”
For the graduating class of 2022, there are colleges
and universities that look to recruit LGBTQ students and
make them feel welcome on campus. Schools like Duke
University participate in LGBTQ-friendly college fairs and
offer LGBTQ scholarships. There are also schools like
Guilford College that offer themed living communities and
other social opportunities targeted at LGBTQ students.
When applying to schools, Campus Pride suggests that students
take time to think about what is most important to them
when choosing a LGBTQ-friendly campus. Which of these
qualities is most important to you at your future college or
university? The Campus Pride Ultimate Queer College Guide
lists 10 areas to consider during the college search process:
• Active LGBTQ student organization
• Out LGBTQ students on campus
• Out LGBTQ faculty and staff
• LGBTQ-Inclusive university policies
• Visible signs of pride on campus
• LGBTQ allies from the top down
• LGBTQ-inclusive housing and gender-inclusive bathrooms
• Established LGBTQ center and support services
• LGBTQ/queer studies academic program
For students of color and trans students, there may
be other considerations when choosing a LGBTQ-friendly
college or university. For more information for LGBTQ
students of color, visit the Point Foundation BIPOC
Scholarship and Campus Pride HBCU Clearinghouse. Find
information for trans and gender-nonconforming students
from Trans Student Educational Resources, Gender
Spectrum and Campus Pride’s Trans Policy Clearinghouse.
Campus Pride Index
The Campus Pride Index is an “overall indicator of institutional
commitment to LGBTQ-inclusive policy, program
and practice” for college campuses across the country.
Prospective college students can view Campus Pride’s
rankings of LGBTQ-friendly colleges and universities by using
the Campus Pride Index at campusprideindex.org.
Campus Pride also does an annual roundup of the
“best” and “worst” colleges and universities for LGBTQ
students. For our list of Best of the Best LGBTQ-friendly
schools, go to bit.ly/37Jri72. Also, check out our Worst of
the Worst List of institutions that use Title IX exemptions
to discriminate against LGBTQ students.
Campus pride has expanded its research to include
LGBTQ inclusion and safety in college sports. If you are
interested in playing NCAA sports in college, check out the
Campus Pride Sports Index for athletic programs rankings.
Find resources for trans athletes at transathlete.com.
LGBTQ-Friendly College Fairs
Campus Pride hosts a series of college fairs for
students and families looking to attend LGBTQ-friendly
colleges. The organization is the only in the nation that
hosts an LGBTQ-friendly college fair program in six cities
across the country.
LGBTQ Student Scholarships,
Fellowships and Grants
When looking at prospective schools, cost of admission
is a big concern for many students and families. In addition
to financial aid and merit-based scholarships, many
universities and other organizations offer scholarships,
fellowships and grants for LGBTQ students.
National LGBTQ organizations have compiled databases
for LGBTQ students to find scholarships available
to them all in one place. To find scholarships you qualify
for, visit the Campus Pride National LGBTQ Scholarship
Network and HRC Scholarship Database. There are also
minority scholarships for Black, Latinx, Indigenous, Asian
and Pacific Islander students. The Point Foundation also
offers scholarships, mentorships and other LGBTQ student
merit programs. : :
Aug. 20-Sept. 2, 2021 qnotes 11
life
Getting Involved in LGBTQ Student Life
How to Find Organizations on Your College Campus
The college experience is about more
than just the program you’re in or
the major you study. For many LGBTQ
youth, going to college is their first time
living away from home. When choosing
to attend your college or university, you
should know what resources are available
to you as a LGBTQ student. Having active
LGBTQ student groups and support services
are important factors of a LGBTQfriendly
campus.
Getting involved in LGBTQ student
life on campus allows queer and trans
youth to learn more about themselves
and others like them. Also, it opens the
door to leadership opportunities, support
systems and professional networking.
At schools like Elon University, there are
many ways for LGBTQ students to get
involved on campus.
Finding LGBTQ On-Campus
Groups and Organizations
Are you wondering what resources
and groups are available to you on your
campus? Check out the Campus Pride Map
to find LGBTQ college groups and support
services. Available resources include Pride
student groups, LGBTQ alumni groups,
LGBTQ resource centers and safe spaces.
Also, your campus’ LGBTQ-friendly ranking
in the Campus
Pride Index
features evaluations
of on-campus
resources and
student life.
Some schools
have extensive
lists of student-run
LGBTQ groups,
like the University
of Michigan.
Groups like
AHAVA, Stonewall
Democrats and
TransForm are led
by students for students. These groups
are a great way to make friends and find
your LGBTQ community on campus.
If you attend a smaller college or university,
you may be limited in your student
group options. But no matter the size of
your campus, there are other support systems
in place for LGBTQ students. LGBTQ
resource centers, like the one at Duke
University, receive campus funding and are
run by LGBTQ faculty and staff. Campus
centers educate students and faculty,
influence campus policy, host on-campus
events and help enforce disciplinary action.
If you are struggling to get involved in your
by Jullia Schwenderman | Campus Pride Intern
on-campus LGBTQ
community, resource
centers are a
great place to start.
LGBTQ
Learning
Communities
and Residence
Halls
A quintessential
part of the
first-year college
experience is living
in a residence hall.
Living in an on-campus dorm is an important
social environment for students. If
you are a student seeking LGBTQ-friendly
housing, see if your school offers genderinclusive
student housing.
Many colleges and universities offer
specialized living learning communities.
These dorms plan programming around
shared passions or identities among
residents. Your school’s living learning
communities may include LGBTQ housing
for students looking to join a community.
Schools like Guilford College and Bucknell
University host entire residence halls
exclusively for LGBTQ housing.
Seeking a Community
Elsewhere on Campus
There are many ways to find a community
on campus outside of designated
LGBTQ groups and spaces. Attend your
activities fair or talk to your peers about
other clubs that are LGBTQ inclusive.
Find out if your school has trans-inclusive
intramural sports and other resources for
transgender athletes from TransAthlete, a
database of inclusion.
Lambda 10 Project and
On-Campus Greek Life
College students can join social,
professional and multicultural Greek
organizations. Most students picture
single-sex Greek chapters when they
think of recruitment, but there are other
gender-inclusive options for LGBTQ
students who want to join. Sororities
like Gamma Rho Lambda offer a social
support system to LGBTQ college students.
LGBTQ Greek College Tour brings
information about Black LGBTQ Greek
life to campuses across the country.
If you are a member of a Greek chapter,
join the Lambda 10 Ally Network
to make all Greek life a safe space for
LGBTQ members. : :
12 qnotes Aug. 20-Sept. 2, 2021
life
Choosing a Major and Career
as Out LGBTQ Students
Finding the Right Fit for Your Future
by Jesse Reidy | Campus Pride Intern
When they arrive at a new college or university, all
students have a similar goal. Everyone wants to make
the most of their time on campus. This could mean choosing
the right major, making new friends or, often, finding a
place in a huge campus community.
For LGBTQ students, finding a community can be even
more stressful than for their cisgender, heterosexual
peers. The questions begin before one even steps foot
on campus. Can I be out safely? Will I be accepted by my
roommate? Where can I find other people like me?
Complicating things further, a student’s choice of major
can heavily influence their experience throughout college.
And, for better or for worse, some departments have
certain stereotypes. Do LGBTQ students choose certain
majors more than their straight peers?
A 2017 study out of San Francisco State University
found that, out of a sample of 11 gay male students, all
but one chose an arts or humanities major. The students
in the study acknowledged that other departments did
not have a homophobic reputation. However, the openlygay
students sought out environments they knew to be
actively accepting of queer expression.
Clearly a student’s major can shape the community
they’re a part of in college. Are LGBTQ students drawn to
certain majors for this reason?
“At the time, no,” says Jerry, a doctoral student at
George Washington University, of his experience choosing
a major as an LGBTQ undergrad student. Jerry
studied Psychology and Social Work and says his LGBTQ
identity may not have influenced his choice, but it “did
keep me there after I arrived. I was able to make friends
and create a community.”
Campus Pride, a nationwide advocacy organization for
college students, has found similar results. In a 2018 survey,
42 percent of students reported that they were pursuing
an arts- or social science-related major. For anyone
who has attended college, these results are unsurprising.
“My identity as a member of the LGBT+ community
did not necessarily influence the process of choosing my
major program, but it did pique my interest in taking as
many LGBT+ related courses as I could,” says Simone, a
recent graduate in Mass Communications from Towson
University. LGBTQ studies and history classes fall firmly
into social sciences, so it makes sense that LGBTQ students
are drawn to these areas.
At the same time, a full quarter of students did state
that their major was in STEM: science, technology, engineering
and math. While these fields may be traditionally
conservative, it makes sense that responses are varied;
after all, LGBTQ people are amazingly diverse, and that
includes our interests and career paths. But are the career
choices of queer students shifting over time?
Jerry believes so. He says, “I think we are starting to
venture out of our ‘norms’ and select career goals that are
more in-line with our passion.”
It certainly seems that way. As LGBTQ visibility increases,
the focus on representation in traditionally white,
cisgender, straight, male fields is also growing. Students
are having discussions about representation that might
not have taken place even a few short years ago.
“One moment I will remember is how one student I
talked to mentioned how prejudiced people will make jokes,
saying one day there will be a gay, trans, disabled, autistic
character and how Hollywood forces diversity, but for them,
they actually were ALL of those things,” says Luke, a senior
Communication, Media, & Rhetoric and Human Services
student at the University of Minnesota Morris.
Luke says this experience reminded him how important
positive representation of marginalized groups can
be. When LGBTQ students are able to be out in their
chosen major, they can help create a more welcoming
environment for all students.
It may appear as if LGBTQ students are choosing different
majors over time. It’s important to remember that queer
students, like all students, have incredibly diverse interests
and goals. The shift in major choice probably coincides with
larger trends. More likely, students are more comfortable
being out at school, no matter what they’re studying.
Simone describes the importance of out role models at
school. When classes, majors and schools as a whole are
more diverse, everyone benefits.
“Representation matters, and when someone who may
be apprehensive to study something because they don’t see
anyone similar to them in the field sees that person doing
exactly what they hope to do someday, it’s encouraging.”
Ultimately the choice of a major and then a career is
personal. For LGBTQ young people, the choice is often more
complicated and more challenging. This fall, the Campus Pride
Career Connect online platform launches to help college students
find their passion and future career path. The goal is to
break down barriers and connect students early with LGBTQ
and allied employees as mentors for job prep and career
readiness. Learn more at CampusPride.org/CareerConnect. : :
SPECIAL THANKS TO CAMPUS PRIDE
& SHANE WINDMEYER FOR THEIR
CONTRIBUTIONS IN THIS ISSUE
Aug. 20-Sept. 2, 2021 qnotes 13
views
by Rev. Marty Bacher
Contributing Writer
The courage to grow spiritually includes the courage to
face the unknown. Our greater good often lies outside
of what is currently known, and therefore what is comfortable.
The change we seek — whether it is to create greater
prosperity, attract a new relationship or to learn a new skill
— requires us to move into the realm of discomfort and
the unknown. However, it seems our brains are hardwired
to keep us safe and to avoid discomfort. It’s ironic that we
seek change, yet we also inherently resist it.
Faith is not about having all the answers. Instead,
authentic faith allows us to enter more deeply into the
questions. There is a part of us that is deeply connected
with the Divine, even if we don’t yet recognize it. This is
called the Spiritual Self.
The egoistic self sees itself as a human being in search
of a spiritual experience, whereas the Spiritual Self sees
Itself as a spiritual being having a human experience. The
egoistic self sees itself as a noun — a person, place or thing.
It identifies itself with the physical realm: the body, the
roles we play, the positions we hold, the wealth we have or
don’t have.
Plato described the journey of the soul. He said that
before entering the body the soul knows all things. But just
before it enters an earthly existence, the body is dipped in
the River of Forgetfulness. This myth reminds us of the mystery
inherent in the spiritual journey. Our lives are about
remembering what we already know at some deep spiritual
level. The great spiritual teachers throughout the ages have
come to remind us of who and what we truly are.
The Spiritual Journey
Spiritual Reflections
Whereas the egoistic self sees itself as a noun, the
Spiritual Self sees itself as a verb, as an extension of being,
of loving and of expressing. When Moses encounters the
Divine and asks, “Who shall I say sent me?” God replies, “I
am that I am,” which more properly translated, means I
am that which causes all things to be.
The Spiritual Self identifying with the eternal and
radiant Source, recognizes the transitory nature of
things. In the Bhagavad Gita it is written: “This self is
never born nor does it ever perish; nor having come
into this existence will it again cease to be. It is birthless,
eternal, changeless, ever-same, unaffected by the usual
processes associated with time. It is not slain when the
body is killed.”
We free ourselves from mental bondage when we
learn to identify more and more with the Spiritual Self.
Three simple affirmations help us to remain in a spiritual
consciousness and navigate the journey:
1. Whatever I am grateful for, I will increase. Gratitude
recognizes the blessings the Divine has brought into our
lives and attracts greater blessings.
2. Whatever I am responsible for, I can change.
Responsibility allows us to recognize our participation in
whatever is happening in our lives and what we did to
create, promote or allow it.
3. Whatever I am compassionate toward, I can heal.
Compassion literally means “to suffer together.” As we
extend compassion, we help elevate and shift awareness
to wholeness and healing.
Gandhi taught us that “we must widen the circle of
our love until it embraces the whole village; the village
in turn must take into its fold the district; the district the
province, and so on till the scope of our love encompasses
the whole world.”
Let us move forward together on the spiritual journey
with gratitude, responsibility and compassion. : :
Rev. Marty Bacher is a speaker, consultant and ordained
New Thought minister. He has served as openly gay spiritual
leader for over 30 years.
14 qnotes Aug. 20-Sept. 2, 2021
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That is why, for many reasons, having a solid circle of support
can be just as instrumental in helping someone battle this
disease as is the medication. At Rosedale Health and Wellness
and Dudley’s Place, we understand this need. The clinical needs
of every patient are handled at Rosedale with the upmost care
and concern of qualified and compassionate staff in the area.
They always go the extra mile to make a new client or a client
that has been seeing us since the day we opened feel like part
of a family. The patient centered care model is something that
both Rosedale and Dudley’s Place work hard to perfect every
day so that your experience as a patient is focused on you.
Dudley’s Place offers “Couch Talks” every other week on Tuesdays
at 6:30 pm at their offices. Couch Talks are a form of a support
group, but not like all the others. When we launched the program
prior to COVID, we talked with a variety of clients and community
members to hear from them what they would want a group to
look like. Many said they simply wanted a chance to talk, share
and connect. So, that is what we are doing. The group is lead and
facilitated by staff of Dudley’s Place that are also HIV positive.
Currently the groups are limited to only HIV positive individuals
in order to protect their anonymity and to create a safe space
for sharing. Aside from sharing stories and experiences, the
groups help to connect people with others in similar situations.
Dale Pierce, Executive Director has said, “the great thing that
has come out of these groups are the connections being made.
The relationships are blossoming from a room of strangers
into a family of sorts that supports, listens and assists each
other inside and outside the confines of the setting.” Members
are saying that it has opened them up to new experiences
and perspectives. The traditional meeting settings are helpful
and needed, but we are also instituting some other options to
make it a more social experience. Plans are in the works for a
picnic this summer, painting classes, and maybe even a trip to
Carowinds, along with a Thanksgiving potluck and holiday party.
Many factors and feelings can come into play with a diagnosis.
Feeling like fear, anxiety, isolation, depression, sadness, anger, even
a fear of the future. One client, an African American heterosexual
woman that attends Couch Talks and has been positive for almost
two decades, says the group saved her. “Especially during the
pandemic, I retreated even further into myself and self-isolated
more than ever. Having HIV can be scary, it made me feel like I
wasn’t worthy of being around people, that I was somehow less
than others. The Couch Talks at Dudley’s Place changed all that.
I have a whole new support system of friends I consider family.”
If you would like to know more about Dudley’s Place, Rosedale
Health and Wellness, and Couch Talks; visit our websites at
Dudleysplace.org and Myrosedalehealth.com. You can also follow
both organizations on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Aug. 20-Sept. 2, 2021 qnotes 15
a&e
Barbra Streisand’s ‘Release Me 2’
and Morly’s ‘Til I Start Speaking’
Streisand’s Collection of Previously Unreleased Material is Now Available
by Gregg Shapiro
Contributing Writer
With the arrival of her new album,
Release Me 2 (Columbia,
available on LP, CD and MP3), the compilation
follow-up to 2012’s Release Me,
comprised of previously unreleased
material, Barbra Streisand has entered
hipster territory by including the vinyl
version. Of course, the question remains
how many of Barbra’s devoted alter
kocker fans have made the return trip to
the world of turntables (let alone downloading
and streaming music), along
with the so-called “younger generation.”
Nevertheless, Streisand and Columbia
Records, her home for nearly 63 years,
deserve kudos for making the effort.
Streisand, who has long been an
outspoken activist and voice for social
causes, opens Release Me with “Be
Aware,” a Burt Bacharach/Hal David
chestnut that was also recorded by the
late queer singer/songwriter Laura Nyro.
The song, recorded in 1971, deals with
the subjects of homeless children and
world hunger, proving that the more
things change, the more they stay the
same. Barbra Joan Streisand, her second
album of 1971, featured three Carole
King compositions — “Where You Lead,”
“Beautiful,” and “You’ve Got A Friend,”
so it’s not surprising to learn that she
recorded another King tune, “You Light
Up My Life” (no, not THAT “You Light Up
My Life”), in 1974.
A pair of duets, “Rainbow
Connection” with Kermit the Frog,
from 1979, and “I’d Want It To Be You”
with Willie Nelson, from 2014, prove
that Barbra plays well with others. Her
1971 cover of Randy Newman’s “Living
Without You” may lack the oomph of versions
by Kelly Hogan and Nilsson, but it’s
still pleasant. Arlen and Harburg’s “Right
As The Rain,” from 1962, serves as a
reminder of the spell early Streisand was
able to cast on listeners.
After releasing three EPs from 2015
to 2017, singer/songwriter and visual
artist, Morly, a.k.a. Katy Morley, returns
with her full-length debut LP, “‘Til I Start
Speaking” (Cascine), after having battled
chronic illness. The immediate impressions
one gets from these 10 songs is of their
timelessness and beauty. The borderline
retro arrangements on songs such as
“Wasted,” complete with soulful backing
vocals, “Sleeping in My Own Bed,” from
her 2017 EP of the same name, “Twaine
Harte,” “Up Above,” “Jazz Angel (Bill)” and
“Superlunar” are nothing less than exquisite.
Additionally, the visual component to
the LP, the 12-page lyric book, features
Morly’s artwork, which is breathtaking to
behold. Don’t hesitate to add this striking
album, which is reminiscent of early Feist,
to your record collection.
As for Streisand, if she wants to
continue her stay in the hipster haven of
Vinylville, she might consider covering a
Morly tune, such as “Sleeping in My Own
Bed,” on her next studio album.
Stranger things have happened. : :
16 qnotes Aug. 20-Sept. 2, 2021
a&e
Open Relationships vs. Cheating
Tell Trinity
Dear Trinity,
There’s no such thing as an open relationship.
A relationship is a “contract,” a “commitment,”
and if that contract is broken, there’s
no relationship. So, if my partner came home
after screwing around on me, then said, “I love
you,” I’d ram a pipe up their backside!
Commitment or Pipe, Kansas City, MO
Dear Commitment or Pipe,
Did you know, some people have “closed”
committed relationships like what you’re describing,
while others have open committed
relationships, which includes sex outside the
relationship, and that, believe it or not works
great for them? Talking to many folks in long,
long-term relationships has exposed me to
many ideas about relationships, opening
my (closed) eyes. If you have an agreement
to be monogamous, then you don’t have an
open relationship, period. But, honey, if your
partner one day does “cheat,” then hopefully
you’ll love them enough to deal with it
“openly.” Agreements change throughout a
relationship and throughout time whether
you pipe it… I mean, like it or not!
Love, Trinity
Hello Trinity,
My boyfriend loves me but wants me to
be things I’m not, like playing or watching
lots of sports. I don’t enjoy them, but I do it
by Trinity | Contributing Writer
for him. Lately, he keeps insisting that my
pleasure of people watching or shopping at
the mall is something he wants me to stop.
Will I ever get to be me?
Sincerely, I Gotta Be Me, Dallas, TX
Hello I Gotta Be Me,
Sure you will. When one becomes two,
there’s a little give and take, sometimes
even a lot. Good for you for being flexible.
And, pumpkin, if you start feeling disrespected
or being disrespectful to your own
needs, you and he may need to have a
“lets’ compromise” pow-wow!
Dearest Trinity,
I’m originally from America, but I’ve
been living in Montreal, Canada for the
past three years. The gay men here are tres
gorgeous but are lacking personality, unlike
men from the states. Help!
Montreal Men, Montreal, QC
Dearest Montreal Men,
Americans do have an open spirit
that may lack amongst some beautiful
and gay Quebecois. Why do you think
the Webster Dictionary puts “looks” and
“personality” 320 pages apart! But don’t
be discouraged by what you’ve seen so
far in the dating scene. Darling, keep
meeting people, keep kissing cheeks
and eventually you’ll find a Quebecois…
with an American joie de vie.
Love, Trinity
Hey Trinity,
I’m dating a woman who drives like a
maniac. How do I get her to drive normally
when I’m in the car without sounding like a
neurotic date?
Thanks, Driving Complaints, Cincinnati, OH
Hey Driving Complaints,
When some folks drive, they forget
they’re on a date, and not at the Daytona
500. So sweetie, besides offering to drive
(for the rest of your lives together) try
sending her:
Trinity’s Cautious Tips for Driving With a Date
1. NO tailgating. It’s guaranteed to scare your date! One car length for every 10 mph please!
2. NO road raging. Having to listen to someone yelling, being aggressive AND driving is
awful and unattractive!
3. NO speeding. It always makes someone feel like they’ve been kidnapped!
4. NO breaking the law. If you’re trying to impress a date, running lights and stop signs
definitely won’t do it!
5. NO talking on the cellphone. Not even your loving mother wants to watch you drive
and chat. Plus, you’re on a date, so TURN OFF the cellphone!
6. NO driving offensively. It makes your passengers fear for their lives!
7. However, DO drive defensively. Let others make mistakes around you without having
to reprimand them. A date is a time to act light, peaceful and forgiving!
8. DO drive patiently, like you have Lady Gaga in the car.
9. DO wear your seatbelt.
10. And lastly, DO remember, a car is a weapon that can kill you and your date, who is just
trying to get to know you… not trying to share a funeral with you! : :
With a Masters of Divinity, Reverend Trinity hosted “Spiritually Speaking” a weekly radio drama,
performed globally and is now minister of WIG: Wild Inspirational Gatherings. Sponsored
by: WIG Ministries, www.wigministries.org Gay Spirituality for the Next Generation!
Send e-mails to: Trinity@telltrinity.com
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Aug. 20-Sept. 2, 2021 qnotes 17
life
by Joey Amato
Guest Contributor
Did you know that Colorado Springs is
also known as Olympic City, U.S.A.?
Neither did I. Not only is the city home
to the U.S. Olympic Training Center, but
Colorado Springs recently celebrated
the grand opening of the U.S. Olympic &
Paralympic Museum, a stunning state-ofthe-art
building showcasing the history of
the Olympic games as well as athletes that
competed. The 60,000 square-foot facility
focuses on the core values of the Olympic
and Paralympic movements: friendship,
respect and excellence, determination,
equality, inspiration, and courage. The
museum was voted “Best New Attraction”
by USA Today, and it’s easy to see why.
Visitors enter a grand lobby and take
an elevator to the top level of the building
where they can view a chronological history
of the Olympic and Paralympic torches, medals
and other items. The museum is divided
between the summer and winter games, and
the self-guided tour includes an emotional
video highlighting the greatest U.S. Olympic
triumphs as well as some struggles Team
U.S.A. has faced along the way.
The U.S. Olympic & Paralympic
Museum is within walking distance from
the new Kinship Landing hotel, so it is
well worth the visit. After a morning at the
museum, grab a quick bite at the hotel’s
restaurant, Home Café + Bar. I ordered the
North Park sandwich, consisting of roasted
pork, caramelized onions, banana peppers
and served with a black garlic aioli. It was a
messy, but delicious way to begin my stay
at Kinship Landing.
The hotel is meant to be a gathering
place. Many spaces in the lobby are designed
so guests can mingle and socialize
with each other. The hotel gears towards a
younger, more adventurous traveler who
is looking to make friends and create wonderful
memories along the way. This in no
way means the hotel skimps on luxury.
The bed was probably one of the most
comfortable I’ve slept on.
A brief 15 minute ride from the
property is the Cheyenne Mountain Zoo,
which was recently voted one of the best
zoos in the country. While the setting is
truly breathtaking, the zoo itself was a bit
Olympic City
Pride Journey: Colorado Springs
Joey at Pike’s Peak. (Photo Credit: Joey Amato)
challenging to navigate. There were a few
times my guest and I had to backtrack and
ask zoo staff for directions, as some of the
exhibits weren’t clearly marked. Some of
my favorite areas of the zoo included the
penguin habitat as well as the Australian
exhibit. Visitors can also purchase unique
experiences, including the chance to feed
elephants and giraffes.
For dinner, head over to Paravicini’s
Italian Bistro, an old-school Italian restaurant
located in Old Colorado City, or “OCC”
as the locals call it. The restaurant was featured
on an episode of Guy Fieri’s Diners,
Drive-ins & Dives, and I can now see
why Fieri was so in love with this place.
The chicken marsala and side of penne
Bolognese were prepared to perfection.
I wasn’t expecting a great Italian meal in
Colorado, but I sure got one.
Colorado Springs is home to two LGBTQ
bars, Club Q and ICONS. Although I didn’t
have a chance to visit Club Q, I did swing
by ICONS, which is located in the heart
of downtown. The piano bar is probably
one of the best LGBTQ bars I’ve been to in
recent memory, not only for the theme, but
also the friendliness of the staff and quality
of the cocktails. The venue opened in 2020
and features a talented group of bartenders,
who also perform throughout the
evening, singing a variety of music from old
standards to more recent hits, from icons
including Whitney Houston and Lady Gaga.
The next part of my trip focused
on wellness and nature. I began the
morning with an incredible yoga class
from Dragonfly Paddle Yoga, where we
did yoga on a paddleboard in the middle
of a lake. Get ready to engage your
core muscles for this one, or you will be
drenched before class is over. The class
meets at the boat ramp of a man-made
lake near downtown and paddles to an
alcove surrounded by lush trees with
mountains soaring in the background.
At first, I was hesitant to try to stand on
the paddleboard, but as time went on, I
gained confidence in my yoga skills (or
lack thereof) and was able to stand and
perform yoga poses on the paddleboard.
Some were more challenging than others,
but I did get a fabulous workout while
enjoying the beautiful surroundings.
After grabbing a light snack and latte
from Loyal Coffee located directly across
from Kinship Landing, head to the Cog
Railway and prepare to ascend to an elevation
of over 14,000 feet to the top of Pike’s
Peak. The entire journey takes a little over
an hour but is well worth it. The view from
Pike’s Peak is spectacular and was said to
be the inspiration for the song, “America
the Beautiful.” The original railway opened
in 1891 and was recently restored, making
it the highest in the United States and longest
cog railway in the world. Bring your
camera for this journey!
End your vacation in Colorado Springs
with a visit to the Garden of the Gods
Resort and Club. Located just 15 minutes
from downtown, the resort is positioned on
the edge of Garden of the Gods Park, and
the view is nothing short of extraordinary.
Guests can dine on the mesa while watching
the sunset over the mountains or wake
up early for some sunrise mediation.
As soon as I arrived at the hotel, I went
for a walk around the property and was
overwhelmed by the sheer beauty of the
resort and the park itself. My room featured
two queen size beds and an enormous
bathroom with a walk-in shower
and separate soaking tub. I really didn’t
spend much time there as I was too busy
enjoying the natural wonders.
After a few days spent touring the
city, I was most excited about my treatments
at STRATA Integrated Wellness and
Spa. I began my spa day with Functional
Neurology, a complex science which uses
signals from the body to reset the brain.
The alternative treatment is used to
properly align the body’s musculoskeletal
structure and restore mobility. It’s like a
combination of chiropractic and touch
therapy. Speaking of touch therapy, I had
the chance to experience a wonderful
treatment in which the therapist used
her hands to help treat aches and pains. I
wasn’t sure what to expect, but the treatment
was quite relaxing and something I
would do again. I was able to feel the heat
and energy from her hands as she ever so
slightly touched problem areas.
My favorite treatment of the day,
however, was the Royal Thai Poultice
Massage, an 80 minute experience which
combines an organic herbal poultice with
Thai stretching and aromatherapy. How’s
that for a day of pampering?
Begin the following morning with
Breathwork and Mindfulness on the mesa
led by the STRATA’s wellness coach, Kelly
Stoinski. It’s rare that I have a chance to slow
down, especially in the morning, but this
was a perfect way to end an incredible visit.
Colorado Springs is a great place for
LGBTQ travelers seeking a combination
of outdoor adventures as well as city life.
While the city itself isn’t as large as its
neighbor to the north, it is very walkable,
easy to navigate and everything you need
to experience is within a 15-20 minute
drive from the airport.
To book your Colorado Springs gaycation,
visit Orbitz.com/Pride.
Enjoy the Journey! : :
18 qnotes Aug. 20-Sept. 2, 2021
life
by L’Monique King
qnotes Staff Writer
Born in North Carolina, Peyton-Namire has lived
in Charlotte for most of his 22 years. On a balmy
Friday evening he hangs out at a playground where
a celebration of his girlfriend’s mother’s birthday is
about to begin. Children can be heard playing in the
background, a puppy frolics and the smell of sweet
barbeque sauces wafts up from a nearby grill. In
the midst of all this, a young trans man with an easy
smile makes time to talk to qnotes about what it’s
like to be him/them.
How do you identify?
When I’m out in public I’m a regular cis male. I don’t
live stealth; I just don’t choose to have my transness
out there. Because I live in a red state and I really
don’t feel safe knowing that people can just go into
a fit of rage just from me saying I’m transgender.
When I’m out as Peyton, I’m at an event or anything
that has to do with people of color or trans people,
and I let people know that I am trans. I want people
to know that there are trans people everywhere —
especially trans men of color. I see more white trans
men [in the media] when I see them at all.
Have you always known you’re trans?
No. I figured it out when I was 14. I can’t say that
I’ve always been trans. It took me a year and a
half to come to that conclusion. At the time I had
a partner that helped me, helped me pick out a
name for myself. I’ll never forget what they did for
me. Coming out to my parents was not an easy
experience. Anytime I tried to come out about anything
different or unique, it was not accepted and I
was seen as rebellious.
How’s your family accepting your trans identity now?
I can’t say that my family has fully accepted me; I don’t
even think they really know what that means. I think it’s
because we’re Black people and already at great risk for
discrimination and death. Adding me being trans on top
and transitioning into a Black male is even more frightening
for them.
Is that the most difficult part about being young,
Black and trans in the south, the risk of being taken
for a cis Black man?
Funny thing is, when I tell someone that I am transgender,
they’re always surprised. They don’t think that we exist. I
get people thinking I’m a male trying to be a woman. I tell
them that I’m female to male and most people don’t seem
to know what that means. We’re so invisible. Many are so
stealth that people don’t know we exist, they [stealth trans
men] go about as cis men while I have to prove my transness
to people.
Sounds like a bit of a burden. Is visibility part of your
activism or advocacy for LGBTQ youth? Would you
share a little with qnotes readers about what your role
in LGBTQ advocacy and activism looks like?
It looks like me going on stage and telling you about
me as a person and then me telling you that I’m trans.
I need you to see me as a person before you see me
as a trans person.
Going on stage? Can you elaborate?
I team up with Time Out Youth and do Speakers Bureaus
for colleges and organizations that would like to know how
to best support LGBT kids — the right way. If you teach the
teachers a little bit about pronouns or how to address a
child, that makes a big difference in kids coming to school.
Many are frightened, but having just one staff member, one
teacher they can talk to, helps a lot. It can even decrease
suicide rates. That’s why I want to go state to state to help
Our People: Peyton-Namire
Transgender Youth Discusses Safe Spaces and Misguided Words of DaBaby
establish programs for trans and non-binary kids, [so they]
can comfortably transition while they’re in school. I don’t
understand why schools don’t protect trans kids or trans
kids with disabilities. If I could create a safe space in every
state, I would, a safe space for LGBT kids to go.
What led you to become involved in LGBTQ youth issues?
I’ve never been the type to sit back and let something
happen. So, when it was time to speak, I’ve always been
able to speak up for myself and other people. It’s been a
long journey. My doing this, it just happened, and I took
the responsibility and ran with it. I try to speak for all
LGBT kids if I can. Those that are silent are often the ones
contemplating suicide. So, I try to create change — that’s
what I aim to do.
Do you have any trans role models, celebrity or otherwise?
Yes, there’s a person on Instagram, his name is
SteroidBeyonce, and I like him so much because he’s both
masculine and feminine. I think people get too hung up
on gender norms, what’s supposed to be for boys and
what’s supposed to be for girls. They don’t pay attention
to what their kids really like or who they really are. They
just want them to fit in. There are so many simps — I call
them simps, for simple minded people — in the world, and
there’s no need for that. You can find out anything you
want; all you have to do is Google it or YouTube it. You can
learn about trans people by hearing people tell their transition
stories. So, I just think [those who aren’t informed]
don’t want to learn. And you don’t have to want to learn,
but you will respect my pronouns.
So, what do you think about the recent drama surrounding
some homophobic and HIV-stigmatizing comments
made by rapper DaBaby?
He’s been canceled for me a while ago. He’s been doing
things like what he said during that festival; it’s not
new. Rappers that act like that are not new. I don’t understand
why it took this for him to get canceled.
There was a time when he knocked one of his
fans on stage, a girl. He should have been cancelled
long ago. His apology video was bullshit — I
put nothing past him, especially since he hangs
with Lil Boosie, who had so much mean stuff to
say about Dewayne Wade and Gabrielle Union’s
[trans] daughter.
DaBaby was raised in Charlotte, and the impact
of religion is a big thing in the south. Are you religious?
If so, how have you been able to reconcile
your identity with your religion?
I practice Buddhism. Tibetan Buddhism. I know
a lot of queer people that practice and do yoga.
Through Buddhism I’ve learned how to become
one with myself to achieve Nirvana. Nirvana is
another word for enlightening, finding peace, happiness.
So, I’m okay.
Outside of the peace you find in practicing
Buddhism, is there anyone in particular in your
life that has supported you? Maybe a role model
or a mentor that you’ve learned any valuable
lessons from?
Yes, James Rice III. I met him at Time Out Youth when
I was 18. He works there. He’s helped me from the
beginning of my transition, and he introduced me to
Shaq Clarke, my Housing Administrator. She helped
me get housing and taught me a lot about budgeting
and other things.
James has been more of a father figure to me
than my actual dad, though he’s in my life but doesn’t
do nuttin’. James taught me that many of the feelings
that I have are okay. He taught me that it’s okay to be
angry. He’s always told me that he’s going to accept
me for who I am and what I come with, and that he’s
always going to love me for who I am.
Wow! It’s wonderful that you have such supportive
people like them in your life. The world is
changing. When you think about the lives of the trans
community of color 25 years from now, what do you
think things might look like?
I think everyone is gonna’ wanna’ look like trans and nonbinary
people because it’s the style, though they don’t
want the life [many trans and non-binary people live], like
a trend. I could see that. Androgynous looks are already
becoming fashionable.
What’s a typical day like in the life of Peyton-Lamire?
I go to work around 11:00 a.m. at an uptown restaurant,
my shift ends around 4:00 or 5:00 p.m., I’m a host. When
I get off, I go home, play with my dog and try to ground
myself. I put my feet in the grass and try to unwind fully
with a little bit of nature. Once I go in the house, I try to
eat something healthy, like salad with chicken, berries
and pecans, shower and meditate for as long as I feel like
I need to. Depends on the type of day. My happy place is
sleeping to thunder and rain. Being an introvert, I think
I enjoy more alone time than lots of people, so I fill time
with painting or going to a movie by myself. I’ve learned
that I don’t have to be around people to feel accepted. I
work at a job where there are a lot of people, so I really
need to use my downtime as self-care time. My company
is the best company.
What makes you smile?
Seeing others happy and knowing that I put that smile on
your face.
Any advice for trans or non-binary kids navigating the
difficult journey of living as their authentic selves?
I’d tell them, you are not crazy, you are exactly who you
say you are. Who others say you’re supposed to be is
not important. You can transition. It is possible, and
even if you don’t transition, you are valid, you are loved
and you can be you.: :
Aug. 20-Sept. 2, 2021 qnotes 19
20 qnotes Aug. 20-Sept. 2, 2021
JUST