InterstateQ.com

Practicing Democracy

by Brian | May 9th, 2008 | 4 Comments »

About a month ago I remarked, “Will this race end already?!?!” John McCain had secured the GOP nomination and I saw the continued Democratic primary as self-destructive and distracting. The Republicans have been gearing up for the General Election while the Democrats “drag this out.” I was annoyed and just a little self-righteous. Recently, I am singing a different tune.

While the Republican nominees dropped away and rallied behind John McCain, Senators Clinton and Obama continued campaigning. Voters across America continued voting and the discussion continues. Even as Obama seems more and more to be the likely nominee, I am excited that the primaries have persisted.

This is democracy in action.

In recent years, “we” have complained of hanging chads, stolen elections, and meaningless votes. This year, voters in nearly every state play a role in deciding who the nominee will be. Matt remarked on Wednesday that the North Carolina primary counted for the first time in his life. I made my first political contribution well after Super Tuesday.

This nomination process has not been quick and easy. It is protracted, messy, and emotional. Some polls indicate that supporters for each of the remaining Democratic contenders are so loyal that they will not vote or vote for McCain if their candidate fails to secure the nod. But at the end of the day, the Democratic party will have a candidate that the party–the whole party–has chosen. I wonder if the in-the-moment emotions might change as delegate counts continue to come in. This time, at least, we know what the country is saying. There were no early drop-outs in exchange for benefits. There was no political engineering amongst political players. There has been election after election, caucus after caucus, debate after debate.

If I learned anything from Equality Ride, it was that governing through consensus is not easy. On our bus, we had differing opinions, emotional discussions, and deeply-held convictions. It would have been easier to fall in line and follow the orders of a few, but it would not have been nearly as enriching. The 2008 nomination process has been draining but at the end of it all, we will know that we did it right. And that is reason enough to support either candidate.

Posted in Democratic Party, Politics | 4 Comments »

A song Solmonese missed…

by Matt | May 9th, 2008 | 2 Comments »

Oooo, buddy. I’m on a country kick tonight. Boy, I’m having fun.

From Carolina down to Georgia,
Smell the jasmine and magnollia,
Sleepy Sweet home Alabama,
Roll tide roll,
Muddy water, Misssissippi,
Blessed Graceland whispers to me,
Carry on, Carry on,
Sweet Southern Comfort carry on

I wonder if Joe Solmonese has ever heard this song?

———————-

Memories, Memories… The time that should have lasted…

I saw you star-ing at each other
I saw your eyes be-gin to glow
And I could tell you once were lov-er’s
You ain’t hidding nothing I don’t know

There’s an old flame, burning in your eyes
That tears can’t drown, and make-up can’t disguise
That old flame may not be stronger, but it’s been burning longer
Than any spark I might have, started in your eyes

You said it ended when he left you
You say your love for him is gone
But those old memories still up set you
For I might be a memory before to long

Wow. Those few drinks sure have made me all reminiscent.

———————-

Little sister, Cara, on the 4-wheeler… Uncle Butch to the side. Lambsburg, Va., Summer 2007

High school, four-wheelin’ on the family mountain…

Just off of the beaten path
A little dot on a state road map
That’s where I was born and where I’ll die
Things move at a slower pace
Nobodys in the rat race
And these days thats a special way of life

Chorus:
Down home, where they know you by name
And treat you like family
Down home, a man’s good word and a hand shake
Are all you need
Folks know, if they’re falling on hard times
They can fall back home
Those of us raised up down home

In the corner of the hardware store
Gathered round a checkerboard
Old men telling lies and crowning kings
Kids driving round the old town square
Tops rolled down in the cool night air
Go and see whats shaking at the dairy queen

Those were the days.

———————-

And for all my dear Republican friends…

Song, song of the South.
Sweet potato pie and I shut my mouth.
Gone, gone with the wind.
There aint nobody looking back again.

Cotton on the roadside, cotton in the ditch.
We all picked the cotton but we never got rich.
Daddy was a veteran, a Southern Democrat.
They oughta get a rich man to vote like that.

… And …

Clear creeks and cool mountain mornin’s.
Honest work out in the fields.
Cornbread in my momma’s kitchen.
Daddy saying grace before the meal.
Family ties run deep in this land.
And I’m never very far from what I am.

I was born country and that’s what I’ll always be.
Like the rivers and the woodlands wild and free.
I got a hundred years of down home running through my blood.
I was born country and this country’s what I love.

Posted in Misc | 2 Comments »

I’m telling all my friends you’re gay…

by Matt | May 8th, 2008 | 3 Comments »

Humorous? Yes. Do I love it? Yes. Somewhat negative? Who cares.

The gays finally get another mention in Country music…

“Picture to Burn” Taylor Swift
State the obvious,
I didn’t get my perfect fantasy
I realized you love yourself
More that you could ever love me
So go and tell your friends
That I’m obsessive and crazy,
That’s fine
I’ll tell mine
You’re gay,
And by the way,

I hate that stupid old pickup truck,
You never let me drive
You’re a redneck, heartbreak
Who’s really been a lie
So watch me strike a match
On all my wasted time
As far as I’m concerned,
You’re just another picture to burn.

There’s no time for tears
I’m just sitting here planning my revenge
There’s nothing stopping me
From going out with all of your best friends
And if you come around saying’ sorry to me
My daddy’s going to show you how sorry you’ll be

‘Cause I hate that stupid old pickup truck,
You never let me drive
You’re a redneck, heartbreak
Who’s really been a lie, yeah
So watch me strike a match
On all my wasted time
As far as I’m concerned,
You’re just another picture to burn.

And if you’re missing me
You better keep it to yourself
‘Cause coming back around here
Would be bad for your health

‘Cause I hate that stupid old pickup truck,
You never let me drive
You’re a redneck, heartbreak
Who’s really been a lie, yeah
So watch me strike a match
On all my wasted time
In case you haven’t heard,

I really, really hate that stupid old pickup truck,
You never let me drive
You’re a redneck, heartbreak
Who’s really been a lie, yeah
So watch me strike a match
On all my wasted time
As far as I’m concerned,
You’re just another picture to burn.
Burn, burn, burn, baby burn.
Just another picture to burn
Baby burn

Posted in Misc | 3 Comments »

Now the Carolina spotlight disappears

by Matt | May 7th, 2008 | 3 Comments »

Wonderful evening. Exciting and engaging. You could practically feel the energy among North Carolinians yesterday. For the first time in a really long time (like the first time in my life, although that doesn’t mean much, lol), North Carolina’s primary actually meant something.

In case you missed the results (victor in red):

President (Democrat)
Hillary Clinton (DEM) — 41.47% — 660,747
Mike Gravel (DEM) — 0.78% — 12,448
Barack Obama (DEM) — 56.30% — 897,017
No Preference (DEM) — 1.45% — 23,123

U.S. Senate (Democrat)
Kay Hagan (DEM) — 60.25% — 811,566
Duskin C. Lassiter (DEM) — 4.60% — 61,985
Jim Neal (DEM) — 18.04% — 242,967
Howard Staley (DEM) — 4.47% — 60,232
Marcus W. Williams (DEM) — 12.64% — 170,263

Governor (Democrat)
Richard H. Moore (DEM) — 39.87% — 601,071
Dennis Nielsen (DEM) — 4.02% — 60,653
Bev Perdue (DEM) — 56.10% — 845,698

Governor (Republican)
Bill Graham (REP) — 9.26% — 46,800
Pat McCrory (REP) — 46.25% — 233,877
Robert F. (Bob) Orr (REP) — 6.74% — 34,104
E. Powers (REP) — 0.88% — 4,451
Fred Smith (REP) — 36.87% — 186,402

Lt. Governor (Democrat)
Walter H. Dalton (DEM) — 45.47% — 609,744
Hampton Dellinger (DEM) — 33.89% — 454,449
Pat Smathers (DEM) — 13.67% — 183,281
Dan Besse (DEM) — 6.97% — 93,462

Lt. Governor (Republican)
Timothy Cook (REP) — 11.97% — 53,257
Greg Dority (REP) — 10.04% — 44,685
Robert Pittenger (REP) — 59.06% — 262,808
Jim Snyder (REP) — 18.94% — 84,265

Unfortunately, my candidates weren’t the lucky ones last night. Obama took North Carolina over Hillary, Jim Neal couldn’t push off Kay Hagan and Dan Besse hardly registered at all when it came to polling day.

I had hoped Hillary’s upward movement in the polling leading up to the primary meant she had some sort of momentum. It was a long shot, but I at least still dreamed of a Clinton victory.

My biggest worry about the presidential race is that McCain will win in November:

A solid majority of each Democratic hopeful’s voters said they would not be satisfied if the other candidate wins the nomination. Nearly two-thirds of Clinton voters said they’d be dissatisfied with Obama, compared with 52 percent in 25 primaries where the question was asked previously. About six in 10 Obama voters said they would be dissatisfied with Clinton as the nominee, more than have said that in any state to date.

Just how dissatisfied? A third of Clinton backers claimed they would vote for Republican John McCain if he faces Obama in November. One in five Obama supporters said they would vote for McCain over Clinton.

There will continue to be a lot of unhappy folks if the party doesn’t do some serious healing.

Regarding the Senate race, I dreamed of a Jim Neal win. I’ve run into lots of folks who voted for Kay Hagan. “Being gay is just a small part of my life,” they say. “Why should I base my vote on my sexual orientation?” The answer is that you shouldn’t, but you should also consider who is the best candidate. If Kay Hagan wins in November then we’ll have a Democratic senator again — wonderful, great and yay. If she doesn’t win, however (and I think it is a long-shot trying to unseat Liddy Dole), then we’ve wasted an entire political season that could have been spent talking about truly progressive, North Carolina ideals.

From Pam Spaulding, Jim’s concession speech:

Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory, the one who all but ignores his LGBT citizens, will face Lt. Gov. Beverly Perdue in the race for the Governor’s office. Both McCrory and Perdue will no doubt be able to pull together the financial and organizational resources to run a tight and effective race. Given North Carolina’s historically Democratic nature, it’s going to be a long-shot for any Republican to win against any Democrat for the gubernatorial races.

Despite the numbers from May 6, I’ll come around and coalesce behind my Democratic nominees. I’ve said it many times before: While I might not think the nominee was the best choice from the Party itself, I can at least believe that any Democrat is going to be better than a Republican (at least those Republicans we have to choose from).

Stay tuned to next week’s May 17 issue of Q-Notes for post-Primary coverage and how the results impact the LGBT community.

Posted in Democratic Party, North Carolina, Politics, United States | 3 Comments »

Headlines: Gay freshman elected, Q-Notes gets online revamp, Police harassment, ‘Naked Boys’ banned in Winston-Salem

by Matt | May 6th, 2008 | 1 Comment »

The latest headlines from the May 3 issue of Q-Notes, Carolina’s multimedia LGBT news source.

Openly gay freshman elected student body prez at N.C. college

by Matt Comer | May 3, 2008

Michael Tuso does not describe himself as an activist, but lives his life to help others.

GREENSBORO — An openly gay freshman at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro (UNCG) won the student government spring election for student body president by an overwhelming majority in mid-April.

Michael Tuso, 19, a native of Raleigh, officially took office Apr. 29. His duties as student government president include overseeing funding for hundreds of student organizations, serving on the university’s board of trustees and acting as a liaison between students and university administration. Read the rest…

Q-Notes Online gets makeover

by Q-Notes Staff | May 3rd, 2008

Regular visitors to Q-Notes Online have already noticed a change in our online presence. A week prior to this current issue, Q-Notes staff rolled out our website’s new design.

The new Q-Notes Online features daily news, RSS feeds, article talkbacks, staff blogs, a daily email news update and more. The new site and its behind-the-scenes construction enable us to better serve you and helps us get the news out faster and better than ever before.

On the new website readers can engage in community discussions on each published article. You can also sign up to receive a daily email delivered right to your inbox every morning containing the latest LGBT news from around the Carolinas. Read more »

Students have run-in with anti-gay preachers

by Will Billings | May 3rd, 2008

UNC-Charlotte students walk past Belk Tower, where LGBT students say they were verbally attacked by anti-gay preachers.

CHARLOTTE — When LGBT and allied students affiliated with the University of North Carolina-Charlotte’s PRIDE student group held their Day of Silence observances, they were confronted with loud and disruptive protests from anti-gay preachers. The events and their aftermath have led to calls for campus policy revisions.

On Apr. 17, students were holding a peaceful demonstration at the campus’ Belk Tower. PRIDE President Braxton Midyette told Q-Notes that about seven preachers “invaded the space PRIDE had reserved for the event” and “verbally attacked” supporters with the slurs they were shouting.

Midyette said, “They were also ‘preaching’ on the fact that it was good that [15-year-old California student] Lawrence King was murdered for being gay and that he, along with the rest of us, were going to Hell for being homosexuals or friends of homosexuals.”

Organizers called campus police, Midyette said, but they took “very little” action. “It was a struggle to even get them out there and actually do something about these individuals,” he charged. Read more »

Gay man, trans woman allege police harassment

by Matt Comer | May 3rd, 2008

CHARLOTTE — Two members of the city’s LGBT community allege that they were victims of police harassment and unfair profiling based on one’s gender-identity and expression.

On the evening of Apr. 10, gay man Kevin Grooms, who writes for Q-Notes as “Miss Della,” and a transgender friend were stopped in their neighborhood by Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Officer Nathan J. Crum.

According to a complaint Grooms filed with the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department, at approximately 10 p.m., he and his acquaintance were walking into their East Charlotte apartment complex when the officer stopped his car and approached them. Reportedly, Crum asked the pair how they knew each other, then he told Grooms that his friend had previously been “chased away” from the complex by police.

Grooms claims the officer referred to his trans friend with derogatory, mixed-gender pronouns several times and stated that she “may or may not have been involved” in an arrest for prostitution at a nearby establishment. Read more »

‘Naked Boys’ banned from state-operated facility

by Matt Comer | May 3rd, 2008

WINSTON-SALEM — The Winston-Salem Theatre Alliance’s production of the gay-popular musical “Naked Boys Singing” has been postponed after state officials with the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Arts (SECCA) told the company they could not produce the musical at SECCA’s performance venue.

According to Alliance organizers, SECCA and N.C. Department of Cultural Resources officials gave the group a flat “no” when they approached them with a request to house the performance. The State took operational control of the venue last year. It was established as a private, non-profit entity in 1956.

“Naked Boys Singing” was set to open later this year.

Q-Notes contacted SECCA director Mark Richard Leach about the situation. He declined to comment and directed our questions to Mary Ann Friend of the N.C. Department of Cultural Resources press office. Read more »

Be sure to check out the rest at the brand new Q-Notes Online.

Posted in Headlines | 1 Comment »

60 N.C. elected officials endorse Clinton

by Matt | May 1st, 2008 | 4 Comments »

Here’s the list of North Carolina elected officials, announced by the Clinton campaign yesterday. The list includes openly gay officials Mike Nelson and Sen. Julia Boseman (see her Q-Notes “Carolina leaders speak” profile today)

Vic Euliss, Councilmember, Graham (Alamance County)
Jerry Tolley, Mayor, Elon (Alamance County)
Gary Barber, Vice-Chair, Ashe County Commissioner (Ashe County)
Joan Brown, Alderwoman, Town of Black Mountain (Buncombe County)
Otto De Bruhl, Register of Deeds (Buncombe County)
Bob Christy Jr. Clerk of Superior Court (Buncombe County)
Jan Davis, Vice-Mayor, Asheville (Buncombe County)
Susan C. Fisher, State Representative (Buncombe County)
Rosalie Phillips, Alderwoman, Black Mountain (Buncombe County)
Wade Nelms, County Commissioner (Cartert County)
Charlene Dowdy, Register of Deeds (Currituck County)
Gene Gregory, Vice-Chair, Currituck County Commissioner (Currituck County)
Steve Dolley, Former State Representative (Gaston County)
Sharon Harrell, Register of Deeds (Gates County)
Kay Cashion, Vice Chair, Guilford County Commissioner (Guilford County)
Jim Morgan, Former State Representative (Guilford County)
Jon Baker, City Council, Roanoke Rapids (Halifax County)
D.N. Beale, Mayor, Roanoke Rapids (Halifax County)
Ernest Bobbitt, City Council, Roanoke Rapids (Halifax County)
Ed Deese, City Council, Roanoke Rapids (Halifax County)
Jeff Fraizer, Sheriff (Halifax County)
Ed Liverman, City Council, Roanoke Rapids (Halifax County)
Robert Morgan, Former US Senator (Harnett County)
Councilmember, Hendersonville (Henderson County)
Brenda Bell, Register of Deeds, Statesville (Iredell County)
C.O. Johnson, City Council, Statesville (Iredell County)
Thurza McNair Jackson City School Board Member (Jackson County)
Donald Rains, Mayor, Princeton (Johnston County)
Allen Wellons, Former State Senator (Johnston County)
Robert Swinson, City Council, Kinston (Lenoir County)
Susan Rector, Register of Deeds (Madison County)
Susan Burgess, Mayor Pro Tem, Charlotte (Mecklenburg County)
Daniel G. Clodfelter, State Senator (Mecklenburg County)
Parks Helms, Mecklenburg County Commissioner (Mecklenburg County)
Jennifer Roberts, Chair, Mecklenburg County Commission (Mecklenburg County)
Frank Block, Former State Senator (New Hanover County)
Julia Boseman, State Senator (New Hanover County)
Mike Nelson, County Commissioner (Orange County)
Charles Ward, County Commissioner (Perquimans County)
Eugene James, Pitt County Commissioner (Pitt County)
Tom Taft, Former State Senator (Pitt County)
Stephen Tripp, Mayor, Ayden (Pitt County)
Beth Ward, County Commissioner (Pitt County)
Gerald Whitley, Mayor, Grimesland (Pitt County)
Tommy Melton, Chairman, Polk County Commissioner (Polk County)
Russell Walker, Former State Senator (Randolph County)
Roger Oxendine, County Commissioner (Robeson County)
Ronnie Sutton, State Representative (Robeson County)
John Bell, Wayne County Commissioner (Wayne County)
Lindy Brown, Wake County Commissioner (Wake County)
Roland M. “Bud” Gray, Chairman, Wayne County Commissioner (Wayne County)
Ray McDonald, Sr., Mayor, Mt. Olive (Wayne County)
Atlas Price, Vice Chair, County Commissioner (Wayne County)
Tom Rabon, Former State Representative (Wake County)
Betty Lou Ward, County Commissioner (Wake County)
Max Melton, Former State Representative (Union County)
Aaron Plyler, Former State Senator (Union County)
Tommy Garner, Vice-Chair, Yadkin County Commissioner (Yadkin County)
Hubert Gregory, Mayor, Yadkinville (Yadkin County)
Willaree Jobe, Register of Deeds (Yancey County)

Posted in Democratic Party, Politics, Q-vote 2008 | 4 Comments »

QPoll: Easley and ‘pansy’

by Matt | May 1st, 2008 | 1 Comment »

Q-Notes has been running the Easley/”pansy” controversy as the subject of our QPoll since Tuesday afternoon. Only 59 people have voted (as of 10:00 a.m., May 1).

Here’s the question: “Was N.C. Gov. Mike Easley’s use of the word ‘pansy’ inappropriate and/or homophobic?”

Of the responses, here’s the general run-down:

• It was inappropriate and homophobic 22%
• It was inappropriate, homophobic and/or sexist 32%
• It was inappropriate but not homophobic 24%
• I have no problem with the comment 22%
• I’m not sure 0%

What’s it all mean, you ask?

The responses mean that the overwhelming majority of respondents believe Gov. Easley’s use of the word “pansy” was inappropriate (78 percent), but not all respondents agree on why it was inappropriate:

• Most respondents (32 percent) said the comment was “homophobic and/or sexist.”
• The second most popular response (24 percent) was that the comment was “inappropriate but not homophobic.”
• Tied evenly (22 percent) respondents said the comment was “inappropriate and homophobic” or they had “no problem with the comment.”

Go cast your vote and have your say.

Posted in Anti-LGBT, Democratic Party, LGBT, Media, North Carolina, Politics, United States | 1 Comment »

Florida beat us to it

by Matt | April 30th, 2008 | No Comments »

Seems as though the Florida Legislature beat good ole’ N.C. in passing a state-wide anti-bullying bill protecting LGBT students. We’ve got a similar bill that needs to be passed by our State Senate this coming session.

No word yet on whether Gov. Crist is going to sign it, although the Florida Senate vote was 39-0.

Oh. By the way, North Carolina’s still the most progressive Southern state.

Posted in Civil Rights, LGBT, LGBT Youth, North Carolina, Politics, United States | No Comments »

Easley, ‘pansy’ and the gay response: Don’t let perceptions of N.C. be clouded by Gov.

by Matt | April 29th, 2008 | 7 Comments »

After hearing Gov. Mike Easley’s unfortunate use of the anti-gay slur, “pansy,” I immediately sensed the high probability that my governor’s words could have a huge impact on the way people outside of my state perceive our political leaders and its people.

As a North Carolinian (a very proud one at that) I also immediately felt a need to defend my state, its honor, its wonderful people and our leaders who are working hard every day to secure equality and fairness for all our citizens.

North Carolina already has a bad reputation. From Hollywood movies to old stereotypes about “backwoods North Carolina,” folks outside of my beautiful state and outside of the South tend to believe Tar Heels are nothing but redneck, gun-toting, gay-bashing, cigarette-chain-smoking Republicans who hate blacks, Mexicans, Jews and women.

The reality couldn’t be further from the stereotype. Despite our conservative nature, the people of North Carolina truly are fair-minded, at least when compared to the rest of the South. Are we as “fair-minded” as folks in California or New York? Probably not. But I think our LGBT track record speaks clearly for itself. Our state is Democratic-controlled. Are our Democrats as liberal as those in California or New York? Definitely not. But, I think our people and our leaders are among some of the most fair and equality-minded people in the entire South.

When the radical right looks at their map of states buying into their “save marriage” wedge issue ballot drives, they see a huge hole glaring at them, kicking them right in the face and reminding them of their failure. No matter what they do or say, they can’t get the good Old North State to follow suit.

As I’ve said before, the North Carolina LGBT community is well-connected, well-organized and effective. From statewide policies to municipal protections, North Carolina is ahead on the Southern curve.

Please, whatever you do, don’t let the Governor’s inarguably unfortunate choice of words cloud your judgment and perception of North Carolina and our people.

Posted in Anti-LGBT, Democratic Party, LGBT, Media, North Carolina, Politics, United States | 7 Comments »

National scrutiny: Not fun

by Matt | April 27th, 2008 | 1 Comment »

The N.C. Primary campaigning is in full swing.

Everyone knows I’m a person with a reputation for going head-first into any adventure of mine. How ironic that my first journalism/media job puts me smack-dab in the middle of LGBT political coverage of the N.C. Primary… in a year where our wonderful state isn’t ignored as it is in almost every election year.

National scrutiny isn’t going to be fun and I have a sense I’ll be getting complaints from all sides of all issues over the next week and a half. In fact, I already have.

Stress? No, not at all! There’s no stress here.

Posted in Misc | 1 Comment »