Charlotte Pride

[davidclt]

out of the predominantly gay neighborhood (Capitol Hill) It amazes me how many heteros come out with their families, and kids and strollers and support the homos!

I will say Capitol Hill has changed since I left Seattle to return to Charlotte and most of my friends left the Hill and moved south and north of the Hill and east of the city. I don't know if it's for the bettter or not - I do know most of them don't spend much time on Capitol Hill any more and most find it quaint when I want to wander on up when I'm in town. I do know I don't recognize some parts of the Hill anymore.

This year's Charlotte Pride had more families there than I've ever seen and I hope to see it continue to grow.

[Charlotteman]

You would be surprised how conservative most Capitol Hill gays are (in Seattle). It's the younger heteros that add so much fun to the neighborhood. Capitol Hill is totally overrated IMHO.

But getting back to the Gay Pride events.....I never understood why so many gay pride parades are so "prurient" (love that word-lol) Some of them are downright raunchy. I'm no prude, believe me, but that sort of sexual public expression never appealed to me. I guess we all have our own preferrences:)

Public nudity doesn't bother me, but mixed with sexual overtones, I find it a bit distasteful.

[voyager12]

I think a parade or march through Uptown is something that needs to be considered for the future. There is something so unifying and powerful about marching for a cause. I attended the Stonewall Anniversary Rally and March in Asheville this year. We had some great speakers, sang Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors" and then had a rather rollicking march with drummers accompanying us and drag queens all through downtown. Did the whole "were here, were queer we won't dissapear!"chant over and over again. Of course, it being Asheville we were literally singing to the choir . It was fun and affirming, but we don't need to march in Asheville. We DO need to march in more conservative cities like Charlotte. In order to increase our visibility to the community at large, and show that being gay is not alien or some taboo that can't be talked about or celebrated in a big way in this city that is growing more diverse every day.

[loanshark]

We DO need to march in more conservative cities like Charlotte. In order to increase our visibility to the community at large, and show that being gay is not alien or some taboo that can't be talked about or celebrated in a big way in this city that is growing more diverse every day.

Having drag queens and chanting were here, were queer we won't dissapear will not change any minds, it will just reaffirm streotypes.

Edited August 29, 2006 by loanshark

[Charlotteman]

That's the damndest thing about Gay Pride Parades------usually about 20% of the participants are drag queens and drag kings etc. But about 0.001% of gays are actually drag queens etc.

But what can ya do, exclude the queens? Then we're being as intolerant as those heteros we're trying to get to open up to us.

A conundrum 4 sure:)

[uptownliving]

The One Voice (gay) Chorus has a float in the largest parade in Charlotte...the Carolinas Caroseul Parade held every November.

[monsoon]

I believe the NC G&L Pride Celebration did one of their marches through Charlotte in the mid-1990s. I marched in several of these in Chapel Hill/Carroboro, Durham, and Asheville. I missed the one in Charlotte as I was out of town, but this event was uneventful. I don't believe that it even got much mention on TV. To put it in perspective however, it did take place on Saturday afternoon in downtown which is a particularly dead time, especially back then, so nobody took much notice of it.

I don't think this organization exists anymore so I am not sure if they still organize march through the cities.

I think a parade or march through Uptown is something that needs to be considered for the future. There is something so unifying and powerful about marching for a cause. I attended the Stonewall Anniversary Rally and March in Asheville this year. We had some great speakers, sang Cyndi Lauper's "True Colors" and then had a rather rollicking march with drummers accompanying us and drag queens all through downtown. Did the whole "were here, were queer we won't dissapear!"chant over and over again. Of course, it being Asheville we were literally singing to the choir . It was fun and affirming, but we don't need to march in Asheville. We DO need to march in more conservative cities like Charlotte. In order to increase our visibility to the community at large, and show that being gay is not alien or some taboo that can't be talked about or celebrated in a big way in this city that is growing more diverse every day.

[voyager12]

Yeah, Uptown still is rather dead on most weekends during the day. Perhaps if this is done in future years when there is more of a 24/7 presence from the condos and retail it would be worthwhile. As far as the more expressive members of our tribe goes, limiting the group to standard couples and families would probably play better in this area, but like other groups we have a wacky side and it should not be censored. Rules to ensure respectable behavior by all participants could help.

[monsoon]

WSOC TV is reporting that a Gay man was beaten up near Sharon Lakes and sent to the hospital by two individuals that attacked him because he was Gay. The G&L community center provided a spokesman for the TV program but I guess it goes to show that despite 20 years of Pride events, there are still problems in this city.

[voyager12]

That is troubling, I don't see anything on the WSOC site. Great progress has been made but incidents such as this underscore how far much of society has to go regarding even tolerance of homosexuality.

[branman1975]

The One Voice (gay) Chorus has a float in the largest parade in Charlotte...the Carolinas Caroseul Parade held every November.

Unfortunately One Voice was not invited back in 2005 (for unknown reasons). They will petition again for 2006, but will need a grant again as they did in 2004. I was on the float with them at the time, and we had nothing but positive response from the crowd -- considering we had a CMPD personal escort and the Mecklenburg Sherrif's Dept right behind us.

As for Pride Charlotte, it was great event and I agree a parade would be wonderful! There are many smaller communities in the country that have parades, but I guess none are as "conservative" as Charlotte. Here are some shots of the event: Pride Charlotte Photos

Edited September 1, 2006 by branman1975

[Charlotteman]

When people say Charlotte is conservative, that may unfortunately be true.

But it is essentially a recent thing. When I was a kid and a teenager in the 1960s and 1970s, Charlotte was known as a very liberal place. Perhaps the Reagan/Falwell decade ushered in a new unprogressive era for Charlotte....

Hopefully someday it will be like it used to be. Charlotte used to be quite open!

[davidclt]

When people say Charlotte is conservative, that may unfortunately be true.

<snip>

Hopefully someday it will be like it used to be. Charlotte used to be quite open!

Charlotte isn't as liberal as Seattle but it has come a long way in the past 15 years. Compared to some other parts of the south *cough*GeorgiaAlabamaMississippiSouthCarolinaFloridaVirginia*cough* we're screamingly liberal.

I feel like Charlotte is growing-up in good ways every day.

Every time I return from Florida, I remember how nice the place I live really is. And while I miss Seattle, Charlotte's not a bad place to live and it's getting better all the time. Many of my friends from Seattle say Charlotte feels much like Seattle did 15 years ago.

[voyager12]

Charlotte seems to be at a crossroads when it comes to progressive issues. I don't think the city is rabidly homophobic or ultra conservative. I wouldn't live here if that was the case and the gay community is thriving and rapidly growing.I think the town overall is moderately right of center.We get support from the private sector. BOA and Wachovia were Pride sponsors and most of the other large corporations citywide are relatively progressive on diversity issues. Politically we don't get any real support except from Jennifer Roberts a Meck At Large Commissioner who was the only publicly elected offical who spoke at Pride (vote for her, she is up for reelection this yr and holds an at large seat) and County Chairman Parks Helms (vote for him too, he was instrumental in adding sex orientation to meck cty regs and it goes out the window if repubs regain the majority). So on the gvt side of things we still have A LOT of work to do. Charlotte is never going to be majority left wing like portions of the Triangle or Asheville. The rightwing Christian mindset is too entrenched. However this Gay Jew has to constantly remind himself that not all devout Christians are automatically homophobic. Transplants from across the country are moving here in droves from more progressive areas. I think they will have a strong influence in moving Charlotte to a moderate stance where diversity is truly respected. And one day Charlotte Pride will be an event that all Charlotteans, gay and straight take Pride in! That is my hope.

[krazeeboi]

Charlotte isn't as liberal as Seattle but it has come a long way in the past 15 years. Compared to some other parts of the south *cough*GeorgiaAlabamaMississippiSouthCarolinaFloridaVirginia*cough* we're screamingly liberal.

Ummm, I wouldn't exactly say that. Firstly, I don't think one city can be compared to an entire state. Secondly, there are more liberal and less liberal cities in any state. Thirdly, do you really believe that Charlotte is more liberal than Atlanta, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, or even *gasp* Columbia?

[JerseyBoy]

Ummm, I wouldn't exactly say that. Firstly, I don't think one city can be compared to an entire state. Secondly, there are more liberal and less liberal cities in any state. Thirdly, do you really believe that Charlotte is more liberal than Atlanta, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, or even *gasp* Columbia?

Doesn't Atlanta have the third highest concentration of homosexual people after New York and San Francisco?

[Charlotteman]

Oh I wasn't trying to compare Charlotte to Seattle:) Those kinds of comparisons seem a bit sophomoric to me:)

Just in case anyone on here doesn't already know, I think Charlotte is fabulous:) When I lived in Florida, and vacationed in Charlotte it was always like a breath of fresh air, driving over the Mecklenburg County line. Friends I brought along were ALWAYS impressed too.

If someone were to compare Seattle and Charlotte (talk about comparing apples and oranges~~) the bottom line is obviously religion. Seattle's religious atmosphere is very very low key. Never in your face---and most x-tians are live and let live. But as we all know Charlotte is in the Bible Belt, with plenty of Fred Phelps types who just love to "agitate against the queers".

Charlotte could be every bit as liberal and open as Seattle, if the nut case religious element in Charlotte would fade a little~~~of course that is not likely in the short term future. And I'm not just picking on Charlotte. There are plenty of whacko religious nuts all across the South, and all across the country.

[davidclt]

Ummm, I wouldn't exactly say that. Firstly, I don't think one city can be compared to an entire state.

Fair enough.

Atlanta, Miami, Orlando, Tampa, or even *gasp* Columbia?

Atlanta: About the same. Georgia has amended their constitution to ban gay marriage and I remain amazed at the rhetoric in the AJC which makes that from the Observer look tame by comparison. Metro Atlanta benefits from its size.

Miami: Well, no on that.

Orlando: Hell yeah - Orlando is surprisingly conservative IMHO.

Tampa: Yup

Columbia: I don't have a good feel there, but I'd say yes.

[davidclt]

Oh I wasn't trying to compare Charlotte to Seattle:) Those kinds of comparisons seem a bit sophomoric to me:)

Well in Seattle I was considered a conservative, in Charlotte I'm a liberal .

Florida . . . it was always like a breath of fresh air, driving over the Mecklenburg County line.

I can appreciate that as well. It's always good to get home.

If someone were to compare Seattle and Charlotte (talk about comparing apples and oranges~~) the bottom line is obviously religion. Seattle's religious atmosphere is very very low key. Never in your face---and most x-tians are live and let live. But as we all know Charlotte is in the Bible Belt, with plenty of Fred Phelps types who just love to "agitate against the queers".

I think what I was trying to say is that the x-tian element is definitely present here but it is not as omnipresent as it used to be. I moved back from Seattle reluctantly but I've found much to really love about Charlotte and less of what drove me away (to Seattle). Sure we don't have the beautiful setting of Seattle but there are plenty of good people here wanting to make Charlotte and this world a better place.

One thing which always struck me odd about Seattle was how little individuals really gave back to the community at large and how segregated the communities were. I tried more than once to find a group which was doing something to make Seattle as a city better. Sure I could participate on the Hill with AIDS relief or in Pioneer Square helping the homeless but Habitat was not doing much and there was not much other community-wide outreach. I think Charlotte in many ways has maximized their civic capital for good and for sometimes not so good. By the same token, the last time I was in Seattle, I was amazed how much civic capital had been either sqandered or completely lost.

Maybe I'm just living in an inner-ring Charlotte distortion field (Plaza-Midwood, Elizabeth, Dilworth) where I feel there are other like-minded folks. But I also know there are like-minded folks all over Mecklenburg county and surrounding counties.

[krazeeboi]

The feel that I get is that Atlanta as a city is definitely more liberal Charlotte. Georgia is still a conservative state, much like NC, so there's no surprise there as far as its state constitution is concerned. And forumer Waccamatt, who is from Columbia, has stated that Columbia is home to the first Gay & Lesbian Community Center in the Carolinas and also that Pat McCrory was asked to speak at this year's HRC Banquet in Charlotte, but he refused and Columbia's mayor drove up on short notice to make an appearance. I also believe Columbia extends domestic partner benefits to city employees.

Personally, I can't see how Charlotte is "screamingly liberal" compared to the other cities I mentioned. I concur with voyager in that Charlotte would be considered a moderate city that tends to lean a little to the right--much like many other larger cities in the South.

[monsoon]

....Maybe I'm just living in an inner-ring Charlotte distortion field (Plaza-Midwood, Elizabeth, Dilworth) where I feel there are other like-minded folks. .....

Ironically these neighborhoods are becoming more conservative. Much more so with Dilworth, not as much as Midwood.

[waccamatt]

I would have attended Pride in Charlotte this year if they had a parade or a more openly public event. I will be attending NC Pride in Durham on September and hope the turnout wll be good. I attend SC Pride every year in Columbia and I try to make it to NC Pride every year, too. I think the whole key to advancing our cause is for everyone to be out of the closet. Like Charlotteman said, we would be as bad as our oppressors if we didn't allow drag queens to fully participate in Gay and Lesbian events. BTW, as a Gay banker, I think people like to see us, too! After all, we provide an important service!

[voyager12]

Like most cities, the intown neighborhoods tend to be more gay friendly and generally liberal. Atlanta is the same way with Virginia Highlands, Midtown, East ATL etc etc. I spend most of my time in Dilworth,PlazaMidwood,Elizabeth and Noda. And they are the closest thing Charlotte has to blue bubbles. If you spend too much time in this zone you get a very wacked out view of Charlotte so I need to travel more I really don't see Dilworth as becoming more conservative than than Plaza Midwood and Elizabeth. Election results still show it to be majority Democratic leaning. The DCDA president is openly gay. Dilworth democrats are more Starbucks BMW types, while the left leaning East Charlotte neighborhoods have more Common Market beat up Volvo libs. I agree that their is less a much less snooty vibe on the East Side.

[monsoon]

20 years ago, Dilworth had 2 gay bars, one of them a drag bar, a Club South bathhouse, two adult oriented places that are favored by some Gays, a Gay restaurant in hiding (not Laisons), and a Gay non-adult bookstore. All gone now and replaced by pretty bland gentrification. It's much much more conservative now.

[voyager12]

As one of the last Mohican renters in Dilworth, I definitely agree with the gentrification issue. Dilworth is many times over gentrified and still the condos come And its definitely less gay, funky, and artsy from what I hear. I guess a lot of it is perspective. Since I have only lived in the area a year and a half, I don't have the same point of reference.