Matt Comer
Two candidates in the same party. Both respected. Both viable and ready to take office. Both with deep ties to their communities. Both with mutual friends, allies and supporters. Local voters will face a tough choice between John Autry and Billy Maddalon.
A federal lawsuit challenging North Carolina’s anti-LGBT “magistrate recusal” law on same-gender marriages has been filed in federal court. The challenge seeks to overturn Senate Bill 2, the law passed this year which opponents say violates the U.S. Constitution’s Equal Protection and Due Process clauses.
North Carolina Democratic state Rep. Tricia Cotham has announced she won’t be seeking re-election to her House seat in 2016. Cotham, who’s served five terms in the legislature, made the announcement on Thursday. Her move opens up the potential for an openly LGBT lawmaker, something the state’s been missing since 2014, with openly gay Plaza Midwood businessman Billy Maddalon saying Thursday he’s considering a run.
A new HIV prevention ad is taking a realistic outreach effort to PrEP, anonymous hook-ups and the “party” culture: “When straight guys have a lot of sex, they’re called studs. But when gay guys have a lot of sex, they’re called sluts.”
Belmont Abbey College is among four Carolinas-area religious colleges receiving waivers from the federal government’s Title IX protections in order to discriminate against LGBT students and employees.
Over the past year or two it seems to me there have been more conversations on HIV/AIDS and its treatment and prevention than I’ve probably ever seen in my entire time as an LGBT advocate, writer and community member. Conversations on new treatment options, increasing access and affordable care, debates (and eventual praise for) PrEP. […]
Nearly 30 anti-LGBT North Carolina religious leaders, activists and pastors have endorsed Republican presidential candidate Ted Cruz, including high-profile activists Flip Benham, Michael Brown and Ron Baity.
New hate crime statistics released this week by the Federal Bureau of Investigation show a slight decrease in the proportion of anti-LGB hate crimes in Charlotte and North Carolina.
LGBT community groups in Charlotte and North Carolina are renewing their lobbying and education efforts on a package of local non-discrimination ordinances voted down by City Council in the spring.
Tuesday’s election results offer us a unique context now for tackling the challenges and opportunities Charlotte’s LGBT community will face in the weeks, months and years to come.
My vote on election day isn’t revolutionary; perhaps it was in 1788, but not anymore. I’m white and I’m male. I come from a land-owning family. I’m doing what people like me have been doing since the Revolution.
For Charlotte’s LGBT residents, the results of Tuesday’s election will prove themselves a decisive, landmark moment in our community’s history. Plus: Election predictions
It was one year ago today — Oct. 13, 2014 — that dozens of anxious, happy couples lined up early on a drizzly Monday morning awaiting for the Mecklenburg County Register of Deeds office to open on the first full day of legal marriage for LGBT couples in Charlotte.
On Tuesday, voters will again head to the polls for the final match-up between incumbent Democratic Mayor Dan Clodfelter and candidate Jennifer Roberts. The two were the top vote getters in the Sept. 15 primary. Roberts pulled in the most votes, but came shy of avoiding this second primary. (See my past coverage here.) Local […]
Looking back on my experiences as a child and teen, there are five important things about being gay, having sex with other guys and other sexual health lessons that I should have been taught in sex ed classes.
