A poor Photographer Insurance Plan

I went out an about today with my camera, after a short holiday of not having it,, While out I was that the park in the river bed. I had to climb/stepover a few large rock, well my camera hit one of these rock and I thought great there goes my $700.00 lens right. After getting to a place when I could fully inspect the damage, I glad to report that its was on the UV filter that paid the price.

My Photography teacher called them the "poor guy camera/lense insurance. simply because it was easy to replace a $10 filter then it is a very costly lens.. However she did tell that once you buy your first lens with a price tage over $1500, it was time to buy insurance for your stuff..

The damage... However I don't think I will beable to put another filter on that lense since the grooves are mess up,  Hoever the lens still works, it auto focus with no problems. Over All I guess I was lucky this time.. My best camera I ever did have was a Nikon 4004, which was smash twice, Once it fell out of my backpack and the other time I wasn't watching what I was doing.. I got it fix both time, how its in my closet, since it need a minor repair,, The film nolonger advances.. But who need film when you have Digital?????

Yes I know I should have taken a pic of the lens before removing what was left of hte filter.

With thanks, what to do.. Community

I can only guess all my complaining and bitching about no stories are local event are a rare thing in Qnotes. This week edition of Q-notes Matt found a Story from Greenville, shocking as I know it is.I was more shock by the article it self more.

GREENVILLE — Kevin Boyette, a recent public relations graduate of East Carolina University (ECU), has a plan.And, if he is successful, it will create a much-needed asset to this eastern North Carolina town.
He wants to open up a teen center.His motivation is to battle as a gay teen the isolation he experienced growing up. According to Carlton Purvis, a reporter with The East Carolinian who wrote in his story,“From Stonewall to Greenville,” “Greenville’s gay community is using formulas reminiscent of the civil rights movement of the ’50s and ’60s. The 20-something crowd is the catalyst and there’s no shortage of public demonstrations.”

This is strange since I have been researching to see if LGBT community in the East of NC would support a community center. I know that the first public meeting I was going to hold might have been in Greenville, I guess now I have to re think my concept of the center I want to start. In part because of this story but also because of a few very right down hateful emails.

I knew in the beginning that there would be some churches and other religious group who would try to fight this.It an email for a member of the community that has me very piss off. Basically in a nut shell I was inform that if I didn’t hold a Master or one or more PhD's that I shouldn’t even think about it at all. Once again it nice to know that you can always trust that some asshole will make a personal attack.

I know that my grammar skill are weak, however many great companies were started by those who didn’t even have a High Education at all.

My first thought was to blast back with a very nasty email, then I thought what if, this was bait email, testing to see just how I would handle it. I decided just to delete the email.

Well getting back to Q-notes, I would however like to thanks Matt for this first step, I understand that he might be under a lot of pressure and emails, faxes and voice mails; that he is simply doing his best. I do agree with him that if the Eastern NC LGBT community wants to be notice they need to step up to the plate as well. They have to get the word out about our local events.

My great friend Michael who has been helping me out, suggested that if there wasn’t enough community support not to give up, but start a new and unique LGBT business in Rocky Mount or Greenville and build from that business, and make important contacts that could be used later all down the road.

Another great friend of my has offer to let me use her place of business to hold local meeting as well after she closes. So things might not work completely out the way I would like, but I still have high “Hopes”, I still know if I choose to open this center in Rocky Mount I would be facing a huge battle with local churches which some are member of NC4Marriage..

so till its time, have a great day...

Question of Day

I had a friend ask me today this  very strange question about being call a Faggot.
He has recently come out to his family, but to has been out for a while to his friends and in the city where he live. Only recently had he decided to come out to his family.

“He ask does it hurt more to be called a faggot by a complete stranger or a family member.”
I told him that for many of us it hurts more from family then anyone else.

What do you think about it...???

A return from our Past

Recently I have to wonder if we need to bring back a very great campaign again. The one for the Greatest AIDS/HIV group that there ever was. I feel it is time once again to bring ACT UP back into our communities..

June 26, 2009 -- About 50,000 adolescents and young adults aged 13 to 24 were living with the virus that causes AIDS in 2006, but nearly half of them didn't know they were HIV infected, according to the CDC.

The CDC says in its June 26 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report that young adults represented 4.4% of the 1.1 million people living with the human immunodeficiency virus in 2006.

That would amount to 48,400 young people with HIV.

The CDC says that 232,700 people in the U.S. were living with HIV that year and didn't know it. Adolescents and young adults represented 9.9% of that number, or some 23,000 youths.

Sad but true, it would seem that since HIV isn’t a instant death sentence anymore, People just don’t care if they get it, many just don’t want to know if they have it. Then there are those sicko that hold conversion parties,, just sick...

Among female students, 14.8% had been tested for HIV, compared to 11.1% of males. The prevalence rate also was higher among non-Hispanic black students at 22.4% than for non-Hispanic whites at 10.7%.

There is a new saying/joke, 50 people get the swine flu people rush out to buy masks , 2 million people with HIV, yet no one is buying condoms?? Why??

Eastern NC LGBT Center???

Hopes for this center is growing, slowly but it seem to be on the move, even if it is a snail pace.. I have a vision for this center. I want this center to be great and known through out the Eastern  NC.

I hope that once  it is up and running, to have it,to host a first ever ( in recent years) a LGBT pride event. I haven’t really decided if it will a Pride parade, or do a Pride day in a the park type of event. Like the one held in Chesapeake VA. No matter what the venue, it will be 100% completely LGBT family friendly. Yes, I want to include the whole community. I want the Lgbt Families to come out with their kids to enjoy the day and meet other LGBT families. 

 

So if you live the Eastern NC area and feel that this center would be a great assets to the community let me know. I’m Planning a local community meeting (which might be in Greenville) to discuss this and to see what other area we need to address with in our community. That is right, I’m seeking community input of this project, since it will be for the whole LGBT community.

 

So if you have any Ideal, please email me at sickntired08@gmail.com or email Michael at newlgbt@gmail.com. Who has been helping me with research and input. He started a Facebook page Call NEW LGBT, click here to visit. Also a share blog click here.

Hopes for a Community Center

Over the last few months, I have been researching, with help for a good friend, about starting a LGBT community center here in the Eastern Area of NC. Though Rocky Mount and/or Greenville aren't really considered a full part of Eastern NC, I thought this would be a good start.

 

Hoping by starting one east of 95, that someone closer to the Outer Banks might open one as well.

 

Even since moving to NC back in the winter of 91, I have found that "The" community doesn't exist in Rocky Mount, Wilson, and other areas in the East. Greenville seem to have a small community once that was noticeable but since the main and only true gay bar in Greenville closed that community has almost gone back into the closet.

 

Then in 01 I moved to a small rural town close to Elizabeth City, there the community was very small but they were visible, and known. In that town the main café of the town was owned by an openly known gay couple til they sold their business and move to green pastures.

 

When I moved back to Rocky Mount, I search for old friends that I once knew in the area. Guess what they were gone; left the area for much better things I'm sure. One friend and I will used that term very loosely since she a nothing more than a complete back stabbing lesbian bitch. I ask her if the community had grown any, she replied yes. Well I still haven't seen "THE" community yet in my area. I was shock to find it that Rocky Mount had a Pflag Chapter, which is very active in our Community, We have this group to thanks for many wonderful books that have donated to our Local Library, like Mr. Gold's book Crisis, and they have my deepest thanks for helping to make these books available in our community.

 

Then last summer-fall I meet some new LGBT member in Greenville at the Prop8 rallies. That day I decide that we need our own community center. I then attend their Marriage Equality Rally, where I told a member there, that this is funny, the older I'm getting the more political and active I'm being coming.

 

I have talk with a few LGBT members about this center, the response so far have not been positive at all. Some claim we don't need one, other don't want to draw attention to the area LGBT members. A few have been very positive, offering help and advice.

 

I have set up a date for a meeting to see if there is enough members who would think a Local Center would be us good. THE outcome of this meeting will decide if I continue to plan and research. If there isn't enough support for this center, I won't see it as a waste of my time. I do feel that it will be a great lost for our Local Community members. We need local public community center, not just online community center where people really don't get to know each other. We need to be visible in our local community; we can no longer hide in our closets. We must stand up and be counted, if not then we only have ourselves to blame for the way our communities treat us.

Come out,come out where every you are.

In those words by Harvey Milk, we need to do just that, We need to come out of our closets, we need to be count, we need to visible to all. We must do this and the time is now, We simply can’t wait till national Coming Out day.

We must support our local LGBT owned business, and support those business that support. If they don’t support us we need to boycott them.. We must stand as one, the time is now..

Mike Signorile is on the money

Mike Signorile is on the money with this one.

I know some people think Obama should not have been given the photo-op, but really, the story of anger by gays was already out there and wasn't about to be changed by that event. In fact, the next day, the story line in the media was along the lines of "president offers some little thing but gays just are not happy and are in fact more angry." So the photo-op did nothing, but LGBT leaders kept the dialogue open by going, which they should.

But now, a cocktail party? No, that's not business -- it's schmoozing and sucking up, and it's all about buying off gay leaders by seducing them, very cheaply, so the White House can help get the money coming back in, since the DNC gay fundraiser for next week is collapsing. Their response so far has only been about the money and it's not nearly enough.

What we need now is real action. Not these crumbs, whether it be the census inclusion or some benefits for federal employees. We need something big, and until then, the DNC fundraisers should continue to be threatened, and nobody among the gay leadership should be partying with this president.

Yes money is what our so-called LGBT love the most, money for the coffers. I feel that many of our problems start with these people, They are only try to fulfill they need and wants. Our Leaders in my opinion has last sight of our issues and have replace then with their interests.

Last Post concern Q-notes

I hope with the post that clarifies my beef with Q-notes, I know that Matt and the owner of Q-note is getting tired of my bitching and whining about it leaving most of NC completely out.

This is my problem with Q-note, most of my thoughts concerning Q-note started long before the current editor came on board. When I read Q-notes this is what I see a local LGBT newspaper with some national coverage, its talk back, tell Trinity and the guest Contributors pieces. I used to read the quest piece from Joseph Urbaniak, called the LOCKDOWN, Yes I know that he is convicted sex offender, which led to a debate if we should give him a voice. Funny that since most gay men do prefer their partner be very young, and it’s not like a few of our very upstanding gay male citizens hasn’t have sex with and under age male.. In his case he got caught and when to jail. Since the poll online to see if Q-note should continued, I haven’t seen any more of his stories of life for gay behind bars. I guess I would have to write him personally to see how things are going..

What I have a problem is with is that it seems that on the local interest stories they are from Charlotte are the surrounding area, even now and then from Raleigh/Durham area. Its just not that stories of local LGBT’s that I have a problem with; it’s the perception that Q-notes is a Charlotte area only paper. By local interest stories for me of those about our LGBT community members.

I have received emails from Matt explaining why. That as the only staff writer it’s hard to reach out to all the communities east of 95. Ok, I will give him that one. Maybe the Eastern NC community does need to voice it events better. Then again, I see the other side as well.

I understand what Q-notes is support by ads revenue, however if by charge a small fee for this paper would help Q-note to get those hard to find local stories I would be more than happy to subscribe to Q-note on a yearly basis.

Matt said this in a comment on my blog,

As for news coverage from Eastern North Carolina: I never, ever here from folks in Eastern North Carolina. I don't live there so I can't hear the news on the ground through word of mouth. If no one ever tells me what's happening, I can't report on it.

Granted the local community does need to let him, however the only two places I know of east of 95 where you can pick up a copy of q-notes is in Wilmington. So let me ask is there places in the east for the community pick up this paper? True many might just read Q-notes online, those who do, but then fail to submit their event is hurting all us in the east.

I would also suggest since Q-note is known as a local and statewide newspaper that they would benefit from an intern for this job of seeking out statewide events. They could collaborate with the nearby colleges, get a student whom may be taking journalism in college. Where the work the student does for the paper goes towards a college credit as real world experience.  (just a thought)

I only wish I could do this, however I know my writing skill need much improvement, and that I lack the skills to be a writer for a paper of this magnitude. However this will be the last post where I complain about Q-note cover of the NC..

I have taken the challenge with some help from a friend to try to start a community center here in the Eastern part of North Carolina. A good friend who will soon be leaving to live abroad had been helping me to find the all the information I need to state this center. I can only hope the local community will support this center. I know it might not be like one of those in NY, DC or CA where the community lives out of 24/7/365, but it would be nice though wouldn’t it. I also hope to get a LGBT pride event held in the area as well.. Something small to start with, then as time goes on I hope to have a Pride event like those held in Raleigh and Charlotte.. One can only dream… Wait we are still allow to dream, that right hasn’t been taken away too has it??

I also know that once I fully commit to this project, that I must be more PC and watch what I say and write.

Wow How shocking this is...

A new poll on Obama, check to vote if you like..

here is a snap shot of this poll....

What is the Deal Barney????

It has been reported that one of our very well known Gay Politicians Barney Frank has done a 180 on the Doma Brief filed by the Obama administration, and now claim to support the brief.. WTF

Rep. Barney Frank released a statement yesterday backtracking on his remarks to the Boston Herald, saying that he commented to the press on the DOMA brief before having even read it...and...he now supports it.

This is what Barney had to say,

Said Frank:

"When I was called by a newspaper reporter for reaction to the administration’s brief defending the constitutionality of the Defense of Marriage Act, I made the mistake of relying on other people’s oral descriptions to me of what had been in the brief, rather than reading it first.  It is a lesson to me that I should not give in to press insistence that I comment before I have had a chance fully to inform myself on the subject at hand... Now that I have read the brief, I believe that the administration made a conscientious and largely successful effort to avoid inappropriate rhetoric.  There are some cases where I wish they had been more explicit in disavowing their view that certain arguments were correct, and to make it clear that they were talking not about their own views of these issues, but rather what was appropriate in a constitutional case with a rational basis standard – which is the one that now prevails in the federal courts, although I think it should be upgraded."

I love this line,

“Now that I have read the brief, I believe that the administration made a conscientious and largely successful effort to avoid inappropriate rhetoric.

Did you read the same brief has everyone else, are did Obama email you a special copy????

Ok, Barney, what is happening with this about face on DOMA debate? If, as you claim, you have finally read it all the way through, and you now understand its rhetoric. As a fellow gay man, would you please explain it to all of us. We need to know what it was that enlightened you. Is it in the wording of DOMA or is it a matter of Politics. Do we have justice or is it a simple case of “you scratch my back- I’ll suck your cock!

Have you sold us out to better your political standing for someone’s cause. Please tell us, we have a right to know. If nothing else its one of the few rights we have left.

This isn’t meant as a personal attack on you- just on your 180 degree turn on such a controversial platform. Maybe I should apologize for believing that you were like the late great Harvey Milk and were standing up for the gay community in large.

Books, and some fact checking

To while I was at my local library using there wifi, since my dsl has been down for a while due to a bad line. I check to see if my local library had the book what was causing such a commotion in other library, called Baby Be-Bod, by Francesca Lia Block. The library has two copies of this book; I can't wait to read it to see what all the fuss is about.

 

Also I check to see if it had Crisis, which the last time I check they didn't, however I happy to say that our Local Pflag chapter gave a copy to the library, they also have a copy of a new book called Coming out, Coming in, by Linda Goldman.

 

While I haven't fully read either book yet, while I was flipping through the page of Coming out, Coming In, I notice right away that there was a be mistake in it. I guess someone forgot to do some fact checking before printing this book.

 

"On page 11, chapter 1, the world of gay youth she writes the following "The 1999 film Boys don't cry" is an example of media imitating life. This is the story of Brandon Teena, actually Teena Brandon, who hid her biological gender in order to live as a woman. The result was a homophobic hate crime murder by two men when the deception was uncovered."

 

The correct info, The story of the life of Brandon Teena, a transgendered teen who preferred life in a male identity until it was discovered he was born biologically female.

 

Need more fact checking

 

I also notice that most of this book has the same information that so many other books have. Only written in a different way..

Just a Thought, my two cents

I have just finished watching the movie “Milk” and this is not a review about it. This is the shocking realization that those that don’t know their history are destined to repeat it. I can’t ask if we are to follow it, because we can see it for ourselves. Just change a few names, dates and propositions numbers and we are reliving it all over again.

Even the religious zealots are using the same ranting against us. Harvey Milk had the right ideas – support only those businesses that support us. We aren’t asking for any special privileges, but the same rights they have. Our declared rights of equality are all we want. If we are to be counted and accepted, we must all come out and declare ourselves.

I believe that when most people are given a choice of being anti-gay or loving their children, they would be pick loving their children. It is up to you to make a change. How else can we ever hope to share the same rights as our parents?

Our revolution has to start at home, here in North Carolina. It’s a sorry state of events when our own community doesn’t help get itself noticed. With all the dissension amongst our ranks, how can we ever get organized to make any changes? Take businesses like Q-notes, which is supposed to be our only LGBT newspaper. The only things politically based ever reported are things that have already happened. Even worst is that it is for a certain geographic area. Don’t claim to be a North Carolina Gay newspaper when in fact all you carry is old news pertaining to that certain geographic area. Include all of the state on an informative nature or call yourselves Charlotte’s gay birdcage liners. I not apologize for calling what I see. On the same note, why are we continuity sinking our hard-earned money into places that won’t recognize our struggle for equality? I for one refuse to patronize any anti-gay friendly businesses, like Cracker Barrel restaurants, which many gay people still eat at. Harris Teeter is another offender of this type of discrimination to some of us. Once a gay male is discovered by management – that “fag” is let go, while they continue to hire and promoted Lesbians in to management positions.

If we can’t get civil rights then its civil war, they get. Let’s take a note from the show “Wedding wars” on this one. I challenge all local gay owned businesses to refuse to do straight wedding during the main wedding season. In the words of Brain Kenny of QAF, “We are the planners, the caterers, the waiter, the florists, the hairdressers, the makeup artist, the bakers, and the dress designers, etc.” Why should we help to plan their special day, when we can’t even plan our own? Why should we aid them in their special day when they won’t let us have ours? Why should we aid them in destroying our dreams? It’s a matter of equality. When daddy’s little “Princess” can’t get the wedding of her dreams, because all the wedding specialist are not doing wedding for the current season and her daddy is a high-ranking official-only then will something happen. Like with any other obsolete laws it will take a resolution to change them. The time for action is now. The time for change is now.

To some this may sound extreme but desperate times call for desperate measures. United we stand, divide we fall. We’ve been falling for too long and its time we unite for what we believe in and deserve. I have hope for a better life; I have hopes for a better tomorrow.

A new contributor

This Blog as a new Contributor going by the name of DRC, He will post his first post very soon.. I welcome DRC to Sickntired

Bev Perdue on the Cover of NC Magazine... WTF

I don't see how they can include her as a Exceptional Leader, while only being in office less and six months. What type of weed is the editors of NC magazine smoking..

Gov. Bev Perdue can easily fill the role as a motivator for a younger generation of female leaders. Perdue has been the first woman to rise to several key state political positions, but she intends for her record to be inspiring for people no matter their gender.

Just what is she inspiring people to do, I tell you, HOPE, where there is none.. Motivator my ass. Personally is the worst thing that ever happen to NC, Jesse Helm was a warm spring day compare to Bev Perdue.. Who is more like category five hurricane or like the flooding cause by Floyd

“I hope my journey of becoming the first female governor serves as a lesson that with hard work, faith and a good education, nothing limits you from achieving your dreams,” Perdue continued. “Although I will go down in history as North Carolina’s first female governor, I want to make history as a governor who faced the challenges and made the right decisions to position North Carolina for a competitive global future.”

 Her epic failure will make sure that the next female who decide to run for Governor will have a Huge brick wall to break through.

Face it NC Bev doesn't kwow what the fuck she is doing. Lets take the cig's tax and law that bar smoking in bars. The new tax rate was in responce to the declining taxs from sale of Cig's, so she signs the law to increase this tax, then approve the law to ban smoking in bar, which will now force many people to stop smoking..

With sale on cig's down, which mean tax collection off cig's are down too, even after the tax increase.. So in fact she is just making thing worst.. I also notice that they cut education spending again, Its seem that Education gets cut first, however about the Governor cuting some jobs at the Governor estate, and forced elected public officials to take a damn pay cut..

BEV PERDUE YOU ARE THE WORST THING TO EVER HAPPEN TO NC THE FLOODING BY FLOYD WAS A WALK IN THE PARK COMPARE TO WHAT YOU ARE DOING TO THIS STATE..

Cancel your credit card before you die

Now  some people are really stupid!!!!
Be  sure and cancel your credit cards before you  die.  This is so
priceless,
and so, so easy to see  happening, customer service being what it is  today.
A  lady died this past January, and Citibank billed her for  February and
March for their annual service charges on her  credit card, and added late
fees
and interest on the monthly  charge. The balance had been $0.00 when she
died,
but now  somewhere around $60.00. A family member placed a call to
Citibank.
Here  is the exchange :
Family  Member:  'I  am calling to tell you she died back in  January.'
Citibank:  'The  account was never closed and the late fees and charges
still
apply.'
Family  Member: 'Maybe,  you should turn it over to collections.'
Citibank: 'Since  it is two months past due, it already has  been.'
Family  Member: So,  what will they do when they find out she is  dead?' 
Citibank: 'Either  report her account to frauds division or report her to
the
credit bureau, maybe both!'
Family  Member: 'Do  you think God will be mad at her?'
Citibank: 'Excuse  me?'
Family  Member: 'Did  you just get what I was telling you - the part about
her being  dead?'
Citibank: 'Sir,  you'll have to speak to my supervisor.'
Supervisor  gets on the phone:
Family  Member: 'I'm  calling to tell you, she died back in January with a
$0
balance.'
Citibank: 'The  account was never closed and late fees and charges still 
apply.' 
Family  Member: 'You  mean you want to collect from her  estate?'
Citibank: (Stammer)  'Are you her lawyer?'
Family  Member: 'No,  I'm her great nephew.' (Lawyer info was  given)
Citibank:  'Could  you fax us a certificate of  death?'
Family  Member:  'Sure.' (Fax number was given)
After  they get the fax :
Citibank: 'Our  system just isn't setup for death. I don't know what more I=2 0
can  do to help.'
Family  Member: 'Well,  if you figure it out, great! If not, you could just
keep billing  her. She won't care.'
Citibank: 'Well,  the late fees and charges will still  apply.'
(What  is wrong with these people?!?)
Family  Member: 'Would  you like her new billing address?'
Citibank: 'That  might help...'
Family  Member: '  Odessa Memorial Cemetery , Highway 129, Plot Number  69.'
Citibank: 'Sir,  that's a cemetery!'
Family  Member: 'And  what do you do with dead people on your  planet???'
(Priceless!!)
You  wondered why Citi is going broke and need the feds to bail them  out!!

NC's RESOLUTION 2009-20 for Jesse Helms

Yes it is true a bunch of self-rightest assholes in the NC GENERAL ASSEMBLY, wanted to honor is right out confess bigot Jesse Helms.

Ever since moving to NC back in the 90's this asshole has never be friend to anyone but money..

I remember reading about his death.. I was so delighted that it wasn't funny.

I'm sure there will be many blog posts and news stories in the days to come.

However I do like Matt's posts over at Q-notes,

“I could have never voted in favor of a resolution honoring Sen. Helms because of his divisive history and his anti-civil-rights principles,” said Sen. Floyd McKissick (D-Durham), according to an Associated Press report.

 there is this

Helms has been criticized, past and present, for his conservative racist and homophobic views and legacy. He was a chief opponent of HIV/AIDS funding during the 1980s AIDS crisis. He said gay men were “weak, morally sick wretches” who contracted the disease through their own “deliberate, disgusting, revolting conduct.”

 Jesse Helm was and still is revolting and disgusting, I only hope that in his final days he was in so much pain that no drug could ease..

A Q-Notes read left this comment,

The late Senator Helms has a lesbian granddaughter, an elected judge in NC, who lives in a committed relationship openly. One of Senator Helm’s senior aides worked with him to hurt gays and lesbians, and was in a three decade committed gay relationship with three adopted kids.

First off I wasn't aware of his granddaughter, the pain he must put her through. However if it is true, this self hating fucking faggot Aid need to have his teeth kick in and both hands smash with a  hammer.

Jesse Helm did alot of damage to our community, however these fags would work for these bigots do more damage then the bigot. These self-hating faggots just need to go str8 and leave our community for ever.

I thanks the one who voted against this, those who walk out...

Who is truly to Blame?

This past Thursday I attend a social event with my partner, this was one if his event with his pagan group. The hostess thought I would like to read an article in the most recent edition of Publishers Weekly. It would seen this week theme was GLBT writing and books.

As I read the edition, it was the commentary at the very back of the magazine title Come Out, Where you Are. Here is the link to the article online if you would like to read it in its fullest.
Jordan McAuley writes,

When I moved to New York City from Atlanta, one of the first things I wanted to do was visit the Oscar Wilde Bookshop in Greenwich Village, believed to be the country's first bookstore dedicated to gay and lesbian authors. I was dismayed to find a sign on the door announcing the store was closing, citing the down economy. Soon after, A Different Light Bookstore in West Hollywood, where I also used to live, announced it, too, would close. I was angry. It felt to me like these stores were giving up too easily, especially as we continue to fight for gay marriage and equal rights for gays and lesbians.

To be fair, the community let down the community bookstore, not the other way around.

The Oscar Wilde Bookshop opened its doors for the first time Thanksgiving weekend of 1967 by gay activist, Craig Rodwell on Mercer St. in New York City. In 1973, the store moved to 15 Christopher Street, a block away from the historic Stonewall Bar. Before the days of a village community center, the Oscar Wilde was filled with literature for activists’ meetings, and housed the meetings themselves. In early 2006, the shop was handed over for the last time to long-time manager, Kim Brinster.  With tough economic times, the store closed its doors for the last time in 2009.

So why did the community turn it back on Oscar Wilde Bookstore, was it the easiness of ordering books online for a huge discount. Ordering things online become the way of many LGBT, persons and those who were deeply in their closets... over all the community throw OWB to the curb for Amazon.com... 
I know that the lambda rising bookstore in Norfolk, VA also close due to lack of support.

Lambda Rising, which is in Norfolk's Ghent neighborhood, will shut down June 30 after nearly 11 years. For many members of the LGBT community, it served as a second home and meeting place.

It’s was a shame that this store close, more so, since it was closer to me when I lived in Elizabeth City area, then driving all the way the Raleigh to visit The White Rabbit bookstore. What surprise me the most was this,

The store still has loyal customers, some of whom were stocking up on discounted reading material Monday before the door closes for the final time.

With Loyal customer like these who need competition, they couldn’t support the store fully, but could visit the store on it last days to save money, how nice of the Ghent LGBT community...

Therefore, who is really giving up on whom? These Bookstores would still be open if our sorry ass community. I know that whenever I travel to Raleigh for whatever reason, I visit the White Rabbit. When I was in Raleigh to photography the anti gay marriage, which by the way most of community did absolute nothing, no counter protest, well a small group did show. However when I email our only LGBT newspaper to let them know about his small group, and that some member where almost arrest for trying to march on the mall grounds. They didn’t even mention it all, I can only guess it they were arrested then the editor would have written something about it. Hell, even our local nationally known blogger didn’t even talk about this small group at all. It was as if they didn’t even exist...

Face it our community is not what it once was. Today it’s all about me, and what I can get...

It would seem that I piss off someone, once again..

This post,

nice piece, however I bet if the four boys were 4 old men this piece would have never seen the print of day, however since it four blondish twinks, let post it, let other see just how promiscuous we really are.. Since Q-note is mostly staff with guy under 27 what does one expect. Once again showing to the world that only young gay guys are in while older gay male are out.. Talk about wanting equality when equality doesn’t even exist in the gay community

really piss off JC who post this,

I hope the editor of Q-Notes will address the concerns of “sickntired”. The publisher is 50, the accountant is 69, the design layout tech is in here late 50s. hmmmm…I wonder what sickntires is talking about then?

Well he got is his wish, yes I received a email for Q-notes on this matter. Ok so the editor, Matt is the only one under 30, wow, however their age was the main part of my comment.. I have many issue with Q-notes, I once made a nice little pic renaming Q-notes to Charlotte’s notes.

The email,

Sick...
Thought you should see this comment left by a reader on our site:
"I hope the editor of Q-Notes will address the concerns of “sickntired”. The publisher is 50, the accountant is 69, the design layout tech is in here late 50s. hmmmm…I wonder what sickntires is talking about then?"
He's right. Our publisher is 50, the associate editor is 41, the production director is close to 60, the accountant is 69, almost all of our contributing writers are close to 40 or older. I'm the only staff member younger than 40. My predecessor, editor David Moore, was also in his 40s. The editor before him, Leah Sepenswol, was also in her 40s.
Thanks for your comments on the site. I'm glad you enjoyed the story. Just didn't want to let falsities go unchecked

I was mistaken, find however I still personally feel that Q-notes the only LGBT Community newspaper leave much of the community out. Lets take the main story in this weeks Q-notes called Ménage à trois four about four twenty something's guys living as one big couple.. Now let be fair, If this story centered on four Men in their late thirties or forties the the writers and editor of Q-notes included in their paper and would it get mention on the front page. If it did make it in it would be somewhere in the back of the paper and surely would not have taken up three pages..

However I challenge Q-note to do a story on older LGBT community members or a story really showing the true colors of our community, how equality doesn’t exist in our community.

Q-notes become Sex-notes

The new issue of Q-notes is now online and out there. Its no secret that I have many issue with Q-notes, more on that later..

In this bold new issue there is this article called Ménage à trois four four boys would dating each other at the same time. Matt worded as Four young gay men navigate the slippery path of polyamorous love, great just what we need while we are fighting for the right to marry. We all know those you oppose gay marriage use items like that to make their point.

Now I really don’t care who love who and who is bedding who, However you can bet if this was a story was four older guys doing the same thing Q-note would have never printed it. But since this is a story of four young blondish twinks it seem to fit right in Q-notes perfectly, since the staff of Q-note are mostly under 30, and The owner who wishes he was once young again..

Just like a “traditional,” monogamous couple, they laugh and love, fight and argue and then love some more.

Sorry but this is nothing like a “Traditional anything” and to say it is just plain wrong...

The boys say their most strident criticism comes from peers who say they “want to have their cake and eat it, too.” Not true, they say. Their relationship is nothing like the hedonistic orgy critics would like to portray.

Sure they all say that don’t they, when it is the truth, each as three partners and if all four is going at it at the same time then its a orgy period..

The staff is plenty aware that we’ll get some feedback on this issue — some of it will praise the content and some of the feedback will condemn it. Perhaps this issue will prove to be the barometer of just how far that envelope can be pushed in the Carolinas LGBT community.

Yes the feedback and be such a bitch can’t it. I’m sure for the most part our community comments on this story will be somewhat ok while other will be completely and totally disgusted.

Brain has this to say,

Our goal should be to increase a positive awareness of GLBT people rather than play to the things the straight community has against us. This only gives them more proof of GLBT promiscuity and choice. And most GLBT people are NOT promiscuous, but the careless choices of a few can easily ruin it for the masses.

yes the careless of choices, I would have to wonder if the late Front Page would have posted this story if they never merge with Q-notes. Yes I remember the late Front Page newspaper, I feel they did a better job covering the NC LGBT community..

GAY MARRIAGE ... LET'S PLAY HARDBALL !!

LGBT groups and organizations are saying that a federal same-sex marriage lawsuit brought by two high-profile lawyers is premature and they would rather work state by state through legislatures and voters to win marriage rights.

What happened to the idea of The Dallas Principles, all or nothing ? Are groups who say this is premature wimping out ?

Look folks you can't have it both ways. Either you go full steam ahead in war or just sit on the sidelines and lick your wounds. That's the trouble with "our society" when it comes to the "LGBT leaders" and time to put up or shut up, they fall to the wayside like a bunch of weak little mice.

Show some backbone and strike while the anvil is hot. Do you really want gay marriage to end up on voting ballots all across the US where most likely it will be voted down ?

This Publisher, and I speak for no one else or any blog which is promoted by the Artlyn Entertainment Network, backs and supports Olsen and Boies 100%.You want gay marriage, you want equal rights, then be prepared to get down in the trenches and get dirty. Take the battle where it should have gone before.Roll the dice and let the US Government say through the US Supreme Court that the gays, lesbians, bisexuals and transgendered are unequal citizens in the eyes of the United States Government.

The Dallas 24 in their mantra call for all or nothing, is the LGBT Community now going to back off from that message or do you have the guts to stand behind that Rainbow flag and throw caution to the wind and get action instead of waiting and waiting and waiting.

They are backing off because of those LGBT Organizations won’t be able to make money off this lawsuit, that is the real reason why they don’t what this. Ballot measure state by state could help them net Millions of dollars for their coffers. If these two lawyer are successful on the federal level and at the Supreme Court of the US, they would be hero’s and not those Org’s.. That is why they don’t want this lawsuit.. Its about making money, and a whole shit load of it.

Michael in Norfolk, VA had this to say,

I agree with you and to be honest, at times I wonder if some of the so-called leading LGBT rights organizations want full equality since once that occurs their reason for being disappears. If you notice, the authors of the Dallas Principles did NOT include the leadership of major gay rights organizations. I'm with you - we need to play hardball on all available fronts.

Michael is so right, once we get all this so-called equality, which by the way doesn’t exist within our own community, why would we still need these organizations? These Organizations knows this, that is why they don’t work as hard as they can on many issues and causes.. Once the all the issues and cause are settle and done they would lose their jobs,,, Just what would Joe Solmonese of HRC do without his $338,400/year job, he did agree to a $35, 000 pay cut wow.. I’m sure he could do his job on a third of that. What about Lorri Jean of LA Center who earns $327,000/year? Lets not forget Neil Giuliano of GLAAD, who earns $271,034 a year, however he did agree to a $20,000 dollar pay cut in these hard times, wow, what a guy...What about Craig Shniderman, of Food & Friends: who makes $382,200, while many other group leaders are all paid under $100,000/year or much less under $70,000. What makes these guys so special that they need this type of paid for working for a non-profit group..

This is Why these Org’s don’t what this lawsuit, it mean no money for them, they might actually have to find job where they must actually do some work...