CRANE
CRANE organizer on FOX Charlotte
Published May 27, 2009 | 
Check out CRANE organizer Lacey Williams on FOX Charlotte, speaking about out gay City Council candidate Owen Sutkowski.
Where we go from here…
Published February 26, 2009 | CRANE’s February events on Valentine’s Day and challenging the “ex-gay” ministries of Focus on the Family and Exodus International were a resounding success!
Dozens of community members — mostly youth — turned out to speak to hundreds of passers-by in Uptown Charlotte on Feb. 14. Fifty or more people attended Wayne Besen’s presentation “Pray Away the Gay” on Thursday, Feb. 19 at the Community Center. A Feb. 20 press conference led to headlines that evening on the local TV news stations. Fifty to sixty community members turned out to protest the Love Won Out conference on Saturday.
CRANE’s work in the community and with the media spawned wonderful discussion on issues of LGBT equality, faith and religion.
CRANE hopes this isn’t the end. Our planning group will be meeting to put a future plan in place. We’re all looking forward to our next great venture. We hope you’ll join us.
Community gathers to hear truth, expose lies of the ‘ex-gay’ myth
Published February 20, 2009 | On Thursday, Feb. 19, a packed house at the Lesbian & Gay Community Center of Charlotte listened to author and activist Wayne Besen, executive director of Truth Wins Out, and learned of the lies and myths of the “ex-gay” industry.
On Saturday, Focus on the Family and Exodus International will present its “ex-gay” conference Love Won Out at Central Church of God. Besen told community members Thursday evening about the track record of “ex-gay” and reparative therapies supported by Exodus and Love Won Out and the laundry list of former “ex-gay” leaders exposed for the lies, including John Paulk, a Love Won Out poster boy caught drinking and hitting on gay men at a bar in Washington, D.C.
Besen also discussed the psychological harm such therapies and ministries cause, including increased anxiety, depression, suicide and suicidal ideation. He said medial groups like the American Psychological Association have rebuked these ministries for their harmful practices.
On Friday, Feb. 20, 11:30 a.m. at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte, 234 N. Sharon Amity Road, Truth Wins Out, CRANE and other community and national groups will hold a press conference unveiling a new publication, “Ex-Gay and the Law.” The joint Truth Wins Out and Lambda Legal publication offers legal resources for victims of unscrupulous “ex-gay” ministries. Click here for details on the press conference, including a speakers list and bios.
Check out our events page for information on the Saturday protest of Love Won Out.
Advisory: Press Conference to discuss ‘ex-gay’ resource booklet, protest of Love Won Out
Published February 19, 2009 | MEDIA ADVISORY
February 19, 2009
Contact:
Matt Comer, Media Relations, 336-391-9528, editor@q-notes.com
Community leaders to hold press conference, unveil new publication for ‘ex-gay’ ministry victims
‘Ex-gay’ ministries, importance of opposition explained
CHARLOTTE – The Charlotte Rainbow Action Network for Equality (CRANE) will hold a press conference on Friday, Feb. 20, 11:30 a.m., at the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Charlotte, 234 N. Sharon Amity Road, Charlotte, NC 28211. Several community members and leaders will discuss “ex-gay” ministries, challenge their false hope and harmful practices and explain the purpose of a non-violent protest of the Focus on the Family and Exodus International “Love Won Out” at Central Church of God conference the next day.
SPEAKERS
Wayne Besen, Executive Director, Truth Wins Out
917-691-5118 . wbesen@truthwinsout.org
Besen is a syndicated columnist, activist and author of “Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-Gay Myth” (Haworth, 2003). In 2006, Besen was named one of the Advocate Magazine’s “People of the Year” for his work with Truth Wins Out. Besen will unveil a new resource publication, “Ex-Gay and the Law,” by Truth Wins Out and Lambda Legal. The publication contains resources for victims of unscrupulous and harmful “ex-gay” ministries.
The Rev. Elder Darlene Garner
Vice Moderator of Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches
281.201.0320 . RevDarleneGarner@MCCchurch.net
Rev. Elder Garner serves as the Vice Moderator of the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches, the largest and oldest Christian denomination primarily serving lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender Christians. Rev. Elder Garner is a social justice and AIDS activist. She is the former executive director of the Philadelphia Mayor’s Commission on Sexual Minorities and was a founding member of the National Coalition of Black Lesbians and Gays, a predecessor to the present National Black Justice Coalition.
Bishop Tonyia M. Rawls, Unity Fellowship Church Charlotte
704-567-5007 . ufccharlotte@ufccharlottenc.org
Bishop Rawls is the Prelate of the Fourth Jurisdiction of the Unity Fellowship Church Movement and Founding Pastor of Unity Fellowship Church Charlotte. She is a graduate of Duke University, sits on the Faith Advisory Council of the National Black Justice Coalition and is a member of the Diversity and Inclusion Council of the Human Rights Campaign. Bishop Rawls has been a reviewer for the Journal of African-American Studies and is published in “Black Sexualities: Probing Powers, Passions, Practices, and Policies” (In Press). Bishop Rawls’ statement will be delivered by her partner Gwen Rawls.
Matt Comer, CRANE Media Director and organizer
336-391-9528 . editor@q-notes.com
Comer is a native of Winston-Salem, N.C., and has lived in Charlotte for a year-and-a-half, where he serves as the editor of Q-Notes, the Carolinas LGBT newspaper. He is a contributing author in “Crisis: 40 Stories Revealing the Personal, Social, and Religious Pain and Trauma of Growing Up Gay In America” (Greenleaf, 2008).
Pamela Jones
704-497-1398 . pamela@pamrenee.com
Pamela Jones has been active in the transgender community for many years. She is cofounder of Charlotte Gender Alliance, is active in her church and the Charlotte faith community.
The Rev. Jay Leach, Unitarian-Universalist Church of Charlotte
704-366-8623, ext. 223 . jay@uuccharlotte.org
Rev. Leach is the pastor of the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Charlotte and was called to his position there in April 2003. Prior to coming to Charlotte he served as the Consulting Minister for the UU Fellowship of the North Bay in Napa, California.
Rod Goins, Equality North Carolina board member
Rodgoinsvt86@aol.com
Goins is a resident of Salisbury, N.C., where he serves on the executive committee of the Rowan County Democratic Party. He is a board member of the Charlotte Business Guild and works with various LGBT community organizations in Charlotte and Salisbury.
About the Charlotte Rainbow Action Network for Equality (CRANE)
CRANE, www.rainbowaction.org, is a grassroots coalition of activists and community members working toward civil and social equality for Charlotte’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) community.
About Truth Wins Out
TruthWinsOut.org is a non-profit organization that counters right wing propaganda, exposes the “ex-gay” myth and educates America about gay life. TruthWinsOut.org aims to end the dangerous practice of ex-gay therapy in all of its injurious forms. The organization tirelessly advocates against such programs, vigorously disseminate educational material, and doggedly pursue actions that will help undermine the ex- gay myth.
About the Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte
The Unitarian Universalist Church of Charlotte (UUCC) is happy to offer a place for this morning’s press conference. While not a sponsor of the protest, both the UUCC and the Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations (UUA) have a long-standing history of supporting same-sex marriage, gay rights and gender equality. The UUCC is also designated a “Welcoming Congregation” by the Association meaning that it “welcomes and celebrates the presence and participation of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender persons.”
The Unitarian Universalist church of Charlotte is a congregation of more than 660 adult members located at 234 North Sharon Amity Road. The liberal, non-dogmatic, spiritual community was founded in 1947 as North Carolina’s first Unitarian congregation. The UUCC offers Sunday Services and Youth and Children’s Religious Education at 9:15 am and 11:15 am. More information may be obtained at www.uuccharlotte.org or by calling the Church office at 704.366.8623.
# # #
PR: Gay groups challenge Focus on the Family, “ex-gay” conference
Published February 18, 2009 | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Matt Comer, Media Relations, 336-391-9528, editor@q-notes.com
Gay groups to publicly challenge Focus on the Family, “ex-gay” conference
Anti-gay organizations’ myths and lies countered by author and activist
CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte Rainbow Action Network for Equality (CRANE), a grassroots activism network, has teamed up with several local and national organizations to challenge so-called “ex-gay” ministries touted by anti-gay groups like Focus on the Family and Exodus International. The fundamentalist Christian groups will hold their controversial conference, Love Won Out, on Feb. 21, the same day as the popular Human Rights Campaign Carolinas Gala.
Wayne Besen, Director of TruthWinsOut.org and author of “Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-gay Myth,” will give a presentation on the lies, myths and harmful practices of “ex-gay” ministries on Thursday, Feb. 19, 2008, at 7 p.m. at the Lesbian & Gay Community Center of Charlotte, 820 Hamilton St., Charlotte, NC 28206 (for directions, visit www.rainbowaction.org/events/centerdirections/).
“These programs sell false hope and take advantage of desperate and vulnerable people who just want acceptance from loved ones,” said Wayne Besen, Executive Director of Truth Wins Out. “Love Won Out’s dangerous sexual engineering campaign is ineffective, psychologically damaging and confuses stereotypes with science. We hope to educate the community and provide people with accurate and reliable information.”
On Friday, Feb. 20, 2009, 11:30 a.m., CRANE and several community and national organizations including Truth Wins Out, Lambda Legal, the Human Rights Campaign and others will hold a press conference discussing the harms of the ex-gay industry. Besen will unveil a new Truth Wins Out/Lambda Legal publication, “Ex-Gay and the Law,” including resources for victims of unscrupulous “ex-gay” ministries. The press conference will be held at the Unitarian-Universalist Church of Charlotte at 234 N Sharon Amity Rd., Charlotte, NC 28211.
On Saturday, Feb. 21, 2009, CRANE will hold a silent, non-violent protest of the conference at Central Church of God. LGBTQI and straight citizens from across North Carolina are expected to attend. Information for protest participants and media, including parking access can be found at: www.rainbowaction.org/events/#protest
The Charlotte Rainbow Action Network for Equality (CRANE), www.rainbowaction.org, is a grassroots coalition of activists and community members working toward civil and social equality for Charlotte’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) community.
Detailed event information and archived press releases and statements can be found at: www.rainbowaction.org
NOTE: A small press kit with the names and bios of the Feb. 20 press conference speakers will be released on Thursday, Feb. 19 and available online at www.rainbowaction.org/blog/ the same day.
Uptown event a success
Published February 15, 2009 | On the evening of Saturday, Feb. 14, approximately two dozen LGBTQI community members and straight allies gathered at Trade & Tryon Streets to speak to passers-by about equality and the rights of all people to love and to be loved regardless of sexual orientation.
Despite the chill in the air and strong wind, community members stopped briefly to speak with with CRANE supporters about the importance of equality for all people. Scores of people stopped to sign their name and support for equality on Valentine’s Day Hearts displayed at the square that evening.
Media organizations covering the event included FOX Charlotte, NBC News Channel 36 (WCNC) and The Charlotte Observer‘s Tonya Jameson.
CRANE is anticipating its next series of events, on Thursday, Feb. 19 through Saturday, Feb. 21. Click here for a full listing of events.
Media Advisory: Gay group holds Uptown event on Valentine’s Day
Published February 14, 2009 | MEDIA ADVISORY
February 14, 2009
Contact: Matt Comer, Media Relations, 336-391-9528, editor@q-notes.com
Grassroots gay group to hold Uptown public awareness event tonight
WHO: Charlotte Rainbow Action Network for Equality (CRANE)
WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 14, 2009, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
WHERE: Trade & Tryon Streets, Charlotte, NC
WHAT: Light a Candle for Love
On Valentine’s Day, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) and straight citizens will gather in Uptown Charlotte to show their support for equality and speak to Charlotte citizens about the rights of all people to love and be loved without regard to sexual orientation and gender-identity. Community members and CRANE organizers will distribute glow sticks symbolic of the light and love that lives in each person to raise public awareness.
Tonight’s event is the kick-off to a series of events challenging anti-LGBTQI public perception and the so-called “ex-gay” ministries supported by Focus on the Family and Exodus International, who will hold their conference “Love Won Out” at Central Church of God next Saturday, Feb. 21 – the same day as the popular Human Rights Campaign Carolinas Gala.
=============
The Charlotte Rainbow Action Network for Equality (CRANE), www.rainbowaction.org, is a grassroots coalition of activists and community members working toward civil and social equality for Charlotte’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender (LGBT) community.
More detailed information on CRANE events can be found online at www.rainbowaction.org/events/.
CRANE is joined in these efforts by national organizations Truth Wins Out, Lambda Legal, the Human Rights Campaign and Faith in America, and local and state groups like One Voice Chorus, Gay Men’s Chorus of Charlotte, Q-Notes newspaper, Charlotte Coalition for Social Justice, UNCC Pride and EqualityNC.
PR: Gay groups to hold series of events, challenge upcoming ‘ex-gay’ conference
Published February 11, 2009 | FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 11, 2009
Contact: Matt Comer, 336-391-9528, editor@q-notes.com
Gay groups to hold series of events, challenge upcoming “ex-gay” conference
Anti-gay Focus on the Family comes to town to promote false, harmful gay-to-straight conversion
CHARLOTTE — The Charlotte Rainbow Action Network for Equality (CRANE) has teamed up with several local and national organizations to build public awareness on the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) people.
The group will challenge the lies and myths of so-called “ex-gay” ministries supported by anti-gay groups Focus on the Family and Exodus International, who will hold their controversial conference, Love Won Out, on Feb. 21, the same day as the popular Human Rights Campaign Carolinas Gala.
“Light a Candle for Love” Saturday, Feb. 14, 7:00-8:30 PM
On Valentine’s Day, LGBTQI straight citizens will gather at Trade & Tryon Streets in Uptown Charlotte to show their support for equality and the rights of all people to love and be loved without regard to sexual orientation and gender-identity.
“Pray Away the Gay” Thursday, Feb. 19, 7:00-8:30 PM
Wayne Besen, Director, TruthWinsOut.org and author of “Anything But Straight: Unmasking the Scandals and Lies Behind the Ex-gay Myth,” will give a presentation on the lies, myths and harmful practices of “ex-gay” ministries. Lesbian & Gay Community Center, 820 Hamilton St., Charlotte, NC
Press Conference Friday, Feb. 20, 11:30 AM
Unitarian-Universalist Church of Charlotte, 234 N Sharon Amity Rd., Charlotte, NC 28211
Truth Wins Out and Lambda Legal will unveil their new publication, “Ex-Gay and the Law,” which offers practical legal advice and contact information for victims of unscrupulous “ex-gay” therapies. CRANE and other organizations, with representatives from local, LGBTQI-affirming faith communities, will discuss plans to protest the Love Won Out conference.
Non-Violent Protest Saturday, Feb. 21, 11:00 AM-2:00 PM
CRANE will protest the Focus on the Family and Exodus International conference, Love Won Out, in front of Central Church of God, 5301 Sardis Road Charlotte, NC 28270.
The Charlotte Rainbow Action Network for Equality (CRANE) is a grassroots coalition of activists and community members working toward civil and social equality for Charlotte’s lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) community. CRANE is joined in these efforts by national organizations Truth Wins Out, Lambda Legal, the Human Rights Campaign and Faith in America, and local and state groups like One Voice Chorus, Gay Men’s Chorus of Charlotte, Q-Notes newspaper, Charlotte Coalition for Social Justice, UNCC Pride and EqualityNC.
Detailed information on CRANE events can be found at www.rainbowaction.org/events/.
Anti-gays, ex-gays make in-roads in Charlotte
Published February 8, 2009 | 
Just two weeks prior to the Focus on the Family and Exodus International “ex-gay” conference Love Won Out on Feb. 21, the anti-gay American Family Association bought time on WBTV The CW station in Charlotte on Saturday, Feb. 7 for their one-hour special “Speechless: Silencing the Christians.”
The special focused primarily on attacks against the equality of LGBTQI people, including “testimony” from so-called “ex-gays” and insidious propaganda about a so-called “gay agenda” pushing “homosexual lifestyles.” If you missed the special, you can watch it at www.silencingchristians.com. The one-hour special previews the type of harmful, anti-gay lies and myths that will be perpetuated by Focus on the Family and Exodus International at their conference on Feb. 21 at Central Church of God.
CRANE has teamed up with several local and national organizations to counter the lies, myths and psychologically and spiritually damaging practices of Exodus International. Our week-long series of events can be viewed on our events page.
Update: It was originally reported that the special appeared on WBTV. It appeared in The CW. We apologize for any misunderstanding or inconvenience.
Does Charlotte’s future include the LGBT community?
Published February 3, 2009 | Only you can decide that…
On Tuesday, Feb. 3, Crossroads Charlotte, a community building initiative, debuted its film, “Crossroads Charlotte: The Movie.” It included four vignettes about the possible futures of Charlotte by the year 2015. CRANE organizer Matt Comer attended as part of his duties covering the story for Q-Notes. He left the following comment on the new CrossroadsCharlotte.org website following the film, in response to the vignette, “Eye to Eye”:
I really identified with the character Sam. In the last vignette, Sam’s story is fully told: “My mom doesn’t know I’m gay.” The new friend I met, Glenda, urged me to speak about our conversation after the film. I sometimes feel as though Charlotte’s civic/government, social and religious leaders and institutions are kind of like Sam’s mom; they don’t know Charlotte has a gay community. As big a city as Charlotte is, one would think we’d have at least one openly lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) elected official. We don’t. The City doesn’t include sexual orientation or gender-identity in its non-discrimination policy; the County doesn’t include gender-identity. Neither the County nor the City currently offer domestic partner benefits to same-sex partners of LGBT employees (although the County has finally begun to officially discuss it). The region is still very conservative on religious issues. The only institutions who recognize LGBT citizens is the business community. Our city won’t grow unless LGBT citizens are fully accepted and given their full dignity and worth as valued people and community members.
Head over to CrossroadsCharlotte.org, sign up, join the LGBT Charlotteans group and watch the four vignettes (in order: Fortress Charlotte, Class Act, The Beat Goes on, and Eye to Eye). Respond to the story that moves you.
Does Charlotte’s future include the LGBT community? Maybe. You can make it happen.