CRANE organizers on WBT’s Keith Larson Show
Published February 17, 2010 | 
Don’t miss CRANE organizers Lacey Williams and Matt Comer on today’s Keith Larson Show, shortly after 10 a.m.
Catch it on WBT News-Talk 1110 AM or listen live online.
Yesterday, Lacey and CRANE organizer Laura Maschal presented anti-gay Mecklenburg County Commissioner Bill James with a Valentine’s Day card from the gay community. The message was simple enough: “Gay is OK.”
“We’d like to present Commissioner James with a Valentine’s card from the gay and gay-friendly community in Charlotte with the hope that with loving support, and maybe some tough love, he can turn his attitudes around in 2010,” Laura said in our press release yesterday morning. “We’ll keep on checking in with him throughout the year to make sure he stops using anti-gay slurs and begins to open his eyes to the power of love in our community.”
See our media advisory for more of the details and listen to Laura’s interview with WFAE yesterday.
Posted in Media & Press | 
Bill James, Charlotte, Keith Larson, Mecklenburg County, WBT | 
Leave a commentListen: CRANE on WFAE today (Updated)
Published February 16, 2010 | 
CRANE organizer Laura Maschal had the chance to speak with WFAE 90.7 FM reporter Lisa Miller this morning, concerning CRANE’s Valentine’s card gift to anti-gay Mecklenburg Commissioner Bill James at tonight’s meeting of the County Commissioners.
Miller’s report aired at the bottom of the 5:00 hour on Feb. 16, 2010, during the station’s broadcast of “All Things Considered.”
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You can tune into WFAE at 90.7 FM or listen live online anytime.
Be sure to check out this morning’s media advisory for the details.
Posted in Media & Press | Bill James, Charlotte, Lisa Miller, Mecklenburg County, WFAE | Leave a commentCRANE on Charlotte Observer
Published February 16, 2010 | 
News of CRANE’s Valentine’s card gift to anti-gay Mecklenburg Commissioner Bill James made the front page of CharlotteObserver.com today.
Observer staffer Doug Miller took to the paper’s Paper Trail blog with a note about tonight’s presentation to James. CRANE organizers Lacey Williams and Laura Maschal will be present with other community members to remind James of the “power of love in our community.”
More details in this morning’s media advisory, and be sure to tune into WFAE 90.7 FM today between 4 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Posted in Media & Press | Bill James, Charlotte, Charlotte Observer, Doug Miller, Mecklenburg County | Leave a commentAdvisory: Gay community members tell anti-gay Bill James, ‘We love you’
Published February 16, 2010 | 
MEDIA ADVISORY
February 16, 2010
Gay community members to Bill James: We love you
Grassroots activist to present anti-gay commissioner with Valentine’s present
CHARLOTTE — Feb. 16, 2010 — Grassroots activists with Charlotte Rainbow Action Network for Equality (CRANE) will present conservative, anti-gay Mecklenburg County Commissioner Bill James a special Valentine’s card at the County Commissioners meeting. Members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community were at the receiving end of James’ anti-gay comments and slurs in December.
On Tuesday, CRANE organizers Laura Maschal and Lacey Williams hope James will open up and reconsider his stances on LGBT equality. Maschal’s and Williams’ Valentine’s card will contain signatures and thoughts from local LGBT community members.
“We’d like to present Commissioner James with a Valentine’s card from the gay and gay-friendly community in Charlotte with the hope that with loving support, and maybe some tough love, he can turn his attitudes around in 2010,” Maschal says. “We’ll keep on checking in with him throughout the year to make sure he stops using anti-gay slurs and begins to open his eyes to the power of love in our community.”
At the County Commissioners meeting on Dec. 15, 2009, during debate on proposed domestic partner benefits for LGBT city employees and their partners, James leaned over to fellow Commissioner Vilma Leake and said, “Your son was a homo, really?” His comments in response to Leake’s emotional story of her son and his death were outrageous and inappropriate, yet James offered no apology. In fact, he continued to make outrageous statements to local media outlets in the days following the meeting. James’ latest comments are but a few in a long history of abusive rhetoric directed at LGBT citizens and residents in Charlotte and Mecklenburg County.
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 and its list of upcoming events, including a public demonstration on “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” can be found online at www.rainbowaction.org.
Advisory: Grassroots group holds rally, march
Published May 29, 2009 | MEDIA ADVISORY
May 29, 2009
Contact:
Matt Comer, 336-391-9528, matt.hill.comer@gmail.com
Charlotte Rainbow Action Network for Equality (CRANE), www.rainbowaction.org
Gay grassroots group holds rally, march in wake of California Prop. 8 Supreme Court decision
Group will attend June 1 City Council Citizens’ Forum in support of pro-gay resolution
CHARLOTTE – The Charlotte Rainbow Action Network for Equality (CRANE) will hold a Friday rally at Marshall Park and march through Uptown to the Government Center, to raise awareness on lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex (LGBTQI) equality issues. The event is a direct response to the May 26, 2009, California Supreme Court ruling upholding the anti-gay Proposition 8. The rally and march will feature several local speakers, including a lesbian couple married in California prior to Proposition 8’s passage in November.
During the Friday event, CRANE will urge supporters to sign a petition in support of a resolution to be presented at the June 1, 2009 City Council Citizens’ Forum. The resolution asks Charlotte leaders to go on record supporting the right of same-sex couples to enter into legally-recognized, civil marriages. Similar resolutions have already been approved by the Chapel Hill and Carrboro Town Councils.
CRANE members will be present to show their support of the resolution at the Citizens’ Forum. Supporters will wear red shirts or other articles of clothing to signify their support. The full text of the proposed resolution can be read at www.rainbowaction.org/taking-a-stand-bringing-it-home/
FRIDAY RALLY & MARCH SCHEDULE
5:30 p.m. — Rally at Marshall Park. Speakers include CRANE members, local LGBTQI and straight ally leaders.
6:15 p.m. — March through Uptown. Route: West on 3rd St. from Marshall Park, North on Tryon St., West on Trade St., South on Davidson St., ending at Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center at 600 E. 4th St.
After march — Rally and picket at Government Center and plaza (4th St. side). Includes speakers.
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. In the past, members of the group were responsible for organizing the highly successful and visible Nov. 15, 2008 post-Prop. 8 protest and a series of events countering the anti-gay, ex-gay Exodus International, Love Won Out conference in February 2009.
CORRECTION: Durham has not passed a resolution similar to that already passed by Chapel Hill and Carrboro. The City of Durham is still considering the resolution.
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.
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.
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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.
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.
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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/.