That being said I refuse to drag them there uneq. Let people see the asterisk and have the courage to ask what it means. I'm taking a group of fellow Christians from my church to the Charlotte Gay Pride festival this August 21st. We have too long been omitted from legal protections and equal rights. We are too often left out of the cultural and political conversations about sexual preference and gender identities. Breathtaking ballets by NC Dance Theatre, awesome operas by Carolina. And throughout the region, museums, historical sites, and more make for one-of-a-kind visitor experiences. It struck us that the asterisk not only symbolized our acronyms’ missing letters, but also characterized our community. With more than a mile’s worth of cultural facilities all within Center City alone, it’s clear Charlotte has an ever-increasing commitment to the arts. The asterisk is used “to represent that which has been omitted or left out,” and it acknowledges that omission and makes it visible. But through this process, the definition of the asterisk symbol itself stood out. This seemed like a way to move forward, and the focus shifted to the wording of our statement. It was suggested that we could use an asterisk in our mission statement and official documents, with an added footnote acknowledging the missing letters and welcoming everyone. And what if we add to or change the acronym again in the future? Is someone always going to feel excluded? Yet, it was impractical to write the currently recommended 12 letter LGBTQQIP2SAA. Writing LGBT or LGBTQ felt like we were excluding part of the community, and went against our stated goal to be inclusive. After it was canceled in 2020, organizers and businesses are excited about its return. This led to a dilemma on the appropriate acronym to represent our community.
CHARLOTTE GAY PRIDE 2021 FULL