QnotesCarolinas

05/30/2026

Patrick Wolf is back with his first new album in more than a decade and he’s not holding anything back.

In a new interview with Qnotes, the British singer-songwriter opens up about sobriety, grief, q***r identity, rebuilding his life after personal loss and the deeply emotional process behind “Crying The Neck.”

Read the full interview: https://buff.ly/PwXMPGB

This story is brought to you by Rosedale Health and Wellness and White Rabbit

Patrick Wolf discusses sobriety grief q***r identity and his new album “Crying The Neck” ahead of his June 2026 U.S. tour.

05/30/2026

LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations say fear and instability are growing across generations of LGBTQ+ Americans under the Trump administration.

The impact is being felt across age groups, from younger LGBTQ+ people struggling with affordability and safety to older adults worried about aging with dignity and maintaining hard-fought protections.

Read more: https://buff.ly/YypzDXz

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LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations say the cumulative impact of President Donald Trump’s second administration is creating mental anguish, fear and instability across generations of LGBTQ Americans. The negative impact doesn’t discriminate based on years: younger people worry about the cost of living...

05/29/2026

Some LGBTQ+ people in the Carolinas are redefining what “home” means.

For Rick Haffner and Susan Anderson, moving to Costa Rica was not about chasing a fantasy or escaping reality. It was about emotional survival, community, healing and finding a different pace of life after years of stress, grief and uncertainty in the United States.

In this new Qnotes feature, LGBTQ+ Carolinians share what it means to build a life abroad while still staying connected to the communities and people they love back home.

Read the story: https://buff.ly/uRfBmEI

This story is brought to you by Rosedale Health and Wellness and White Rabbit

Some LGBTQ+ Carolinians are relocating abroad in search of a different way of living in places like Costa Rica.

05/29/2026

NEW COLUMN ALERT: Introducing “Good News Corner”

At a time when so much LGBTQ+ news can feel heavy, we wanted to create space for joy, culture, community and the things making us smile too. “Good News Corner” is Qnotes’ newest column highlighting uplifting LGBTQ+ entertainment, pop culture, moments of celebration and good news across our communities.

This week, David Aaron Moore dives into “Stop! That! Train!,” a campy new disaster movie spoof starring RuPaul as President Judy Gagwell alongside drag queens, Hollywood cameos and plenty of chaos.

Read more: https://buff.ly/AYwzIW5

This story is brought to you by Rosedale Health and Wellness and White Rabbit

RuPaul stars in “Stop! That! Train!,” a drag-filled spoof of classic 1970s disaster movies featuring “RuPaul’s Drag Race” queens and Hollywood stars.

05/29/2026

Small Town Pride is back in Chapel Hill and Carrboro this June, bringing a month of LGBTQ+ community events, public art, performances, visibility and celebration to the Triangle.

From the Chapel Hill Pride Promenade on June 6 to the community-wide celebration in Carrboro on June 26, Small Town Pride continues a tradition rooted in local activism, inclusion and grassroots community building.

Read more: https://buff.ly/V8SeSl6

This story is brought to you by Rosedale Health and Wellness and White Rabbit

Chapel Hill and Carrboro’s Small Town Pride returns this June with LGBTQ+ community events across the Triangle.

05/29/2026

LGBTQ+ summer in the Carolinas is looking busy!

Qnotes is putting together a big roundup of drag shows, q***r markets, concerts, community events, affirming spaces, and more happening across North and South Carolina this summer.

Know about an event we should include? Send it our way.

DM us or email [email protected] with:
• Event name
• Date
• Location
• Link/info

We especially want to hear about events in smaller towns and communities too!

Deadline: Tuesday, June 2 at 10 PM

05/28/2026

HRC's Welcoming Schools has selected “My Little Golden Book About Pride” by Kyle Lukoff as its June Book of the Month.

The children’s book introduces young readers to LGBTQ+ history, the meaning behind the original Pride flag created by Gilbert Baker and the importance of inclusion and belonging. The book also features illustrations by Michelle Jing Chan.

Read more: https://buff.ly/gLWc8NB

This story is brought to you by Rosedale Health and Wellness and White Rabbit

“My Little Golden Book About Pride” by Kyle Lukoff is the Human Rights Campaign's Welcoming Schools’ June Book of the Month.

05/28/2026

Soul Gastrolounge is bringing back Sunday brunch in Charlotte starting May 31, reviving one of the city’s longtime brunch and nightlife traditions.

The relaunch at Soul’s Sugar Creek location will include DJs, cocktails, drag and burlesque performances from The Flamingo R***e, plus the return of fan-favorite menu items like monster hash and stuffed French toast.

The return of brunch also highlights Soul’s longtime connections to Charlotte’s LGBTQ+ nightlife community through owner and DJ Andy Kastanas, who helped shape the city’s club scene for decades.

Read more: https://buff.ly/EuyiYno

This story is brought to you by Rosedale Health and Wellness and White Rabbit

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Soul Gastrolounge is reviving its iconic Charlotte brunch tradition May 31 with DJs, drag, burlesque, cocktails and deep roots in the city’s LGBTQ+ nightlife scene.

05/28/2026

A Republican-led effort to redraw South Carolina’s congressional map has officially failed after record early voting turnout and growing opposition inside the GOP-controlled Senate.

The proposed map, backed by the White House, would have shifted more than 1.5 million voters into different congressional districts and delayed congressional primaries already underway. Critics argued the rushed process risked voter confusion and undermined trust in elections.

By the time senators voted to end the effort, more than 32,000 South Carolinians had already cast ballots on the first day of early voting.

Read more: https://buff.ly/1BOoe8W

South Carolina senators voted to block a GOP-backed congressional map overhaul after record early voting turnout and bipartisan opposition halted the effort.

05/27/2026

New research suggests LGBTQ+ youth are not va**ng at higher rates simply because of trends or personal choices. Researchers say bullying, discrimination, family rejection and social isolation are major factors driving ni****ne use among LGBTQ+ young people.

A new study published in Prevention Science found that chronic stress tied to stigma and pressure to fit in can significantly impact substance use among LGBTQ+ youth, especially transgender youth and LGBTQ+ youth of color.

Read more: https://buff.ly/76r4hZD

This story is brought to you by Rosedale Health and Wellness and White Rabbit

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LGBTQ+ youth va**ng rates are linked to bullying, discrimination and social isolation, according to new research on minority stress and ni****ne use.