Gay Charlotte - Natalie - Day 3

We had some trouble getting up on time this morning. But again, after inserting caffeine directly into our veins (not really), we managed to haul ourselves out of the gym of St. John’s Baptist Church, outside into the fresh air and onto a trolley.

Hopping aboard the trolley! Note Flat Jay floating to the right.

 We had a few hours off until we needed to be at the LGBT Community Center so we headed into downtown Charlotte, or, as Reverend Foust here at the church told us, uptown, as it contains the highest point in the city. We abruptly decided to go to the Mint Museum, a contemporary art museum with a bomb exhibit called “Fairytales, Fantasy, and Fear.” If you’re ever here in Charlotte, get on up there.

A gorgeous church across the street from the Mint Museum.

Mid-afternoon we headed over to the community center and helped catalog some LGBT films and CDs in the center’s database that are available for checkout for the general public. We were fortunate enough to meet Hannah and Solita, some of the organizers of SMASH, (Stopping Mecklenburg's Acceleration of Syphilis and HIV) an organization that provides free HIV testing.

We also got to meet the members of the board of the center, including Roberta Dunn, a activist in the transgender and LGBT community in Charlotte. They introduced us to what they were in the midst of doing, and let me tell you, that is a bunch of really connected and amazing people doing some impactful work.

The group with the members of the board of the LGBT Center.

The church had a picnic this evening that we unfortunately had to miss, but the nice people here made us personal leftovers that were there when we got back from the center in the evening. After that we decided to play kickball and basketball in the gym of the church. Only three of us hurt ourselves and I’d say that’s a pretty good average.

Also, Mitch would like me to tell you that he “really balled it up.” Which he did.

-Natalie Parker