Q&A: Fayetteville PRIDE co-presidents talk bullying, summer festival, what's next

Elected in January, Fayetteville PRIDE’s new co-presidents are shaking up the LGBTQ+ advocacy group with new priorities, a bigger board and a summer Pride festival that they say will be the city's biggest yet.

Now at the helm is Spring Lake resident Krystal Maddox, 62, a retired customer service representative who has lived in the area for about 55 years and served as a board member for PRIDE for five years.

Serving alongside Maddox is Brian Adam Kline, 38, a theater and film teacher at Capital Encore Academy and children’s book author. He said he has lived in Fayetteville for about 15 years and has been part of PRIDE for two years.

The Fayetteville Observer met with Maddox and Kline on Wednesday to discuss the biggest issues facing the local LGBTQ+ community, X and what’s next for the organization.

Responses have been edited for grammar, style, length and clarity. 

What are the biggest hurdles the LGBTQ+ community in Cumberland County faces?

Maddox: There is an epidemic of bullying and mistreatment of the rainbow community, especially our children, in the schools. With the new Parent Bill of Rights Law passed last year, schools are not accepting of students’ preferred names and pronouns. That law damaged the safety of our youth.

For example, if a student comes out as a different gender or sexual orientation to any Cumberland County Schools official, that person must notify the parents. If a kid is not comfortable and safe at home, they now can’t go to the schools for help.

Teachers used to be an ally and the safe zone for the children, and that has been taken away from the school system. Teachers fear for their jobs or even their safety if they try to reach out and help a student.

LGBTQ+ kids who stand up to their bullies are often punished.

Kline: Public school teachers must get permission from parents to call kids by a different name, even a nickname, in fear that the student is using a name associated with another gender.

As a teacher, half of my students have come from another school because of how they were treated by their peers. It’s because they always feel like an outsider in other places, and for many of them, it is because of their gender identity or sexual orientation.

How is PRIDE working to address bullying against LGBTQ+ kids in schools?

Maddox: There is a horrible pattern of teen and preteen suicide. We want to let our community know we’re supporting them. Parents and kids can come to us, and we can help advocate for the kids in schools.

PRIDE is currently working on resources to provide education and information to the schools and the youth. On Fourth Fridays, at our community events, and anywhere we show up, we will be providing information and letting people know they can reach out to us for help. Whether it be a phone number for a crisis line or statistics from the Trevor Project. We will not be silenced, and we will not ignore what is going on.

Related: What new Parent Bill of Rights Law means for Cumberland County Schools

Kline: It would be great if the bills that were passed last year were reversed. I would like to see more education for students and for teachers in training about what it means to be gay or transgender and how to intervene in bullying. School social workers and counselors need to be trained in that aspect, too.

Related: What you need to know about NC legislation seeking to regulate LGBTQ+ people

What else is affecting the local LGBTQ+ community right now?

Maddox: North Carolina has limited hate laws, and the rainbow community is not included in them. A lot of people think, “Oh, you called me a homophobic slur. I’m going to call the police.” You can’t, because we are not protected from hate crimes, and that definitely must change.

Politicians can say that trans people should be killed without repercussions. It’s acceptable to wish death, hate and criminal activities upon LGBTQ+ people. It’s open season.

Kline: Politicians telling their followers that a group of people is dangerous, when there is no backing behind that at all, is not OK. If you spend time with our community, you will see that we’re not dangerous. Last year, a group of protestors came to the PRIDE festival to protest it, and they changed their minds because they saw it was a harmless event. It was an example of not understanding something and spreading the idea that it is dangerous.

When does Fayetteville PRIDE meet?

Maddox: We hold regular community meetings at 2 p.m. on the second Sunday of each month. They’re open to all community members and allies.

Kline: We had our first teen meeting last month, and moving forward they are on the second Saturday of each month. They’re open to teens and family members. We watch movies, eat junk food, play board games and have plans to go roller skating, bowling, and to the movies.

What’s next for Fayetteville PRIDE?

Maddox:  We are in the beginning stages of planning for an LGBTQ+ center of our own. For the first time, we don’t have a gay club in the area. We don’t have a place where gay people can go just to be amongst themselves. While it does seem good that they can go anywhere now, the community does need a place where you can get resources and information.

Related: Fayetteville's gay and lesbian bars disappeared. Could an LGBTQ+ bar open here again?

What can you tell us about the fifth annual Fayetteville PRIDE festival?

Maddox: It’s from noon to 6 p.m. June 29 at Festival Park, and it’s going to be our biggest and best yet. We’re still looking for volunteers, sponsors and vendors. People can visit fayettevillepride.org or facebook.com/fayncpride for more information.

Food, dining and culture reporter Taylor Shook can be reached at tshook@gannett.com or on Facebook.

This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Q&A with Fayetteville PRIDE presidents Krystal Maddox, Brian Adam Kline