Durham

The exploits of North Carolina’s Insurance Commissioner as crime fighter have been well-documented on this site and in other places, including countless news accounts and the official website of the Department of Insurance.

The statewide Pride event is happening all this weekend. There is a full schedule of events from Thursday through Sunday across the state, but of course the big event is the rally and parade in Durham.

11: 55am National Anthem for Opening Ceremony
NOON "Pride Rally with Speakers and Dignitaries, Parade Marshall and special performances"
12:45- 2:15pm PARADE LINE UP TO MARCH with Bagpipes
1pm Parade Begins (Official Reviewing Stand at Madhatter's Cafe at the corner of Main and Broad St.
1pm - 4pm Viewing Party

Elaine Marshall has won two HUGE victories in the battle for the Durham vote today.

Durham Mayor Bill Bell and the Durham Committee on the Affairs of Black People announced they were both supporting Elaine's campaign today for U.S. Senate. Both candidates in the runoff election have focused heavily on Durham -- Elaine placed second in the primary behind Ken Lewis, who is now her Campaign Chairman, and these latest endorsements highlight the momentum our campaign has.

It is time for us to unite behind Elaine Marshall. In my opinion Marshall's better suited to beat Burr, and she's proven that she's ready to stand up and fight for the people of North Carolina. -- Mayor Bell

Sign up to make calls this week and help Elaine Marshall win the June 22nd runoff!

More below.

There are times when I feel a great deal of pride in my humble hometown of Durham, North Carolina. In the past, that pride has stemmed from the city's institutions, from the wide availability of fantastic Mexican food to our leading recycled object-based amusement centers, and even our renowned hospitals and medical research. Today I once again feel a surge of pride, this time because the city of Medicine is now in the vanguard of campaign finance reform. Yesterday, the Durham city council passed a resolution calling for the North Carolina legislature and Governor's office to pass legislation allowing larger towns like Durham to institute voter-owned election programs.

Cal and Vancine Studivant, Chair of the Anson County Democratic Party

When Cal Cunningham entered the Democratic Party’s State Executive Committee Meeting at the Durham Convention Center today, the enthusiasm just surged. All along the entrance hall, volunteers cheered, clapped, and pumped their fists as Cal made his way toward the SEC ballroom. The cheers for Cal filled the hall, and I thought to myself, ‘this is really a great event to be a part of.’

www.ncpride.org

NC Pride is this weekend. It marks the 25th anniversary of this celebration. Of course the main event is the Parade at 1pm today. But there are speeches, festival grounds, food, vendors, booths, and lots of fun to be had. I'm about to head over to NC Pride, check out what is going on, and then volunteer at the Equality NC booth for a while.

I would argue that it is important for as many people to turn out to this parade and rally as possible, because it is the first one since prop 8 & the protests, and it is important to see this as not only a good time, but also a large political rally with a positive message. I also want to take a second to share some info on the Parade Marshall Mark Kleinschmidt, a Chapel Hill town councilman who is running for mayor, and for whom I am the campaign's volunteer coordinator:

Campaign Website
www.mark4mayor.com

Pam Spaulding has all the details at The Blend.

Teaser:

"I am very proud of my hometown tonight after attending the Durham (NC) City Council meeting where a resolution supporting civil marriage equality for same-sex couples was passed unanimously. Mayor Bill Bell and council members affirmed marriage equality."

You have to hand it to South Carolina. They take their racist pride seriously, even when it means they have to forfeit millions in certain revenues, as happened this week.

The ACC has shifted its baseball championship from Myrtle Beach to Durham in 2011 and 2013, acting on objections to South Carolina's prominent display of the Confederate flag.

Whenever I get discouraged about circus that passes for law-making in Raleigh, all I need to do is look south of our border and I don't feel quite so bad.

We've been watching as county boards and city councils in conservative areas of the Tar Heel state pass resolutions in favor of a marriage amendment. Now Durham's city council considers one in support of same-sex couples' right to marry. (Herald-Sun):

City Council members are considering whether they should pass a non-binding resolution that says the city endorses "the rights of same-sex couples to share fully and equally in the rights, responsibilities and commitments of civil marriage."

A resident, Joshua Lee Weaver, on Thursday asked the council to consider the resolution. Elected boards in Chapel Hill and Carrboro have already backed it.

I love it -- this video captures the fun all of us who work in the Brightleaf Square buildings in downtown Durham get to hear at least once a month -- trucks that are too tall careening down Gregson Street and slamming into the railroad overpass. Someone in the building actually set up a camera to capture the insanity and compiled a "best of" tape.