MeckPAC was founded in 1998 by a group of concerned citizens reacting to an emergency need for local political advocacy for LGBT equality.  This emergency need arose because of a profoundly anti-LGBT vote by the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners.  To understand that vote and how it galvanized the local LGBT community to take action against it by forming MeckPAC, one needs to know the following story.

In 1996, Charlotte Repertory Theatre presented the play "Angels in America" in a prominent uptown venue. The play had a strong gay theme related to the 1980's AIDS crisis.  This Charlotte Repertory production unleashed a storm of public controversy. Reactions included blatant anti-homosexuality and protests of public funding for the arts since a portion of Charlotte Repertory Theatre's budget came from the predominately-county-funded Arts & Science Council.

After this play and largely because of it, four Republican Mecklenburg County Commissioners were joined by one Democrat in the 1997 county funding cycle in voting to de-fund the Arts & Science Council, rescinding $2.5 million in annual funding to cultural organizations.  This "Gang of Five" (the name they were dubbed by the community and local media) made their motives clear.  While calling publicly for "community morality" and defining the family as, "a husband, wife and possible offspring", their rhetoric also included statements such as, "If I had my way, I'd shove (homosexuals) off the face of the earth."

In the very next election cycle for the Mecklenburg Board of County Commissioners after this anti-LGBT arts funding vote, the newly-founded MeckPAC was triumphant in its quest of ousting the infamous Gang of Five.  After MeckPAC campaigned tirelessly for County Commission candidates who promoted civility and diversity, the 1998 election created a County Commission composed seven pro-arts, pro-diversity Democrats; one pro-arts, pro-diversity Republican; and only one remaining member of the Gang of Five!   MeckPAC's efforts continue today because of the courageous stand its founders took in 1998.  MeckPAC fights on to strongly promote a local political environment that fosters the inclusion and acceptance of the LGBT community.

On April 3rd, Toni Alston (a transgender person) was murdered in Charlotte. Based on the Charlotte Observer and TV news coverage, the handling of this murder by CMPD was less than acceptable to the LGBT community.  As such, members of MeckPAC (Mecklenburg LGBT Political Action Committee) asked Mayor Foxx to schedule a meeting between LGBT community representatives and CMPD Chief Rodney Monroe.

Read more: MeckPAC Working Toward Equality: Open Forum with CMPD

Click on the red link below to securely donate online to MeckPAC.

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MeckPAC greatly appreciates your financial support of its vital mission!

By law, as a PAC registered with the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections, MeckPAC can only accept donations from individuals, not businesses.  Individual contributions cannot exceed $4,000 per individual per election.

While making your donation through this link, you will be asked for the following information:

• Your name
• Your mailing address
• Your job title or profession
• Your employer's name or your specific field of work

By law, MeckPAC must report such information for all of donors to the Board of Elections via quarterly filings.  Thank you for following these guidelines that help MeckPAC maintain its official PAC status.

OR if you prefer, you may mail your donation to the following address (if you mail your donation please provide with it:  your name, mailing address, job title or profession, and your employer's name or your specific field of work -- for the reason stated above):

MeckPAC

P.O. Box 9807
Charlotte, NC
28299

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MeckPAC depends solely on volunteers since there is no paid staff.  Anyone interested in volunteering to serve on MeckPAC's steering committee or for helping with specific tasks like voter guide mailings and lobbying elected officials should email the current steering committee.  Volunteers are the backbone of this organization and are greatly appreciated!

MeckPAC motivates the Charlotte/Mecklenburg LGBT community and its many allies to vote and participate in local elections in several ways, including our premier service of providing a comprehensive voter guide that rates candidates for local office on how they stand on LGBT equality issues.  In the weeks leading up to an election, such a voter guide is made available through this website, as well as through local media outlets, email and Facebook distribution, and US Postal Service mailings to hundreds of MeckPAC supporters.  Sign up for MeckPAC's Yahoo Group email distribution list so that you will be sure to receive a voter guide by going to the "Stay Informed" link on this website's home page.

A candidate's rating on MeckPAC's voter guide is determined through careful evaluation of the candidate's written responses to a MeckPAC questionnaire. If the candidate has held elected office before, MeckPAC also evaluates the candidate's record on LGBT equality issues while in office.  MeckPAC questionnaires specifically focus on issues of importance to the LGBT community and are sent to every candidate who files for local election.  Often, in addition to the evaluation of a candidate's written questionnaire responses, MeckPAC will conduct an interview with the candidate.  The interview allows for a more in-depth evaluation of the candidate's stance on LGBT issues.

MeckPAC also sponsors candidate forums that are open to the public specifically addressing LGBT equality issues.  MeckPAC also hosts what has become a very popular "get-to-know-the-candidates" party before each election.  At this pre-election party, MeckPAC supporters are able to meet and mingle, one-on-one, with candidates in a fun setting.

MeckPAC educates local elected officials and candidates on issues important to the LGBT community and advocates for political action by those officials on such issues when necessary. This is done through a variety of means, including, but not limited to: regular meetings with elected officials and candidates, providing resource materials as needed, and attending and/or speaking at City Council, County Commission, or School Board meetings when necessary to advance an issue.

In general, MeckPAC works to nurture on-going positive relationships between local elected officials/candidates and the LGBT community.  MeckPAC's focus is on building relationships based upon mutual trust and understanding.

MeckPAC also raises money to give to the campaigns of local candidates who support LGBT equality. When an individual wants to provide a financial contribution to a candidate that supports LGBT equality, that contribution has the potential for greater impact if it is made to MeckPAC versus directly to the candidate's campaign.  This is because individual contributions to MeckPAC are pooled together to make one large contribution to a supportive candidate's campaign which represents the combined strength of the LGBT community and its allies.  Campaign contributions from MeckPAC let candidates know that the LGBT community and its allies are a fully-engaged and powerful voting bloc.

CLICK HERE to download our 2012 Primary Voter Guide directory, or see our full article to learn more, including information early voting locations, voter registration and our May 8 election watch party: "Primary 2012 Voter Guide and endorsements released."

Mecklenburg Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Political Action Committee (MeckPAC) is a non-partisan, non-profit organization registered with the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections. Our mission is to mobilize the LGBT community and its many allies in Charlotte/Mecklenburg to vote and participate in city/county elections, to educate city/county elected officials about issues of importance to the LGBT community, and to hold city/county elected officials accountable for their votes on such issues.

MeckPAC is allied with the important political advocacy work for LGBT equality provided by EqualityNC (ENC) at the state level and by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) at the federal level. Support for all three levels of LGBT political advocacy (local, state, and federal) is crucial to achieving full equality.