I thought Christianity was supposed to be about love and acceptance, you know -- like Jesus, the person they hang their faith on, was.

According to Keith Boykin, an author and recent speaker at UNC Charlotte, black churches are hot beds of homophobia.

Now, is that how Jesus would be?

No, probably not.

Author and activist Keith Boykin on Wednesday blamed the black church for what he described as high levels of homophobia in the African American community.

Speaking to a packed crowd UNC Charlotte, Boykin said gays in the black community often fear speaking out because they risk social and religious isolation.

“It’s taboo in the black community to be gay because of the church and religion,” he said. “Even though there are churches who are both homophobic and homotolerant, it’s still difficult for people.”

Boykin said the black church has a large influence over the African American community, and that people often feel they need acceptance by the mainstream -- in this case, the church.

“Anything that makes them fall from grace of the mainstream society is looked down upon,” Boykin said. “Most people don’t want to take on that extra burden.”

Read the entire article at Qcitymetro.com.

Creative Loafing loves handmade goodies — which is why we’ll be checking out Craft Attack! 2009 tomorrow at Independence Park.

You can expect to find pottery, jewelry, wearables, dolls and collectibles, bags, soaps, candles, handspun yarn, stuffed animals and more. To preview some of the vendors that will be rocking the event (including The Button Florist, pictured above) and to get more info, click here.

Room 112 Modern Asian Cuisine + Sushi Lounge, discreetly tucked into the corner of Trade and Tryon Streets behind the waterfall, quietly opened up its doors this summer with little fanfare. Don't let this fool you though, their sushi is nothing to be ignored. See more pictures and read the review here.

Here's something that all you drinkers need to know, especially if you plan on going to that liquor fest know as Oktoberfest. Why risk a DUI when you can call DADD to get you and your car home safely?

Here's a release from your new designated driver. 

Most of us have been there before. It’s Friday night, and you’re out with a few friends, winding down from a long week of work. After a meal and some laughs, you realize you’ve had one or two drinks too many.

Or you’re at Oktoberfest and have had just a little too much of a good time.

Driving yourself isn’t the safest idea. And calling a cab means the hassle of getting your car home the next day.

No problem, says Ben Lee. Just call DADD.

DADD – short for Dial-a-Designated Driver – is a new Charlotte-area service, designed to get drivers and their cars home safely. The idea is simple and easy to use, says Lee, DADD’s president.

Dial 1-888-422-DADD (3233), and two drivers are dispatched to your location, usually in less than half an hour. One takes you home in the comfort of your own car. The other, called a chaser, follows behind and then picks up the driver once you are home safe.

This year DADD is the official designated driver service for the 11th Annual Charlotte Oktoberfest (www.charlotteoktoberfest.com), held at Metrolina Expo.

“We’re primarily a safety business,” said Lee, company founder. “It seems like every day you hear in the news that someone who had been drinking and driving has crashed and killed someone. That doesn’t have to happen. ”

Lee hopes DADD can make it easier for people to have a good time and still be safe.

Rides can be set up ahead of time, or as needed. There’s a membership which offers special rates on rides, as well as discounts at Charlotte area restaurants, such as South End’s Tavern on the Tracks, Rock-n-Lobster and area Donato’s pizza shops.

The service already has been a hit with customers, such as Debbie H. from Charlotte.

“Obviously drinking and driving is always a ‘no-no,’” she said. “DADD has been a savior when it comes to getting me and my car home safely. They are always a call away and are reliable.”

The cost for a DADD ride starts at around $25 – less than a typical cab fare and tip.  And the service offers a convenience a cab ride doesn’t – it gets your car home as well, said Lee, avoiding the hassle of having to go back out and pick it up in the morning.

Lee got the idea for DADD from experience. He’d go out for an evening, and once in a while one of his friends would have one drink too many. But it was a hassle at times to do the right thing – not drive home – because of the headache of picking up the left-behind car the next day.

DADD can help eliminate that headache, and prevent the heartaches that drunk driving can cause. At this year’s Oktoberfest, the company is also raising funds for Mothers against Drunk Driving (MADD).

“We've heard all the countless excuses of why people drink and drive, and they just aren't worth it,” Lee says. “Together, we can eliminate the needless effects caused by it.

All DADD drivers are insured and undergo a rigorous background check. The company offers flat rates from $24.95 to $69.95. Rides can be reserved ahead of time online at www.calldaddnow.com.

Lee believes DADD will help make this Oktoberfest an enjoyable and safe event.

“You can still have a good time,” he said. “All you’ve got to do is call DADD.”