From flowy dresses to oversized sunglasses and strappy sandals — summer is synonymous with chic style. But, are you ready to reveal your skin?

Cooling your home in summer can be an expensive prospect, especially as temperatures soar well above comfort level. But, don’t sweat it. Experts say you can dramatically lower your energy bills and stay comfortable too.

There’s no better place than your own backyard for relaxing, entertaining and enjoying the outdoors. And, there’s no better time than Summer to spruce up your space.

Queen City summer fashion is heating up with the third annual FashionSOUL. Coordinated by Joey Hewell, this event was a fantastic mix of local fashion and talent at Amos’ SouthEnd on May 5 benefiting the Humane Society of Charlotte.

A recent Queen City transplant, L.A. Berlyn has thrust himself upon the Charlotte scene to become the burg’s self-proclaimed “Digital Media Darling.” The style guru works in the “business of pretty,” as a wardrobe stylist, makeup artist and writer of the popular humor blog, The Handsome Savage.

Randy Hylton of Charlotte passed away at his home on Wednesday, April 18, 2012.

Dr. Dan Murrey, the executive director of the Charlotte in 2012 Convention Host Committee, presented a convention update to the Charlotte City Council regarding convention planning and community outreach.

I find myself in a frustrating situation when putting together my thoughts for this issue. While you won’t pick up this copy until May 12 at the earliest, the reality is that the paper will go to print on May 7. I want to write about the results of the vote on May 8, I just can’t foresee the future no matter how hard I try.

I’m Gay Marriage and I’m mad. Those alleged experts over at the Pew Research Center for the People & the Press — and what a stupidly long name that is — conducted a national survey to find out which issues matter most to voters and I’m certain the pollsters were drunk and the respondents were house pets.

What is your favorite summer fashion accessory?

I was riding in the back seat of my parents’ white Buick Le Sabre, as my mom pulled into the large fairgrounds in New Jersey, leaving my dad at a rally for Lyndon B. Johnson for president. In 1964 I was nine years old and to this day I remember the tension in the car between my parents riding in the front seat of the car.

Marking a landmark federal workplace rights victory, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission ruled April 24 in a 5-0 decision that an employer who discriminates against a transgender employee or job applicant because of the person’s gender identity is practicing illegal sex discrimination based on Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964. This is the first time the EEOC has ruled that anti-transgender discrimination is sex discrimination.

Kathy Griffin, a two-time Emmy winner and best selling author, will perform at the Durham Performing Arts Center (DPAC) on Aug. 10 as a part of the North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Film Festival. The Carolina Theatre and DPAC are partnering on this event.

Campus Pride Executive Director Shane Windmeyer announced the deadline extension for early-bird registration for the Camp Pride Summer Leadership Program, slated for July 17-22 at Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tenn., to May 30.

The LGBT Cancer Network, which advocates for health equality, released news that a number of centers for screenings are now available throughout the Carolinas.