Convicted child sex predator welcomed at Human Rights Campaign gala in North Carolina

Chad Severance-Turner was welcomed by the organization despite his criminal convictions. Photos show him in attendance at the "Without Exception" gala on Feb. 10, which was sponsored by Bank of America.

(Credit: campruettenc on Instagram)

Severance-Turner, 47, who is on the sex offender registry, is currently the CEO of the Carolina LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce. He is a former youth minister and music director. His crimes happened during the time he was employed by the church ministry at New Harvest Church of God in Gaffney, South Carolina.

Severance-Turner was sentenced in 2000 to 10 years in prison for committing lewd acts on a minor under the age of 16. He served only 2 years behind bars before a judge ordered his parole, per Reduxx.

All of the victims came forward about the abuse when Severance-Turner was the music director at the church. Three alleged victims between 14 and 15 years of age detailed the alleged abuse to authorities, however, Severance-Turner was convicted on only one of the offenses. The incidents occurred in 1998.

The incident in which Severance-Turner was found guilty included him fondling the balls of a 14-year-old male, court documents show.

The boy had testified that Severance-Turner invited him to have a sleepover at his house near Bessemer City, North Carolina. Turner had questioned the victim during the visit on how he’d feel about a man performing oral sex on him, according to court documents. The victim testified that Severance-Turner made frequent comments regarding sex.

In another incident, the victim and Severance-Turner stayed the night at another alleged victim's house following a revival meeting. The victim said that he awoke from his sleep to the youth minister fondling his balls.

The second child, who was 15 at the time, indicated that he was invited to Severance-Turner's home, where the youth minister showed him a pornographic video of a man and a woman having intercourse. He went on to say that later that night, when he and Severance-Turner fell asleep in the same bed, he awoke to find Turner fondling him.

The third alleged victim, who was also 15 at the time, claimed Turner made the same advances on him during a three-week period while he stayed at the boy's house. Turner allegedly fondled the minor many times, per court documents.

Since his prison sentence, Severance-Turner has become a prominent activist in Charlotte's LGBTQ community and was elected president of the city's LGBT+ Chamber of Commerce in 2012. He resigned in 2016 after his criminal conviction came to light but then became CEO when he rejoined the group in 2021.

In March 2015, he was named "Person of the Year" by LGBTQ magazine Q Notes.

Last summer, Severance-Turner was slated to win the Harvey Milk Award by Charlotte Pride, but the LGBTQ organization reversed course after his child sex offenses were brought to light.