Ed Farthing, Political and Community Organizer

Prior to coming on staff in late 2003, Ed spent thirty-two years practicing law in Hickory, NC. As an attorney he has represented thousands of clients in and out of court, many of whom have been lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgender (LGBT) individuals or couples dealing with a legal system that was not designed with the LGBT community in mind. He is also a certified mediator by the North Carolina Dispute Resolution Commission and has served as a mediator since 1995.

Born in Greensboro, Farthing grew up both there and in Charlotte, graduating from Greensboro's Grimsley High in 1965, UNC in 1969 (BA History) UNC-Law (JD) in 1972. He and his wife then moved to Hickory where his son Brit was born.

Over the next 18 or so years Farthing struggled with his sexual orientation. Trying to reconcile religious beliefs, the commitments made when one marries, duty to family and what our heterosexual society teaches its citizens about LGBT members of the community with being a gay man is a difficult process. Being able to accept himself as God made him allowed him to come out of the closet and become active in the LGBT community's struggle for equal rights.

Activism was not new for Farthing on coming out of the closet. He has been active in the Republican Party since he was a teen, even serving as President of the North Carolina Teen Age Republicans in the mid 60's. He served 2 terms on the Catawba County Board of Elections in the mid 70's and early 80's (one of those as Chair), and currently serves as GOP Precinct Chair in Greenmont Precinct.

In the legal field Farthing has served as an officer of the Catawba County Bar Association. He has been on the Board of Directors and served as Secretary/Treasurer of the North Carolina Association of Defense Attorneys. He helped organize and served as Vice President and President of the North Carolina Gay and Lesbian Attorneys and was on the Board of Directors of NC Legal Education Assistance Fund. He has served on the NC Bar Association Alternate Dispute Resolution Council. He helped develop, and frequently taught, a workers compensation seminar for Western Carolina Industries.

Locally Farthing has been active in the Hickory Jaycees, serving as Legal Counsel. He served three terms as an Elder at Northminster Presbyterian Church and as President of the congregation, has chaired the Stewardship and Building committees, and taught the senior high Sunday School class. Farthing served two terms on the Hickory Community Relations Council and currently served on the Mayor's Task Force for Business Development in Hickory. He served for 12 years as Legal Counsel for AIDS Leadership Foothills Area Alliance. He has served as a youth soccer coach, swim team assistant and assistant scoutmaster as well as being active in his son's schools' PTA and PTSA organizations. He helped organize and currently serves as Vice President of the Greenpark Neighborhood Association. While growing up he was both a Cub and Boy Scout, and was awarded the Order of the Arrow for his service to his scout troop.

In the LGBT community Farthing has served 2 terms on the Equality NC Board of Directors, resigning as Chair of the Equality NC PAC Board to work for Equality NC. He helped organize and served as treasurer of Catawba Valley PFLAG and also helped organize and helped facilitate the LGBT youth group Catawba Valley Time Out Youth. He was on the Board of Directors of NC Pride, Inc. and helped organize NC Pride events in Charlotte, Durham and Winston-Salem, as well as teaching several seminars on legal issues for LGBT citizens.

He has been active with Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund and served as local counsel in matters that arose in Western NC. Farthing has also been active with the Gay and Lesbian Victory Fund and attended candidate training in 2001. He is active in Soulforce, an LGBT activist organization for people of faith, and has been arrested twice in non-violent demonstrations protesting spiritual violence perpetrated by organized religion against God's LGBT children.

Farthing lives in Hickory and travels where ever necessary throughout North Carolina to work for equal rights and justice for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender North Carolinians.