ENC Wins 2009 Equality Award

The 2009 HRC Carolinas Equality Awards recognize an outstanding organization and an individual that have furthered the progress of civil rights for LGBT persons. Equality NC was selected as the organization, and Denise Palm-Beck of Charlotte was chosen as the individual winner.

Equality NC is pleased and honored by this recognition. Ian Palmquist, executive director, will accept the award at the HRC Carolinas Gala on behalf of the organization.

Equality NC recognizes the work of its board, staff, volunteers, and supporters, all of whom helped make possible its work for equality for LGBT North Carolinians. Without the support of so many committed individuals and activists, ENC could not have had such an impact across the state of North Carolina.

According to the event press release, "Equality NC is making a real difference for LGBT North Carolinians. For the fifth year in a row, Equality NC led the battle to keep an anti-LGBT constitutional amendment off the ballot – leaving North Carolina as the only Southern state to stop this discriminatory amendment.

While the School Violence Prevention Act to address anti-LGBT bullying came just short of passage this year, Equality NC’s work brought it closer to passage than any pro-equality bill in the State’s history, and is working for final passage in 2009.

Additionally, Equality NC led coalition efforts to expand access to the state’s AIDS Drug Assistance Program and to secure $2 million in additional funding for HIV prevention programs.

Also in 2008, they were successful in adding basic hospital visitation protections to the North Carolina Patients’ Bill of Rights for every hospital in the state."

HRC Carolinas is the local organizing committee for the Human Rights Campaign (HRC). HRC is a national civil rights organization working to achieve gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender equality by working to make change at the federal level. By inspiring and engaging all Americans, HRC strives to end discrimination against GLBT citizens and realize a nation that achieves fundamental fairness and equality for all.

For more information about the award and to register for the event, please click here.