Aug 31, 2012

Equality North Carolina and Equality North Carolina Foundation Announce Historic New Board Leadership

Raleigh, N.C. - Equality North Carolina, North Carolina’s leading statewide Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT) advocacy group, is proud to announce the selection of new leadership for both its foundation and advocacy boards.

The selections of Elaine Martin as Chair of the Equality North Carolina Board and Michael T. Woods as Chair of Equality North Carolina Foundation Board represent the organization’s first presiding Transgender and African-American board heads, respectively, and mark the organization’s continuing commitment to provide equal rights to all individuals in North Carolina.

“This historic new leadership for the Equality North Carolina and Equality NC Foundation Boards will provide new energy, insights and enthusiasm for the fight for equality in our state,” said Stuart Campbell, Equality NC’s Executive Director. “North Carolina is home to LGBT activists representing all political parties, genders, races, ethnicities, sexual orientations, and gender identities and expressions, and we are proud to have the leadership of our Boards reflect that diversity of activism.”

Elaine Martin, of Chapel Hill, joined the board of Equality North Carolina in July 2009. In 2010, Martin was elected to serve as Vice Chair, in addition to her work on the Finance Committee, Development Committee, Trans Policy Task Force, Executive Director Search Committee, Amendment One Steering Committee, and Executive Committee. She has also been a solicitor in Equality North Carolina’s annual fundraising efforts and frequently speaks on trans-related issues.

"The chairmanship of Equality North Carolina’s advocacy board is a most unexpected honor and pleasure that I take very seriously,” said Martin. “It’s also an opportunity to work with some of the smartest and most dedicated advocates for our community."

Michael T. Woods, currently of Raleigh, joined the Equality North Carolina Foundation (ENCF) 501(c)(3) Board in July 2010, and became a member of the Finance Committee. In 2011, ENCF appointed Woods to serve as Vice Chair, as well as a member of the Executive Committee in addition to Finance, and Strategic Planning, an ad-hoc organizational committee. Prior to his appointment to ENCF, Woods was a member of the North Carolina Steering Committee for the Human Rights Campaign Fund’s Gala Event in 1998.

“I am absolutely thrilled at this opportunity,” said Woods. “Board diversity has been a visionary goal for the organization from the start, and it will continue to be in the future.”

Equality NC is a statewide organization working to secure equal rights and justice for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender North Carolinians.