Palmquist’s lifetime of service and leadership recognized by prestigious award from Governor Stein and the launch of the Ian Palmquist Leadership Fund.
RALEIGH – This spring, Ian Palmquist, a leader in the LGBTQ+ equality movement for decades, received The Order of the Long Leaf Pine Award, one of the highest civilian honors awarded by the North Carolina Governor’s Office. Ian has devoted his career to advocating for equality for LGBTQ+ people across North Carolina and nationwide, including serving as the Executive Director of Equality NC, and the Deputy Executive Director of Equality Federation.
The award was presented to Ian on March 20, 2026, by Senior Associate Justice Anita Earls of the North Carolina Supreme Court at an honorary luncheon at Poole’s Diner in Raleigh hosted by the Campaign for Southern Equality, Equality Federation and Equality NC and attended by friends, family, and colleagues. The Order of the Long Leaf Pine is granted by the Governor to individuals “for exemplary service to the State of North Carolina and their communities that is above and beyond the call of duty and which has made a significant impact and strengthened North Carolina.”
Ian Palmquist said today:
“Thanks to Governor Stein for this wonderful honor. It was a joy to be surrounded by so many friends and incredible leaders.”
Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, Executive Director of the Campaign for Southern Equality, said today:
“Ian Palmquist’s impact on the LGBTQ+ community, in North Carolina and across the country, is profound. For decades, he has led with vision, integrity, and a deep commitment to justice for all. Ian has changed so many people’s lives, and he’s changed our state too, all for the better.”
Ian was nominated for the award by Chris Brook, partner at the law firm of Patterson Harkavy and former judge on the North Carolina Court of Appeals; North Carolina Rep. Susan Fisher; Eliazar Posada, Executive Director of Equality NC and Vice Mayor of Carrboro; Rev. Jasmine Beach-Ferrara, Executive Director of the Campaign for Southern Equality and former Buncombe County Commissioner; and Fran “Hutch” Hutchins, Executive Director of Equality Federation.
This event also marked the official launch of the Ian Palmquist Leadership Fund, which will continue advancing leadership opportunities for LGBTQ+ people. The fund, held at the Pride Foundation and administered by colleagues and friends of Ian’s, will provide scholarships for emerging and established LGBTQ+ leaders to participate in high-impact leadership development programs, helping to cultivate the next generation of leaders in the LGBTQ+ movement.
Fran “Hutch” Hutchins, Executive Director of Equality Federation, added:
“From his early days as a high school student organizer in Raleigh to his 12 years leading at Equality Federation and beyond, Ian has spent a lifetime dedicated to LGBTQ+ advocacy–and I especially admire his history of paving the pathway for young and diverse future leaders. The Leadership Fund launched in his name will continue Ian’s legacy, ensuring that the most impactful, community-rooted leaders get the training and support they need to thrive.”
Eliazar Posada, Executive Director of Equality NC and Vice Mayor of Carrboro, NC, said today:
“Ian Palmquist was an integral part of my own leadership journey – and his commitment to advocacy, justice, and equality inspired me greatly. It’s powerful to see Ian recognized for his achievements and contributions – and to know that they will continue to ripple outward and impact so many other future leaders through the fund.”
More information about the fund, including how to support it, is available here.
Biographical Information About Ian Palmquist
Raised in North Carolina, Ian Palmquist is a true servant leader who has served the people of North Carolina for more than three decades, promoting equality and inclusion across our state. A graduate of Enloe High School, Ian was part of the “Enloe Six,” a group of students who organized a response to a virulently anti-gay postering campaign at the school. After distributing flyers with messages of inclusion, the “Enloe Six” were suspended and then pursued the appeals process until the suspension was reversed by the school board. Ian went on to attend UNC-CH, where his leadership in campus organizing continued through the Queer Network for Change (QNC), a campus LGBTQ+ group, and he began volunteering for Equality NC.
After graduating, Ian joined the staff of Equality NC, serving for seven years before becoming Executive Director for five years. He led the successful campaign to pass the School Violence Prevention Act, the first LGBTQ+-inclusive law in state history and the first statute to include protections for the transgender community in the South. Under his leadership, the impact of this statewide LGBTQ+ advocacy organization grew significantly, reaching every corner of the state. Ian worked closely with local community members and statewide elected officials to start new conversations about LGBTQ+ issues, connect civil rights issues such as LGBTQ+ equality and racial justice, and be a clarion voice for equality and inclusion at every level of our state.
Ian went on to earn his Masters in Public Administration from Harvard University’s John F. Kennedy School of Government and then took a role as Deputy Executive Director of Equality Federation, an advocacy accelerator that builds power in its network of state-based LGBTQ+ advocacy organizations. In this new role, the scope of his work expanded, but his commitment and service to North Carolina never wavered: he continued to actively support Equality NC’s work and help support efforts to cultivate resources for LGBTQ+ advocacy in NC. Additionally, Ian has served on the Board of the NC AIDS Action Network and the Adaptive Leadership Network. Ian is a beloved community leader known across NC for his unwavering commitment to equality and justice, his strategic acumen, and his steadfast investment in supporting the growth and development of other leaders.
