Despite waking up late (the dogs didn’t wake us up!), Kate and I are here at the Equality NC Conference, held at the University of North Carolina – Greensboro. Attendance is robust today, with a lot of young people here. This year there is a great deal of good news to report about progress towards equality in the state:

Gains in 2009

* For the sixth year in a row, a proposed state constitutional marriage amendment was killed in committee. North Carolina is the last state standing in the South without an amendment. Give a cheer for that! We have to keep it at bay because the language in this discrimination amendment would not only deny same-sex couples marriage, but it would ban civil unions or any other kind of relationship recognition.

* The School Violence Prevention Act to address bullying and harassment in schools, including acts targeting LGBT students. It marks the first time sexual orientation and gender identity are included in North Carolina law. It is the first gender identity-inclusive law in the South.

* Another step forward is the passing of the Healthy Youth Act, that enables comprehensive sex education program in grades 7-9. Before this bill, abstinence-only education was the only option. Now parents will have to opt-out of reality-based sex ed.

* The state held the line on funding for HIV prevention programs and the AIDS Drug Assistance Program will continue to provide low-income patients with the medicine they need.

Ian Palmquist delivered his “State of the State” address just moments ago. Here’s the video:

At 3PM, Mandy Carter, Jimmy Creech and and I will hold on a forum, “The Dallas Principles: No Delay, No Excuses.” I haven’t caught up with Mandy and Jimmy yet; I will be giving attendees a tour of the Act On Principles web site; it includes a Public Whip Count for ENDA, DOMA, and DADT.