If you couldn’t be there, this is the next best thing. Armed with my trusty video cam (and help from the Equality NC folks to get a place to set up the cam at the last minute), I recorded the main program of the Equality NC Gala. Video One: Opening remarks…

Video Two: ENC’s Executive Director Ian Palmquist receives a surprise honor for his 10 years of service with the organization (around 12:45). He later presents State Senator Julia Boseman the legislative award for her leadership in getting the School Violence Prevention Act passed and signed into law. Not only that, she has represented the LGBT community in more ways than can be counted as our only out member of our General Assembly. There was a lot of laughter when Ian referred to that, since there are many closets yet to be kicked open in our legislature. (18:50).

He also noted that when the legislature was voting for a resolution honoring the late, vile, racist and homophobic former senator Jesse Helms, Julia was the ONLY lawmaker who voted No. When asked why she voted no), Boseman said the only reason that she voted no was because there was no “HELL NO.” Everyone roared (at 15:55). Her acceptance speech starts at 22:25.

North Carolina State Senator Julia Boseman: Thank you. It has been quite a road. I have to tell you that ten years ago, when I decided to run…or people asked me to run, I was most concerned about how people would judge me, about how they would judge my sexual orientation. I had a friend coming to me over and over saying “Julia, you have to run, you have to run,” and or “you’re crazy, you’re an open lesbian; I’ll be eaten alive, you know. [unintelligible, laughter] But it’s been a very amazing, trying, worrying journey to get here, and it’s truly a gift to be here.

When I won this seat it didn’t become my seat, it became our seat, and we’ve been able to accomplish a lot with our seat. And as Ian said, having a seat at the table has made a world of difference.

When I’m in that back room of the caucus and we’re talking about the marriage amendment, it makes a difference that we’re there. When we’re talking about the bullying bill, it made a difference that we’re there. When we have Republicans saying that comprehensive health education, sexual education means that you’re going to teach all our kids how to be gay, it makes a big difference that we have a seat at the table.

The rest of her speech is below the fold.

Everyone wants to talk about the Gay Agenda and what we want, I think they finally realized now in Raleigh is that we want what other people want. With our seat we’ve passed some amazing things, including the bullying bill.  We passed Jessica’s Law. It’s a 25-year mandatory minimum sentence for child molesters –and when they do get out they have electronic monitoring for the rest of their lives. We have the School of Nursing, we have film incentives. Our oyster population has decreased 9% since the beginning of the century; we have legislation that will help our environment with an oyster hatchery. These are things that are important to us are what’s important to everyone.  

I’m proud to have my name on this bullying bill, but it has been such an effort of all of us — and Ian, oh my gosh — after we passed it, I was like “What am I going to do? I’m not going to see you around every corner when I turn around?” Because every waking moment in the legislature we spent fighting for this bill. Ian has been tenacious, he has been incredible for Equality (NC). Everyone who supports Equality…Ian, I cannot sing your praises enough — you’re the best. We couldn’t have done it without you.

Because of this, this is the first time in our general statute that we actually have sexual orientation and gender identity here in North Carolina. And you know when I was first elected ten years ago to the County Commission, that’s when Jesse Helms was in office.

[Someone says "Boooo", Julia says "Yeah...hell, no"]

I won’t always have this seat; and it’s time for other people to step up. I’m asking you and your friends to please get involved, run for office, be on boards and commissions; it makes such a difference us being there.

You know, there’s a senator who’s a good friend of mine, who when I was first elected was talking to another good friend of mine at an event and he was like “Hey, how about that gal from Wilmington, she won!” [And the other friend] was like “Yeah.” And then he said “I met her; she’s actually really nice.” And of course she was kind of caught off guard and walked away, but it makes a difference.

This same senator came up to me and he’s introduced legislation to try and stop discrimination in state agencies, and he’ll come up to me and say “Julia — I’ve got something for you to read!” and I’m like, “Yes, senator?” He says “This professor up North he’s doing this research — and it’s genetic — you can’t help it!” I’m like “Thank you, senator, that’s good to know…”

[Laughter erupts in the room.]

It really has made a huge difference, and it has been quite an honor tonight be here tonight to receive this award. This really has been such a group effort to get this bullying bill to go through and we have more to do…[unintelligible]

Thank you very much; before I sit down I want to thank two incredible women in my life — my partner Crystal — we’re expecting a child in January. You’ve been with me through elections, through the mud-slinging, through things…you guys would not even believe we’ve gone through. Thank you for sticking with me. And I want to thank my mother for being here. Thank you for teaching me not to back down, to stand up for what I believe in, to give back to the community and to always do things right. Thank you for this award;  it was my pleasure being here with you tonight.

Afterwards, I headed over to Sen. Boseman to introduce myself as I’ve not had the opportunity to meet her before.  When I introduced myself I felt like a numnut when she burst out “I know who you are!” I guess I just figured she’s so busy working in the state Senate that she’d have no clue who I was. I guess I’m not incognito in NC anymore.

Anyway, Q-Notes Editor Matt Hill Comer took the photos below (click here for his coverage of the gala). The first one was blurry; it’s because we all broke up when Julia planted one of those surprise kisses on the cheek for the camera, but Matt missed the shot. I kept it anyway since it’s kind of interesting.

The gala raised over $25K for Equality NC; it’s one of the few state organization that has grown each year. Over 280 attended (I don’t have the official count), with tables added that night as late-comers dropped in. And, btw, Kate and I filled our table so we didn’t dine alone.