2013 Equality Gala | Headliners

The Equality NC Foundation Gala is the place to see the state's most renowned Equality champions. This year is no exception.

We're proud to announce that North Carolina Attorney General Roy Cooper will be the keynote speaker at the 2013 Equality NC Foundation Gala: "A Celebration of Home," November 9, 2013, in downtown Greensboro. This beloved North Carolina native son, vocal opponent of Amendment One, and presumptive candidate in North Carolina's much-anticipated 2016 gubernatorial race, will headline the year's biggest pro-Equality event.

Roy Cooper was born in Nash County, NC in 1957, attended public schools and worked summers cropping tobacco. His mother, Beverly Cooper, worked as a school teacher and his father, Roy Cooper Jr., farmed and practiced law in Nashville, the county seat.

He attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill as a Morehead Scholar, and after graduating from law school he went back home to practice law with his family law firm.

Roy Cooper served as a North Carolina Senator, 1991-2001, and North Carolina Representative, 1987-1991. Cooper was elected North Carolina Attorney General in November 2000 and took office on January 6, 2001; he was re-elected for a second term in 2004.

After much speculation, on October 5, 2013, Cooper suggested to the Asheville Citizen Times that he would run for governor of North Carolina in 2016.

---

More Amazing 2013 Equality Gala Guest Speakers, Include:

Greensboro Mayor Robbie Perkins

Introduction of Equality NC Executive Director Equality NC Foundation

Board Chair, Kenneth Wittenauer

Introduction of Equality NC Foundation Equality NC Foundation

Executive Director, Christopher Sgro

Equality NC Foundation Video Presentation

Legislator Leadership Award: Representative Tricia Cotham

Presented by Representative Marcus Brandon

Bob Page Equality Champion Award: Janet Joyner

Presented by ACLU of NC Executive Director, Jennifer Rudinger

Keynote Address: Attorney General Roy Cooper

Introduced by Judge John Arrowood

Dedication of Jamie Kirk Hahn Ally Award & Presentation: Senator Josh Stein

Presented by Christopher Sgro

Organization of the Year Award: The Freedom Center for Social Justice

Presented by Ian Palmquist and Addison Ore

A Moment of Perspective: Shana Carignan

Wife of Megan Parker, Mother to Jax

Musical Entertainment by Jessica Mashburn