RALEIGH, N.C. — Equality North Carolina, a statewide LGBT advocacy organization, announced yesterday that it has hired Chris Sgro as its new executive director.
“I am deeply honored for the opportunity to serve North Carolina’s LGBT community as Equality NC’s executive director and to build upon the organization’s tremendous success over the past four decades,” Sgro said in a press release. “Equality NC has much work to do in order to protect and secure the rights of LGBT citizens across this state, but North Carolina has long stood as a beacon of equality and fairness in the South, and with fresh leadership and resolve, I know it can be done. Alongside our talented staff and dedicated board, I am ready to lead Equality NC in our unflinching fight to make the Old North State a state of equality.”
Sgro currently works as U.S. Sen. Kay Hagan’s director of economic development. Sgro has also worked with America Votes and CARE, a national anti-poverty organization. He also worked for several campaigns for Hagan and a state Senate campaign for Don Vaughan. Sgro and his partner, Ryan Butler, have both been active in state Democratic Party activities and both were founding members of the LGBT Democrats of North Carolina.
Sgro replaces outgoing executive director Stuart Campbell, who was hired in 2011. Sgro will begin work with the organization on Sept. 6.