Ian Palmquist was still in high school when he first started handing out pamphlets promoting tolerance for LGBTQ+ people. Decades later, what began as accidental activism with five friends grew into a lifetime of grassroots organizing, advocacy and community building — work that has now earned Palmquist recognition from both his peers and the state of North Carolina with the Order of the Long Leaf Pine.
The award was presented to Palmquist on March 20, 2026, by Senior Associate Justice Anita Earls of the North Carolina Supreme Court during an honorary luncheon in Raleigh hosted by the Campaign for Southern Equality, Equality Federation and Equality NC. Friends, family and longtime colleagues gathered to celebrate Palmquist’s decades of advocacy and organizing work across the South.
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.” For many LGBTQ+ advocates, Palmquist’s recognition represents not only a personal honor, but recognition of the generations of Southern grassroots organizers who fought for equality in communities that were often overlooked or written off entirely.
Over the years, Palmquist helped shape some of the region’s most important LGBTQ+ organizing efforts. His work has included advocacy around nondiscrimination protections, marriage equality, HIV awareness and healthcare access, as well as organizing responses to anti-LGBTQ+ legislation across North Carolina and the South. Long before national organizations regularly focused on Southern states, activists like Palmquist were already building networks of support in communities where LGBTQ+ people often felt isolated and politically abandoned.
That commitment to local organizing has remained central to Palmquist’s advocacy throughout his career. In an interview with Dr. Chris Pepin-Neff, Palmquist emphasized that progress requires more than passing laws or winning elections. Individuals and communities must also do the hard work of “changing hearts and minds.” He spoke about the importance of creating lasting cultural change alongside policy victories and argued against a scarcity mentality in advocacy work.
In the interview with Dr. Pepin-Neff, Palmquist also stressed the importance of personal growth coinciding with collective responsibility, encouraging people to “personally do better and collectively do better” in pursuit of equality and justice for people all over the world. That legacy now continues through the Ian Palmquist Leadership Fund, which supports future LGBTQ+ leaders and organizers working to create change. The fund reflects the same values that defined Palmquist’s career: investing in people willing to organize locally, build relationships and continue the difficult work of advocacy.