The gay teen, denied the right to take his same-sex partner to his high school prom, is to receive an award from the gay rights group Egale tonight.
"I think it takes a significant amount of courage and integrity for a young person to be willing to stand up for his rights to equality within the school system," said John Fisher, executive director of Egale, a national gay rights lobby group.
"It's a sad statement in this day and age that his school board views homosexuality as so disgusting that they would try to deny him the right to attend the prom with his same-sex partner."
Hall, 17, of Oshawa, Ont., who said Wednesday that he will take his battle to the courts, was to receive Egale's first-ever special community award at its annual gala on Parliament Hill.
Hall and his partner J.P. Dumond were to attend along with Guy Gagnier, host of PrideVision TV's current affairs show Shout! and actors Jack Wetherall and Sherry Miller from the popular television series Queer as Folk.
Also expected to attend were Industry Minister Allan Rock, who has spoken in favour of Hall's cause; New Democrat Libby Davies, who recently announced in the House of Commons that she is in a same-sex relationship; Bloc Quebecois MP Real Menard and Conservative MP Scott Brison.
Fisher said Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham also planned to drop by. But a spokesperson in Graham's office said it was not on his schedule and he had another function to attend.
Rahim Jaffer of the Canadian Alliance had been scheduled to go, but his office said today the MP was unable to attend and a replacement had not been found.
The Alliance is again embroiled in controversy over its intolerant image after MP Cheryl Gallant shouted an anti-gay comment Wednesday in the House of Commons as Graham rose to speak.
Fisher said Egale had in the past discussed an annual award to recognize those in the gay community who work for equality rights, ``and with Marc's recent activities in his school district ... it seemed like a timely moment to initiate the community award."
David Corbett, Hall's lawyer, has asked for an injunction to compel the Durham Catholic district school board to allow the teen to attend the prom with his 21-year-old boyfriend.
The board has banned the pair from attending, saying it is ``supportive"' of Hall's right to be a homosexual, but doesn't ``support a homosexual lifestyle."
Corbett calls the board's decision "a breach of Marc's fundamental charter rights by a body that is bound by the charter."
He said the board has violated the province's Education Act, which includes a code of conduct requiring students be treated fairly, decently and equitably without regard to their sexual orientation.
Hall had pleaded with separate school trustees to overturn his principal's decision.
The Grade 12 student at Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic high school told trustees he poses no threat to the Catholic school system.
"I don't want to be suing my school. I just want to go to the prom with my boyfriend," Hall told a news conference Wednesday.