Fed Cab Mins Honour Gay Teen Barred From Prom
by Ben Thompson
365Gay.com National Editor

(April 12, Ottawa)  Marc Hall, the 17 year old Toronto area student told he could not take his boyfriend to the prom was honoured Thursday night at a ceremony on Parliament Hill.

Hall received the Community Service Award from EGALE, at the national GLBT rights organization's annual gala in the Parliament buildings.  The award was presented by Alan Rock, the federal minister of trade.

Rock said: "Marc, we are all deeply touched by the courage and strength of conviction that you've shown in pursuing your quest for fair and  equal treatment. 

"You've shown us what the word "dignity" truly means. You serve as a role model to other young people -- whether gay or straight -- teaching them to hold their heads high, respecting themselves and rightfully demanding respect from those around them."

Rock has been a strong supporter of the GLBT community throughout his political career and is being touted as a leadership contender to replace Prime Minister Jean Chretien.      

The other main leadership contender, Finance Minister Paul Martin unable to attend because of a prior commitment sent a representative.  

Chretien, who has led the party to three consecutive majority governments has not announced when he will step down. 

Justice M. Réal Ménard sent his Parliamentary Secretary, MP Paul Macklin, and Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham and Art Eggleton, the Minister of Defence were also represented by high ranking aides.

New Democrat MP Libby Davies, who came out publicly last year, and gay Bloc Quebecois MP Scott Brison were also there.  Svend Robinson, the gay NDP member for Burnaby BC, was unavailable.

Every political party was represented at the Gala except the Canadian Alliance.

But, it wasn't only politicians and activists who came out.  

Two of the stars from Showcase's Queer As Folk; Jack Wetherall (Uncle Vic Grassi) and Sherry Miller (Jennifer Taylor) were among the 300 people who attended.

Hall, accompanied by his boyfriend, J. P. Dumond, said he has been "overwhelmed by the support I have been given."

The A student was told by his principal at Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School, in Oshawa,  that the Catholic Church could not permit a same-sex date at the prom. The decision was upheld by the school board and endorsed by the Toronto archdiocese.

Wednesday, Hall's lawyer David Corbett filed an injunction in Superior Court to prevent the board from barring the teen from bringing Dumond to the prom.

Rock told Hall: "Your actions remind us all that equality and social  justice must be pursued day by day, month by month, year by year.  That we must never blindly accept the status quo. That we must never  simply accept the conventional wisdom of the day." 

EGALE Executive Driector John Fisher told 365Gay.com that "It sends a strong message when senior cabinet ministers stand up and say what this board of education is doing is wrong."

Earlier in the day, the Globe and Mail newspaper published a reader poll showing 64 per cent support for Hall.  Only 36 per cent said he should not be allowed to take his boyfriend to the prom.

Posted 12:21 am, April 12, 2002
©365Gay.com Ltd® 2002

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