OTTAWA -- The gay Durham teenager who is fighting for the right to take his boyfriend to a high-school prom was publicly recognized by Liberal leadership hopeful Allan Rock and a national gay-rights organization last night.

"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," Mr. Rock, the Industry Minister, told Marc Hall at a ceremony on Parliament Hill.

Mr. Hall was presented with gay-rights organization EGALE's first community award, intended to recognize work for equality rights.

The Oshawa, Ont., teen has appealed to the courts to overturn a school-board ruling that he may not bring his boyfriend to his high-school prom on May 10.

Mr. Hall, who asked permission in advance to avoid being turned away at the door, is requesting an injunction against the prohibition.

The Durham Catholic District School Board said that letting Mr. Hall attend with a same-sex date would contravene Roman Catholic teachings. The board said that while it accepts Mr. Hall's right to be homosexual, it does not condone homosexual behaviour.

Human-rights lawyer David Corbett, who is representing Mr. Hall pro bono, said the decision violates his client's right to freedom of association.

Mr. Rock, who has long been an advocate of equality for gays, wrote to the school board earlier this week, demanding that the decision be reversed and accusing the board of discriminating against the teen on the basis of sexual orientation.

All the political parties sent representatives to the annual gala except for the Canadian Alliance, which is embroiled in a controversy over a comment one of its members made in Question Period on Tuesday.

New Democratic MP Svend Robinson said Alliance Leader Stephen Harper needs to step in and respond to the comment, and that if he does not, Mr. Robinson will consider raising it in the House of Commons.

Cheryl Gallant shouted it during a spell of boisterous heckling while Foreign Affairs Minister Bill Graham responded to a question from former Alliance leader Stockwell Day with a taunting preamble.

In the midst of the heckling, Ms. Gallant yelled, "Ask your boyfriend."

Mr. Graham said he did not hear the remark and it is an issue between Ms. Gallant and her party.

Mr. Robinson, who is openly gay, said Ms. Gallant should be ordered to apologize. "I thought those days were long gone. But it looks like the dinosaurs are rearing their heads," he said. "If she's not going to apologize, then let's see what leadership Mr. Harper's capable of."

John Reynolds, interim opposition leader, said that as long as the Liberals did not complain, the party considers it a non-issue. "In the House of Commons, if the Speaker didn't hear it and nobody complains about it, it didn't happen."

Mr. Reynolds said he had spoken to Ms. Gallant, who has not returned repeated calls and was absent from Question Period yesterday.

Conservative Leader Joe Clark said Mr. Harper should have stepped in by now.

But a spokesperson for Mr. Harper, who was travelling yesterday, said Mr. Reynolds was commenting on the party's behalf.