Aaron Harris / The Canadian Press
Marc Hall, 17, left, and boyfriend Jean-Paul Dumond, 21, smile through the sun roof of their limousine while on their way to Hall's high school prom on Friday.

By Amy Carmichael / The Canadian Press

Toronto - A gay teen whose battle with his Catholic school board for the right to take his boyfriend to the prom ended in triumph Friday says the ordeal has been hard on their relationship and the party was anti-climactic.

But Marc Hall, 17, said Saturday that the "overwhelming" support from people around the world has been enough to encourage him to continue fighting for gay rights.

Still sporting the white patent leather dancing shoes he wore to the prom Friday night, Hall addressed hundreds of supporters in a park in the heart of Toronto's downtown gay district.

Even the activists carrying placards were more interested in hearing how the prom went than talking about the legal implications of his court win.

"It was pretty fun," he said. "It was pretty much what I expected, you know, nice dinner, fun dancing."

Douglas Elliot, one of Hall's lawyers, said that while he's glad Hall and Dumond got to dance at their end-of-school bash, the case wasn't really about a high school prom.

Hall only won an injunction to allow him to attend the dance. Now the case will go to trial.

In order to set a clear precedent, a judge will have to decide whether the Catholic school board's right to run schools in accordance with religious values trumps the rights of students to freedom from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.

The issue of how to treat gays and lesbians has long divided the Catholic church.

Hall said most of his classmates were supportive and happy to see him at the prom, though "there were a couple of stares here and there, and a few people said the odd thing, but nothing major."

A number of students arriving at the prom Friday night said homosexuality goes against church teaching and they thought the judge went too far in his ruling.

Around the world, however, gays, lesbians and civil liberties activists praised Hall for refusing to accept his principal's declaration that homosexuality is wrong and shouldn't be permitted in a Catholic environment.

His case has received extensive coverage in the British and U.S. media; on the Internet, gay news groups have been hanging on Hall's every word.

"This case shows that at younger and younger ages, gay kids are becoming more confident, and that's a good thing," said David Allison, a spokesman for Outrage, a British gay rights group, in a telephone interview from London.

He said Hall has inspired gay teens everywhere, especially those living in rural areas, who may feel alone and have no gay peers to look up to or guide the way.

"For many of us, the Internet is our community because we don't know any people like us in our home towns," Allison said. "News of Marc Hall has certainly gotten right round the Internet into the homes of gay kids around the world."

"I mean, guys, there was a news helicopter following our limo (Friday)," he said. "That was pretty freaky."

With all their time having been devoted to the case and interviews, they haven't had time for each other, which has put a strain on their relationship, Dumond said. "But what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Time heals."

"It's hectic sometimes, but knowing all the supporters are out there will carry me through."

Marc Hall, fidgeting nervously before several hundred well-wishers from Toronto's gay community, simply wanted to say thank-you to all those who had helped him win his fight to take his boyfriend to his high school prom.

It seemed to take courage just to grip the microphone and face his supporters at a rally organized by the Coalition to Support Marc Hall. The crowd wanted details about the Friday night dance.

"Tell us about the prom," a voice shouted.

With his arms wrapped around his boyfriend, Jean-Paul Dumond, 21, standing on a bench in a Church St. park, he said, "It was fun dancing. Most people were supportive. There wasn't any negative attitude or anything."

It was, as Hall's friend Lindsey Turner said, "exactly like a regular prom."

Except that regular proms don't attract international media attention, focus on the equality rights of a gay teenager versus the religious rights of a Catholic school board and don't include a helicopter following a young couple in their limousine on the way to the dance.

Hall won an injunction Friday in the Superior Court of Justice that forced the Durham Catholic District School Board to let him to go to the dance with Dumond. The judge ruled the board violated Hall's right to freedom from discrimination because of sexual orientation, under the Charter of Rights.

His school principal argued that activity between romantic partners at a school prom is a form of sexual activity. If Hall and his boyfriend went as a couple, it would be seen as endorsing conduct contrary to Catholic teaching.

But Mr. Justice Robert MacKinnon asked in his judgment: "Is dancing a sexual conduct? Is dancing at the prom a form of sexual activity leading to marriage?"Marc Hall, fidgeting nervously before several hundred well-wishers from Toronto's gay community, simply wanted to say thank-you to all those who had helped him win his fight to take his boyfriend to his high school prom.

It seemed to take courage just to grip the microphone and face his supporters at a rally organized by the Coalition to Support Marc Hall. The crowd wanted details about the Friday night dance.

"Tell us about the prom," a voice shouted.

It was, as Hall's friend Lindsey Turner said, "exactly like a regular prom."

But Mr. Justice Robert MacKinnon asked in his judgment: "Is dancing a sexual conduct? Is dancing at the prom a form of sexual activity leading to marriage?"

"Nowhere ... do I find documentary evidence that establishes that same-sex dancing is sinful or sexual under Catholic dogma," he wrote.

According to Hall's friends, the dance proceeded uneventfully. Students and teachers offered congratulations. Hall's short blue hair won a prize for "coolest hair."

"There were a couple of shocked looks," said Cassy Hood, 18. "It was difficult for some people to see a couple of guys dancing."

"They weren't the centre of attention; they blended into the background and had a wonderful time," added Sean Sedore, 18. "We were all a little nervous, but by the end of the night, our suit jackets were off and we were just grooving."

The attention did strain the relationship between Hall and Dumond, who have been seeing each other about a year. "Me and JP have been gone through a lot," Hall said.

He didn't set out to be a role model, he said. "I was just a gay 17-year-old who wanted to go to his prom and stand up for his rights."

Students at Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School in Oshawa had to submit the names of their prom dates for safety reasons.

"I didn't want to go to the prom — in a tux and with a limo — and be rejected," Hall said. "I thought it was best to be honest — I didn't think by being honest you get punished."

The archdiocese was not prepared yesterday to comment on the decision.

"Freedom of religion and religious institutions — not only Catholic — is an essential principle," said spokesperson Suzanne Scorsone. "We've received a copy and will be examining it carefully over the next few days. It's not the time to comment yet."

The board and Hall's lawyers both say they're prepared to take the case to the Supreme Court of Canada. "Nowhere ... do I find documentary evidence that establishes that same-sex dancing is sinful or sexual under Catholic dogma," he wrote.

According to Hall's friends, the dance proceeded uneventfully. Students and teachers offered congratulations. Hall's short blue hair won a prize for "coolest hair."

"There were a couple of shocked looks," said Cassy Hood, 18. "It was difficult for some people to see a couple of guys dancing."

The attention did strain the relationship between Hall and Dumond, who have been seeing each other about a year. "Me and JP have been gone through a lot," Hall said.

He didn't set out to be a role model, he said. "I was just a gay 17-year-old who wanted to go to his prom and stand up for his rights."

Students at Monsignor John Pereyma Catholic Secondary School in Oshawa had to submit the names of their prom dates for safety reasons.

"I didn't want to go to the prom — in a tux and with a limo — and be rejected," Hall said. "I didn't think by being honest you get punished."

The archdiocese was not prepared yesterday to comment on the decision.

The board and Hall's lawyers both say they're prepared to take the case to the Supreme Court of Canada.

"It's been really hard on J.P. and me," said Hall, referring to his 21-year-old boyfriend Jean-Paul Dumond. "But I'm going to fight this at a trial so no other kid will ever have to go through what I've gone through."
Still sporting the white patent leather dancing shoes he wore to the prom Friday night, Hall addressed hundreds of supporters in a park in the heart of Toronto's downtown gay district.
Even the activists carrying placards were more interested in hearing how the prom went than talking about the legal implications of his court win.
"It was pretty fun," he said "It was pretty much what I expected, you know, nice dinner, fun dancing."
Douglas Elliot, one of Hall's lawyers, said that while he's glad Hall and Dumond got to dance at their end-of-school bash, the case wasn't really about a high school prom.
"It's about equality, and the values we all share as Canadians," Elliot said.
Hall only won an injunction to allow him to attend the dance. Now the case will go to trial.
In order to set a clear precedent, a judge will have to decide whether the Catholic school board's right to run schools in accordance with religious values trumps the rights of students to freedom from discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation.
The issue of how to treat gays and lesbians has long divided the Catholic church.
Hall said most of his classmates were supportive and happy to see him at the prom, though "there were a couple of stares here and there, and a few people said the odd thing, but nothing major."
A number of students arriving at the prom Friday night said homosexuality goes against church teaching and they thought the judge went too far in his ruling.
Around the world, however, gays, lesbians and civil liberties activists praised Hall for refusing to accept his principal's declaration that homosexuality is wrong and shouldn't be permitted in a Catholic environment.
His case has received extensive coverage in the British and U.S. media; on the Internet, gay news groups have been hanging on Hall's every word.
"This case shows that at younger and younger ages, gay kids are becoming more confident, and that's a good thing," said David Allison, a spokesman for Outrage, a British gay rights group, in a telephone interview from London.
He said Hall has inspired gay teens everywhere, especially those living in rural areas, who may feel alone and have no gay peers to look up to or guide the way.
"For many of us, the Internet is our community because we don't know any people like us in our home towns," Allison said. "News of Marc Hall has certainly gotten right round the Internet into the homes of gay kids around the world."
All the media attention has been a difficult cross to bear, Hall said.
"I mean, guys, there was a news helicopter following our limo (Friday)," he said. "That was pretty freaky."
With all their time having been devoted to the case and interviews, they haven't had time for each other, which has put a strain on their relationship, Dumond said. "But what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. Time heals."
Hall said he never set out to be a role model for gay youth.
"It's hectic sometimes, but knowing all the supporters are out there will carry me through."