GALA ND/SMC and ARC ND are pleased to announce the 2022 Thomas Dooley and LGBTQ Leadership Award recipients:
The individuals will be recognized at a dinner and ceremony at the Smith Ballroom at the Morris Inn on Saturday April 9th starting at 6:30pm. Each of the award recipients will be in attendance at the dinner to accept their awards, with Ms. Thomas providing a recorded address for the event. A special “GALA ND/SMC Legacy Award” will be presented to all past & current GALA leaders in attendance.
The evening will start off with a cocktail reception* from 6:30pm to 7:30pm followed by dinner and the award ceremony. (*Note: Indiana State drinking laws will be in effect) Dress code for the Award Dinner is “Gay Fabulous”, or business casual, your choice.
About The Honorees
Marlo Thomas is an American actress, producer, author, and social activist. She is best known for starring on the sitcom That Girl (1966–1971) and her children’s franchise Free to Be… You and Me. She has received three Primetime Emmy Awards, a Daytime Emmy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a Peabody Award for her work in television, has been inducted into the Broadcasting and Cable Hall of Fame. Thomas serves as National Outreach Director for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, which was founded by her father Danny Thomas in 1962. She created the Thanks & Giving campaign in 2004 to support the hospital. Marlo has been a longtime advocate for the LGBTQ community and received the Excellence in Media Award at the 11th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in 2000.
Greg Bourke ’82, one of the named plaintiffs (with his husband Michael De Leon) in the landmark US Supreme Court decision Obergefell vs. Hodges, which legalized same-sex marriage nationwide in 2015. Greg, and his husband, Michael De Leon ’01, have been partnered for over 39 years, and were legally married in 2004 in Ontario, Canada. Because of their fight for equality, they were named 2015 Persons of the Year by the National Catholic Reporter. Greg recently published his profoundly moving memoir Gay, Catholic, and American: My Legal Battle for Marriage Equality and Inclusion” about growing up gay and overcoming discrimination in the battle for same-sex marriage in the US.
Meghan Buell, Founder and Board President of Transgender Resource, Education & Enrichment Services – TREES, Inc., an organization with the mission of transgender education and resource building, focusing in small town and rural communities. She is a leader in the transgender community locally, regionally, and nationally. Meghan regularly presents at conferences and on college campuses on topics related to the transgender community including, healthcare, community services and workplace inclusion (including at Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s for over 10 years). In addition to leading her organization, Meghan works as a public-school teacher in the South Bend Public Schools. Meghan is an out and proud transgender woman.
Rev. Joe Corpora ’76, C.S.C., Assistant Director of Pastoral Care Outreach in Campus Ministry; Director, University-School Partnerships, Alliance for Catholic School Education (ACE); Priest-in-Residence, Dillon Hall. In Campus Ministry, he works with students of color, economically poor students, first generation students and LGBTQ students. In ACE, Father Joe works closely with Bishops and Pastors and Superintendents to make Catholic schools available, accessible, and affordable to Latino children and families. He lives in Dillon Hall. In 2016, Pope Francis appointed Father Joe to serve the Church as a Missionary of Mercy. Fr. Joe was selected for his years of service assisting marginalized students, and the help he provides so many with the difficult journey of balancing their faith and orientation.
Event Contact: John Flanagan '92 at johnjflan@gmail.com.
Other Weekend Events
In addition to the award dinner/ceremony, GALA and ARC ND will also be sponsoring the following events over the weekend:
Registration Information
(Graduate Classes prior to 2016)
$75 Registration
Select this option if you graduated from ND or SMC prior to 2016.
$75 Registration & Contribution for 1 student
(Graduate Classes 2016 or after)
$50 Registration
Select this option if you graduated from ND or SMC in 2016 or after.
$60 Registration
Select this option if you serve on the faculty and/or staff at Notre Dame or Saint Mary's.
$25 Registration (Financial assistance is available if needed)
Select this option if you are a student at any undergraduate or graduate program.
$100 Registration
$250 Registration
Includes one ticket to the dinner/awards ceremony and a $150 contribution to help defray event costs. Sponsors will be recognized.
$500 Registration
Includes one ticket to the dinner/awards ceremony and a $400 contribution to help defray event costs. Sponsors will be recognized.
