The May 2016 Newsletter has just been published and contains a number of interesting pieces. To view the full publication go to: May 2016 Newsletter.
On November 12, 2015 GALA held a fundraising event in NYC for the LGBT student scholarship fund. The event was attended by over 80 alums and friends and raised over $17,000. Everyone who attended was so engaged in the evening and thrilled to participate in helping out the scholarship fund.
In addition to Phil Donahue ’57 (who hosted the event) giving an impassioned speech, a video was shown of four current Notre Dame/St Mary’s LGBT students. One of the students was the recipient of the first scholarship. All of the students showed remarkable poise and confidence as they told their stories.
For more info and pictures, go to: NYC Scholarship Fundraising Event
The fundraiser also received very positive attention on campus. The event was featured on the front page of the student newspaper The Observer with the heading: GALA ND/SMC Hosts Fundraiser for LGBQ Scholarships.
One June 26, 2015 the US Supreme Court handed down a decision that gives same-sex couple the right to marry in all 50 states. The vote was narrow – 5-4 – but Kennedy’s majority opinion was clear and firm: “The court now holds that same-sex couples may exercise the fundamental right to marry.”
The ruling will put an end to same-sex marriage bans in the 14 states that still maintain them, and provide an exclamation point for breathtaking changes in the nation’s social norms in recent years.
ND grad and GALA member Greg Bourke and his husband Michael Deleon were lead plaintiff’s in the Kentucky case that was part of the decision. We all thank Greg and Michael for their efforts to help bring about this change. For more information on their story go to: Huffington Post Article.
Greg Bourke (right) and his family.