2003-05 archives

In the fall of 1993, GALA-ND/SMC (Gay and Lesbian Alumni/ae of the University of Notre Dame and Saint Mary's College) formed to help educate the academic community about sexual orientation issues and to promote solidarity among gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered graduates from the University of Notre Dame and Saint Mary's College. Since its formation, GALA-ND/SMC has grown to an organization of more than 750 members.

We believe a visible national organization of lesbian, gay, transgender and bisexual alumni is one important way to assist the student groups, OUTReach ND and the Feminist Collective and to educate the entire ND/SMC community on matters of sexual orientation. As alumni, we are in a unique position to do this. GALA-ND/SMC has already become an important way for members to network, re-connect with classmates, and communicate with other alumni across the country.

GALA-ND/SMC is a non-profit 501(c)(3) tax-deductible organization. It has no affiliation with -- and receives no financial support from -- the University of Notre Dame or Saint Mary's College. Annual dues are $50 and include a subscription to the newsletter

The Thomas A. Dooley Award will be given on Saturday, October 1, 2005 to John J. McNeill, a psychotherapist, moral theologian, writer and lecturer, and a towering figure in the gay rights movement.

The ceremony will be held at Hydrate, located at
3458 North Halsted Street, Chicago, Illinois from 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

You can view the invition here.

The April 2004 GALA-ND/SMC party was held in Gus Hinojosa & Steve LaFredo's spacious apartment in Manhattan.


Phil Donahue graces the party:



Some of our guests:



A toast!



Honoring David Pais:

The 2004 Southern California GALA-ND/SMC Universal Weekend event was a brunch hosted on March 20 at the L.A. home of Mike Douglass ('96) and his partner, John August.  Over 35 people were in attendance as old friends shared memories and new friendships formed.

 

On the heels of the tidal wave of joy which swept through San Francisco over Valentine’s Day Weekend, Bay Area Domers gathered just two blocks from City Hall’s “Marriage Central” to view Harry Cronin’s “DOOLEY” play at The New Conservatory Theater.

We all know about Dr. Tom Dooley who attended Notre Dame in the late 1940's. Tom went on to become a most decorated Navy lieutenant in the 1950's, a truly patriotic American, who was blackmailed by the U.S. government because McCarthyism exposed his sexual orientation. To this day, Notre Dame keeps Dooley's true identity in the closet, while celebrating his connection to the military and to Notre Dame. "DOOLEY" explores Tom's conscience and burden in dealing with his love for Notre Dame, and for his country, and for men.

Of those moved by the performance (and the playing of our “Notre Dame, Our Mother”) were Jim Gatteau ’89, good friends Dave Ellison ’81 and Kevin Paulson ’80, new members Karim Kahwaji ’01MA and Mark Massoud ‘99/’00MA, handsome gentlemen from Oakland, Tom VanDemark ’66, and Berkeley, Mike Lonergan ’68, and our region’s sage John “Fitz” Fitzgerald ’65.

The second Bay Area GALA-ND gathering of 2004 took place on Thursday evening, March 4th. The event was "Ba-Da-BINGO!" presented by the irreverent Sisters of Perpetual Indulgence. March’s BINGO theme was “Big Hair” and there sure were some towering mavens. This raucous $15 charitable event has become extremely popular in San Francisco over the last 4 years. All GALA Domers who attended were rewarded with great laughter. But one, Mike Shriver ’85, walked away with more than just a smile after the final round. Our local hero won $250! Hey Mike, don’t forget about the GALA-ND/SMC Scholarship Fund!

Any Domers visiting the Bay Area this spring will want to join the 82 of us local GALA grads for FOUR upcoming events!

1. The Universal GALA-ND/SMC Champagne Brunch will be held on Sunday, March 21st, from 11am to 2pm at the home of Jim Gatteau ’89 (124 Eureka Street) in The Castro – three blocks from the giant rainbow flag monument. This will be a Spring Potluck, so please RSVP to Jim at (415) 863-6843. We’ll be gathering to meet one another, socialize, reflect, and look to the future. What a fabulous way to ring in springtime! Oh, and there’s that Green holiday then too…

2. GALA Domers return to Ba-Da-BINGO on Thursday, April 1st from 7pm to 9:30pm. The theme for April is “Game Show BINGO”. Tickets must be purchased in advance. Contact Jim for more info and to reserve a space at our Notre Dame table. We’ll meet at 6:45pm sharp at 150 Eureka Street (MCC Church of SF).

3. In April, the San Francisco Gay Men’s Chorus will perform “Oh, Happy Day” - a Motown/Gospel Concert – sure to move the soul. The concert dates are Saturday, April 17th at 8pm and Sunday, April 18th at 5pm. There will be a preview concert in Santa Rosa on Saturday, April 3rd and a post-view concert in Modesto on Sunday, April 25th. Our Bay Area group will “officially” attend the April 17 show together. Tickets should be purchased beforehand on www.sfgmc.org. These evenings will surely see very moving and spiritual performances, as well as historic… 150 gay men soulfully singing praise to Jesus could (and should) make national news. What a concept! Gay men and women can be Christian? Next things you know they’ll want to have children and even get married!

4. On Sunday, May 2nd Bay Area Domers will be putting on their cowboy hats and boots for an evening of two-stepping and line dancing at The Sundance Saloon. For just $5, we’ll get 90 minutes of basic dance lessons starting at 6pm. At 7:30pm, the Saloon fills up with friendly cowboys and cowgirls ready to ask you to dance! Sundance is located at 550 Barneveld just south of Potrero Hill. Meet at 6pm out front!

Sr. Jeannine Gramick Receives Tom Dooley Award

Click here to read the text of her remarks.

The Gay And Lesbian Alumni/ae of The University of Notre Dame and Saint Mary's College have announced that they will be bestowing the 2003 THOMAS A. DOOLEY AWARD on SR. JEANNINE GRAMICK.

The Dooley Award honors individuals who, through their faith based backgroud, have demonstrated personal courage, compassion and commitment to advance the human and civil rights of lesbian and gay Americans. It is named for the gay Notre Dame graduate who achieved world fame in the 1950s while helping the needy of Southeast Asia.

Sr. Jeannine Gramick is the co-founder of the Baltimore and Washington, DC chapters of DIGNITY, a national organization for Catholic lesbian and gay people. She also founded New Ways Ministry, a social justice center working for the reconciliation of lesbian/gay people and the Church.

The Thomas A. Dooley Award will be accepted by Sr. Jeannine Gramick in a ceremony at the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Center. The evening will feature excerpts from a new feature documentary, IN GOOD CONSCIENCE: SISTER JEANNINE GRAMICK’S JOURNEY OF FAITH, by Emmy Award-Winning Out Of The Blue films.

Saturday, November 22, 2003 8 to 11 p.m.
L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center,
Village at Ed Gould Plaza
1125 No. McCadden Place, Los Angeles

Individual Tickets are $50.00 and include dinner and a hosted beer and wine bar R.S.V.P. Tel (626) 794-8577

Greg O'Connor ('89) hosted over 30 ND alums on August 16 for an afternoon of barbeque and lounging poolside.  A perfect break for the hottest month of the year!

For the 2003 Southern California GALA-ND/SMC Universal Weekend Event, Mike Douglass ('96) and his partner John August hosted nearly 40 alumni at their home for an evening of food, drinks, and great conversation.  National GALA Chair Gus Hinojosa flew in from New York City for the event and got to meet many of the area's members.