The Thomas A. Dooley Award honors individuals who, through their faith-based background, have demonstrated personal courage, compassion and commitment to advance the human and civil rights of lesbian and gay Americans. The award is named for the gay, former Notre Dame student who achieved world fame in the 1950s for his humanitarian activities while serving in the Navy in Southeast Asia, and even greater fame when he continued his humanitarian work as an American “jungle doctor” in Laos subsequent to his undesirable discharge from the Navy.
GALA ND/SMC bestows a $1,000 gift to a charity of the honoree's choice.
About Dr. Thomas A. Dooley
Past Recipients
1996: Virginia (Ginny) Apuzzo
1997: Brian McNaught
2000: Phil Donahue
2002: Fr. Mychal Judge (posthumously)
2003: Sr. Jeannine Gramick
2005: John J. McNeill
2010: Sr. Mary Louise (M.L.) Gude
Curated by Kyle Sommer, 2009