DC Councilmen David Catania and Philip Mendelson Honored

At its Sunday Mass, February 6, 2011, Dignity/Washington presented its annual community service award, the Colfer Award,  to District of Columbia Council members David Catania (I-At-Large) and Phil Mendelson (D-At-Large) in recognition of their key roles in securing passage of DC’s same-sex marriage law. Dignity/Washington Board Vice-President Jake Hudson and his husband Greig Stewart and Dignity/Washington Board member and Treasurer Ellen Lee and her wife Theresa Bosanek, whose marriages became possible when the law took effect in March 2010, joined Dignity/Washington President Allen Rose in presenting the award.  Mr. Catania wrote and introduced the marriage measure and Mr. Mendelson, as chair of the committee with jurisdiction over the bill, managed its progress through the Council’s legislative process. In remarks following the presentation, both expressed gratitude for Catholic support of their legislative efforts.  The awards read as follows:  “Dignity/Washington 2010 Veronica and Gerald Colfer Award presented to David Catania in gratitude for your authorship and tireless efforts on behalf of the Religious and Civil Marriage Equality Amendment Act of 2009” and “Dignity/Washington 2010 Veronica and Gerald Colfer Award presented to Phil Mendelson in grateful recognition of your significant contribution as Committee Chair to the passage of marriage equality legislation in the District of Columbia.”

Standing in the center are DC Councilmen David Catania and Phil Mendelson receiving the Annual Colfer Award from Dignity members Greig Stewart and Jake Hudson and Theresa Bosanek and Ellen Lee at the Dignity/Washington Mass of February 6, 2010.