Distinguished Service Award to Councilmember David Catania

Presented by former GLAA Treasurer Barrett Brick

GLAA 31st Anniversary Reception
Hotel Washington
Thursday, April 18, 2002

"[A] leader not afraid to tell corrupt DC officials we will not tolerate misuse of the public trust."

"People think he is somebody they can rely on."

"[A] hardworking, smart, energetic, conscientious councilmember who is admired and respected for those things."

"He knows the city, and he's honest."

These are just some of the ways our next awardee has recently been described. And these comments come from people across the entire political spectrum of the city. A native Missourian, David Catania earned his B.S. from the Georgetown University School of Foreign Service and a J.D. from the Georgetown University Law Center. His legal skills have led him to become Senior Counsel with the law firm of Akin, Gump, Strauss, Hauer and Feld. David first achieved elected office in Washington as a member and Chair of the Sheridan-Kalorama Advisory Neighborhood Commission. In December 1997, David stunned the city -- well, except for those of us who know him -- by winning a special city-wide election and becoming the first openly Gay member of the D.C. Council. Since that time, David has distinguished himself by being one of the most effective elected officials in the District of Columbia, by being a leading voice for government reform, and by being a consistent, forceful, and successful advocate for the equal treatment and dignity of the District's Gay citizens.

It's quite obvious that David is from Missouri, the "Show Me State," for his oversight on the Council, his well-prepared grilling of government officials, his unannounced visits to District agencies, are among his trademarks. When David says show me the evidence, show me the documentation, show me the proof, if you can't comply, you are not going to have an easy day. There is a simple way for any government official or business or community leader to avoid David's ire: tell the truth, and do the right thing. Because of David, more are doing so, and our entire city is better for it.

Now, GLAA also has a reputation of being an exacting critic, and David has experienced this himself. When David first ran for the Council in the 1997 special election, he was rated only 5½ on a scale of -10 to +10, and that was not the highest rating for a candidate in that race. David got the message. Less than a year later, when he ran for a full four-year term on the Council, David earned a perfect 10 from GLAA, which includes the rarely awarded championship point. For David has truly become a champion of our community. And I must say that it always pleasing to see a guy's measure grow from 5½ to 10!

David's list of achievements is stellar. His Comprehensive Advisory Neighborhood Commission Reform Amendment Act of 1999 is the only major overhaul of the ANC movement in its quarter-century history. Among other things, this strengthened ANC financial accountability and created a centralised office to provide support to ANCs, enabling them to operate more effectively. David's Tax Parity Act of 1999, co-authored with Councilmember Jack Evans, who was a GLAA Distinguished Service honoree last year, represents the largest tax reduction in the history of the District of Columbia, reducing both personal and corporate income taxes, commercial and residential rental property taxes, as well as offering a host of small business incentives. David's Opportunity Accounts Act of 2000 creates individual development accounts in which the District government matches the amounts saved by qualified low-income individuals up to a certain amount. The accounts can then be used for education, home-ownership, medical emergencies and retirement. And as a result of David's New E-Conomy Transformation Act of 2000, which provides targeted incentives to qualified high technology companies in the key areas of workforce development, affordable facilities and financial incentives, the District is now the most competitive urban jurisdiction in the nation for new economy companies.

David was successful in getting Metro to offer healthcare benefits to domestic partners of employees. He has played a key role in lobbying efforts to prevent Congress from attaching anti-gay riders to the District's annual appropriations bill. His tireless efforts have succeeded in, for example, protecting adoptions by same-sex couples, and David's innovative Adoption Voucher Fund Act, funded with federal dollars, provides individuals who are interested in adopting a child under the care of Child and Family Services with vouchers to offset the legal costs associated with the adoption (up to $5,000) as well as the costs of the home study (up to $1,500). David has also obtained federal funding for the Office of Citizen Complaint Review and greater funding for HIV/AIDS programs, as well as breast and cervical cancer examinations. David's Women's Health Program Initiative, which was kicked-off in February 2000, also establishes an advocate's office within the District's Department of Health for women's health issues. In addition to focusing on cancer prevention, screening and treatment, the Initiative addresses issues relating to diet, substance abuse and sexually transmitted diseases.

Most recently, David played a key role in the successful effort to permit implementation of the District's Domestic Partners Registry after a decade of congressional prohibitions. David continues to work for passage of the federal Employment Non-Discrimination Act and for congressional non-interference in DC's needle exchange program, as well as respect for District of Columbia home rule in general.

David's advocacy on behalf of our community is not limited to the halls of the D.C. Council or the U.S. Congress. David works regularly with Republican party officials at both the local and national level. David was one of the 12 Gay Republican leaders who met with then-Governor George Bush during the last campaign. David was an openly Gay delegate to the Republican National Convention, and he continues to work successfully with the White House to preserve and protect our rights.

Earlier this month, an article in the Washington City Paper quoted David's concern that the article was going to be a "Stay in your place, faggot" piece. Well, David, the award GLAA bestows upon you tonight does in fact represent GLAA's wish that you stay in your place. For as we all know, that place continues to be among the leadership of our city, at whatever level you choose to serve. It is my extreme pleasure to present GLAA's Distinguished Community Service Award to Councilmember David Catania.