Sharon Kowalski And Karen Thompson Reunited

SHARON KOWALSKI AND KAREN THOMPSON REUNITED

We are elated to report that Sharon Kowalski and Karen Thompson have been reunited after a court-ordered separation of over three years. The separation was the result of a suit brought by Ms. Kowalski's father, Donald Kowalski, who obtained unconditional guardianship of his daughter after asserting that Ms. Thompson was a depressing and detrimental influence on Ms. Kowalski. This past Sept., under court order, Ms. Kowalski underwent an evaluation of her competency by a team of mental health experts and physicians at the Miller-Dwan Medical Center in Duluth, Minnesota. As a result of the competency report, Judge Robert Campbell of the St. Louis County District Court decreed that the hospital could decide who could visit Ms. Kowalski, basing their determination on "her reliably-expressed wishes." Ms. Thompson was asked to particípate in psychological, speech, and occupational therapy sessions at the hospital. Ms. Thompson has reported that Ms. Kowalski "seemed shocked at first. She immediately got tears in her eyes and I broke down, though I had vowed to remain calm. But for the rest of the weekend, she was all smiles and laughs." Donald Kowalski refuses to believe that his daughter is a lesbian and that she was happy to see Ms. Thompson. We are inclined to believe Ms. Thompson and rejoice with her and with Ms. Kowalski.

For your calendars, please note that several UM campus groups will sponsor the annual "Awareness Week for Lesbian-Gay Men's Concerns" beginning Wed, March 29 and ending Wed, April 5. Noon rallies will be held on the campus Diag, films will be screened in cooperation with a campus film group and a series of workshops and videotape screenings is scheduled for the evenings of Mon-.Wed., April 3-5 on the second floor of the Michigan Union. Please watch for detailed announcements in the University Record and The Michigan Daily. You can also call 763-4186 or 994-5403 for information.

Gay Liberation's Purpose is to provide information, counseling, and related social services for people concerned about sexual orientation.

Community Services include a Hotline: crisis intervention, peer counseling, referral. Education: workshops and conferences on lesbian and gay male concerns, with an emphasis on how people in the "helping professions" and "teaching professions" can work positively with lesbian and gay male clients, patients, students. Speakers Bureau: phone for information. Human & Civil Rights: information and referral to help people under discrimination because of their actual or presumed sexual orientation or because of their presumed "cross-gender" characteristics; lobbying for human and civil rights. Community Organizing: information and assistance in organizing groups, setting goals, addressing conflict, linking with other groups and resources.

Gay Liberation, c/o 4117 Michigan Union, Ann Arbor, Ml 48109, info: 763-4186; hotline: 662-1977.