Lesbian Rights Expanded With Recent Ruling

FROM THE GRASSROOTS

Lesbian Rights Expanded With Recent Ruling

We are moved and delighted to report that after a legal battle of seven years, a Minnesota Appeals Court on Dec 17, 1991 granted guardianship of Sharon Kowalski to Karen Thompson, her lover. Sharon had been rendered quadriplegic and brain-damaged n a car accident in 1983. The courïs decision coincided with the 12th anniversary of Sharon and Karen's commitment ceremony.

In April 1991, Judge Robert Campbell of the St. Louis County District Court refused to award guardianship to Karen. Judge Campbell had compared Sharon to a child in a custody battle and stated that she could not express her own preference for a guardian. However, the Appeals Court ruling declared, "all the medical testimony established that Sharon has the capacity reliably to express a preference in this case, and she has clearly chosen to return home with Thompson if possible." The court added, most tellingly, "This choice is further supported by the fact that Thompson and Sharon are a family of affinity and ought to be accorded respect."

According to Thompson's attorney, M. Sue Wilson, this may be the first instance of an appeals court's recognizing a lesbian or gay partner's rights as "tantamount to those of a spouse." Karen told a Worker's World reporter that, "I've learned that silence can never protect us; silence is deadly. Clearly the only protection is being out there." M. Sue Wilson noted that "Sharon doesn't have the short-term memory to remember what happened an hour ago, but she does remember Karen and the past, and that she is a lesbian."

We encourage lesbians, gay men, and bisexual people to register their partnerships at the Ann Arbor City Clerk's office, under the ordinance adopted by the Ann Arbor City Council on Nov. 5, 1991. The cost is $20 for Ann Arbor residents and $25 for non-residents. Cali 994-2725 for details. Please report to Elizabeth Brater, Ann Arbor's Mayor, any instance of disrespect on the part of City employees as you take advantage of this or any other city service. Gay Liberation as well would appreciate this information (call 763-4186).

Gay Liberation Front's Purpose is to provide information, counseling, and related social services for people concerned about sexual orientation. We maintain a hotline for crisis intervention, peer counseling and referral. We help provide factual information to offset prejudice and misinformation about lesbians and gay men. We work to obtain human and civil rights for all, regardless of sexual orientation. We help lesbian and gay men's groups organize, and we are a link to other community groups.

Community Services include: a Hotline for 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 who are being discriminated against because of their actual or presumed sexual orientation or because of their presumed "crossgender" characteristics; lobbying for human and civil rights. Community Organization and Liaison: information and assistance in organizing groups, setting goals, addressing conflict, linking with other groups and resources.

Gay Liberation Front Meetings vary according to purpose; we do most of our work in subcommittees (counseling, groupwork, education, civil rights). Call for time and place. Gay Liberation includes U-M students, staff, faculty and people from the larger communities. We have a president, vice president, secretary and treasurer. We're a registered non-profit organization.

Gay Liberation Front, c/o 4117 Michigan Union, Ann Arbor, Ml 48109-1349; 763-4186.