73 HILLSIDE TERRACE, SHELBURNE WWW.SFWVERMONT.COM 3°2'935'82°3 5 H ELB u RNE°FlNE WOODWORKING C CALLING ALL PERFORMERS: DRAG BALL IS COMING!» SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11, 2006 HIGHER GROUND SO BURLINGTON Any individual or group wishing to perform is asked to submit a proposal to to the producers by December 20, 2005. Cabaret Stage This is for individual and small groups. Acts can be no longer than 5 minutes. ‘Ballroom This if for big groups. Acts can be no longer than 10 minutes. To submit a proposal, contact the email addresses listed below. Include: contact person, name . of act, number of performers, type of act, musical numbers (if appropriate) to be performed, length of act, props/set required. Send proposal to vtpwac@sover.net and houseoflernay@hotmail.com no later than December 20. All proposals will be considered. Selected actsl performers will be notified no later than January 5, 2006. The Winter is a Drag Ball is presented by The House of LeMay' as a benefit for the Vennont People With AIDS Coalition. Promises to Keep continued from front page “That was great,” Terry said with sarcasm. “They told the social workerthat I was a ‘ rapist, a knife-wielding mani- ac, a spousal abuser.” According to Terry, Oswego County Hospice determined that because of those allega- tions, releasing Barb to her home in Terry’s care was not in Barb’s best interest. She had to go to a nursing home. Citing confidentiality, Oswego County Hospice staff would not discuss the specifics of Barb’s case for this story. Carolyn‘ Miller, of Oswego County Hospice, was willing to discuss some aspects of the case upon receiving an authorization from Terry, but we did not receive requested records. According to Christy Carrington, legal counsel for the Hospice, “A person’s POA ends at the time of their death, and so having been the dece- dent’s POA prior to death would not entitle her to these records at this point.” “I thought that by getting Barb out of the reach of the state-funded hospital and the bigotry of the hospice workers, V I would have a better chance of getting her home.” Terry said. ' “What a joke.” ‘Terry has raised a number of serious allegations about Barb’s stay at the nursing home, including that family members attempted to interfere with the medical care Barb was A receiving. Jennifer Remel, the acting administrator of the Sunrise Nursing Home, refused » to speak about any of these allegations, citing HIPAA con- fidentiality. Remel also refused to speak about an alleged assault that took place in the facility. Emotions boiled over when Barb’s family invited Leo , Remillard, a bom-again Christian, to come pray in Barb’s room, and Terry object- ed. “We’re not religious peo- ple. Barb and I had talked about this, and she didn’t want no one praying over her.” “People did care,” Terry C said. “But their hands were tied. After the (alleged) assault, one of the nurses wanted to call the police, but they were overruled by the administrator and head nurse.” Keith Burchell, of physician A A Emotions boiled over when Barb’s family "invited a born-again Christian to come pray in Barb’s room, and Terry obiect- 1 ed. ‘-‘We’re , not religious people. Barb didn't want no one praying over her.” Bruce Shafiroff’s office, con- firmed that Terry was seen for injuries “consistent wifli the alleged incident.” These A include bruises on her left leg and foot, injury to the knee, and a loss of sensation in the lower back. . Terry was finally able to bring Barb home, but not with- out incident. Terry alleges that family members attempted to poison Barb in an attempt to keep her from returning to her home. “She was dying, and she had to have her stomach I 7 pumped,” Terry said. “All my wife wanted to do was come home.” Barb was home only a short time before she died. Power of attomeyand health care proxy end at the time of death. Custody of Barb’s body went to her blood relations, who buried Barb on private proper- ty. Terry is not allowed to visit Barb’s grave. So, barring impeccable rela- tions with your family mem- bers and virtual’ or literal inlaws, how do you ensure that your wishes are followed when you are unable to speak for yourself or after you die? “This is not just a gay issue,” Terry said. “This is a human issue. The laws have to change for all the people..’We A had the POA. You can do all ' the things you’re supposed to, and right now the state can step in and say ‘I’m sorry, we’re going to screw you.”’ It is still important to have all the paperwork completed before a medical emergency arises, Terry added, “Because if you’ve got nothing with those papers, you’ve got less than nothing without them.” A number of lawsuits are pending surrounding Ter1'y’s situation; “The paperwork has been filed,” Terry said, “but no one has been served yet. Several people and organiza- tions are going to be sued, but at this time, I’m not comfort- able ‘disclosing exactly who.” The Empire State Pride Coalition is working to intro- duce legislation ensuring equal protection under the law for gay and lesbian couples at the end of life. But until the time when all families are granted equal rights, what happens to you at the end of your life might be the last thing you wanted. V C ynthia Potts lives with her children and their menagerie of animals in Ellenburg Center. New York, not far across the big pond.