more Blessing...

lesbians, women, Jews, Native Americans,
all invariably are, or in some way, do
something against nature as it is so defined.

The book itself is long, over 300 pages,
and structured somewhat like a textbook,
explaining each path and theme in a chap-
ter. It is rich in history: Fox draws heavily
for his material from several fascinating
feminists from the Middle Ages, among
them Julian of Norwich and Mechtild of
Magdeburg.

I liked very much his practice of open-
ing each chapter with a page of relevant
quotes. The book fairly brims over with the
combined wisdom of an amazing variety of
people including Adrienne Rich, Willa
Cather, Elie Wiesel, Starhawk, Chief Se-
attle, Thomas Merton, and many others.
Drawing from so many voices, Christian
and non-Christian, is a principal strength of
the book.

In short, “Original Blessing” is a won-
derful and important book for many people
to read, particularly those who have been
condemned or felt condemned by the
widely accepted Western approach to
Christianity today, and longed for an alter-
native.

May 1988

Lesbian Sues for Visitation Rights

New York, N.Y. (March 18, 1988) -
Lambda Legal Defense and Education
Fund has filed a revolutionary case in the
area of lesbian and gay family law. The case
seeks to establish the parental rights of a
lesbian co-parent who has no biological or
legal relationship with the child.

Lambda represents the co-parent in her
petition for restoration of visitation with
her son. Paula L. Ettelbrick, the Lambda
Staff Attorney who represents the co-par-
ent, stated, “The increasing numbers of
lesbian couples having children by artifi-
cial insemination has led to a multitude of
questions regarding the legal relationship
between the child born of that relationship
and the co-parent. Because the emotional
bond between parent and child is so strong
in this case, it is essential to get the court to
legally protect that relationship.”

The case involves a lesbian couple in a
small New York town who had a child
together through artificial insemination in
1981. Both parents supported the child
financially and emotionally, and it was
clearly agreed that both of them were the
child’s parents.

When the couple separated in 1983,
their son, then 2- 1/2 years old, remained
with his biological parent, though the par-
ents worked out a very liberal visitation
schedule so as to keep the relationship
between the co-parent and child intact.
Further, the co-parent continued to attend
to her son’s medical needs, took him to and
from school, provided discipline and love,
and cared for his tangible needs such as
food, shelter and clothing. This amicable
agreement continued until late 1986 when
the biological parent began limiting the co-
parent’s access to their son.

By summer 1987, visitation and contact
was cut off totally when the co-parent took
a temporary job outside of the country. The
biological mother disconnected the phone,
returned cards and gifts sent by the co-
parent and moved to avoid any contact
between the child and the co-parent.

Ettelbrick said, “This case is just a first
step in what will be a long battle for recog-

‘nition of lesbian families in every state.”

Noel Tepper, the Lambda Cooperating
Attorney assisting with the case, empha-
sized that the couple is from a small com-

(Continued on page 10)

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