Sharon Kowalski Finally Freed

By the time the January 1992 issue of
Out in the Mountains went to press, the
story on Karen Thompson’s most recent
efforts to bring Sharon Kowalski home
were already out of date. On December
17, a Minneota Appeals Court awarded
guardianship of Sharon Kowalski to Kar-
en Thompson, overturning a decision of
the St. Louis County District Court in
Duluth, which had awarded custody to
Karen Tomberlin, Sharon’s former high
school coach and a friend of the Kowal-
ski family. Unless Tomberlin appeals,
this decision marks the end of a seven-
year legal battle between Thompson and
Sharon’s parents, Donald and Della Kow-
alski. (As of January 11th, when OITM
went to press, no appeal had been filed.)

According to Thompson’s lawyer, M.
Sue Wilson, in a story in the December
18 New York Times, this may be the first
time in the United States that a court has
recognized the rights of a partner in a les-
bian or gay relationship as essentially
equivalent to those of a spouse. Ac-
cording to the Times, the court stated
that, ‘‘All the medical testimony es-
tablished that Sharon has the capacity re-
liably to express a preference in this case,
and she has clearly chosen to return home
with Thompson if possible. This choice is
further supported by the fact that Thomp-
son and Sharon are a family of affinity,
which ought to be accorded respect.” Ac-
cording to Wilson, Thompson plans to
lérlingdsharon home to live with her in St.
on .

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Sharon Kowalski was injured in an auto-
mobile accident in November 1983,
which left her almost completely par-
alyzed, with severe short-tenn memory
loss and impaired ability to speak.
Thompson has fought for guardianship
since 1984, feeling that only as Sharon’s
guardian could she continue to be part
of her life and ensure that she receive
proper medical care. In retrospect, Kar-
en Thompson’s November 15 visit to
Vermont assumes greater significance,
as one of the last times she had to ex-
plain to an audience why Sharon can’t
come home. V

Vermont Pride
Invites You to Prom

Ronnie Bancroft

This is the prom we have all wanted to at-
tend but had to take the wrong dates to :.
February 22, 1992, at the Montpelier City
Hall on Main Street. 8 p.m. till midnight.
Admission is $10 in advance or $12 at the
door. Proceeds benefit Vermont Pride.

You don’t have to be a couple to enjoy the
fun. Dance cards will be provided at the
door Our DJ’s for the night, Joann and
Kera will be announcing dance numbers.
For more information or to purchase ad-
vance tickets, contact Vermont Pride PO
Box 1551 Montpelier, VT 05602, (802)
479-1250 or call Ronnie at 229-5291. 7

 

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February 1992