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Yakima (W ash.) County Superior Court
he A bdill-E llis Lam bda Com m unity
judge has ruled that two women ending a
C en ter in A shland— which has been
10-year relationship must divide their assets
sharing temporary quarters with a church for
equally, a decision that amounts to a divorce
more than a year— is considering a radical
in a state that does not recognize same-sex
move. In the latest issue of the nonprofit’s
marriage.
newsletter, m en’s program coordinator Mark
Judge Heather Van Nuys said the relation M acDougall writes that the time has come
ship between Yakima physician Julia Robertson
to consider relocating outside the “nice com
and Seattle nurse Linda Gormley was “suffi fort zone” o f the progressive southern O re
ciently marriagelike to provide equitable relief.” gon city.
Gormley considered the ruling a personal victo
“ Besides Phoenix or Talent, how about a
ry and a major accomplishment for same-sex
storefront in downtown M edford within
couples everywhere.
walking distance for the growing number of
“Before, we had minimal legal protections,” students attending Rogue Community C o l
said Gormley, who sued Robertson after the
lege?” he suggests. “A bold and controversial
couple ended their relationship in 1998. “Hope spot may be the catalyst for new energy for
fully, now that changes.”
our center as well as the catalyst for greater
Van Nuys, who issued the written ruling G L B T respect outside the comfort of
Nov. 1, called the couple’s relationship an “inti A shland.”
mate domestic partnership,” allowing both
MacDougall says the facility was forced to
women the same property rights given to a hus move into the basement of First Congregationa1
band and wife in a divorce. While the women
United Church of Christ in order to get out of
never entered into a marriage contract, “they debt. He admits the center has gone through
did engage in activities directly affecting their some rough growing pains during the past six
careers, assets and debts, including pooling
years but hopes the community’s financial sup
resources, commingling funds [and] becoming
port will help keep it alive.
jointly liable on debts,” she wrote.
The two women shared a home titled in
For more information visit the Internet site
Robertsons name. Gormley was responsible for www.abdellis.org.
her share of debts owed on joint credit accounts
but had no claim to the house.
Van Nuys said it would be unfair for
entral regon
Robertson “ to retain all the property, the
ets rganized
home, the equity and the improvements and
be responsible for only half o f the jointly held
he Lesbian Network of Central Oregon is
credit cards she m aintained during the
growing in membership numbers and
relationship.”
expanding its range of activities.
Gormley received cash for her share of the
It is holding monthly potlucks and dances
house, and the two split common debts. Other
and occasional drumming circles; if the inter
property, including furniture and cars, was divid est is there, it also might begin a cancer sup
ed between them.
port group. All lesbian, bi and trans women
Robertsons lawyer, Bryan Myre, said he
are encouraged to join the network’s e-mail
was unsure whether his client would appeal. If list so they can be notified about upcoming
an appellate court were to uphold the deci events.
sion, it would set precedent in courts
For gay and bi men in Central Oregon, an
statewide.
active group holds monthly dinners, an annual
In May, the state Suprem e C ourt in the
barbecue and holiday parties. Interested people
case of Vasquez v. Hawthorne ruled that a
are encouraged to find out about the activities
Seattle man’s 30-year same-sex relationship
and get information and referrals for profession
al services.
was enough like a marriage to grant him a
share o f his deceased partner’s estate. But
that precedent never before had been applied
For more information call the Lesbian Network of
in the breakup o f a same-sex couple, Myre
Central Oregon at 541-317-8457 or the Gay
said.
Rural Information line at 541-312-8881 or
State Rep. Ed Murray, D-Seattle, a gay mem 888-429-6368. JF1
ber of the Legislature, told the Yakima Herald-
Republic that Van Nuys’ ruling was “fairly enor Compiled by JlM RADOSTA and SARAH LEIMERT
mous for Washington state.”
C
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