17.2003 PWT7Tïï7TTTlneu>sbne/s Continued from Page 1 1 ly, constantly referring to her ¿is a “fucking dyke” and “fucking faggot” and telling another doctor, “I don’t think that fucking faggot should he doing vaginal exams, and I’m not working with her.” When Davis complained, Guess told hospital administrators that he didn’t agree with her “les­ bian lifestyle." Rather than discipline Guess, the hospital punished Davis— reducing her work hours to three-quarters time so Guess wouldn’t have to work with her. Finally, Davis was fired. "By standing up to the bigotry of Dr. Guess and Pullman Memorial Hospital, Ms. Davis has made going to work every day much easier for lesbian and gay government employees,” attor­ ney Ken Choe said. “Because of her, it is now clear that government employers can he held accountable for anti-gay discrimination.” In July 2002, the Washington Court of Appeals niled that government employers can­ not discriminate against employees for being gay. This was the first time an appeals court inter­ preted the U.S. Constitution to protect govern­ ment employees against anti-gay discrimination. the importance of these relationships so chil­ dren aren’t shut off from the very people they need most." Sue Ellen Carvin lived with another woman in a marital-like relationship tor 12 years. During that time they decided to have a child together, with her partner becoming the biological mother. Carvin stayed at home serving as primary caregiver tor the child, who called her “Mama.” She bathed, dressed and fed her child, disciplined and consoled her and provided financial support. When the child was almost 6 years old, the couple separated. The ex-partner eventually cut off all contact with between Carvin and the child. In order to restore contact with the child she had raised from birth, Carvin filed a petition for a declaration of parentage or in the alternative for an order for third-party visitation. A King County Superior Court judge held that because Carvin was not married to her partner and was not the child’s biological mother, she had no standing to seek a decla­ ration of parentage. “As a matter of fair­ ness, someone who has functioned as a child’s parent should have the same visitation rights as allowed in other similar parent-child relation­ ships," attorney Aaron Caplan said. "When cou­ ples split up, their chil­ dren need the love and support of both parents, regardless of the parents’ sexual orientation.” The A C LU urged the appeals court to allow Carvin a fair opportunity to prove that she is a par­ ent of the child. State courts around the coun- Robert Ball (right) greets former U .S. Rep. Wendell Wyatt, R-Ore., try have recognized the during a reception celebrating The Avenue Lofts project Oct. 13 constitutional rights of t “de facto" parents— adults who, with the con­ G a y B u s i n e s s m a n sent of a biological parent, have taken on the U nveils L ofts role and responsibilities of a parent and have developed a bonded relationship with a child. In T 3 obert Ball, a gay Portland real estate this case, the trial court found that a “substantial i \ investor specializing in preserving and con- relationship” exists between Carvin and her verting historic buildings into living spaces, has child, that she “acted as a parent in many ways announced that sales will begin Oct. 19 at the for five years” and that the termination of her Meier 6c Frank warehouse building. The pro­ visitation “hanned the child.” ject, Unrated at 1001 N.W. 14th Ave., recently was named The Avenue Lifts. “Like the Marshall Wells Lofts we just fin­ L e s b i a n I l l eg a l ly F ired ished, The Avenue Lifts will give buyers a from W a s h i n g t o n H o s p i t a l unique opportunity to live in a historic land­ S e t t l e s D i s c r i m i n a t i o n S u i t mark listed on the National Register of Historic Places, and every purchaser will get a historic ullman Memorial Hospital and Dr. Charles tax freeze,” Ball said in a statement. “Some of Guess have agreed to pay a former sonogra- our lofts will have 18-foot-tall windows and 26- fixit-tall ceilings. The Avenue Lifts are truly pher $75,000 for harassing and illegally firing remarkable— something that has never been her solely because she is a lesbian. The case, which the American Civil Liberties Union suc­ seen in Portland before.” cessfully appealed to the Washington Court of The most substantial change to the stnicture will be a 5,500-square-foot atrium cut in the Appeals, helped establish important law pro- tecting gay and lesbian government employees center of the building from the rixif to the third flixir. The atrium will provide ventilation and from discrimination. light for lofts lixated on each fltxir of the build­ “I am relieved that I can finally put this ing’s interior. painful experience behind me and move on with Also included will be eight townhouses, 17 my life,” Mary Jo Davis said. “Employees should he judged on their work, not on their sexual ori­ two-story penthouses and 186 secure, covered parking spaces. Prices start at $148,000. entation. 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