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. While the money d<x;sn’t make up for
“The Meier <Si Frank warehouse was a place
the indignities I suffered from Dr. Guess and
where many Oregonians and Southwest Wash
other hospital administrators, it’s comforting to
ingtonians have fond memories of many exciting
know that by standing up for what’s right, I have
shopping experiences,” Ball said. “I remember
made it easier for other people facing anti-gay
going to Meier & Frank warehtxjse sales many
discrimination in the workplace."
times with my mom when I was young.” JH
Davis worked in the radiology department at
the hospital near Spokane for about two years.
Guess, the chief radiologist, harassed her routine-
Compiled by JlM R a ix >STA
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