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About Just out. (Portland, OR) 1983-2013 | View Entire Issue (May 21, 2004)
It rTìT!TT?TWmnewsbrie/s C o u r t : N o n bio lo g ica l M om C an S eek V isita tio n C ontinued from P age 9 say that they feel like we kind of moved it away from the center of town, but it’s hard to balance everybody's needs,” he says. ‘‘We heard more complaints about the length of the parade and the gaps in between. It can always be moved to different places in future years.” In addition, this year’s festival will only fea ture one stage instead of the usual two. “Mainly that was an economical, financial thing," Dressman told Just Out. “To have two stages you have to have two sound systems.. .more volunteers. We’re kind of histor ically short on volunteers.” In addition, Pride Northwest hopes the sin gle stage will lead to an improvement in the cal iber of performers. Dressman predicts this year’s headliner, 1970s cover band Hit Explosion, will be a big success. “It’s the 35th anniversary of the Stonewall rebellion...so it’s like a little retro kind of theme,” he says. The suggested donation is also changing— from $3 to $5. However, nobody will be turned away for lack of funds. The Pride Festival takes place from noon to 11 p.m. June 19 and from noon to 6 p.m. June 20 at Waterfront Park. The Pride Parade steps off at 11:15 a.m. June 20. For more information call 503-2 9 5 -9 7 8 8 or visit wunv.pndenw.org. I daho S upreme C ourt H ears C ustody C ase T he Idaho Supreme Court held oral argu ment May 3 in McGrifif vs. McGriff, a case T in which a father lost joint legal and physical custody of his two children because of his sexu al orientation. It is one of the first state supreme court custody lawsuits involving a gay or lesbian parent since the U.S. Supreme Court struck down sodomy statutes with the Lawrence vs. Texas decision last June. Theron McGriff had been the primary care taker of the children. After the divorce, which was initiated by his ex-wife, the parties agreed to share custody. This arrangement continued until McGriff became involved with a male partner, at which point his former wife petitioned for and received stile custody based on her argument that the children would be harmed by living with a gay father. To add insult to injury, the trial court also held that he can only have visitation with his kids if he does not live with his partner. “I am encouraged by the court’s thorough questioning,” said Shannon Minter, legal direc tor of the National Center for Lesbian Rights, which is co-counsel in the case. “Idaho courts have a long history of holding that custody deci sions cannot be premised on bias. I am confident they will apply that rule in this case as well.” A decision is expected within the next six months. “We are very optimistic that the court will make the right decision for our family,” McGriff said. he American Civil Liberties Union praised the Washington Court o f Appeals on May 4 for allowing a woman the right to seek visitation with her child after her relationship with the biological mother ended. “This is wonderful news for gay parents and their children. The court recognized that being a parent is not just about blood ties,” attorney Leslie Cooper said. “When two people who have chosen to raise a child together break up, the children involved should not be denied the love and support of a parent simply because that parent doesn’t have a biological connection.” Sue Ellen Carvin lived with another woman in a marriagelike relationship for 12 years. During that time they decided to have a child together, with her partner giving birth to their daughter, L.B. Carvin stayed at home serving as L.B.’s prima ry caregiver, and their child called her “Mama.” Carvin bathed, dressed, fed, disciplined, consoled and provided financial support for her child. When L.B. was almost 6, the couple separated. Carvin’s ex-partner eventually cut off all contact between her and the child. The court’s decision reverses a lower ruling, which held that Carvin could not petition for visitation with her child. The appeals court held that where an adult assumes the obligations of parenthood with the consent of the biological parent and has established a parental relation ship with the child, she is a “de facto parent” and may seek visitation. The court sent the case back to the trial court to give Carvin the oppor tunity to prove she was a de facto parent. J H Com piled by J im R adosta and M eg D aly Bridge City Family Medical Clinic, P( C® M aKes 5? B a sic / * O S ie r r a C lu b .e s t o l» **,« , „ ‘•'« u n i t y '•SSSSSf* coÄ e t ^ H lg tits Teri Bunker, FNP Board Certified Family Nurse Practitioner Chronic and Acute Health Care Needs Family Practice/Primary Health Care for Women. Men and Children of All Ages Most Insurance Accepted 503/460-0405 2821 NE 58th Avenue • Pnrthind, OR 97213 C ro ss street a t Sandy Bird. W h e n you buy o r sell a home with me, you'll know your dollars are helping support a greater cause. I contribute at least 10% of my earnings to community and environmental organizations. ^ M illy n n J a m e s (jr f f u r Time for a financial check-up or a second opinion? Broket\'Graduate Realtor Institute ARR. Accredited Bi-vet s Represent.itwe f %$fc4 T1 * RE^M/ AX VC equity group R&'M 5 0 3 . 3 3 0 .H O M E ( 4 6 6 3 ) 1.8 0 0 .8 2 5 .9 9 4 8 w w w .rn illy n n .c o m 1 m a il: m illy n n O c z ).i o l . c o m ^ G riffon F inancial G roup . 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