Date: Mon, 24 Apr 1995 12:39:35 -0400 (EDT) From: David Casti Subject: ACTION ALERT: Letters for VA Supreme Court Submitted by: Erato42559@aol.com As I'm sure most of the community is aware by now, lesbian mother Sharon Bottoms lost custody of her 3 year old son, Tyler, to her mother Kay in the Virginia Supreme Court on Friday, April 21, 1995. The decision was based in large part on Sharon's being a lesbian and cohabitating with her female spouse, April Wade. Other contributing factors mentioned in the majority opinion included Sharon's economic instabililty and lack of educatio, as well as the supposition that Tyler would suffer from an intolerable burden of social condemnation based on his mother's lesbian relationship. The Court failed to consider any of the evidence presented on Sharon's behalf, including the long-term sexual abuse she suffered at the hands of Kay's live-in boyfriend and a substantial body of expert social science testimony regarding the fitness of lesbian and gay families for parenting. The gay and lesbian community of Richmond is devastated by this turn of events, and we would like to ask for your help in responding to this outrage against the parents among us. Sharon's lawyers plan to present a petition for a re-hearing to the Court within 30 days; if 1 of the 4 justices in the majority agrees that a mistake may have been made, a new hearing will be scheduled. In support of the petition, the Gay and Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation of Richmond is collecting letters to the justices about the decision, to be delivered en masse on Friday, May 19. If you would like to write a letter about this horrifying decision, please use the salutation "To the Justices of the Supreme Court of Virginia," and send it to: GLAAD/Richmond 2333 Krouse Street Richmond, VA 23234 (804)233-8801 or e-mail: Erato42559@aol.com or GLAADRCHMD@aol.com. Thank you in advance for all your support!! Kelly McHugh GLAAD/Richmond OUTpost Coordinator