Date: Mon, 24 Apr 1995 09:20:32 -0400 From: David B. O'Donnell To: Multiple recipients of list GLB-NEWS Subject: (USA, VA) Sharon Bottoms Verdict Overturned By VA Supreme Court [ Send all responses to GLAADRCHMD@AOL.COM only. Any responses to the list or list-owners will be returned to you. ] SHARON BOTTOMS LOSES IN SUPREME COURT; GLAAD "SHOCKED AND SADDENED" PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE PRESS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: Kelly McHugh, GLAAD/Richmond Coordinator (804)233-8801 In a ruling announced this morning, the Virginia Supreme Court removed custody of Tyler Doustou from his mother, Sharon Bottoms, and placed custidy with his grandmother, Kay Bottoms. Among the reasons given for this ruling, in a 4-3 opinion written by Justice Compton, are that Sharon Bottoms is an unfit parent because of her "demonstrated unwillingness and inability to promote the emotional and physical well-being of the child," and that she refuses to subordinate her own desires and priorities to the child's welfare." Sharon is a lesbian, who lives with her partner, April Wadek, in Richmond. The majority opinion of the Court disregarded evidence that children of gay and lesbian households suffer no ill effects from their home environment, and further stated that it believe that tyler would suffer from a burden of "social condenmation" based on the "moral environment" of Sharon's home, in definace of the united opinion of the social science community. Sharon's attorneys plan to to appeal the decision by filing a petition for re-hearing within 30 days. Her attorneys also admit that the odds of such a re-hearing are slim, and that the next step would be the United States Supreme Court. "We are shocked and saddened by this terrible turn of events," remarked GLAAD/Richmond Coordinator Kelly McHugh, who has been involved with the case since 1993. "The opinion states that Tyler was not taken from Sharon because she is a lesbian, an then goes on to contradict itself by saying that she cannot provide a proper moral environment and that he would suffer social condemnation. Neither of these statements is true, and I am very disappointed that the Court has chosen to describe "justice" in this manner." McHugh continued, "My only hope is that the justices will live up to their titles upon reconsideration, and take time to reflect upon all the evidence presented, not just that presented to support Kay Bottoms' claims. This is a sad and frightening day for all parents whose families do not agree with their living arrangements and personal situations, be they lesbians, the poor, single parents, or people of faith." --end-- GLAAD is a national media monitoring and response organization, founded in 1985, which fights for fair, accurate, and inclusive representations of lesbian and gay lives in all media and public fora. For more information, please contact GLAAD/Richmond at (804) 233-8801 or GLAAD/National Field Office at (503)224-5285.