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RANCHO RESORT MAINTANANCE POSITION General A1 Communications Cable Techs Health Care Sierra Tucson Eating Disorders Program Coordinator Tucson RegionChallenges for same-sex couples with children's custody is topicARIZONA DAILY STAR
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 02.21.2008
The challenges that same-sex couples have faced when it comes to custody of their children will be the topic of a film and forum tonight at the University of Arizona.
The movie revisits the early, tumultuous years of the lesbian custody movement through the stories of five lesbian mothers and their four children.
The documentary is narrated by comedian and gay-rights activist Kate Clinton and recounts court rulings granting custody to grandparents, fathers and distant relatives based on the belief that lesbians would be unfit parents.
Interviewees include sons and daughters who were separated from their mothers, as well as the mothers themselves and one woman who made the difficult decision to flee with her children.
After the film, a panel of parents from the local gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender community will share stories of their paths to parenthood.
Speakers include Gayle Brickert-Albrecht, an educator with the Tucson Unified School District who has the unique distinction of sharing custody of her two sons with her former partner. Her legal status is unusual because Arizona does not allow unmarried "second parents" to adopt children.
Other scheduled speakers include family law expert Pamela Liberty.
The event is sponsored by Wingspan's Rainbow Families, the UA's LGBTQ Affairs and the Women's Resource Center. For more information, call 626-1996.
● Contact reporter Stephanie Innes at 573-4134 or at sinnes@azstarnet.com.
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