NAMES IN THE NEWS : NOW Honors Women of Courage

SAN FRANCISCO — The National Organization for Women on Sunday gave its first Women of Courage award to a lesbian couple from Minnesota.

Karen Thompson had to battle Sharon Kowalski’s parents over guardianship after Kowalski was severely disabled in a 1983 automobile accident because the two women had no legal right to remain together.

“I could never have walked out on her,” Thompson said as she accepted the award, Kowalski by her side in a wheelchair. “She’s a very different Sharon, but we still love each other very much.”

Thompson spent more than $175,000 to win the right to care for Kowalski. A court order barred her from seeing Kowalski for 3 1/2 years until Kowalski was able to communicate her wishes.

Kowalski is unable to walk or speak, but has learned to use a voice synthesizer to tap out short messages.

Her parents have bowed out of the fight, but it remains before a Minnesota court. Kowalski lives in a nursing home about an hour from Thompson’s home.

Thompson said she hopes a July 27 hearing finally will make her Kowalski’s guardian after seven years.

“We have turned this case around,” she said, “but it’s not over yet.”