Arts and Humanities Commons^™

Karen Thompson, Barbara Dibernard

Women's and Gender Studies Program: Faculty Publications

Karen Thompson’s lover Sharon Kowalski was severely injured in November 1983 when a drunk driver crashed into her car. Sharon is now paralyzed from the waist down and has serious brain damage. The two women had exchanged rings, bought a house together, made each other beneficiaries of their life insurance policies, and made a lifetime commitment to each other, but were extremely closeted. When Karen, at the suggestion of a counselor, came out to Sharon’s parents after the accident, the Kowalskis reacted with anger, denial, and hatred. “They said I was sick and crazy and they never wanted to set …