Sharon Smith & Carol Migden.Team up to turn tragedy into a push for gay and lesbian couples' rights in California Sharon Smith wasn't an organizer or an activist. And she had never met openly lesbian California assemblywoman Carole Migden Carole Migden represents the third district in the California State Senate. The Third State Senate district covers parts of San Francisco, all of Marin County and parts of Sonoma County. , a Democrat from San Francisco San Francisco (săn frănsĭs`kō), city (1990 pop. 723,959), coextensive with San Francisco co., W Calif., on the tip of a peninsula between the Pacific Ocean and San Francisco Bay, which are connected by the strait known as the Golden . But when Smith's partner, Diane Whipple Diane Alexis Whipple (January 21, 1968 – January 26, 2001) was a lacrosse player and coach, who is best known as the victim of a fatal dog attack in San Francisco in January 2001. , was mauled to death by a dog, Smith joined forces with Migden to fight for legislation that would extend to lesbian and gay registered domestic partners 15 of the basic rights heterosexual couples receive when they marry. Migden had introduced AB 25 less than two months before Whipple died on January 26. But it was Whipple's tragic death and Smith's decision to file a wrongful death The taking of the life of an individual resulting from the willful or negligent act of another person or persons. If a person is killed because of the wrongful conduct of a person or persons, the decedent's heirs and other beneficiaries may file a wrongful death action suit that have galvanized gal·va·nize tr.v. gal·va·nized, gal·va·niz·ing, gal·va·niz·es 1. To stimulate or shock with an electric current. 2. both the fight for this legislation and Migden and Smith's innovative partnership. "AB 25 is an important step in recognizing the rights of lesbian and gay families," Migden says. "Sharon's case shows the additional tragedy that the law inflicts when it fails to recognize all families. Her courageous stand is another compelling voice to make this case." |
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