and even received an award at a National Organization for Women meeting. The court concluded that while a trial court has wide discretion in guardianship proceedings, the court abused its discretion in this case in denying Thompson's petition against the weight of evidence. It removed Tomberlin from Sharon Kowalski's guardianship and appointed Thompson in her place. It said: "All the medical testimony established that Sharon has the capacity reliably to express a preference in this case, and she has clearly chosen to return home with Thompson if possible. This choice is further supported by the fact that Thompson and Sharon are a family of affinity, which ought to be accorded respect." Effects of the decision The Kowalski decision was viewed as a victory for gay rights by the gay community. The American Bar Association's Journal reported the decision under the heading: "Gay-Rights Victory: Minnesota woman named guardian of her disabled lesbian lover". A video, Lifetime Commitment: A Portrait of Karen Thompson, was produced in 1994, and three plays have been based on Kowalski's case. The case also highlighted the importance of durable power of attorney and other legal strategies for homosexual couples wishing to establish guardianship rights in comparable situations. The first Disability Pride Parade in the United States was held in Boston in 1990, and the featured speaker was Karen Thompson. Karen Thompson received several awards for her work to achieve LGBT equality, including 2012, "100 Women We Love" from Go Magazine, the Liberty Award from Lambda Legal Defense and Education Fund, and the 1989 Annual Humanitarian Award from the American Psychological Association. Together Thompson and Sharon Kowalski received the 1990 Woman of Courage Award from the National Organization for Women, the 1991 Feminist of the Year Award from the Feminist Majority Foundation, and a 1990 Creating Change Award from the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force. , Thompson was still making public appearances to discuss the case and the issues it raised. References Casey Charles, The Sharon Kowalski Case: Lesbian and Gay Rights on Trial (University Press of Kansas 2003) External links "In Re Guardianship of Kowalski", Minnesota Court of Appeals, December 17, 1991 "In Re Guardianship of Kowalski", review denied, Minnesota Court of Appeals, October 17, 1986 "In Re Guardianship of Kowalski", review denied, Minnesota Court of Appeals, April 18, 1986 Nan D. Hunter, "Sexual Dissent and the Family: The Sharon a Kowalski Case", in Lisa Duggan