Oak Kitten
02-18-2007, 09:01 PM
"The good is oft interred with their bones."
One of the youth group leaders at our church brought this article to my husband's attention. They are going to organize the kids to collect money in support of this man's legal efforts to prevent the parents of his dead lover from disinterring him to bury him in a "family" plot - even though they refused to accept him when he was alive and gay.
Oak
In this case, the evil is in the actions of this man's parents.
LOCAL NEWS | washingtonblade.com
Gravesite battle proves costly for Baltimore man
Parents want gay son’s body moved to family plot
By JOSHUA LYNSEN
Feb. 16, 2007
A gay Baltimore man who’s fighting to keep his late partner buried in rural Tennessee may have to sell his car and home to fund the legal battle.
Kevin-Douglas Olive said the parents of his late partner, Russell Groff, have appealed a court ruling that granted Olive an early win in the case. The appeal effectively restarts the case, making progress a costly proposition.
Olive said he’s committed to continuing a case in which he’s already invested $8,000 — but fears his legal bills may demand another $20,000.
“I’ll do what I gotta do,” he said, “but they’re telling me to expect to spend a lot more than I spent before.”
Olive is working to uphold a November ruling by Baltimore City Orphans’ Court Judge Karen Friedman. In it, the judge rejected the initial attempt by Lowell and Carolyn Groff to overturn their son’s will.
The parents are seeking to move Russell’s body from a grave he chose and inter him at a family cemetery.
Lowell and Carolyn Groff argued in court that their 26-year-old son didn’t know what he was doing when he completed his will and burial instructions shortly before his death on Nov. 23, 2004.
Russell, who was HIV-positive, died from a staph infection that spread throughout his body.
Olive said Russell was estranged from his parents at the time of his death and completed a will and burial instructions in anticipation of the legal battle.
Repeated calls to a phone number the Blade believes to be that of Lowell and Carolyn Groff were not answered and there was no answering machine. But a person or persons posting as the Groffs on Baltimore blogger Bruce Garrett’s site expressed condemnation of gays.
Referencing previous Christian responders to Garrett’s blog, a post identified as from the Groffs said, “I am so glad that the Christians that are standing for the truth are doing it this way ... they are telling the love of Jesus Christ, but yet not condoning the sin of homosexuality.”
The post painted Olive as controlling and manipulative.
“Mr. Olive had to have things his way, so alienating our son from us was the answer.”
The post also said, “the personification that [the relationship between Olive and Groff] was a loving relationship was such a farce.”
Garrett, who has written about the case, said he is confident the message was written by the Groffs but can’t be certain.
“It struck me as authentic,” Garrett said.
Olive has sought legal and financial assistance from some state and national gay groups.
Lambda Legal, a national legal organization working for the civil rights of gays, offered to connect Olive with a local attorney who might handle the case for free.
Unsatisfied, he turned to Equality Maryland, the state’s largest gay civil rights organization. Olive said the group directed him to Mark Scurti, a Baltimore attorney who specializes in gay case law.
“He’s gay, so he has to feel this at some level,” Olive said. “That was really important to me.”
Olive said Scurti, who routinely works for $250 per hour, is cutting him a deal. But the bills remain hefty, and could total $20,000 or more.
“I could sell the car, so there’s a little bit there, and I have some savings, but at that point, what happens?” he said. “I’m worried about this stuff.”
Meredith Curtis, a spokesperson for the American Civil Liberties Union in Maryland, said her office is monitoring Olive’s case.
She could not say, though, whether her office might become involved with the legal battle.
“Certainly, we think that Mr. Olive’s case exemplifies all the myriad problems that can result when the law treats gay partners as legal strangers,” she said, “when in fact they’re not strangers at all.”
Curtis said her office is focused on a marriage equality case pending at Maryland’s highest court. A ruling, which could come at any time, could overturn the state’s statutory ban on same-sex marriage.
Olive has received some assistance from an emerging online campaign that seeks to fund the legal battle. The effort, spearheaded by the BlogACTIVE.com site, began last week.
“I think $1,500 has come in,” he said. “It’s nice to know there are people out there who want to do something.”
Donations can be sent via mail to the Kevin Olive Defense Fund, c/o C.W. Hardy, 715 Park Ave., Apt. B, Baltimore, MD, 21201.
© 2007 The Washington Blade | A Window Media Publication
One of the youth group leaders at our church brought this article to my husband's attention. They are going to organize the kids to collect money in support of this man's legal efforts to prevent the parents of his dead lover from disinterring him to bury him in a "family" plot - even though they refused to accept him when he was alive and gay.
Oak
In this case, the evil is in the actions of this man's parents.
LOCAL NEWS | washingtonblade.com
Gravesite battle proves costly for Baltimore man
Parents want gay son’s body moved to family plot
By JOSHUA LYNSEN
Feb. 16, 2007
A gay Baltimore man who’s fighting to keep his late partner buried in rural Tennessee may have to sell his car and home to fund the legal battle.
Kevin-Douglas Olive said the parents of his late partner, Russell Groff, have appealed a court ruling that granted Olive an early win in the case. The appeal effectively restarts the case, making progress a costly proposition.
Olive said he’s committed to continuing a case in which he’s already invested $8,000 — but fears his legal bills may demand another $20,000.
“I’ll do what I gotta do,” he said, “but they’re telling me to expect to spend a lot more than I spent before.”
Olive is working to uphold a November ruling by Baltimore City Orphans’ Court Judge Karen Friedman. In it, the judge rejected the initial attempt by Lowell and Carolyn Groff to overturn their son’s will.
The parents are seeking to move Russell’s body from a grave he chose and inter him at a family cemetery.
Lowell and Carolyn Groff argued in court that their 26-year-old son didn’t know what he was doing when he completed his will and burial instructions shortly before his death on Nov. 23, 2004.
Russell, who was HIV-positive, died from a staph infection that spread throughout his body.
Olive said Russell was estranged from his parents at the time of his death and completed a will and burial instructions in anticipation of the legal battle.
Repeated calls to a phone number the Blade believes to be that of Lowell and Carolyn Groff were not answered and there was no answering machine. But a person or persons posting as the Groffs on Baltimore blogger Bruce Garrett’s site expressed condemnation of gays.
Referencing previous Christian responders to Garrett’s blog, a post identified as from the Groffs said, “I am so glad that the Christians that are standing for the truth are doing it this way ... they are telling the love of Jesus Christ, but yet not condoning the sin of homosexuality.”
The post painted Olive as controlling and manipulative.
“Mr. Olive had to have things his way, so alienating our son from us was the answer.”
The post also said, “the personification that [the relationship between Olive and Groff] was a loving relationship was such a farce.”
Garrett, who has written about the case, said he is confident the message was written by the Groffs but can’t be certain.
“It struck me as authentic,” Garrett said.
Olive has sought legal and financial assistance from some state and national gay groups.
Lambda Legal, a national legal organization working for the civil rights of gays, offered to connect Olive with a local attorney who might handle the case for free.
Unsatisfied, he turned to Equality Maryland, the state’s largest gay civil rights organization. Olive said the group directed him to Mark Scurti, a Baltimore attorney who specializes in gay case law.
“He’s gay, so he has to feel this at some level,” Olive said. “That was really important to me.”
Olive said Scurti, who routinely works for $250 per hour, is cutting him a deal. But the bills remain hefty, and could total $20,000 or more.
“I could sell the car, so there’s a little bit there, and I have some savings, but at that point, what happens?” he said. “I’m worried about this stuff.”
Meredith Curtis, a spokesperson for the American Civil Liberties Union in Maryland, said her office is monitoring Olive’s case.
She could not say, though, whether her office might become involved with the legal battle.
“Certainly, we think that Mr. Olive’s case exemplifies all the myriad problems that can result when the law treats gay partners as legal strangers,” she said, “when in fact they’re not strangers at all.”
Curtis said her office is focused on a marriage equality case pending at Maryland’s highest court. A ruling, which could come at any time, could overturn the state’s statutory ban on same-sex marriage.
Olive has received some assistance from an emerging online campaign that seeks to fund the legal battle. The effort, spearheaded by the BlogACTIVE.com site, began last week.
“I think $1,500 has come in,” he said. “It’s nice to know there are people out there who want to do something.”
Donations can be sent via mail to the Kevin Olive Defense Fund, c/o C.W. Hardy, 715 Park Ave., Apt. B, Baltimore, MD, 21201.
© 2007 The Washington Blade | A Window Media Publication