Lesbian Loses Custody of Son to Her Mother

A judge gave custody of a lesbian woman’s 2-year-old son to the boy’s grandmother Tuesday, saying the mother’s relationship with her live-in partner “renders her an unfit parent.”

The custody case had been watched closely by gay rights activists because it pitted a non-parent against a mother whose only alleged parental shortcoming is her homosexuality.

The grandmother, Kay Bottoms, charged that her daughter, Sharon Bottoms, was an unfit mother to Tyler Doustou, and Henrico County Circuit Judge Buford Parsons agreed. He also noted that Sharon Bottoms acknowledged engaging in oral sex, a felony in Virginia.

Sharon Bottoms’ lawyer said the decision will be appealed.

Parsons was reviewing a Juvenile Court ruling that gave Kay Bottoms custody and her daughter limited visitation rights. The earlier ruling also was based on Sharon Bottoms’ sexual orientation.

The boy’s father was not involved in the case.