In a written slap at Judge Kleinfelter, the court noted that during the hearing, he referred to the father in the case as "Sergeant," though he referred to the mother by only her first name, and not "Lieutenant."

"The Pennsylvania Supreme Court is dedicated to eradicating gender discrimination in our court system," Judge Christine Donahue wrote. " Given all of the hard work in the uphill battle against gender discrimination, we would be remiss if we did not remind the trial court that Mother and Father are entitled to equal deference to their respective ranks when being addressed by the trial court."

Ms. Misturak-Gingrich applauded the court for its rebuke.

"That kind of behavior was very obvious and offensive," she said. "We thought it was indicative of the judge's bias."

My little quibble is that the Post-Gazette (and other Pgh media outlets) continue to use homosexual as a descriptor for the LGBTQ community.  If any reporters read this blog, I'd point them to the GLAAD site on media stylebooks.

There's a perception among certain LGBTQ leaders that the media is not sensitive to our isses.  I don't agree with that perception, especially with regard to the Post-Gazette.  But I do, however, think this sort of dated language contributes to this perception.  Homosexual is a clinical term.  Use it when necessary, but it wasn't necessary in this article -- in fact, using the term reinforced the very perceptions underlying the original decision.  Sort of a Post-Gazette lving in a glass house while casting stones at Dauphin County Common Pleas Court scenario?