8 | Out in the Mountains |0ctober 2000 =. letters :- IIIM, III In 1018, lllclunorul, VI 05477-1078 or EIntorQmounlalnm-hIeme|IIa.uru out in the Mountains welcomes your letters. withhold names from printing upon request, Although we will the letter must be accompanied by a verifiable name and address in order to be considered for publication. space and clarity. policy stated in the masthead. Dallas for Dean In July my partner and I traveled from Dallas, Texas, to Brattleboro for our civil union. We have been a couple and les- bian activists for 29 years, so we wanted to take advantage of this historic new law. We followed the debate and the votes this spring from Texas. We were so impressed with the courage of your legis- lators who supported us and by your Governor, Howard Dean, who also put his career on the line with his support of civil unions. It was my privilege to meet both Rep. Bill’ Lippert and Governor Howard Dean in Los Angeles at the Democratic National Convention, where I was a Texas delegate. I am so glad I had the chance to per- sonally thank both of them for making a difference in my life. Is there any gay or lesbian voter who would not stand in line on Election Day to vote for Governor Dean? If I were eli- gible to vote in Vermont, I would literally crawl, swim, walk over hot coals (whatever I had to do) to cast my vote for him. I realize that I am the ulti- mate “flatlander”—'a Texan—— but also I have been a political activist in our movement for 29 years. I know this is true: we must, we absolutely must stand up for those who have stood for us. Howard Dean backed civil unions and signed the bill that gave ALL of us in the United States the most sweep- ing set of legal rights in our lifetime. Are there Vermont gays and lesbians who seriously think- ing about voting for the Progressive Party candidate, Anthony Pollina? Please tell me it’s not true! I heartily agree . with Bill Lippert’s quote in the September OITM, that a vote for Pollina is a vote for Ruth Dwyer. I read the Rutland Herald online each day and also OITM. The reality is, if your vote doesn’t go to Governor Dean, it really goes to the ultimate Dr. Laura clone, Ruth Dwyer. Of all the wonderful experi- ences I’ve had in the gay rights movement, the most moving was meeting San ‘Francisco City Supervisor, Harvey Milk, in 1978, just months before his assassination. He sent me a poster for our community’s voter registration drive in Dallas. The words on that poster were powerful: “It’s Your Life, You Decide.” Please remember those words in November. Do what I can’t do, but wish so much I could...cast your vote for Governor . Howard Dean. Louise Young Dallas, TX Support a supporter Some BLTG people in Vermont may feel that Anthony Pollina is more sympathetic and responsive to our commu- nity, but the political reality of the civil union legislation as being only a part of a national movement for our civil rights is that we need to stick by and vote for Howard Dean. If we as a voting bloc are seen as having turned our backs on Governor Dean for his reelection bid, it would send a message to politicians from sea to shining sea: BLTG voters desert their allies with- out provocation. Furthermore, if Dean loses the election it would send a message to politi- cians of every ilk: Allying with the BLTG community by help- ing implement groundbreaking legislation is political suicide. I’m voting for can see past his discomfort with us and support our strug- gle for full civil rights. (Think about that for one second: it’s a greater act of courage to cham- pion the rights of a group you are uncomfortable with.) His infamous remark to the effect that: I’m as uncomfortable with homosexuality as anyone else or some such never both- ered me at all. I considered it to be a remarkably candid state- ment coming from a politician. He doesn’t have to love me, he just has to understand that I deserve a seat at the table, and act to help me occupy my seat. (How many BLTG people do you know who can’t be both- ered to work for their own rights?) A vote for Pollina is not just a vote for Dwyer; it’s a vote against the civil union legisla- tion that exists now, and against any similar legislation in the future. Vincent Downing Ankeney an ally I’m writing to heartily endorse Senator Jean Ankeney for reelection to the Vermont State Senate from Chittenden County. During her past eight years in the Senate, Jean Ankeney has been a good and Howie I because I respect a man who- . we reserve the right to edit for Letters are also subject to the editorial loyal friend to the GLBT com- munity. She is an ardent sup- porter of civil unions and has publicly stated that she would support full fledge marriage benefits for same-sex couples. She is truly a kind and compas- sionate woman who is an advo- cate for children, elders, and working families (all families!) She deserves our community’s support and, most importantly, our votes. I encourage every- one in the Chittenden Senate District to cast a vote for Jean Ankeney for Vermont State Senate on Election Day. Richard Thomgren South Burlington A Vote For Fun! Frank Zappa asked, Does Comedy Belong in Music? We ask, Does Politics Belong in Comedy? We ARE queer for Ruth! We are QUEER for Ruth! Not since the 1996 Republican National Convention-when Robert Dole arranged a prostate examina- tion booth for all his Republican male buddies-have Republicans done this much .for those of us who care PROUD and QUEER of it! And ask yourselves, as we have asked our queerselves, what is so CIVIL about UNIONS anyway? What does a good republican have to do with UNIONS? What was so civil about Jimmy Hoffa,.Tony Boyle? A Some of us whose great-- grandfathers were UNION sol- diers in the CIVIL war are just SO MAD about CIVIL UNIONS that we too are QUEER for RUTH! And so many of us have big boyfriends (with worn-out truck seat cushions) in the Northeast Kingdom who want to clearcut more than 41 acres without paying $100 that we’re QUEER FOR RUTH for them too! And phooey on Act 60, too! Enough Supreme Court POP- PYCOCK about equal effort and equal educational opportu- nity! We Queer for Ruth ask, If we take Vermont BACK- WARD, will we even NEED education? : And those of us QUEER FOR RUTH who like to hang out at deer camp oiling our A model 94 Winchester lever action 30-30s- we are also sure that Ruth would get rid of doe season, too! Further, we QUEER FOR l.§’l°°i°E§$::=i§