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2 ° OlTl"l january 2002 NEWS

 

BY ROBERT Al’PEL

I am delighted to be the new director of the Human Rights Commission.
This appointment enables me to continue to_ work on the issues that have

motivated me to ‘become a legal worker, and serve the people of Vermont

The essence of ‘those issues is simple — equal justice and equal opportunity
for all persons. Being at the Commission gives me the chance to pursue the
advancement of human rights and dignity through_enforcement and educa-
tional -efforts.

I very strongly identify with the mission of the Commission which is: 1)
to promote full civil and human rights for all people in Vermont through
enforcing laws that protect people from discrimination in housing, state
government employment, and in places of public accommodation such as
restaurants,'stores, and schools; 2) to conduct educational workshops on
civil and human rights issues for diverse audiences; and, 3) to provide the
public with information and referrals as appropriate on human and civil
rights issues. a

I have been privileged during my career to advocate for human rights
through civil rights enforcement and by protecting individual rights by
ensuring through a criminal defense practice that the protections of individ-
ual liberty embodied in the Bill of Rights are honored. Returning to the field

of civil and human rights advocacy allows me to continue to address these -

critical issues from a different perspective. .
My belief is that, in large measure, most Vermontersharbor no desire to
discriminate. Failures to treat people respectfully often stern not so much out
of malice as insensitivity. The primary challenge facing the Human Rights
Commission is to provide theleadership necessary to increase communities’
awareness of diverse population, while helping to prevent discriminatory
and emotionally destructive incidents that on occasion may become violent
acts. My personal challenge on assurningthe directorship is to provide both

the internal management expertise and to pursue the external outreach to

raise the profile of the Commission as an effective enforcement agency.
The areas of most acute concern presently facing the Commission include:
The continuing: backlash against the passage of Vermont’s civil union leg-

islation that has engendered some heated, rude and destructive rhetoric.

Anti—gay and anti—lesbian bias both in the workplace and particularly in

VT Human Rights Commission

 

BYJUANITALLERCH‘  _
O_ITM StaffWriter - ' ‘ I

‘During the 1988 legislative session, the
Vermont Legislature passed Senate Bill S-308, '
re—establishing the Vennont Human Rights’-,'
Com1n_ission.,S’—30"8 outlines the duties, juris-
diction and powers of -the ‘Commission; a
the,Cornrnission  endeavor thmug
public education; :to, increase awar.ene:,'ss'_— o
the irnportance,'off1ill_civil_and human’ rights  I A

' "a<;h_‘,,inhabitant',‘.of.-”t1;¢__5;;i  * ' :

  
  

"BY PAT RoB'1‘

Reflections. of Beicoming Director ofthe Vermont Human Rights Commission,

schools‘ needs‘’_ to be addre ssed by the
Commission. As a member of the
Legislature’s Civil Union Review
Commission, I am advocating that the
landmark legislation be in effect without
revision for a substantial period of time
prior to any efforts at improvement.

Vermont schools are all too often the
sites of harassment based on race, gender, j
sexual orientation and mental and physi—. i.
cal disabilities. In fact, over the past seven ’:
years, school harassment complaints con—,ég
stitute nearly one—third of all public "A
accommodation complaints filed with the-
Commission. I am committed to forming._
partnerships with the state Department of R B
Education, as well as district and school,
administrators, to act in concert to proac—‘7
tively address these hostile and destruc—(
tive learning environments which deprive some of our children of full and
equal educational opportunity.

Making Vermont a more welcoming and sustaining environment for peo-
ple of color, who frequently report being the subject of various forms of
“profiling” by retailers, law enforcement, prosecutors, the judiciary and cor-
rections. ‘

Assuring that new immigrants to Vermont from all parts of the globe are
successfully. and fully integrated into our communities.

Effectively policing the very tight housing market to ensure compliance
with fair housing laws perhaps to include the use of paired “testers” to fer-
ret out different treatment of applicants for rentals or sales because of race,
disability, sexual orientation, presence of minor children, receipt of public
assistance or national origin. . 4

Although the list of challenges is substantial, there are plenty of allies,
people of good will, who are committed to seeing theseefforts succeed. I
look forward to collaborating on these efforts to make Vermont a better and
healthier community for all who live in or visit Vermont.

 
  
  
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
  
  
  
 
   
  
 
 
  
 

Landmark Georgia and  
MassachusettsCases  

 

  
  

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Staff Writer

late March .2002. _
if e‘ the Georgia State
me, both for" and
if ef edlby. the
(1 State Sen
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