iersi

  

Pride and Diversity, clockwise: Youth Pride attendees last month at City Hall, a celebratory cake,

  

Monologues director Dawn Johnson accepting recognition at Billings.

UVM Celebrates Diversity

Students, Facutty, Staff Honored for Fighting !-ieterosexism

ainbow flags hung every-
where.in the Billings
tudent Center north

lounge as students, staff and fac-
ulty were honored for their pro-
diversity work at the end of April.
Remarks and goals were framed
in terms of “fighting heterosex-
ism,” and gave attendees hope for
the future of the university as a '
cradle of activism on behalf of
lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgen-

der, queer and "questioning, inter-
sex, and ally rights and accept-
ance.

Faculty members Glen
Elder (Geography), Esther
Rothblum (Psychology), and
Jackie Weinstock (Integrated
Professional Studies) were hon-

ored by University Provost John

Bramley for their leadership and
support of the lgbtqia community
at the school. The honorees were

presented with black academic
stoles with rainbow stripes.
Students, Dawn Johnson
and Bill Tickner received special“ '
recognition for their activities in
support of the lgbtqia community.

‘Johnson, among other activities,

directed the successful campus
production of The ‘Vagina
Monologues. Tickner came out to
his fraternity (Phi Gamma Delta),
then embarked on a cross-country

 
   

argest
Youth Pride
Steps Out

 

BY EUAN BEAR

he largest gathering to date

of GLBTQIA youth con-

gregated at Burlington’s
City Hall last month for a speak-
out and march focused on the dif-
ficulties of coming out as a youth
and the need for safe schools.
Speakers ranged in age from 14
to 22 and addressed a small
crowd of about 85 youth and
older allies. Hometowns given by
the two dozen speakers ranged
from Brattleboro and Keene, NH
to Colchester and Dummerston.
The experiences ranged from cel-
ebrating family acceptance to
moving from homelessness to
restaurant manager.

One speaker, Bailey
Miranda, age 19, read an impas-
signed letter written to the par-
ents who were rejecting Bailey.
“I’m not your little blonde
daughter any more. I haven’t
been your little blonde daughter
since I was five years old,”
Bailey read. Bailey grid clearly
that their rejection was their loss.
Bailey would miss having their
support, but they would miss
knowing the person Bailey was
becoming.

Becky took the micro-
phone and said she is a student a
Colchester High School, where
she knows of at least “five to 10
teachers who are queer.” She said
it was greatto be able to count on
their support.

tour speaking on youth empower-
ment, before being elected presi-
dent of the student association.
Staff member Peter
Blackburn received the
Weinstock award for excellence
in staff/faculty achievement
toward a more open climate on
campus. Blackburn has been on
the staff since 1989, and wrote
his dissertation on the quality of
life for out lgbtq staff and faculty.
Blackburn facilitated the inclu-
sion of information ‘on civil
unions in the standard employee
orientation infonnation packet.
The Student Advocacy

Eric Waterman, age 16,
of Dummerston, said he had
come out to his family at age 14.
“and my family took it great."

During the speakout, the
Vermont All State Chorus mem-
bers — the girls dressed in skirts
arid white blouses, the boys in
dark suits»and white shirts with
neckties — filed up the City Hall
steps to get to dressing rooms
before’ their dinner break. It
might have been a clash of cul-
tures, but several young men
hung out nearthe steps and lis-
tened respectfully as the last few
speakers said their piece. One All
State boy ran into the arms of
two friends who were at the rally.

Christopher Kaufman,
direct services coordinator at
Outright Vermont, said the gath-
ering was the largest in the 4-year
history of the event. He suggest-
ed that although there are laws
and regulations against harass-
ment and a requirement that
schools act to ensure students’
safety, Vermont has a long way to
go before that ideal is achieved in
all schools.

Other Youth Pride
events included a discussion on
safe schools at the Fletcher Free
Library, and a Youth Pride Prom
with a “Drag Wedding” theme at
the YMCA, followed by a sleep-
over at the Outright Vermont
office. V

Award was presented by two

young students to Tom Robinson, {

who, they said, had been instru-
mental in helping them find the
funding to continue their educa-
tion at UVM when their parents
refused to contribute because of
their sexual identity.
 Ann Sweeney and Anne

Early were presented with the

_ Women's Center Award, Sweeney

for her work on the women's cen-
ter 'zine, Early for her work on

V the campus sexual violence

awareness month activities.
Stephanie Morg_a_n..was honored
as Ally of the Year. V