out in the oins Views: VT’s Great Gay American own the dirt road from my Dfarm a good friend of mine is buried in an old grave- yard. Ron Squires and I were both young and idealistic when we met back in the 1970s at a commune in Guilford. He was quick to tell me how proud he was to be an eighth generation Vermonter. And just as quickly he told me he was gay. In those days most folks didn’t come right out and say it. But Ron Squires was a surprisingly candid young man. He was also a self-appointed guardian of Vermont traditions. Ronnie baked apple pics for the Grange benefits and took - kids from our school into dilapidat- ' ed cemeteries to help clean them up. One of those graveyards is where he’s buried now. So you can imagine my dismay when I picked up the local newspaper recently with the head- line stating that Ron’s grave had been defaced. The front-page pic- ‘ ture of his mom, Shirley Squires, ' standing bravely with her fingers slightly touching her son’s head- stone, was heartbreaking. When Shirley told the police about the vandalism, they asked if Ron had any enemies. She could think‘ of no one. The vandal had carved anti-gay graffiti into Ron’s gray liotti $03 Guilford slate gravestone. Just last month I had occasion to remember Ron’s courage during a discussion over ' dinner with friends the day New Jersey Governor James McGreevey announced that he would be resigning his office. The Governor went on to call himself a Gay American. I thought it was pretty sad that he used that term only at _ the time of scandal. But had he earlier» in life come clean aboutlhis » sexual identity I’m certain the chances of his being Governor would have been pretty slim. And that brings me back to Ronnie. He was also a politi- cian. In fact, he became the first openly gay one elected to our Vermont legislature, but it.hadn’t been easy for Ron. Had Ronnie stayed dis- honest about his true identity he too might have gone further in his political career like the Governor. Except many gay people like Ronnie who came out early in their careers didn’t just roll over. No, they did the important political work that was needed to change the conditions that would make it possible for younger gays today to accomplish more of their dreams. As soon as Ron was in the legisla- ture, he spoke eloquently on the need to end discrimination. With Ron’s voice ringing in their ears, the legislators passed Vermont’s anti-gay discrimination bill in 1992, the fourth state in the nation to do so. Ron passed away a few months after that major victory. Already there are plans afoot by the many friends he left behind to fixthe tombstone. And well they should because under that slate slab rests a good Vermonter and truly a great Ga American. V r ‘ John Scagliotti is a radio broad- caster and documentary filmmaker. He created the PBS TV series In the Life and is the producer of the Emmy Award-winning film Before Stonewall. He lives in Guilford. ' REALTOR RVMPX North Professionals ' fackie Marina 802-655-3377 x23 800-639-4520 X23 e-mciil ]cickie@together.net website: www.]ockiemcIrino.com ”Out” and Servin our Community since 989 GENDER SPECIALIS individual, couple, family and group psychotherapy. Evaluations for homiones ar,i_rl_¥fj surgery and referrals to medical services for transsexuals. Member, Harry Benjamin Gender Dysphoria Association [HIBGDAJ and lntemational Foundafion for Education [IFGE]. . . I ” r ‘ ‘ 0 ’ P 802.22‘9.2946! ‘ - ~0lfices in South Bujrlington ,8; Montpelier O-¢°¢°¢-0°¢-9' BOB GREEN, LCMHC LICENSED CLINICAL MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELOR SOUTH BURLINGTON, VERMONT . (802) 658-2390 (800) 830-5025 INDIVIDUALS BC COUPLES. MAGELLAN, VHAP, MEDICAID & MANY OTHER INSURANCE PROGRAMS ACCEPTED Mandate cont’d from previous page to the lesbian mothers who have lost custody of their kids. This is bad fruit. And what of countries where gay people lack basic legal protectionf? What is the fruit borne in countries, for instance, whose bishops label homosexuality satan- ic? Archbishop Nkoyoyo of- Uganda is one such bishop. In Uganda, “camal knowledge against the order of nature’? is a criminal act. The maximum sentence is life imprisonment. Some who have been convicted under this law report being tortured and raped while in prison. But a gay person needn’t wait for the law to catch up with him or her. RadioNetherlands reported from Uganda in January 2004 that an 18-year old high school student was publicly caned by school authorities after it was revealed that she was a lesbian. M She died a few days later from her wounds. This is bad fruit. When religious dogma fuels the violent persecution of an entire class of people, it is wrong, and it is time for our church to stand up and say so. As Episcopalians work to heal the rifts that threaten our church, I worry that we will_suc- cumb to the temptation to gloss over the damage that conservative theology has done and is doing to sexual minorities. I worry that those who supported Gene Robinson’s consecration will fail to say that, indeed, our actions are rooted firmly in God’s call as revealed in the Bible. I worry that we will continue to be viewed as the church that side-stepped scrip- ture in order to do the “polite” thing. Perhaps most of all, I worry that we send a message to ourselves that it is okay to let injustices stand. If we truly put God at the center of our lives, then we are expected to build a world that is governed by two rules: love and justice. On this point, the Bible could not be clearer. V Liz Stedman is a candidate for Holy Orders in the Diocese of Vermont and lives with her civil union spouse and son in . Burlington. For a copy of the entire sermon, contact Liz at ems@kse50.com. lleml Sltlttlnuton, nllvn Iltlllnotnoranlst 802-345-2948 or 453-5411 Sleep better, Loserweight, Conquer Fears and Phobias, Control Habits, Manage Stress Joseph Kress, M.A. Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor Individual and Couples Counseling Adults and Adolescents ' 801-334-6301 95 Main Street, Suite 203. Newport, VT