2 eeezenaher 2011:: out in the mountains

Against the Tide

Vermont's GLBT Community Wins and
Loses on Election Day

 

BY PAUL OLSEN

ontpelier, Vt. - While the national
Mpolitical landscape looks bleak

for gay, lesbian. bisexual. and
transgender Americans after Election Day.
the political picture in Vermont looks much
brighter.

Come January. five openly gay
men will serve in the Vermont Legislature.
State Reps. Bill Lippen (D-Hinesburg) and
Robert Dostis (D—Waterbury) were reelected
and will be joined by Steve Howard (D-
Rutland) and Jason Lorber (D-Burlington)
in the House. Fomter state Auditor Ed
Flanagan (D) made history by becoming the
state’s first openly gay member of the state
Senate.

Flanagan was first elected state
Auditor in 1992 and publicly came out as a

gay man in 1995. He made national history
when. in I996, he became the first openly
gay statewide elected official in the United
States. He left the Auditor's post in 2000 to
run for the United States Senate.

“l am proud to be Vermont‘s first
openly gay state senator. but I must say that
it never came up in the campaign."
Flanagan told OITM. "My agenda is really
to be as good a Senator as 1 can. I am going
down there (Montpelier) to address the
issues that I talked about — health care. our
economy. and our schools."

In other election news. a number
of antigay legislators. including state Reps.
Nancy Sheltia (R-Derby). Gene Sweetser
(R-Essex). Spike Robinson (R-Richmond).
and Frank Mazur (R-South Burlington).
were defeated on Election Day. Two
founders of the antigay group Take it to the
People (TIP). Republicans Craig Bensen

    

and Jerry Smiley, were also defeated in their
bids for elective office.

Democrats increased their majority
in the state Senate. 21 to 9. Overtuming the
civil unions backlash election results of
2000. Democrats also regained contml of
the House. winning 83 seats compared to 60
for Republicans. Six Progressives and one
independent hold the remaining seats.

But in the nice for Govemor.
Republican Gov. James Douglas defeated
Burlington Mayor Peter Clavelle (D) 59
percent to 38 percent. Clavelle's loss is
attributed to his lackluster campaign and the
moderate positions staked out by Douglas.
Thmughout the campaign. Clavellc
appeared to enjoy the support of many gay
and lesbian Vermonters. His campaign
spokesman. BJ. Rogers. is well known in
the gay community as the former executive
director of Outright Vermont. :1 gay youth
advocacy and suppon group.

Verrnont‘s representation in
Washington. DC will remain gay-friendly.
Incumbent U.S. Rep. Bernie Sanders defeat-
ed Greg Parke by 46 percentage points.
Parke is an antigay conservative Republican
who pledged to promote “conservative val-

tics and principles" including “combating
the homosexual agenda."

in an interview with ()ITM at his
victory party. Sanders expressed his grati-
tude: "l want to thank the gay and lesbian
community for its support and they have my
word that we're going to continue the light
for hutnan dignity in America and oppose
any constitutional amendment to ban gay
marriage." he said.

The outcome of the race for the
 Senate also bodes well for gay and les-
bian Vennonters. Pro-gay incumbent Sen.
Patrick Leahy (D) defeated GOP business-
man Jack McMullen 7| percent to 24 per-
cent.

Shonly after his victory speech.
l.cahy told OITM he will continue his fight
for equal rights for gay Americans. “I have
always expressed tolerance in every aspect
of life and that reflects how most
Vermonters feel." he said. "Most
Vermonters are tolerant people and they
should be. W-‘re a better state when we
are." V"

Paul Olsen. Ed.l).. lives in C ()l(‘ll¢'SI('r’ and
also writes for in ncwswcekly.

Gay Mayor Re-Elected

counts were 4756- I688.
Hall. a retired business-

tination city. Development plans
include the construction of a hotel

and antique and collectible vendors.
Recently. Stewart has called for

 

. BY CYNTHIA Porrs

attsburgh — Two terms filled

with economic development
and community-building convinced
Plattsburgh voters that they wanted

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incumbent Mayor Dan Stewart in
office for another three years. In a
landslide victory. Stewart. who ran
as both a Republican and an
Independent. captured 74 percent of
the vote. defeating Democratic can-
didate Robert Hall. Final vote

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man and bar owner. has been a can-
didate before. having run against
incumbent Mayor Clyde Rabideau
before Rabideau was defeated by
Stewart.

_ Stewan's campaign was
based on his continuing plans of
transforming Plattsburgh into a des-

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by

Alli .lll’KUs°

and conference center along the
city's waterfront. and the creation of
an ans and cultural community. The
plan includes the renovation of the
historic Strand Theater on Brinker-
hoff Street. and the on-going meta-
morphosis of the City Farmer's
Market to include live entcrtaintnent

V

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property taxes on the SUNY
Plattsburgh campus as a way to aug-
ment city funds.

The Plattshurgh mayor has
been quoted as being in firm opposi-
tion to his pany's stance against gay
marriage. but said he has no plans to
leave the GOP. V

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