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‘BY JENN BAUDREAU .

iiArlington, VA — It was nine years ago

that Lollie Winans and Julianne

, Williams were murdered while hiking the

Appalachian Trail in Shenandoah
National Park. The lesbian couple pas-
sionately loved the outdoors and had
plans to move to Vermont together. Their
murders, believed to be a hate crime, not
only created pain and loss among those
who loved them, but also generated fear
and anger among women and the gay
community. These emotions only grew

‘ worse as time passed and no real suspects
emerged.-'

Three years ago it appeared that
there would finally be some closure to the
case when Darrell David Rice, already
serving a jail sentence for attempting to __
abduct a woman in the same park, was
indicted for the crime. He was charged
with four counts of murder — an extra two
counts were added because it was being
considered a hate crime — but the trial
never happened. A strand of hair found at_
the crime scene did not match either Rice
or the victims and the case was dismissed.
As of now, the case remains unsolved.

This horrible tragedy led to
action by the friends and families of the
victims. One of more publicized was the
“Take Back the Trails” campaign organ-
ized for the first year anniversary of the
murder. Thousands of hikers took to the
trails in Winans’ and Williams’ memory
to send a message: don’t let fear deter you
from getting outside and into the wilder-
ness.

Although nine years have
passed, Winans’ and Williams’ loved ones
continue to take action for their cause.
One friend, George Edward (“Ted”)
Hobart, has found a new way to keep
their memories alive. For Memorial Day
weekend Ted Hobart is traveling to
Vermont all the way from Virginia in
order to run the Vermont City Marathon
in their memory. He was close friends
with Winans, whom he remembers best
for her generous and open attitude and the
rosy smile that she seemed to wear all the
time. He also remembers how happy she

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was being with Williams.
Hobart first met Winans at a

Grateful Dead show with some mutual
friends from college. They shared many
interests and quickly grew close. Some of
Hobart’s fondest memories include going
to Allman Brothers and Phish concerts, or
hiking on the Long Trail with Winans, or
just hanging out with her and her dog,
Taj, in her VW van. Winans sometimes

      

 VER ONT'S ‘.V0lCE FOR THE LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER COMMUNITY

T IN THE 

Williams had been murdered.

“I remember being only in

shock, then I called my Mom. We had
nothing to say to each other, only silence.
I found myself wanting to be alone, walk-
ing to Dogwood Pastures near Warren ‘ '
Wilson College. I broke down and cried. I
could not contain myself. I felt like a part
of me was taken away. I lay there in the
tall grass, all my memories of Lollie had

“I want my Vermont City
Marathon to show how it
takes only one person to
bring strength and courage
to a movement to stop
homophobia and violence
against women!’ Ted Hobart

joined Hobart and his family for
Thanksgiving dinner. Hobart’s mother
came to like her so much, she’d joke,
“Lollie for presidentl’’ 1.
Ted remembers very clearly how
he felt when he found out Winans and

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filled me. I cried and cried and cried. I
remember wandering the campus, very
late that night. I felt so very alone.”
He is still very affected” by their

deaths. “Lollie’s strength and love for life
has motivated all of her friends to keep

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them close in our hearts. We all think of
Lollie everyday,” he said.

"By running the Vermont'City
Marathon, Ted Hobart hopes to educate
people about these two extraordinary
women, while helping to make sure this
sort of thing does.not happen again.

“Those who have run a marathon
know how difficult and demanding it is to
run 26.2 miles,” said Hobart, “It is no
small feat. So I want my Vermont City
Marathon to show how it takes only one

' person to bring strength and courage to a

movement to stop homophobia and vio-
lence against women.” '

_ Hobart himself is gay, and he
knows how challenging it can be to be
open about himself. Although he knew
Williams was Winans’ partner, neither of

them came out to each other. To this day

he wishes he could have. Since then
Hobart has come out to his family and
friends, but he admits that sometimes it is
still difficult to be open and true to him-
self.

“I know with my own sexual ori-
entation, I still feel fear about being me,”
he said. By running this marathon he
hopes to help create small spaces where
people can be less afraid.

Along these lines, he’s partnered
up with Outright Vermont in order to use
his marathon to raise money to help oth-
ers who are struggling with their sexuali-
ty. Anyone interested can make a dona-
tion to Outright Vermont by going to their

_ website (http://www.outrightvt.org/news/)

and sponsoring Ted in his marathon goal.
And if you want to just cheer him on, his
bib number is 1811 7 look for the rain-
bow fish (both he and Lollie are Pisces)
on his jersey.

Even though Lollie Winans and
Julie‘Williams are gone, their lives are
still affecting those who knew them best.
As Hobart said, “These women touched
the lives of many around them. Perhaps
my marathon will help others to have
freedom from fear.” V

Jenn Baudreau is a coflee barista, a run-
ner, and a recent arrival in Vermont. She
lives in Burlington.

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