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POLITICS

State Campaign Battles Take Shape

BY PAUL OLSEN

MONTPELIER — Gay, lesbian,
bisexual, and transgender Ver-
monters are beginning to get a
sense of the choices they will be
faced with on Election Day in
November. The campaigns for
Governor, Lieutenant Governor,
U.S. Senate, and U.S. House are
high-profile races that will have
an impact on gay equality in
Vermont and nationwide.

Governor

Incumbent Republican Governor
James Douglas will face former
State Senator Scudder Parker
(D-Caledonia County).

Gov. Douglas opposes gay
marriage and Vermont’s civil
union compromise and failed
to issue a requested proclama-
tion recognizing the state’s LG-
BTQ Pride Day. To his credit, he
supported anti harassment leg-
islation and opposes efforts to
amend Vermont’s Constitution

_ to ban_gay marriage.

In his announcement speech,
Scudder Parker, who marched with
his wife in the 2005 Pride parade,
said, “We have begun to confront
homophobia and the legal struc-
tures that perpetuate it; we have
begun to address discrimination
against people with physical and
emotional differences— these strug-
gles, all of which are ongoing — have
taken steps toward removing cruel
inequalities.”

Lt. Governor

Incumbent Republican Brian Du-
bie faces a challenge from State
Senator Matt Dunne (D-Windsor
County).

Dubie opposes Vermont's
civil union compromise and sup-
ports amending the U.S. Consti-
tution to_ prohibit gay marriage.

At the request of a gay con-
stituent, Dunne circulated for

signatures a legislative letter to
U.S. House and Senate leaders
supporting federal recognition
of civil unions.

Progressive Anthony Pollina
is also considering another run

. for Lt-. Governor.

U.S. Senate

Independent U.S. Rep. Bernie
Sanders hopes to replace retir-
ing U.S. Sen. James Jeffords
(I). As a member of Congress,
Sanders garnered 100 percent
positive ratings from the Human
Rights Campaign and received
a 100 percent rating from the
AIDS Action Council. His office
maintains a written nondiscrirni—
nation policy including sexual
orientation, he is a sponsor of
the Employment Nondiscrimina-
tion Act (ENDA), and he voted
against the antigay Defense of
Marriage Act (DOMA).

Sanders will face either re-
tired air force pilot Greg Parke
or IDX founder Richard Tar-
rant, both Republicans. In his
imsuccessful campaign for the
U.S House of Representatives
in 2004, Parke pledged to pro-
mote “conservative values and
principles” and combat “the
homosexual agenda.” As a po-
litical neophyte, Tarrant’s views
on gay and lesbian equality are
not well known. In an interview
with OITM, Tarrant’s campaign
manager, Tim Lennon, said Tar-
rant would support ENDA and is
opposed to the Federal Marriage
Amendment. “IDX was an early
supporter of domestic partner
benefits,” Lennon said when de-
scribing Tarrant’s commitment
to workplace nondiscrimination.
“He does believe that marriage
is between a man and a woman,
however, he believes that it is
inappropriate to be handled as a
constitutional amendment and is
best left to the states to decide.”

9 Mayoral Candidates CONTINUED FROM PAGE 3

you know, the human resources
department is coming up with
policies about not discriminat-
ing. But it’s more than just equal

opportunity. It’s not just who we _

hire, but how we serve. I would
want a culturally competent ad-
ministration. We would have a
zero tolerance policy.

EB: For discrimination, you
mean.

K.IC: Not just discrimination but
education for department heads
and managers. Iguess I’m not your
typical Republican

EB: Can you give me a brief
sense of your platform?

KJC: I just want to move the city
forward. I am concerned that we
are taxing vulnerable parts of

 

 

U.S. House of
Representatives

The race to replace Bernie Sand-
ers in the U.S. House of Repre-

sentatives pits State Senator Pe- .

ter Welch (D-Windsor County)
against either Major General
Martha Rainville or State Sena-
tor Mark Shepard (R-Bennington
County), who will face off in a
GOP primary on September 12.

Welch told OI'I‘M that he has .

long opposed discrimination and
will take that fight to Washington
DC. “I’ve supported nondiscrimi-

nation legislation in Vermont and

certainly would support it nation-
ally,” he said. “I also absolutely op-
pose the [federal] constitutional
ban on gay maniage.”

Rainville is the adjutant gener-
al of the Vermont National Guard
and, according to Nathan Rice, di-
rector of her exploratory commit-
tee, is declining press interviews.
“Martha Rainville is in the process
of making her final decision about
whether she is going to become
a candidate and until she makes
that decision she isn’t talking spe-
cifics,” he said.

Shepard has served in the sen-
ate since 2003 and introduced an
amendment to the Vermont Con-
stitution stating that marriage in
Vermont “shall consist only of
the union of a man and a wom-
an.” To date, Shepard’s amend-
ment has not been adopted.

State Rep. David Zucker-
man (P-Burlington) is also con-
sidering entering the race for
Vermont's’ lone seat in the U.S.
House of Representatives.

Election Day is Tuesday No-
vember 7. V

Paul Olsen works at

St. Michael's College and
lives in Colchester. He also
writes for the Boston-based
In Newsweekly.

the city out of their homes. We
need to have a state-of-the-art
recreation plan. We have a lot
now, but it could be a lot better,
a lot more. I’m interesting in fos-
tering economic development to
create and maintain jobs.
Burlington should be fun,
friendly, and economically vi-
able. I’m fiscally conservative,
not ‘morality conservative.’ V

WIIITEII IS II IIIIAE Bllll III

“atoast to New Orleans”

lift your glass, dance all night, fall in love

SITIIIIIIIIV. FEIIIIIIAIIY 11

Higher Ground, South Burlington, Doors open at 7, 18+

IN THE SHOWCASE LOUNGE
7:30 —— A Cabaret Show
The House of LeMay, The Decoys & several special guests
9:30 — The Diva Disco Lounge
DJ John Martin and lip-sync performers

IN THE BALLROOM
8:00 — The Dirty Blondes
Burlington’s hottest and most outrageous band
‘9:30 — The Boom Boom Room
DJ Elliott Matos + many performers 8. production numbers.

PLUS THE CROWNING
OF THE KING 8. QUEEN!

PRESENTED AND HOSTED BY
THE HOUSE OF LOMAY as a benefit
for the VERMONT PEOPLE WITH
AIDS COALITION

$15 in advance/$20 day of show
Available in person at Higher Ground
or online at highergroundmusiccom.

 

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