JULY 2006 I out in the mountains 3

 

VERMONT NEWS/POLITICS

Now Who’s Turning Their Backs?

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Protestors Show Up
for Governor's Talk

BY LYNN MCNICOL

COLCHESTER — As dark rain
clouds threatened to chase
everyone inside,‘a crowd of
protestors gathered at the en-
trance to St. Michael’s College

.to protest a speech being given

by Gov. Jim Douglas on the last
day of May.

Douglas was speaking at a di-
versity conference, “Welcoming
Communities,” at the college for
teachers to expand their social
horizons. .

Ironically, for the GLBT
crowd who recently witnessed

the govemor’s veto of the Gen-
der Identity and Expression bill,
Douglas spoke at some length
about actions he's taken to end
discrimination, including safe
schools and anti-bullying legis-
lation. The bill Douglas vetoed
(H.865) included a provision to
protect students from harass-
ment regarding their gender
identity and expression‘.

The protestors carried their
signs toward the auditorium
where Douglas was to speak in a
few minutes, but campus security

asked them to leave the signs .out- i

side. They did.

As Douglas spoke, about 25
people in the audience stood
silently» and turned their backs
to the governor, who continued

PHOTO: LYNN MCNICOL

speaking as if nothing unusual
had happened. The storm out-
side erupted into thunder and
pouring rain as Douglas contin-
ued to speak, and the protestors
continued to stand.

After‘ speaking for about six
minutes, Douglas ended his dis-
course on ‘eliminating discrimi-
nation through scholarship pro-
grams and enriching cultures, to
light applause from the approxi-
mately 50 people who remained
sitting in the audience.

The audience then slowly
filed out, into the soggy spring
air. The dark clouds had rolled
away and the protestors stood
outside again with their signs
in the last falling drops of
rain. V

Day celebration this year?
Douglas: I don’t know the an-
swer to that. If requested, I'm
happy to take a look at it.

OITM: Will you attend the cel-
ebration?

Douglas: I’d rather see opportu-
nities to include everyone, not
categorize Vermonters by sexual
orientation, and find a more in-
clusive way to participate.

OITM: As Governor, you could
issue an executive order pro-
hibiting discrimination on the
basis of gender identity and

expression, any way you want

to define it, in state govern-

ment. Will you consider this
until the legislature revisits
the issue?

Douglas: I don’t know if that is
true or not. We have laws on hir-
ing and contracts with unions so

' I’m not sure if the basis of your

question is correct or not.

OITM: You oppose gay mar-
riage and civil unions, won't
commit to appointing a GLBT
person to the HRC, didn't is-I
sue a Pride Day proclamation
last year, let medical marijua-
na become law without your
signature, and vetoed H.865.
Why should GLBT Vermonters
support your re-election?

Douglas: I believe all Vermonters
should support my re-election
because I‘m focused on making
this an affordable place to live for
everyone. We've done well eco-
nomically over the past few years
and the state is fiscally strong, but
I worry, about the affordability of
housing, higher education, and
property taxes. l’m focused on
making this a place where every-
body can live regardless of race,
creed, sexual orientation or any
other category. V

Paul Olsen is the Vermont
Correspondent for Boston's
In Newsweekly.

 

 

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