.Associate

 

page 10 - Out in the Mountains

Liaisatt

from page8

step for the highest levels of state
government to be hearing our concerns
and taking them seriously. A lot of
what we have to do is just be
persistent, and to learn how decisions
are made at every level of state
government, and be around to make
sure we are heard when \decisions
affecting our lives are made.

vullh
just

Q: In your co-liaison position
Beth. do you see yourself as
representing gay men?

A: Well, certainly part of the reason
for two liaisons is recognition of the
fact that there are some serious
divisions in the community, and to
make sure that both men and women
are represented. That is important, but
I think the role goes beyond just
speaking for gay men. Certainly my
agenda includes going to bat for
women's issues, and I hope that both
lesbians and gay men will feel
comfortable calling me about concerns
they have.

Q: A lot of discussion has taken place
about whether thls position is Governor
Kunln‘s liaison to us, or our liaison to

her. What is your perspective?

A: The primary role of the position is
to make sure that the Governor hears
our concern, so I definitely view the
position as being the community
liaison‘s to her. On the other hand, it
is important we keep the community
informed about developments with the
Governor's office, so communication
becomes a two way street. In that
sense, I guess, we also serve as her
liaison to the community.

Governor Kunin demonstrated a lot
of good sense in setting up this
communication mechanism, and if we
use it properly, I think we can see a
lot of positive things coming out of it.
She’s been very good about defending
the decision when she has been
challenged on it by the right wing.
That is a very encouraging sigh about
her willingness to take it seriously.
There is a good chance that the fact
that she created these positions, the
simple fact that she is willing to hear

from a significant section of the
Vermont community, will become a
political issue. In that sense, the

liaison position becomes both a symbolic
and a practical position. It could get
very interesting.

Public hearing on HTLV—3

from pagel

Approximately 60 people, including
l8 legislators. attended for forum.
Discussion focused on the error rate of
the ELISA test for HTLV-III
antibodies, the fact that AIDS is not
spread by casual contact, and the
current lack of anti-discrimination
protection.

Panel members included John Calvi,
consultant to AIDS organizations
around the country; Dr. Philip Howard,
Medical Director of the
VT/NH Red Cross; Dr. Philip Mead,
epidemiologist in charge of infection
control at the Medical Center Hospital
of Vermont; Deborah Kutzko, a
Burlington nurse who has been involved
with several Boston area AIDS studies;

Heather Wishik, Professor of Law at
Vermont Law School and a member of
the Governor's Commission on the
Status of Women; and Scott Skinner,
Executive Director of the Vermont Civil
Liberties Union.

Terje Anderson, co~liaison to the
Governor’s Office from the lesbian/gay
community, felt that "the information
given during the panel discussion
should help legislators understand the
real and immediate need for this
legislation."

When questioned, Rep. Toby Young,
chair of the House Health and Welfare
Committee, indicated that she would
bring the issue before the committee
for possible action.

 

in Out in the Mountains

i Want to reach a statewide audience

of thousands of lesbians and gay men?

Write; to ‘Out in the Mountains,‘

inierv

MflN€d

How do you intend
that you always are
community?

to make sure
representing the

A: That is not

Certainly the

going to be easy.

statewide network that

has been meeting is an important place
for defining
and I

guidance. I am also willing to travel
around the state and talk with lesbian
and gay groups, whether they be
formally existing groups of informal
networks, to get feedback and ideas.
And I encourage people to call me with
whatever specific concerns they have. I
can be reached at 862-59l7, during the
day and early evening.

the communit_\"s concerns,

will look to that a lot for

Housing bill defeated

frompagel

James Morgan, who heads the
Lesbian and Gay Issues Committee of
the Vermont Chapter of the National
Association of Social Workers, lobbied
earlier this year, without success, to
encourage the House Judiciary
Committee to include sexual orientation
in the draft of the landlord/tenant bill.
He said he appreciated Youngbear’s
support for non-discrimination, but
hoped that in the future any effort to
include such language involve the
lesbian and gay community.

"The amendment still may have
been defeated even if the lesbian and
gay community had the opportunity to
contact their legislators" said Morgan,
"But perhaps not with such a
resounding ‘no’. It is important for
legislators to remember that they have
lesbian and gay constituents.‘

Other community activists agreed
with Morgan, expressing the view that

such legislation will not pass without
significant lobbying.

The issue may be raised again
when the Senate Judiciary Committee

considers the bill.

Governor Madeline
asked about the sexual orientation
amendment at a press conference
several days after the vote, expressed
her support for legislation to end such
discrimination.

Kunin, when

Correction

Box 438, Hinesburg, VT 05461.
for deadline and rate information,

The alternate
community is Debbie Alicen, who can
be reached at 456-8745.

liaison to the lesbian