page 4 - Out in the Mountains
A response to no response

Gays face difficulties reaching those in power

b y I i m M o r g a n

Historically lesbians and gay men
have had difficulty accessing avenues
which might bring about change. We in
Vermont have seen no different when
we've attempted to contact those in
power. What follows are some examples,
and a few exceptions.

In June, 1985, the Burlington Board
of Alderpeople voted on a statement to
proclaim Saturday, June 22, I985,
Lesbian and Gay Pride Day in
Burlington. Among those voting against
the proposal was Alderperson Ted
Riehle. During the debate, Riehle
suggested that if he believed
discrimination toward lesbians and gays
existed, he might support a Pride
proclamation.

A member of Vermonters for
Lesbian and Gay Rights (VLGR)
reports that Riehle accepted VLGR’s
invitation to meet the next morning for
breakfast to discuss
discrimination/violence directed toward
the lesbian and gay community. Riehle
did not show up at that meeting -- nor

has he responded to 12 attempts to‘

schedule another appointment.

Anyone wishing to contact Riehle
can write him at City Hall, Burlington.

Lack of response has also come
from several people involved in the
state's landlord-tenant fair housing bill,
according to members of the National
Association of Social Workers, Lesbian
and Gay Issues Committee (NASW,
LGIC-Vt.). Neither Cheryl Rivers (Low
Income Advocacy Council, Montpelier)
nor James Libby (Vermont Legal Aid,
Montpelier) have responded to requests
to meet regarding the addition of
"same-sex” protections to the bill.

In another example several weeks
ago, State Representative Peter
Youngbear offered an amendment to
the above bill, to include the phrase
‘sexual orientation." But no connection
was made with the lesbian and gay
community, and an opportunity to
coordinate lobbying efforts was missed.
As yet, Youngbear has not responded to
a request to meet with NASW,
LGIC-VT, to discuss where
communication broke down.

Another non-response came from
State Representative Amy Davenport,
who has not yet replied to a request
for information on what research data
would be needed to change existing
domestic violence statutes to include
same-sex protections.

Yet another example: in recent
communication with Senator Robert
Stafford concerning the proposed $15
million cut in AIDS funding, Stafford
stated, "I am not planning to support
the President's requests for reductions
in the fiscal year '86 funding.‘ But he
continues to refuse to assign a staff
liaison to the lesbian and gay
community. Lobbying continues with
Stafford to encourage him to review

and co-sponsor federal non-
discrimination legislation. He may be
reached at 133 Hart Office Building,
Washington, D.C. 20510.

On the other hand, there is some
good news. Representative James
Jeffords has appointed a staff liaison
to the lesbian and gay community --
Stacy Littlefield, 2431 Rayburn Office
Building, Washington, D.C. 20515.

Also, Lynn Heglund, of the
Governor's Commission on the Status of
Women, submitted supportive testimony
to the Senate Judiciary Committee,
which is now reviewing the
above-mentioned landlord-tenant bill. "It
is the commission's policy to support
the inclusion of the category of ‘sexual
preference’ under the list of protected
classes in the bill," she said. She has
also agreed to add a question about

In the process 01 allirming our
gayness, there is no area _which brings
so much pain and joy as that of
families. Many of us are caught in a
struggle to be ourselves and at the
same time, to maintain our family ties.
It is often helpful to share our family
ups and downs with others who have
faced similar situations.

With the above in mind, a reader
has offered to share a recent
communication he received from his
mother and his response to that letter.
Out In The Mountains would like to
hear from other readers who might be
willing to share "Letters Home”.

Dear Burton,

When you wanted all of us to
know your sexual orientation, I believe
that gave us a right to tell you how
we feel about it. We've had discussions
and I think the whole family has
accepted this situation without too
much "to do".

When I read your letter about
your outside activities I felt a great
concern about your being involved sc
completely in all this activism. I’m all
for the public being educated about
AIDS, but can see that you must really
be in the public eye to be invited to dc
the seminar and to speak at a human
sexuality class. I'm glad that you gain
personal satisfaction from this. If you
were heterosexual what windmills would
you be tilting? What really upset me,
though, was the idea of your being
involved with a gay/lesbian newspaper.
What good will that do? No one would
read it except those of that inclination
and you are really putting yourself in
a position that could be harmful. Who
gave the grant? Please turn this over
to other people who can think of
nothing but GAY, GAY, GAY! I read
the letter first and said nothing to Dad

iii Letters

same-sex domestic violence in a pre-
test questionnaire prior to the upcoming
statewide domestic violence study.

And, Scott Skinner (ACLU-Vt.,
Montpelier) recently gave two strong
positive statements to Vermont House
and Senate committees regarding the
HTLV III anti—discrimination bill
(H622) and "sexual orientation”
inclusion in the landlord-tenant bill.
Both Scott Skinner and Brian Burgess
(deputy attorney general) agree to
review a log form developed by Liz
Hurwitz for possible use in
documenting discrimination and violence
against lesbians and gay men.

Anyone interested in further
lobbying efforts should contact NASW
(Lesbian and Gay Issues Committee) c/0
Box I47. Woodstock, VT 05091.

Home

when I gave it to him so I could get
his reaction. He said, "This newspaper
business - he doesn't need to be in
that. I don't like it. I don't like it at
all!" And as I said, this came from
someone who has not criticized in any
way before.

Don't think that we express
disapproval just to you. If it were
your brothers involved in something we
thought wrong, we'd do the same thing.
But who could disapprove of Scouts,
Chamber of Commerce, Heart Fund
official, Photography Club, Rotary
Club, Lay Reader and Deacon of
churches? Isn't there some aspect of
civic or cultural life in Burlington that
you could devote some of your time
and energies toward? I said once that
you'd developed a lop-sided view of life
and I think so now even more. And,
as I've said, the homosexuals I know
here who are leading really productive
lives are not going around all the time
saying "Let's Go Gay."

If you and your friends know
someone who could contribute a feature
article (weekly) on educating the public
about gays, but in conventional
newspapers, then that might do some
good if it were someone really gifted in
writing and who could do this in a
non-biased way.

Well, I have this off my chest,
and am sure I have wasted much time
in writing, because I don't think that
any of my "Words of Wisdom“ have
ever had any effect whatsoever on you,
but I'm compelled to let you know how
I feel.

Love, MOM

Dear Mom,

You are wrong about your "Words
of Wisdom" not affecting me. As my
mother and as someone I love very

continued, page 10