Out in the Mountains

Gay Pride Day

There w_ill_ be a Lesbian and Gay Pride
Celebration this year, thanks to the willing-
ness and enthusiasm of several brave souls
in Montpelier to organize the event.

At the first planning meeting in
Montpelier, eight people from Rutland,
Burlington, and Montpelier, to begin the
process of setting goals and possibilities. A
concensus was reached to hold the celebra-
tion in Montpelier - a first! - on Saturday,
June 25, 1988, the date nearest the anniver-
sary of the Stonewall Riot. A rally on the
lawn of the State House will precede the
march down State and Main Streets and
back to the State House for addresses,
music, and an open-mike period. The re-
lease of white balloons carrying names of
P.W.A.’s who have died will take place,
during a moment of silence. Later that day,
tentative plans call for a dance party to top
off the high-jinks and allow for a release of
heightened emotions.

Planning meetings will continue bi-
weekly, the next one to be held in Rutland
on April 10. For more details, please call
229-9461. Everyone is welcome to attend
and all help is needed.

Gay and Lesbian Vets to Organize

The enthusiasm of October’s March
on Washington still lives in the newly
formed Gay Veterans of Vermont. They
have contacted the National Gay Veterans
Association and the New England Gay and
Lesbian Veterans group to organize a chap-
ter of one or both groups in the Green
Mountain State. Gene Barfield, spokesper-
son, points out that conversations he’s had
with other gay and lesbian vets around the
state suggest that the group could easily
represent over 150 years of service to the
nation in the Armed Forces.

According to Barfield, “Between the
man I love and myself we have eighteen
years of service in the Navy, we both have
earned medals, and we’re tired of all the
anti-country crap we’ve heard from the
right-wingers who oppose the civil rights
bill.” Barfield emphasizes that there are
many ways to serve one’s country and all
people deserve the full protection of their
civil rights as Americans. He adds, “Since
the Reaganites and the other right-wingers
are so enchanted with the respectable im-
age of Americans who serve in uniform,
gay and lesbian veterans should be in the
forefront demonstrating the need for a good

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civil rights bill for gays and lesbians in Ver-
mont.”

Barfield has been talking up the idea of
a lesbian/gay veterans group since his dis- ’
charge from the Navy in 1986. Nationally,
the Veterans Administration has recog-
nized several gay/lesbian veteran groups,
and the American Legion recently allowed
lesbian and gay vet groups to march in the '
New York City Veterans Day Parade. .
Organizers hope that the lesbian and gay
community’s pride in its tolerance and V’
diversity will temper the antagonism be-
tween peace activists and veterans groups. '

Barfield emphasized a number of-
points for the community. “We want to in-
clude as many veterans as possible; we'll "
go out of our way to respect issues of con-
fidentiality, and we don’t care how long
you served or why you were discharged.
Whatever the service, whatever your feel-
ings about your time in uniform, the fact
that you were there stands for something.
The group’s organizers can be contacted in
care of Gene Barfreld, Vermont Coalition
of Lesbians and Gay Men, P.O. Box 1125,
Montpelier, Vermont 05602.

AS THE PEARL TURNS

5th Year Anniversary
Gala

Saturday April 30th
8:30pm-Closing

$2.00 cover
Complimentary Cocktail

Champagne toast at Midnight I

D.J.: Stephen C.
from Provincetown

Come in and
Tie One On!!!
1.

James R.Morgan
ACSW CSW

Clinical Social Worker

     

Individual, Couples, Family
and Group Therapy
By Appointment

l86 College St. #202
Burlington, VT 05401
(802) 864-9101