April 1988

Homophobia Revealed in Senate Debate frompage1

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Supporters wore blue tags as identification.

Anderson Takes Gay Concerns to
Democratic Platform Committee

Terje Anderson, a Burlington gay
community and political activist, has been

named as Vermont’s temporary member of ,

the Democratic National Platform Com-
mittee. He will serve as Verrnont’s repre-
sentative until a permanent member is se-
lected in early June.

_Anderson was elected by the Demo-
cratic ‘State Committee to represent Ver-
mont in national party deliberations over
positions it will take. Governor Madeleine
Kunin has been selected by the Democratic
National Committee to serve as one of the
four national vice—chairs of the Platform
Committee.

Anderson, a supporter of presidential
Candidate Jesse Jackson, pledged to work
for a progressive platform which ad-
dresses real issues, instead of the sub-
stanceless document that some of the na-

tional party leadership seems to want.” He
said that he will concentrate his work on
“health care, inclusion of lesbian and gay
civil rights, a meaningful plank on AIDS

related issues, support for women’s rights ‘

and reproductive freedom, and economic
justice issues.”

In 1984, Anderson served as one of six
openly gay or lesbian members of the na-
tional platform committee and as vice-
chair of the lesbian and gay caucus at the
San Francisco Democratic Convention.
He said he plans to seek election to the
position of permanent committee member
in June.

In addition to Anderson, other openly
lesbian or gay members of the Platform
Committee selected so far are Dale
McCormick of Maine and Carole Migden
of California. -

Vermont, Ketcham pointed out that per-
haps the same anxiety may have been ex-
pressed about Blacks when Vermont was
deciding to prohibit slavery as part of the
Vermont constitution, but obviously, given
that Vermont has the fewest Black citizens
of any state, no such thing had occurred.

Even more bigoted remarks were
made by Senator Francis Howrigan of
Franklin County, who suggested that the
bill would promote AIDS and referred to
gay people as “the society of comho1ers,” a
comment which met with shocked silence
by other Senators and a raised gavel on the
part of Lt. Govemor Howard Dean, who
was presiding over the session.

The Senate vote, which includedsix of
eleven Senate Republicans voting in favor
on the second reading, was viewed by State
House insiders as avery strong showing for
the bill. Momentum is good in the House,
which tends to be much more conservative
than the Senate.

Representatives» need to hear from
supporters right now. Every member of the
House needs to be receiving letters and
phone calls urging them to support S.278,
and to help ensure that it gets out of com-
mittee and onto the floor for a vote this
session.

You can leave messages for your rep-
resentatives by calling toll free 1-800-322-
5616 (the Sargeant-at-Arms office). Such
messages require that you leaveyour name
and town. If you don’t know who your
representatives are, call your town clerk.
Letters may be sent to any Representative
at The Statehouse, Monteplier, VT 05602
or to their home address. On weekends and
Mondays many Representatives are at
home and take telephone calls from con-
stituents.

 The
-Forsb erg
, {$,,; Center
Walter I. Zeichner
M.A.C.P., N.C.C.

Ps chother &Bod work
Gag] Positiggn/Counseliléig

 

 

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