Volume III, Number 6

 

    

September 1 988

The Sixth Annual Vermont Lesbian
and Gay Pride March took place on June
lltli in Montpelier. Four hundred lesbians,
gay men, bisexuals and supporters con-
verged on the state capitol on a glorious
summer afternoon. As usual, beautiful
weather was the order of the day. This was

151 i‘ ‘the first year that the march was held in the

state capitol; in the past it had always taken
place in Verinont’s largest city, Burlington.

The primary reason for holding the
march in Montpelier this year is related to
all of the legislative action involving

“ , lesbians and gay men recently, namely the
dz two AIDS related bills and S-278, the anti-

discrimination bill. It was felt that having

_ the march in the capitol would spotlight
these legislative events. Other reasons for

» choosing the location were the fact that it
was more centrally located and the
Burlington area activists who have been
organizing the march since it first year
were, quite frankly, suffering from bum-
Out. (Continued on page 8)

Lesbians and Gay

   

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VTLesbian and Gay Pride8 (photos by Janet Coles and Deb H eissen )

Come Out, Come Out, Whoever You Are

_ The First National Coming Out Day

is this October 11- marking the anniver-

Sar_y of last year’s March on Washington.

It IS hoped that Coming Out Day will

become an annual event across the United
, States - each year having a different
1h€In,e. As reported in May's OITM, this
Year sthemeis “Take the NextStep." This
_51°gaI_i centers on the idea that coming out
18 a life long process and one that is
’ essentialto the liberation of lesbians and
' gay men.

E0‘ 301116 people, taking the nextstep
may 1n_volve private and personal issues-
ggglslng Coming out to oneself or close
viSibIe- Others are perhaps ready for more

, acfivis a°“°“5'DUl>11c events or political
. {C igl. Theday is designed toaccomo-
Comm 688 from everywhere along this
acrosslllfilm. Personal and  events
2 °C0l1ntIy will gain national impact

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by sharing the common theme and date.

Various groups and organizations in
the VT area indicated that they may
organize group activities for Coming Out
Day, but that it is too early yet for them to
have firm plans. However, numerous
individuals volunteered their ideal or fan-
tasy Coming Out Day activity. These
included: greeting the bus driver or sales-
clerk with a cheery “Good morning, I’m a
Lesbian”, coming out to parents/friends/
employers, “Gay and Proud” chalk graffiti
on sidewalks everywhere, integrating
a “ridiculously heterosexual” bar, airing
a pro-lesbian/gay public service an-
nouncement on prime-time television, and
polling political candidates for their stand
on lesbian/gay issues.

OITM would like to publish a list of
such activities, plans, and goings on for
October. Our new deadline is the seventh

of each month. Please send information
regarding your group’sp1ans/events to:

OITM, P.O. Box 177, Burlington, VT
05402.

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