This article was compiled from infor-
mation submitted by Keith Goslant and D.
Curtis

A sexual orientation anti-discrimina-
Lion bill is slated to be introduced into the
Vermont House of Representatives by
early February. The bill would amend
existing statutes to protect all Vermonters
from discrimination based on sexual orien-
tation, similar to the one that passed the
Senate but died in the House last year.

Vi Luginbuhl (R-So. Burlington), has
agreed to be the lead sponsor in the House
and she is in the process of securing co-
sponsors, many of whom co-sponsored last
year's bill. Sen. Sally Conrad (D-Chitten-
den), chair of the Senate Health and Wel-
fare Committee, has agreed to lead the
effort in the Senate.

It is anticipated that bill will be as-
signed to the House Judiciary Committee,
where it will face its first hurdle. The
committee is under the new leadership of
chair Amy Davenport, a past supporter of
the bill. Proponents continue to warn,
however, of a possible attempt by oppo-
nents to refer the bill to a hostile committee
where it can be bottled up for the rest of the

, session and never acted upon.

One significant difference in the
House this year is the new Democractic
leadership favorable to the bill. Both
Francis Brooks of Montpelier and Micque
Glitman of Burlington supported the bill
last session.

In the Senate, although there has been
a signficant turnover in makeup of the
body, strong support for the bill has been
voiced by both old and new senators. One
consideration which weighed against intro-
duction into the Senate was that the new
Chair of the Judiciary Committee, Sen.
Bloomer (D-Rutland) voted against the bill
last year.

Briefly, this bill would extend the
protections in the non-discrimination
clauses of twelve Vermont statutes to in-

de sexual orientation. Vermont law
Currently protects against discrimination

e_don race, sex, religion, national origin,
mafltal status, or handicap. The statutes
that would be amended include housing,
public and private employment, divorce
Custody, insurance, credit, real estate sales
3”‘? Dublic accommodation including edu-
cation. The bill would also allow granting

3 ‘°mP0fary restraining order in in-
stances of same sex domestic violence.

L

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Back to the Hou

  

 

February 1989

 

se Again

What You Can Do:

1. Callor write your legislators. If you
don’tknow who they are, call either Holly
or Keith, liaisons to the Governor (#s on
the back page). If you can’t identify your-
self, let your legislator know the costs of
not remaining anonymous.

2. Invite your legislator to meet with
a small group of constituents in an infor-
mal setting. Discuss with them the dis-
crimination that occurs in their district.

3. Ask family and friends to write
letters of support. If you belong to a com-
munity organization, ask for their support.

4. Be an area contact/coordinator to
distribute information to our community
about hearings and progress of the bill. If

you are interested, contact either Holly or
Keith.
5. House Judiciary Committee:
Chair: Amy Davenport
D-Montpelier
Vice Chair: Robert Paolini
D-Waterbury
Paul Cillo D-Hardwick
Pamela Crispe R-Brattleboro
George Dunsmore R—Georgia
Elmer Faris R-Bamet
Sally Fox D-Essex
Micque Glitman D-Burlington
James McMullan R-Milton
Ruth Stokes R-Williston

 
 
 

Richard Westman R-Cambridge

(Stephen
&

Burns

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Williston VT 05495
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