rtters from page 2

risk to infection. Examine this scenario: A
lesbian couple have oral sex every time
may make love. One is HIV+ and doesn’t
know it. The other partner is exposing her-
self to the virus quite often. Now how low
is the partrier’s risk?
I cannot agree with some of the criteria
mat Ms. Kutzko sets for lesbians to deter-
l mine their relative risk. I think her state-
ment that “if your lover has not had sex with
man in over 5 years... your risk is very
low,” is dangerous. I don’t understand how
Ms. Kutzko can set an AIDS incubation
. period of 5 years when it has been deter-
mined that the mean AIDS incubation pe-
- riod is between 7-9 years (Lancet, March
18,1989 p. 627). Also, Ms. Kutzko says if
your lover does not use I.V. drugs your risk
islow. What about your lover’s past? Again
the incubation period plays a factor in de-
termining relative risk.
While Ms. Kutzko describes my state-
ment “Know your partner” as a platitude, I
must say that in reference to lesbianism it
has rarely been said. In fact, it has been non-
existent in the state of Vermont.
1 too want to be able to give clear
1 information but there isn’t much help from
[ = the scientific community. I would like to
challenge Ms. Kutzko and the Vermont
Department of Health to help lesbians by
allocating dollars to VT C.A.R.E.S. for
lesbian AIDS information and sexuality
awareness sessions.
Sincerely,
Mimi DeSouza

 

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4
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DearEditor,

This letter is in response to Senator
lohn McClaughry’s feelings that passage
of bill H211 would result in “gay prefer-

it \ence” laws, policies, and court cases. His
l

ttgument is based on a totally absurd prem-
tiethat the Civil Rights Movement led to
"Special legally mandated privileges for

   
  
  
 
  

I DESKTOP PUBLISHING STUDIO
l TYPE 8r DESIGN/WORKSHOPS/SELF-SERVICE

disadvantaged groups”.

What specially mandated privileges is
he talking about? According to the 1988
edition of the Statistical Abstract of the
U.S., in 1985 the infant mortality rate for
White babies was 9.3% compared to 18.2%
for Black babies. In 1986, 11% of White
people were living below the poverty level
compared to 27.3% of those from Spanish
origin and 31.1% for Black people. 16.5%
of White children under the age of 16 were
living below the poverty level compared to
43.8% of Black children. For White males
and females between the ages of 16-19, the
percentage of those who were unemployed
was 16.3% and 14.9% respectively. For
Black males and females 39.3% and 39.2%
respectively. For White males and females
between the ages of 25-34, 5.8% and 6.1%
compared to 13.5% and 14.6% for Black
males and females. The median income for
White families was $26,175, $18,352 for
families of Spanish origin, and $15,080 for
Black families. The members of Congress
in 1987 were made up of 412 male repre-
sentatives, 23 female representatives, 23
Black representatives, 98 male senators, 2
female senators and 2 Black senators.

These statistics are clear indications
that people of color do not have the same
economic, political or health advantages]
privileges as white people do. I am appalled
that one of our legislators could be so mis-
informed. Why are Senator McClaughry
and the other legislators who voted against
H211 so ignorant of the facts?

Gwen Shervington

To the editor,

Another legislative session is over, and
by an 86-55 vote, H.211, the sexual orien-
tation bill is still not law.

Many of you are angry, some of you
are scared, but all of you can be proud of the
advancements made in the fight for equal
protection. For the first time, not only did
we have a clear “yes and no” vote on the

8663-1884

187 ST PAUL STREET

June 1989

bill; but if we include supporters who were
absent that day, there are now 60 sound
votes against discrimination. That’s only
16 votes short of passage-but more impor-
tantly, it’s twice the number of supporters
over last year!

Debate on the floor of the house was by
and large civil; and thanks to the tireless
work of many people including Keith
Goslant, Holly Perdue, and Tim Mazure
from the A.C.L.U. , there were a dozen or so
positive votes from members we had no
idea would ever support the bill.

I’m not saying things are great. We
will have to keep working, keep fighting
for that protection; but for right now take
heart and pat yourselves on the back, 60
votes isn’tbad. I think we see the light at the
end of the tunnel.

Sincerely,

Representative Ben Truman

Burlington

Dear Editor:

Your April editorial, “Power and Re-
sponsibility”, exhibits a level of maturity
seldom met.

I also read with interest Christine
Burton’s piece titled, “Look Ma, No
Boots”, and saw how a senior gay woman
had shared some of my experiences as a
senior straight male. It isn’t as odd as it
sounds.

Vermont ETV had a “Hot Line” pro-
gram on divorce in 1985 which bothered
me sufficiently to make my first call to a
viewer response program. In the nine, and a
half minutes thatl managed to stay on, the
following is part of whatl explained to the
panel.

During the Civil War, thousands of
soldiers took their wives with them. After-
ward, Congress ordered many of the offi-
cers to testify as to what had occurred

(Continued onpage 7)

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