Marines Bash Bar Patrons

Wilmington NC - Three marines stationed
at Camp Lejune, NC dragged a gay man
out of a bar and beat him up while shouting
“Clinton must pay”, an apparent reference
to President Clinton’s efforts to ban dis-
crimination against homosexuals in the
military. The victim, Crae Pridgen, suf-
fered a fractured skull. He was treated and
released from a local hospital. Sgt. Woods
of the Wilmington police said the case
might be turned over to the FBI for pos-
sible prosecution as a hate crime. The ma-
rines, who were charged with assault, were
released on $400 bond each. Police who
took their statements said the marines
showed no remorse, saying they hated aH
homosexuals. White House Press Secretary
Dee Dee Myers, said that the incident
would not change President Clinton’s posi-
tion on lifting the ban. “There have always
been instances of bigotry against not only
homosexuals but against other racial and
ethnic minorities. The President deplores it,
but I don’t think that is a reason not to take
a step forward on a civil rightsissue.”(The
New York Times)

Gay Man Elected President
of Minnesota Senate

St Paul, MN - State Senator Allan Spear,
a Democrat from Minneapolis, was elect-
ed president of the Minnesota Senate on
January 5. Spear, who has served in the
Senate since 1972, came out as gay in
1974. He has is the first openly gay elect-
ed official to assume top leadership in a
state position and the highest ranking
openly gay state legislative official in the
country. As president of the senate, spear
is chief presiding officer and will decide
committee assignments. He will also be
the chief senate author of a bill this ses-
sion to prohibit discrimination on the ba-
sis of sexual orientation. Spear defeated
Florian Chmielewski, a conservative
Democrat who has been a strong op-
ponent of gay and abortion rights, by a
41-22 vote . (The Washington Blade) V

March 1993

Diversity in Vermont’s Libraries

Moira

Reading through The New York Times, News-
week, Time and many other publications over
thepastyear,onecannothelpbutseethefe-
ver that has been stirred over two children’s
books, Heather Has Two Mommies and Dad-
die's Roommate, published by Alyson Pub-
1icationsBothbooksfilltheneedforchil-
dren’s picture books on the topic of gay/
lesbian parenting. Attempts to pull these
books off library shelves across the country
have created quite a controversy. The new
curriculum in NYC, The Rainbow Cur-
riculum, which was designed to incorporate
tolerance and the appreciation of diversity
among students, has been called into question
for including these books on their bib-
liography. Neither book depicts any sexual
scenes or language. Rather, they represent
what for many of us is a picture of a family;
onewithtwomomsortwodads'Ihesebooks
are not mandatory reading for anyone, but
simply included to help accommodate chil-
dren from gay/lesbian households and create
animageofthem fortheotherstudents.

Like most lesbian mothers I am required to
engage in those occasional discussions about
whethdornotourthreechildren aregeuing
enough “heterosexual couple” role models.
You know, those yearly talks when most have
lefttowatehthefinalgameandyouandyour
momarefinishingthedisheslhavealllcan
do to keep from huriing Grandma’s beloved
platter. I search all over for models which in-
clude us. Anywhere I find a positive loving
example of gay/lesbian  I want to
show it to our children. Somehow I manage
to dry the platter without violence, but I have
toask,“Whatdoyoumeandothechi1dren
have enough role models?” One doesn’t have
to look at all for heterosexual images: every
commercial, every sitcom, every children’s
book! Now when there are finally a few
books which we can sit and read with our

yotmg children—books which don’t talk
abouttheadultconcernsofsex,butjust
about families similar to ours-we must face
another battle: those screaming about how
these books promote homosexuality. This is
notaboutsex,butfamilies'Iheseareour
family values.

On the local scene, for the most part, Ver-
mont libraries haven’t been questioned about
these books. Neither of the two titles is listed
in the computerized catalogs of the UVM Li-
brary, Norwich Library, the State Colleges or
the Stare’s Regional Libraries. The Fletcher
Free Library carries Daddy's Roommate, and
hashadnoproblems. Theykeepthebookin
the Parenting section of the Children’s Li-
brary along with books about kids of divorce.
The  Carol Scrimgeour, was glad to
hearoftheothertitle,andiswillingto<‘an'y
both. The Bristol and Shurbum libraries both
own Daddy’sRoommate and The Duke Who
Outlawed Jelly Beans (another Alyson title).
It appears many Vermont libraries don’t own
these books, not because of any controversy,
but because of lack of demand or knowledge
about them.

In general libraries are supporters of knowl-
edge, freedom of speech, and public access
to books. I fotmd the Fletcher’s Children’s
Librarian to be responsive and helpful. For
those of you unfamiliar with these books or oth-
ersthatrepresentthegay/leSbianfamilies,Out-
right Vermont puts out an extensive reading
list. Several local bookstores carry these ti-
tles. You also might suggest adding the
books to the collections or to “story hour”
in your neighborhood libraries and see
what type of a response you get.V

Aimée Green

@V-3)

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