Ron Squires is rated by political ob-
servers as a good bet for election to the
Vermont House of Representatives from
Windham District 5 in the November 6
election.

Squires, who would be the first openly
gay member of the legislature (perhaps
sharing that honor with Howard Russell), is
no newcomer to Vermont politics.

For the pastfive years, Squires, 39, has
served as vice-chair of the state Democratic
party, making him the highest-ranking
openly gay Democratic party official in the
country. He is one of only four openly gay
members of the Democratic National
Committee (joined by fellow Vennonter
Terje Anderson and Californians Carole
Migden and Jean O'Leary).

In Guilford, the town where Squires
grew up, he serves as Justice of the Peace,
Town Lister, Cemetery Commissioner,
and Chair of the Town's Bicentennial
Committee. He served for seven years as a
member of the Brattleboro Union High
School Board and chaired the Southeastern
Vermont Regional Vocational Education
Board.

"One of the major reasons I am rim-
ning," says Squires, "is because I really
know the issues that affect the district from
having grown up in the area, from serving
on the School Board and from serving as a
town official; I want to have an impact on
the issues like funding for education and
property taxes that affect every citizen of
Vermont."

Squires has been openly gay through-
out his political career, working in the late
1970's with a local lesbian and gay coali-
tion which fonned around attacks on the
Andrews Inn, a local gay bar. He helped
found and worked for several years on the

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Profile: Ron Sqires

Open Closet, a Brattleboro area lesbian and
gay newsletter. He has recently served on
the Vermont Department of Health AIDS
Task Force and works with the Brattleboro
AIDS Project.

"I look forward to going to Montpelier
as an openly gay elected official. I really
believe that the debate on things like the
Hate Crimes Bill and the Civil Rights Bill
would have been different had someone
from our community been there to partici-
pate as a member of the legislature," says
Squires.

"I would also very much like to be
involved in decisions about health care
resources and the challenges AIDS will
present to Vermont over the coming year."

In 1976 Squires narrowly lost a race
for this same seat against the opponent he
faces this year - losing by a mere eleven
votes. He is confident that this year, the
results will be reversed.

  
   

   
  

     
  

       

 

November 1990

Join The Fight!

Suppon

The Vermont
Coalition of Lesbians
and Gay Men

in their work to pass legislation
guaranteeing equal rights to Les-
bians and Gay men in Vermont
and insuring protection for
People With AIDS and I-IIV+
persons. Contribute to our cause
and add your name to our mailing
list. We need your help.

D Yes, I want to be a part of
making Vermont safer for Gays
and Lesbians. Add my name to
your mailing list.

Cl Accept my contribution of

to help with expenses
and general coalition building
efforts.

See Address on Resources Page

Name
Address

Phone

THANKSYOUI

Philip Roberts, M.S.
Mental Health Counselor

Gay/Lesbian Affirmative Counseling

 

864-36 1 7
By appointment

Sliding fee '

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