Out in the Mountains

THE PROGRESSION OF PROGRESSIVES:

Continued from page 1

Bailey stated that Brownell takes a
“myopic view of government. He’s not
into making a scene. He comes from a
place of accepting the status quo. If you
don’t work hard to include those who
have been excluded, to say out loud ‘gay
and lesbian issues’, they are naturally
excluded by the system.”

Since the Progressives are very open to
gay and lesbian issues, their return to
power in Burlington could lead to
increased statewide awareness. “We’ll
see more organizing on a state level,”
Bailey continued, citing the Vermont
Coalition of Lesbian and Gay Men
Conference, held in December 1993, as
an example. “Gays and lesbians stand to
have a real powerful voice in politics.” In
order to get this voice, however, “the
community must be forward and out
front.” Bailey cited many issues where
the Progressives and the gay and lesbian
community could make a huge impact on
a statewide level, such as domestic
partnership benefits, same sex marriage,
and health care. Bailey and the
Progressives favor a single payer system
of health care; she believes that health
care should not be tied to your job “for
fear of losing a job (to) homophobia or
AIDS...Long term care is important for
anyone fighting AIDS.”

The Progressive Coalition, which prides
itself on “inclusion of the

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disenfranchised”, also seems to be
stealing gays and lesbians away from
their traditional political home, the
Democratic Party. According to Bailey,
“If you talk to.a Democrat, they'll say
‘You have to all think alike to be a
Progressive’.” She said that the
Progressives have a “wide tent”, but
“Democrats are spreading themselves too
thin, trying to include conservatives and
moderates.” While Democrats are still
part of the political machine, Bailey
continued, “Progressives want change,
real change.” ‘

Howard Russell, who ran as an openly
gay Democratic candidate for state senate
from Chittenden County in 1990 and
1992, said that he “feels fine” about the
Progressive win in Burlington. In a
recent phone interview, Russell called
himself a “progressive Democrat” who
supports the “politics of those I like.” He
did agree , however, that the Progressive
Coalition has taken gay and lesbian votes
away from the Democratic Party in
Burlington. “The Progressives have
dared to lead” on issues that pertain to
gays and lesbians. “The Progressives are
leading the fight on a more progressive
tax structure (taxing the rich at a higher
rate than the poor and middle class), that
affects gay people. The Progressives took
the lead on domestic partnership benefits.
Some Democrats were right there, some
were not.”

Russell did dispute the view of many
Progressives that Chittenden County and
the state will follow Burlington’s lead on
progressive issues. “Burlington is one of
only 23 cities and towns in Chittenden
County. It’s not the majority outside of
Burlington, the progressive people are
Democrats.” He cited both Burlington

and Brattleboro as “unique areas” in the
state, but doubted that the Progressive
Coalition would be taking over state
politics anytime soon. He views their win
in Burlington, however, as positive and
said it “will benefit the state.”

He does see the rise of the Progressives
as taking a toll on the Democratic Party.
“As the Progressive Coalition takes on
more power, Democrats reach out to
Republicans for votes. I think it’s really
unfortunate. (The Democrats) have no
one to blame but themselves.” He has
noticed that Democrats in Burlington are
more conservative than the rest of
Chittenden County due to losing votes to
the Progressives. As the Progressive
Coalition grows beyond Burlington, the
Democrats will react in one of two ways,
according to Russell. “The Democrats
will become more conservative and look
for conservative votes (or) the
Democrats will get the message (that) if
you want Progressive and gay and
lesbian votes, you’ll have to listen to
those concerns and issues.”

Russell made some predictions about the
future of state politics even though he
himself said that this was “impossible to
predict.” If the Progressive Coalition “gets
stronger in the state, but not too strong,
Democrats will go to the right (while) the
Progressives will continue to be a minority
party. If the Progressives become really
strong, Democrats will move to the left
(and) try to get the gay and lesbian vote.”
Statewide, he continued, the Democratic
Party still leads on gay and lesbian issues,
“but in Burlington the Progressives are
leading.” When asked why many
Democrats have not taken the lead on
issues pertaining to gays and lesbians,
Russell said, “They're wimps.” V

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