July/August 1994 — June 1994 Jeremie Monahan -- (left) Outright Vermont volunteer “As a young person, I am faced with different types of discrimination and homophobia from many of those older in the community. For many people - who are non-gay, I am seen as a young person who is only interested in having sex, getting someone’s attention, and that I’m going through a phase. Many uneducated, non-gay adults see homosexuality as a curable illness that young people get. These people do not see the struggle that queer young people go through every single day...this is not a phase, this is reality.” Bill Lippert —— Vermont Representative from Hinesburg and Co-Chair, Vermont Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights “I can remember the first Gay Pride Day...there were threats at the time from people who talked about throwing rocks and stones from second story windows on Church Street. The police were actually supportive, but those of us who organized the event were quite apprehensive. We had no idea how many people would turn out and when we first went to City Hall Park for the events there were all of like five or six of us, we looked around and went, ‘Oh, my goodness what’s it going to be?’ But it turned " out there were like 200 or 300 people that showed up. It was very, very exciting. I think the thing that’s, for me, personally most exciting about today is all the young people! I think Outright Vermont and the number of young people here is very, very encouraging and very exciting. That’s the major change.” Jim Ward -- (above) Winooski City Councilman and candidate for State Senate from Chittenden County “lt’s very clear for me, I believe that all individuals deserve the same rights, as all Americans, as all Vermonters...we need the right to live in peace and tranquility, free from harassment, free from prejudice....I believe this a time for us to come together as a community. Even with the equal rights, at least that have been legislated for gays and lesbians, there is a lot of work to do.” Susan Aranoff -- ( left) Co-Chair, Vermont Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights “We’ve reached a critical mass in Vermont — enough people so that we can come out in public, hold hands, kiss people, say we’re gay, and feel safe to do that today...It would be hard to do this in Burlington on other days. It would probably be really hard for most people to do this in Randolph or Chelsea or on the town green. So it says that when we come together, we give each other the support, safety in numbers, and hopefully empower each other with our spirit. “Also what (Pride Day) means to me personally is - look how far we’ ve come. A couple of years ago, when this event was in Montpelier, it was really small. For it to be this size, with bands and sound systems, it’s just phenomenal.” Mary Hurley -- (right) Board Member, Vermont Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights “It’s so important that we’re out and we’re visible. For a lot of people that’s really difficult...but to be part of this, I think, is empowering and it strengthens our resolve to be out, to stay out, to stay visible...The more people who are out, the safer it feels for others of us to come out. It’s just a great day.” "'1 was just looking around and thinking, ‘We are a beautiful community’. Just look at all the different faces and the different people here. It’s just wonderful.”