work taking lots of people and time, and
I did not have either. I worked 40 hours
per week, tried to keep up socially, and
tried to run a campaign from the most
social place I know, Pearls.

From the beginning, my close friends
and advisors suggested that I run as
openly gay and HIV+. This idea did not
really sit well with me. My approach to
government was to sneak up on the
establishment and then tell all when I
have proven what I can do, not to mount
a frontal assault and pray no one would
throw rocks. For the first weeks of the
campaign, we played the game my way.
I was the talk of the bar, but no one else
knew I existed. So two weeks before the
primary, I decided to announce to the
news media that I was running as an
openly gay and HIV+ candidate. I was
running on a “no more politics as usual”
platform. If I hid my orientation and my
status, I would be just like all the
politicians before me with their secrets
and hidden agendas.

Only one newspaper and one television
station picked up on my announcement,
the Burlington Free Press and
WPTZ—TV. I was the top story on three
news broadcasts—-must have been a slow
news week.

Although I did not make it through the

primary, I realized that most of the fear
and apprehension I felt was due to what
we are taught about what people will do
and say. I exposed myself for all the
world to see and NO ONE THREW
ROCKS. The reality was that almost no
one cared. I was just another politician.
I still do get an occasional look or the “I
like you but...” from our community, but
I received a great deal of support and
understanding from the voters of

December 1994

Chittenden County. As for the future, I
will see all of you in two years-—still
openly gay, HIV+, and running for State
Senate.

By the way, I have been living with HIV
for six years and counting. I do believe
that HIV is not a death sentence, but a
chance to live. And thank you for not
throwing rocks. V

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