Out in the Mountains

Legislation Updatefirompageone)

Critics have attacked the bill on sev-
eral civil liberties grounds, especially since
it would apply to anyone accused of a
sexual offense, not simply those convicted
of a crime. But beyond ignoring the pre-
sumption of innocence, the bill also has
several other problems. The term "sexual
offense" is never defined to include only
that contact which might allow HIV trans-
mission, but could instead potentially in-
clude countless other non-transmitting
forms of sexual offenses. And the legisla-
tion ignores the fact that neither a positive
nor a negative test on the accused would tell
a victim anything about their own status or
relative risk.

Other AIDS legislation proposed in-
cludes mandatory HIV antibody testing for
a marriage license, and a bill which would
require restaurants and bars to offer con-
doms to their patrons.

A legislative effort may also be made
to allocate funds for AIDS services, either
through a line item in the budget or a special
bill. Although advocates acknowledge that
the state's dire budget situation makes it
difficult to press for even token funding,
many feel it is important to press the state
on the lack of financial commitment to
AIDS. (Vermont is one of a handful of

  

‘states which has yet to allocate state funds

fo AIDS prevention or services.) "We need
to say that, even if times are tough, AIDS is
enough of a priority to be funded by the
state," argues Squires. "There are a lot of
people here who think it is long overdue
and are willing to fight for it."

Keith Goslant, co-liaison to the Gover-
nor's office from the lesbian/gay commu-
nity, noted that "Our community is becom-
ing more visible and accepted at the State
House as every year goes by. We're lobby-
ing on a wide range of issues, and that
persistence and constant presence is begin-
ning to pay off."

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