Volume VI, Number 6

 

We’re Here

by Carrie Coy

Under relentlessly sunny skies, the 9th
annual Vermont Lesbian/Gay Pride Rally
roared back into Burlington on June 22.
The largest contingent yet, well over 700
people, choo—chooed through the packed
Marketplace. A profusion of pink t:ri-
angles displaced yellow ribbons as the
symbol of the day.

In Burlington after three years in Montpe-
lier, marchers regaled a made-to-order
throng of shoppers and Chew-Chew fes-
ters with pithy chants like, “We’re here,
we.'re queer, we're fabulous, get used to
it." For marchers grown accustomed to
the broad, mostly deserted capital streets,
the trek through the chaotic Marketplace
corridor was a sinus-clearing experience.

Four dykes on noisy bikes (two from a
Boston bike club, Moving Violations) es-
corted the procession from City Hall
steps to Pearl Street, down South Cham-
plain, and up Main to City Hall again.
The short march amused, horrified, and
baffled onlookers. Wondered one con-

   

zit!

fused bystander, “How can they be so
sure their animals are gay?” Once again,
the march was free from violence (if not
absurdity).

Marketplace merchants greeted marchers
with both open arms and closed minds.
Chassman & Bern featured a window dis-
play selection of gay-positive books
around a matted statement of commit-
ment to lesbian and gay rights. At the
other extreme, ‘a clerk at Vermont Folk
Instruments declined to wait on one Pride
Day performer/shopper in turn. In re-
sponse to her protest, it was suggested
that she, “play with herself,” as that was
what she, “was probably used to, any-

9!

way.

In his first official address to a Pride
March, a spirited Burlington Mayor Peter
Clavelle welcomed celebrants to the city.

He thanked the gay and lesbian com-
munity for enriching the city’s cultural

life and stated his wish to work with com-

munity members to create a domestic
partnership policy for city employees.
“Any politician that’s not with you,” he
said, “should be out of office.”

On that note, speaker Holly Perdue told
the crowd of an apparent rebuff from
Governor Richard Snelling. Perdue and
Keith Goslant, co-liaisons from the les-
bian/gay community to Governor Kunin,
haven’t been reappointed to their posts.
In fact, they haven’t heard from Snelling
despite a letter to his office expressing
their desire to continue as liasions. Gos-
lant, recently recognized by Snelling for
his community service work, expressed
the hope that the delay was due to a com-
munication snafu.

“We are as deserving of leading as any-
one,” almost-senator Howdy Russell told
the cheering crowd. “Our perspective is
unique and being gay is relevant.” He
lambasted legislators for their inaction on
the civil rights bill. “Budget concerns are
not a higher priority,” he said flatly. “Ac-
cept nothing less than passage.” Kudos
went to Bernie Sanders for becoming the
state’s first and only congressperson to
co—sponsor federal lesbian/gay civil rights
legislation.

Continued on bottom of page 2.

<@ printed on recycled paper

 

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