Civil Rights Bill Update

by Ben Truman, Legislative Director,
ACLU of Vermont

I~T’S NOT OVER YET FOLKS!

While the 1991 legislature adjourned
without taking any action on the civil
rights bills, they still have next year to
outlaw discrimination in Vermont. Two
bills were “introduced this year, one in
the House, H.162 introduced by Rep. Vi
Luginbuhl (R—So. Burlington) and one in
the Senate, S.131 by Sen. David Wolk
(D—Rutland County). Both would outlaw
discrimination in employment, housing,
public accommodations, insurance and
banking procedures, and guarantee en-
forcement of existing domestic abuse
laws.

We made the tactical decision to start in
the Senate this time in order to provide
the momentum needed to pass the bill in
the House. We knew that we had the
votes in the full Senate once we got the
bill out of committee. Unfortunately we
didn’t realize that of the 15 weeks avail-
able for committee time the Senate Ju-
diciary Committee would spend 10 of
them on DWI, 3 on proposals dealing
with bail and depositions, and one to fin-
ish up. So despite the support of three of
the six committee members (Sens. Jan
Backus, D—Windham Cty., David Wolk,
D-Rutland Cty., Mary Just Skinner, D-

Washington Cty.) we were unable to get
the committee to spend the one to two
days necessary to work on the biH.

While disappointed, we were not dis-
couraged. Through the hard work of
Keith Goslant, Holly Perdue, Rep. Ron
Squires and others in the Lesbian/Gay
community, I am confident that we have
the votes to get the bill out of committee
and passed by the Senate when the leg-
islature reconvenes in January.

Between now and then, if you live in
their districts, please take the time to
thank our supporters on the committee.
Make a point of contacting the remaining
three members who have not yet said
they would support these basic civil
rights. They are: Sen. John Bloomer (R-
Rutland Cty.), Chair of the committee;
Sen. Stephen Webster (R-Orange Cty.);
and Sen. Dennis Delaney (R-Chittenden
Cty). Let them know how important their
support for the bill is to you.

Supporters in the House are also working
to build support for the proposal. Rep.
Ron Squires, the first openly gay mem-
ber of the House of Representatives, will
be helping to coordinate our effort in the
Judiciary Committee and the full House.
As with the Senate, if you live in their

 

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district, contact the Judiciary Committee
members between now and January and
ask for their support They are: Reps.
Sally Fox (D-Essex Jct.), Chair; Orland
Campbell (R-Manchester), Vice-Chair;

~Mary Sullivan (D-Burlington); Peter

Mallery (D-Newbllfy); Ruth Stokes (R-
Williston); David Clarkson (D-
Newfane); Ted Pendleton (R-Proctor);
Ben Blais (D-Derby); Tom Alderman
(D-Middlebl1l'Y); John Freidin (D-New
Haven); Patricia Welch (R-Springfield).
Feel free to contact your legislator even
if she or he is not on the committee!

Every year we come closer and closer to
making these basic rights the law of Ver-
mont. I believe we_will win in the Sen-
ate, and with everyone’s help, we can
win in the House. After that the last
piece of the puzzle is Governor Snelling.
Call or write his office explaining how
important his active support is, and why.
I know January seems a long way off,
but these people are your legislators year
round, so go ahead and call. If you have
any questions or suggestions contact Ben
Truman at the ACLU at 223-6304.

To contact your representative and/or
senator you can:

1. Call or write them at home, you
can get their address and number
from the Sergeant At Arms at the State
House (828-2228).

2. Write them care of the State House, it
will be forwarded. Representativel
Senator , State House,
Montpelier, VT, 05602

To contact the Governor:

1. Call 828-3333

2. Or write: Governor Richard Snelling,
Office of the Governor, Pavilion
Building, Montpelier, VT 05602 V