Letters to
the Editor

Politics or Not?

As a somewhat new resident of Vermont,
(l’ve only been here since 1986), and
having moved here from an area where
the liasion to the governor was a job that
was considered important and gay and
lesbian people helped out, it appears to
me that since the inception of our liasions
in 1984, we as a group have done nothing
to help. To the contrary, we have under-
mined their efforts by doing nothing.

The time is coming this legislative year
where we have a good chance of re-
ceiving our equal rights like everyone
else. But it can never be done unless we
all help. I don’t think it is at all fair to ex-
pect our liasions to the governor to do all
the work. Don’t we care anymore? Why
have we become so complacent? Are we
happy with the way things are? I know
I’m not.

A letter was sent out to about 150 people
pertaining to a very important meeting of
the Vermont Coaliation of Lesbians and
Gay Men and asking for a response as to
whether or not they were still needed. A
total of 5 responses were received. The
civil rights bill can’t get passed without
help.

If we are closeted or if we are out, we can
all do something. I certainly hope that
we as a community don’t loose out be-
cause we didn’t try or because we passed
the buck. Let’s work and do everything
we can to pass our bill. Phone numbers
for the liasions are on the back page of
this issue. Use them to find out what you
can do to help.

Burke Burr
Waterbury V

Dear Friend,

America’s lesbian and gay community
has recently been dealt several defeats at
the hands of the Federal government.
Like you, I have watched in dismay and
disgust as Congressman William Dan-
nemeyer helped ban I-IIV—positive travel-
lers and immigrants, as Jesse Helms
championed mandatory testing of doctors
and nurses, and as the Defense De-
partment continued to harass gay men
and lesbians in the military. We have tak-
en a beating at the hands of homophobes
in Congress and the White House, and its
time to fightback.

Who defends us against this political
gaybashing in the Capital? Who speaks
for you in Washington? The National
Gay and Lesbian Task Force. NGLTF
has served you well by lobbying con-
gressmembers to sponsor the Federal
Gay and Lesbian Civil Rights Bill, col-
lecting and publicizing statistics on anti-
gay violence, and monitoring grassroots
activists through their Creating Change
conference.

As a longtime supporter and a recently
elected board member of the Task Force,
I strongly believe in the need to help the
group that represents our interests to the
nation. There are over 20 million gay
Americans, and only one in one thousand
is currently a member of the Task Force.
I urge you to back NGLTF with as gener-
ous a contribution as you can possibly
give (send to NGLTF, 1734 14th Street
NW, Washington, DC 20009-4309). 1 am
so confident that the Task Force deserves
our support that I pledge to match any
contribution you make to the National
Gay and Lesbian Task force dollar for
dollar. Just write or call me and tell me

November 1991

how much you have donated, and I will
send a check for the same amount to the
Task Force offices. 1 can be reached at
the following address: Drew Siegel,
1420 Clayton Street, Apt. 203, San Fran-
cisco, CA, 94114, Tel: (415) 552-8382.

Don’t let Helms and Dannemeyer bash
us with impunity. Support the men and
women who fight for your rights every
day, and join the Task Force.

Warmly,

Drew Siegel V

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