Out in the Mountains

Vermont Lesbian & Gay Parents
meets monthly on Sunday mom-
ings for a potluck bnmch. To find
out the date and time of the next
meeting check the Calendar sec-
tion of OITM. For more locations
and more information call (802)
893-6146 or write Vennont Les-
bian & Gay Parents c/o 01 TM ,
PO Box 177, Burlington, VT
05402. V

Gay and Lesbian Families
Create Community

Giita Clark

‘Vermont Lesbian & Gay Parents was organized to give

gay and lesbian families a way to meet one another and
socialize. Monthly infonnal gatherings meet in differ-
ent homes so that gay and lesbian parents can share
ideas, form friendships and provide a healthy, sup-
portive environment for their children to play with oth-
er children of gay and lesbian families. Although the
group is less than a year old, a number of the parents
have already found support, inspiration, and a sense of
community with each other.

As parents, many of us are forced to increase our in-
volvement with the heterosexual world through
schools, day care, pediatricians, parents of our chil-
dren’s friends, etc. With the added demands of family
life, it often becomes difficult for us to create or main-
tain our social lives, or to generate much needed sup-
port for our families. At a time when we most need
support as parents and as lesbians and gays, it becomes
even more difficult for us to create it for ourselves.

I remember the sense of validation and empowerment I
experienced when I first became involved in the gay
community years ago as a single lesbian. Now, I am
again experiencing a whole new level of personal sup
port and affirmation as I participate in the lesbian and
gay parent community. It feels like “coming home.”

Parenting with a healthy sense of pride in our gay life-
style can be challenging. Meeting with other parents
who are creating innovative ways to meet successfully
the special demands of being lesbian and gay and of
being parents is tremendously encouraging. Our chil-
dren also benefit from our social contact. Through
meeting with other alternative families, they ex-
perience a normalization and validation of their fami-
ly’s lifestyle. As our children play and grow together,
they can become invaluable resources for each other in
discovering ways to relate positively to both the gay
and straight worlds.

Parents continue to contact us and join our group. We
exchange everything from recipies and parenting std
ries to toilet training strategies and discipline ideas. Al-
though we are not a fonnal or structured “support
group”, we are a growing community and a supp-
portive social network for gay and lesbian families. V

Dartmouth
GALA

Fred Pond

Late in Spring 1991, Michael
Choukas, Director of Alumni Af-
fairs at Dartmouth College, an-
nounced the official recognition
of D—GALA, Dartmouth's Gay
and Lesbian Alumn group by the
college altunni office. This
means D-GALA will receive
cooperation from Dartmouth in
organizing events, such as parties,
home coming weekends, and the
like. Orginally, the request to be
recognized by the college was
turned down, citing escalating
work loads on the alumni office
to do mailing lists, newsletters,
and other alumni—related activities
for specialized alumni groups.
Among others, there are alumni
organizations for Dartmouth Law-
yers (there is no law school),
Black Alumni, and Native Amer-
ican Alumni. The two latter
groups were mandated by the
school trustees.

D-GALA chair, Charles Edwards
credited the change to widespread
attention following campus dem-
onstrations, support from student
govemment, and media atten-
tion.When D-GALA agreed not
to require the alumni office to do
a newsletter or maintain mailing
lists, Mr. Choukas announced the
school's recognition of the group,
saying it was a “bona fide or-
ganization of alumni working in
the best interest of the College”.
D-GALA’s newsletter, Dart-
mouth GALA News, is already in
its fifth volume. Over five hun-
dred alumni are associated with
D-GALA. To contact D-GALA,
write Dartmouth Gay/Lesbian/
Bisexual Alumni, Dartmouth
College, Hanover, NH or call
(603) 646-3636. V

Announces The

i n

rtin r

  
 

K, Relocation Of Her
‘figs? Practice To Vermont

Feminist Psychotherapy
Specializing in Women's Issues

Sliding Scale

802-860-8424

10 Week Support Group for Women going
through a separation from a relationship.
Topics include:
o understanding the relationship
o special issues in lesbian relationships
o working toward resolution

Call Nancy DesR;ault, M.S.W., L.S.W. at
860-8424