motion, a discharge, or treatment on the
job, would be able to file charges of dis-
crimination with the Commission. We
would be able to investigate those as we
would any other charge under our jurisdic-
tion, attempt conciliation, and possibly take
cases to court if that was necessary.”

Passage of the bill will increase the Human
Rights Comn1ission’s workload, since the
Commission, with its shrinking staff, will
have to enforce the laws for a new group.
Nevertheless, it is eager to meet this chal-
lenge. “We do not turn away any charge of
discrimination. We investigate every
charge that comes before us. What it
means is there will be a longer processing
time from beginning to end. It doesn’t
mean that we won’t do it.”

Sussman believes that Vermont has not
been exempt from the conservative trend in
the United States in the 1980s, as seen in
the rise of hate—motivated crimes and the
erosion of civil rights under the U.S. Su-
preme Court. Nevertheless, she believes
that the climate toward full civil rights for
gay men and lesbians has become more fa-
vorable, both in Vermont and in the coun-
try as a whole. “I heard a (Vermont) pol-
itician say that ten years ago it would not
have been politically safe to support gay
rights legislation. This politician said that
they didn’t think it was the case any more.
That is now is much more ‘acceptable’ to
support gay rights. And I think that clearly
has been caused by the long years of ad-
vocacy by gay and lesbian groups.”

The mission of the Vermont Human Rights
Commission reflects the will of the Leg-
islature which created it that most (but not
all) Vermonters not be subject to dis-
crimination on the basis of gender or mem-
bership in a minority group. Its ac-
complishments in the three short years of
its existence reflect the dedication and hard
work of its commissioners and staff. Its de-

termination to include gays and lesbians as
much as possible under its umbrella is in
part a reflection of the strong commitment
of its Executive Director, Susan Sussman,
who says, “I personally think that the situa-
tion for gays and lesbians in tenns of legal
rights is very similar to what it was for
people of color prior to 1964, when the
first significant federal civil rights act was
passed that protected people from dis-
crimination in employment on the basis of
race, religion, color, national origin and
sex...And as unconscionable as it was in
my view for there to be discrimination on
what are now considered to be the tradi-
tional protected categories, it is just as un-
conscionable when it comes to dis-
crimination on the basis of sexual
orientation.’.’

“I think it is the next step in terms of ex-
pansion of civil rights laws, recognizing
the existence of discrimination that must
be remedied...I strongly believe that the
legislation is necessary, and I’m personally
committed to its passage. I’ve heard other
people make the connection between the
1964 movement in civil rights and what is
going on now. And really, any person who
is committed to anti-discrimination and to
a pluralistic society has to be in support of
the passage of the gay civil rights law. It’s
not anything special in my view. It just
should be part of anybody’s commitment
to civil rights.”

If you believe that you have been the victim
of discrirriination on the basis of sexual or-
ientation, call the Vermont Human Rights
Commission at 828-2480. Your call can be
treated anonymously. You will get a sym-
pathetic hearing and suggestions on the le-
gal remedies you can pursue, if any. More
importantly, perhaps, your complaint will
be used to help document the need for full
legal protection for gay men and lesbians
in this issue. V

JOIN THE EXCITEMENT
for the

V @@fl7l"l}'i?0@/HF’ V77’ PE?@[M V

Come February 6th at 6:30 pm
109 S.Winooski Ave. (enter on Center St.)
or call 865-9677
Fun Committees: Desserts & bevs, music, decor, awards,
PR, tickets, space.

WE NEED YOU !!

February 1992