safe environment—for living and for leaming, in which gay, lesbian and bi- sexual persons can say and be who they are and for everyone, at all levels, can feel safe and to begin asking questions, talking to one another and dispelling the myths that perpetuate. prejudice. In- visibility and silence facilitate ignorance; although panelists agreed gay, lesbian and bisexual people must be free to come out as they choose and are ready, having students, staff and faculty who are vis- ible is a crucial dimension in dealing with the issues. Other issues for gay, lesbian, and bi- sexual students included dual minority status, eg., Afro-American, Jewish, Lat- ino and women—any cultural or re- ligious identity already marginalized in addition to sexual identity, and the dif- ficulties in feeling at home anywhere, the struggle for gay, lesbian and bisexual people to be healthy having absorbed the culture’s myths and mis-inforination and internalized the oppression and exclusion experienced within families and churches. Closing remarks by the panel offered en- couragement and an invitation to com- mitment on the part of gay, lesbian and bisexual students, staff, faculty and their allies. Don’t assume everyone is hetero- sexual. Remember that gays, lesbians and bisexuals are some of the people you are considering for admission, speaking to in classrooms and alumni programs, and hiring as staff and faculty. Sponsor educational programs. Avoid and inter- rupt anti-gay jokes. Integrate gay, lesbian and bisexual culture into programming. “Once you’re exposed to information you make choices about what you be- lieve,’’ said Jamie Washington as the conference concluded. The tele- conference provided a rare opportunity for open, honest, educated discussion of gay, lesbian and bisexual issues and the impetus to create such programs on local college and university campuses. V March 1992 Forconfidenfial AIDS Information Call 1-800-882-AIDS K J AIDS HOTLINES: Vermont 1-800-882-2437 New Hampshire 1-800-752-2437 New York State 1-800-541-2437 Massachusetts 1 -617-522-4090 Maine 1-800-851-2437 National 1-800-342-2437 Canadian 1-613-563-2437 AIDS Community Awareness Project (ACAP) PO Box 608 St. Iohnsbury VT 05819 (802) 748-8116 AIDS Community Resource Network (ACORN) PO Box 2057 Lebanon NH 03766 (603) 4434400 Bennington Area AIDS Project PO Box 1066 Bennington VT 05201 (802) 442-4481 or 1-800-845-2437 Health Resource Organizations Brattleboro AIDS Project 4 High Street, Suite 2-3 Brattleboro VT 05301 (802) 254-4444 (Helpline) (802) 254-8263 (Office) Franklin-Grand Isle AIDS Task Force 8 Ferris Street St. Albans VT 05478 - (802) 524-6554 H.E.A.L. Vermont (Holistic Education and AIDS Alternatives Liaison) PO Box 795 Montpelier VT 05602 - (802) 229-4325 Lesbian Cancer Support Group (802) 660-8386 Northeast Kingdom AIDS Coalition PO Box 40 Newport VT 05855 - (802)334-2437 North Star (Holistic Health Care) RR2 Box 3255 Morrisville VT 05661 - (802) 888-2858 Vermont AIDS Council I PO Box 275 Montpelier VT 05601 - (802) 229-2557 Vermont C.A.R.E.S. (Committee for AIDS Resources, Education, and Services) PO Box 5248 30 Elrnwood Avenue Burlington VT 05401 (802) 863-2437 (Burlington) 1-800-649-2437 (Rutland and Washington County support groups) Vermont Department of Health 1-800-882-2437 (AIDS Hotline) or (802) 863-7245 (AIDS Program office) VT PWA Coalition PO Box 1055 Brattleboro, VT 05502 1-800-69-VTPWA or (802) 257-9277 Vermont Women’s Health Center 336 North Avenue Burlington VT 05401 - (802)863-1386 l5