Out in the Mountains

Editorial

“It would seem that this is a concept
whose time has come.” David Curtis,
OITM , Vol. 1, No.1, February 1986.

Six years later, the time has indeed come.
Reviewing the legislative timeline in this
issue, we see hate crimes legislation,
AIDS funding, protections from dis-
crimination on the basis of HIV/AIDS
status, and now finally a civil rights bill.
However, as we celebrate the bill be-
coming law on July 1st, we also need to
remember how much further we have to
go both in Vermont and nationally.

In Vermont we still don’t have pro-
tections for and recognition of our fam-
ilies. The law does not address family
and domestic partner issues except in a
negative way; ensuring that the definition
of family or dependent in an employee
benefit plan is not automatically changed
by the bill.

Vennont’s senior senator, Patrick Leahy,
still refuses to become a co—sponsor of
the Federal anti—discrimination legisla-
tion. Paul Olsen speculates on the rea-
sons and has some suggestions for action.

Nationally, despite increasing congres-
sional and media pressure, the Defense
Department has reaffirmed it’s policy of
banning lesbians and gays, saying, “a gay
lifestyle is incompatible with military ser-

vice.” This at a time the Senate is holding
up the promotions of all naval officers in
the light of continuing revelations about
sexual harrassment of women and cover-
up. Apparently for years harrassing,
abusing and even raping fellow members
of the armed service has been considered
compatible with military service, at least
until it explodes in the national media
and affects an aide to an admiral.

From working with the political process
by learning about candidates, lobbying
and voting; to using the legal sytem to
test existing legislation; to outspoken and
outrageous protests like those of ACT
UP, we all need to keep the momentum
going. Yes, we should celebrate, yes we
should pat ourselves on the back for the
hard work we have done to get this far.
But we can not stop. Events in our every-
day lives reinforce the fact that we still
have a long way to go to achieve full cit-
izenship.

Anna Quidlan’s commentary says it in a
slightly different context; “The point is
not what you’ll tell your friends at the
bridge table. It is what you’ll tell yourself
at the end.” Not a bad motto for living
one’s life.

Deborah Laehman V

Gays to Represent VT
at Democratic

National Convention
Continued from page 1

It is anticipated that the Democratic Platform
will include planks calling for an end to dis-
crimination based on sexual orientation, a
national commitment to fighting AIDS, and
protection of a women’s right to choose.
Within those broad parameters, much debate
and discussion usually takes place on the
Platform Committee around the strength of
the language dealing with those sections.

(In contrast to the Democratic Platform,
where a number of openly gay people will
sit on the committee, the Republicans re-
cently denied a number of gay Republican
groups the right even to testify in front of the
party’s national platform hearing in Salt
Lake City.)

The entire Vermont delegation (21 del-
egates, 4 alternates and 3 committee mem-
bers) appears to be in strong support of les-
bian/gay issues. In addition to to Anderson
and Squires, many high profile supporters of

2

lesbian and gay civil rights will be part of
the delegation. Former state Representative
and ACLU lobbyist Ben Truman will be an
uncommitted delegate, as will civil rights
bill co-sponsors Senators Elizabeth Ready
and Mary Just Skinner and Representative
Linda Almy. Brown delegates will include
Senator Mary Ann Carlson, Representative
Don Hooper and Pro-Choice Vemront lead-
er Elaine Alfano. Governor Howard Dean
and Representative Bob Harris will be Clin-
ton delegates, and Representative Mary Sul-
livan will be a Clinton member of the Cre-
dentials Committee. V

Submitting
a Letter

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Letters may be edited for length or
clarity. V