Out in the Mountains

Editorial

We Need You!

Now more than ever Out in the Moun-
tains needs your support. We’ve made a
strong comeback from the time two and
a half years ago when everyone won-
dered if we could survive. We have,
we’re here, but we need your help to
stay. Advertising and subscriptions bare-
ly cover the cost of each issue, leaving
us to struggle each month to meet other
expenses.

We need you. We need your help and in-
formation. Out in the Mountains is the
only consistently reliable source of
news, features and events for the lesbian
and gay community of Vermont. If we
don’t hear about something, we can’t re-
port it. We need people to help with all
aspects of the paper, but especially we
need people to let us know what’s hap-
pening in their part of the state.

We need you. We need your political in-
volvement. This year more than ever be-
fore it is our lives, our families, our civil
rights that are the issue. We demonstrat-
ed the strength of our power as an electo-
rate this spring when we were able to
pass Vermont’s antidiscrimination bill;
let’s not lose that momentum. This issue

provides a wealth of information on local
and national races. While the choices
may not be perfect, you do have choices.
Support those candidates who supported
and stood up for us. Show the power of
our community by voting and par-
ticipating in campaigns.

We need you. We need your in-
volvement on the legal front. A number
of cases wending their way through the
courts both here in Vermont and across
the country have profound implications
for our future. Support those of our com-
munity who are fighting in the courts
through letter writing, contributions and
support of the organizations that lead the
legal battles.

We need you. We need your openness
and visibility. Let’s not forget our most
powerful tool, our visibility. It is only by
being visible that we can demonstrate
our numbers and the validity of our life-
styles. It’s easy to discriminate against
an idea or a fear; it’s much harder to do
so against your neighbor, co-worker,
friend, or relative. V

Letters to the Editor

Dear OITM,

A word of warning to readers about some
political candidates seeking election in
November. Look behind their stra-
tegically worded press releases, and find
out exactly where the candidates stand on
the issues that are important to you. Ask
them what you want to know, don’t just
settle for what they want to tell you. And
remember that what they don’t say is
sometimes more significant than what
they do say.

The last issue of OITM included a press
release from Chittenden County Senate
candidate Sara Gear. In that press release,
Gear prominently mentions her vote for
the “Gay Rights” bill this past year (a
good vote Sara, so why did you not men-
tion that in your press releases to the
mainstream press?), and outlines her
stand on some issues, but does not state
her position on reproductive rights and
abortion. I believe that this information
was strategically excluded. Please be

aware that Sara Gear is anti-choice. If
elected, she would oppose legislation that
protects a woman's right to a legal abor-
tion.

If the issue of choice and reproductive
rights is important to you, find out where
each candidate, in each of the races
stands on the issue. Gear is not the only
candidate this election year (Republican
or Democrat). who is anti-choice.

Mary Hurlie

Dear OITM,

Please renew my" subscription. It’s WON-
DERFUL to see the newsletter grow in
size and depth of reporting - You provide
a most valuable service toa rural gay
community.THANKS!

Bridgewater Comers, VT V