Out in the Mountains

OITM Roundup:

State, National and World News Briefs

compiled by Kip M. Roberson

VT-NEA discusses
G/UB issues

MONTPELIER -- "Promoting
Equity for Gay/ Lesbian/ Bisexual
Students and School Employees,"
a workshop and networking
meeting, was held on Saturday,
February 11 at the Vermont NEA
(National Education Association)
headquarters in Montpelier. A
dozen educators attended the
meeting; this being the fourth
such meeting. Previous
conferences addressed both the
concerns of g/I/b students and
teachers, as well as training in
dealing with these issues.

At the February meeting, the
agenda focused on direction.
There was a unanimous sense
that an identifiable group be
formed and be open to all NEA
members who are supportive of
g/I/b concerns. Several possible
names were discussed, but the
group deciding on» "VT-NEA
Network of GLB and Allies."
Along with a name, the intent to
formalize a network or caucus in
order to best support the specific
concerns of this group was
established.

The mood of the participants was
upbeat and positive, and all left
with follow-up plans. Several
educators were to work on a draft
of by-laws and a mission
statement. Others were to prepare
for the group's May 6 meeting as
well as create an agenda for
future group activities, which
might include training for
participants. (Moira, OITM stafi
writer)

BAAP learns &
serves America
BRATTLEBORO -- The
Brattleboro Area AIDS Project is

proud to announce it is the
recipient of a three-year Vermont
Learn & Serve America Grant
that will fund the creation of an
HIV/AIDS Youth Network in

Measuring Success

One Investor
At A Time

 

who you are or what you do
for a living, you want to see
your family secure, your
children educated, your
retirement assured

We’re ready to help with a
wide range of investments
and a professionally trained
Account Executive who can
tailor a program to your
needs. At Dean VIT1t:I:er, we
measure success one
investor at a time.

Ginger Talbot
Account Executive
Seven Burlington Square
Burlington, VT 05401
(802) 863-7728
(800) 869-9660

0} DEAN wrouuzn

©1994 DeanWitterReynoldsInc.
Member SPIC

We know that no matter‘

Windham County. Through preparation for, design of, and involvement
in community service projects, young people will identify the risks for
HIV and will educate their peers, families and communities about
prevention.

This program is an expansion of the youth trainings BAAP has done in
Brattleboro Union High School. The I-IIV/AIDS education done in the
school and in the community by the youths participating far exceeded

the group's greatest hopes.

The Program at Brattleboro Union High School will be expanded to
include a Windham County Youth Network, which will work
cooperatively with the State Peer Education Network. Students from
Brattleboro are already on the State Committee. (Brattleboro Area AIDS
Project Volunteer News)

Ann Reed to perform
in support of Vermont CARES

BURLINGTON -- Minneapolis—based singer/songwriter Ann Reed
knows the value of supporting essential organizations. Twenty five
percent of Ann's entire international touring schedule is set aside to
support organizations that address the issues of women and children's
wellness and safety. She consistently raises money for Take Back the
Night, Action Against Domestic Violence, AIDS research, the National
Coalition for Breast Cancer Research, and UNICEF. Ann appeared in
February of 1994 with Bonnie Raitt to benefit No Nuclear Dumping on
the Mississippi. Because of Ann's commitment to volunteerism and the
universal appeal of her music, Ann was named as the "musical
ambassador for the 30th anniversary of VISTA" (Volunteers In Service
to America);

Ann has ten commercial recordings to her credit Woven between her
adult contemporary music one will find some Reed "folk" songs that
have spun off into television specials, like the song "Heroes", which led
to an NBC—TV special called "Heroes," "Growing Up Female and
Strong," which won a Silver Apple Award for television documentaries.
The song "Heroes" also led to Ann's first appearance on ABC-TV's
"Good Morning America." In November 1994, Ann wrote the music for
the UNICEF exhibit called "Girls and the Perils of Girlhood" which
landed Ann on "Good Morning America" again, as well as on National
Public Radio's "Prairie Home Companion" and "All Things Considered."
Ann recently performed for the NCAA Final Four Women's Basketball
Championships on March 29 and 31, in Minneapolis.

Ann Reed will be performing at the Unitarian Universalist Church in
Burlington on Saturday, June 3 (Pride Day), at 8:00 pm. All proceeds to
support Vermont CARES.

Gays removed from anti—bias policy

ALBANY, NY -- New York’s attorney general, criticized for the
campaign he ran last year against a lesbian, has removed sexual
orientation from a list of classes protected against discrimination in his
office. Attomey General Dennis Vacco does not care whether his
employees are homosexual but wants to make sure his office’s
employment practices are consistent with state law, spokesman Chris
McKenna said. Assemblywoman Deborah Glick, the state legislature’s
only openly homosexual member, called the decision “despicable but
not surprrsrng.”

Republican Vacco defeated Democrat Karen Burstein for the post that
had been held by Democrat G. Oliver Koppell. During the campaign,
Staten Island Borough President Guy Molinari, a Vacco supporter, said
he did not believe a lesbian should be elected attorney general. Vacco
was criticized by lesbian and gay groups for not denouncing Molinari

100 Acres 0 Pool
Hot Tub 0 Trails

T56
‘Hi Iand,5 ‘Inn

P.O. Box 118 ,
Bethlehem, NH 03574
(603) 869-3978

A LESBIAN PARADISE

20 Charming Rooms
Peace & Privacy

TELEPHONE (802) 524-9595 I

CAROL L. THAYER, M.D.
FAMILY PRACTICE

OFFICE HOURS
BY APPOINTMENT

R. D. 2, BOX 1160
FAIRFAX, VERMONT 05454

and for reminding conservative voters about Burstein’s sexual
orientation.

Vacco recently issued an order to his staff not to discriminate in hiring
on the basis of age, race, creed, color, nationality, disability or marital
status, McKenna said. But, while Vacco’s Democratic predecessors,
Koppell and Robert Abrams, had added sexual orientation to that list,
Vacco took it out, McKenna said.

Vacco’s order is identical to wording contained in the state human rights
law, his spokesman said. “The human rights law doesn’t specify sexual
preference,” McKenna said. “The attorney general doesn’t believe that
it’s within his authority to add things to existing law, especially in an
area as sensitive as that and one that can be litigated by this office.”

But Glick, a Manhattan Democrat, said Vacco was hiding behind the
bigotry of others. Glick said some gays and lesbians who work in the
attorney general’s office have told her there is an increased atmosphere
of homophobia there. One gay man told her that he had overheard a
colleague say he was “happy that Mr. Vacco was coming because he
doesn’t care about homosexuals.” Glick said she advised the gay man to
look for work elsewhere. (Lavender Voice/Syracuse Post-Standard/AP)

Gores entertain gay activists

WASHINGTON, DC -- Vice President Al Gore and his wife, Tipper,
reached out to the gay community and entertained 150 of its political
activists at a party in their home. .

A pianist played show tunes and a pet Labrador begged at the buffet
table as officers and members of the Human Rights Campaign Fund
(HRCF), a gay lobby, rubbed elbows with the Gores. "It's a wonderful
thing to do what you're doing, and that’s devoting your lives to others,"
Gore told the guests. "This dedication is an outgrowth of the way you
live your entire lives." "We very deeply share your vision of a society
that is fair and free of discrimination for gay and lesbian people, and we
want you to know that," Mrs. Gore said.

The vice president took note of what he called "a tremendous victory"
when the House Appropriations Committee voted to restore $36 million
that it previously had decided to cut from AIDS programs this year.

HRCF "was instrumental in this victory and we understand very well
why it is so important to have an organization that fights for the rights of
Americans to be free of discrimination and to have a self—govemment
that responds to the challenges that we face," he said.

The reception was an effort by the administration to reach out politically
to the gay community, which has been somewhat disappointed by
President Clinton. Among their complaints have been the president's
inability to overturn the ban on homosexuals in the military and the
Justice Department's refusal to support legal challenges to anti-gay
initiatives.

But there have been advances as well. Several of Clinton's openly gay
appointees — including Bruce Lehman, head of the U.S. Patent and
Trademark Office, and Assistant Housing Secretary Roberta
Achtenberg — were also at the party.

Elizabeth Birch, executive director of HRCF, acknowledged that the
reception, while festive and pleasant, had political undertones.
"Evenings like tonight and reaching out in significant ways between now
and 1996 will be absolutely necessary gestures as part of an overall
calculation for political victory," she said. "1 think the president feels
extremely unappreciated, and whether or not the administration has
legitimate reasons for feeling that, the fact is that gay and lesbian people
are somewhat disenchanted." (AP)

 

* Discover

)1‘
: 1 Peace &]ustice Store‘ >91
difference
* ‘*"\r'sr- *

.__. ._.. . -... o
"/er.mont's only non-profit, alternative trade store featuring gay &
I°5b"““ POSIUVC jewelry, bumper stickerslpins, music magazines
clothing, books, rainbow flags, windchimes 6: much more! ' 1

*Your purchases directly support the work of the Peace Gzjustlce
Coalition. 3 Community based organization working for social justice A:

world peace.
Peace &: Justice Store
21 Church Street, Burlington 863-8326 Open Daily

6

v Family Law

v Personal Injury

v Insurance Coverage Issues
v Workers’ Compensation

v Sll/Disability

v lllll. I

156 Battery Street Burlington, Vermont (802) 800-6207

Sarah Powell

7
ATTORNEY AT LAW