WILBUR HQ7 5 .0971 ‘ fable, entitled "A Fairy's Tale," which, as a call for the individual at in theMountai VERMONT'S NEWSPAPER FOR LESBIANS, GAY MEN, AND BlSEXUALS Volume X, Number 4 June 1995 FREE VCLG-ARTS: "The Hills Are Alive With Those Dykes and Faggots" Bennett Law Pride : Paul Olsen RANDOLPH CENTER -- To the tune of "The Sound of Music "... '_ COLCHESTER -- Lieutenant "The Hills are Alive with those dykes and faggots. Governor Bar- They ’re milking the cows and they're growing hay. bara Snelling They're changing their gender with a solar panel, Will not be Cel- then climbing the hills to declare, 'I’m gay.’ ebrating Gay Pride Day this year. After ac- cepting an in- vitation to speak at Vermont's "Queers and Friends Fight the Right" Pride Day "You may not have heard there are lots of gays here, artists and writers, and lumberlanes, too, creating a culture with their friends and lovers. They're here in Vermont, and they're here for you.” The Vermont Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights (VCLGR) closed its spring Fourth Friday series of meetings over Vermont In- teractive Television on April 28th with a review of the contributions , Celebration, made by Vermont's g/l/b community to the state's culture. Rather (OITM file photo) Snelling was than simply advocating diversity, this program placed diversity Republican LL G0,, Barbam later informed that she was not welcome at the June 3rd event at Burlington's Battery Park. front and center with a staggering array of visual artists, poets, en- tertainers, and compelling personalities, each of whom actively con- tributes to the mosaic of Vermont culture. Snelling Event host, Pride Day organizer Peter Thomas expressed re- VCLGR Board gret regarding the circumstances surrounding member and Snelling's invitation. (Co-organizer Jennifer Radical Fajrie Muncil declined comment for this article.) After Governor Howard Dean indicated he would not be available to attend due to scheduling conflicts, Lieutenant Governor Barbara Snelling was in- vited to speak at the event. "We thought it would be interesting to hear what she has to say," said Thomas. ' Gabriel Q gave queemess (not to mention non- natural fibers) a good name with his comedic in- terview style. Af- ter joining his friend "Yolanda" in a somewhat fractured singing of "The Sound of Music," Gabriel read his original Upon learning of Snelling's willingness to attend, some members of Vermont's lesbian and gay community expressed opposition to the invitation of a Republican Lieutenant Governor. Specific concern regarding Snelling's selection was, in part, based on her resistance to play a public role in opposing an adoption reform bill amendment Yolanda and Gabriel Q (l-r) crooning a queer tune in Waterbury barring second-parent adoptions. ("The Graves Amendment," as it was known, would have elim- inatedthe option to adopt a partner's biological children.) Additionally, as a candidate for Lieu- tenant Governor in 1992, Snelling refused to take a public position on the Gay Rights Bill which was, at the time,- pending in the Vermont Leg- islature. These concerns resulted in a call to the Lieutenant Governor's office from Jennifer Mun- cil withdrawing Snelling's invitation to speak. stories of gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender Vermonters, set the framework for the rest of the evening. At seven sites from around the state, poets, drag queens, painters, singers, film festival or- ganizers, actors, publish- ers, a female illusionist,’ and community leaders came together to share, in the words of host and Coalition Liaison to the State Legislature Susan Aranoff, "their art, their music, their lives, and ~ their stories." Par- M ticipants were treated to ' performances by singer/ poet Craig Mitchell and female illusionist Noel, a review of paintings by Roger, and interviews with Laurie Labarthe, a transgendered Vermont- er, and Plainfield talk ra- dio host DayGlow. A number of lesbian poets from all comers of the state shared their very personal writings including Maggie Black in St. Johnsbury, Surnitah Horwitz speaking from South Burlington, and Lynn Mar- tin in Brattleboro reading from her recently published collection Vis- ible Signs of Defiance. Female illusionist Noel losing his illusion in St. Johnsbury Continued on page 3 1 Organizers Snub Snelling Peggy Luhrs, Burlington Women's Council's Ex- ecutive Director, felt that Snelling's appearance would only play into her plansto appear more moderate. "The Republican Party is‘ not a friend of gays," said Luhrs, "I'm sorry that she got dis- invited, however I would have protested her ap- pearance." Vermont Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights (VCLGR) Board member Judith Beckett observed that Snelling's appearance "threatened to slit the community on Gay Pride Day." Beckett indicated that she believed Snell- ing's invitation was rescinded based on "Barbara's response to our community in the past" and that, given the circumstances, "it was handled as best we could handle it." Lieutenant Governor Barbara Snelling expressed curiosity regarding the ‘circumstances surrounding Pride Day. "I was surprised and wondered if there were preconceived notions of who was in favor of gay rights," Snelling said. She also in- dicated that she initially accepted the Pride Day invitation "because I'm totally supportive of rights for gays and lesbians." When asked what she would have shared with Pride Day par- ticipants, Snelling said, "in general terms, that all individuals deserve equal and just treatment which must be backed up by law." While the Pride Day invitation of Lieutenant Governor Barbara Snelling generated con- troversy, all involved regretthe way it was han- dled. In summarizing the impact of this event, VCLGR's Liaison to the Governor and State Government, Susan Aranoff said, "It is politically crazy to disinvite her I hope this event is not a bridge burner." ' Snelling responded, "No damage done from my point of view I don't hold grudges." V Promises, Promises Stay tuned for 0!TM's interview with National AIDS Policy Co- ordinator Patsy Fleming in our Ju|ylAugust issue!