WILB HQ75 .0971 Out in the Mountains VERMONT'S NEWSPAPER FOR LESBIANS, GAY MEN, AND BISEXUALS Volume X, Number 1.1 ‘ February 1996 , FREE __ Activists Creating Change: _ umB=rs:rvoFvEnuom- Vermonters share thoughts after national conference JAN 31 1996 tPhto: Bennett Law) Susan Aranoff and D. Dudley Bennett Law OITM Staff RANDOLPHISTRAFFORD — Susan Aranoff and D. Dudley drove to Detroit to participate in the 8th .Annual Creating Change Conference, presented by the Washington, DC—based National Gay and Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF) Policy Institute. The Conference, held November 8—12th, was billed as “The _National Conference for the Gay/Lesbian/Bisexual/Transgender Movement.” Dudley is Co—Chair of the Vermont Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights (V CLGR). Aranoff is Executive Director of the Vermont AIDS Council and serves on the Board of VCLGR. Upon their return, Aranoff and Dudley sat down with OITM to share their experience. Aranoff:.I have a sense that, in Vermont, we often reinvent the wheel. I went to see what resources already exist. I also wanted to participate in an environment where activism was encouraged, and activism with a very strong queer element was, indeed, encouraged. That was the most exciting aspect for me. Dudley: NGLTF considers itself the progressive gay and lesbian organization. They believe we cannot achieve success pursuing single issue politics. We can’t work on gay issues without considering the implications of race, economics, class, gender, etc. Every issue is a gay issue because our community is so diverse. Aranoff: People who are working for a more multi—issue agenda may be working in other organizations, such as the women’s movement, but not as visibly in Vermont's gay and lesbian organizations. The principles are the same in rural organizing as in urban organizing. We have to do our own work in questioning, “Who isn’t at our table?” Who are we not providing access to? Poor people, homeless people, aren’t they queer, too? It seems we never think enough about the deeper implications of access for gays and lesbians of color. In Vermont, we have to provide access to rural people. We have all this technology now that may ultimately be utilized in reaching people in the most rural pockets of Vermont. E—mail would be a great organizing tool in rural areas, but it assumes that the people you want to communicate with have access to computers and modems. The Coalition’s use of interactive television in 1995 seems, in retrospect, to have been somewhat progressive. Dudley: NGLTF has really always held as part of its vision that they are creating a social justice movement not just for gays and lesbians. The movement is geared towards providing choice. Aranoff: What seems like the edge of the envelope to us in Vermont was considered mainstream in that group. Some of the (g/l/b/t) communities seem to be pushing or pulling the gay/lesbian movement forward. (Comparably strong communities) are either nonexistent or just beginning in Vennont. We don’t have strong bisexual or transgender movements, for example — they are somewhat fledgling here. Continued on page 6 Vol. 1, No. 1 free February 1986 I HTLV-3 Bill introduced in Montpelier Rep. K. Micque Glitman Sponsors HTLV Anti-discrimination Bill Statewide meetings slated An informal statewide lesbian and gay working group has scheduled open meetings of lesbians and gay men for Sunday, February 16th. Women will caucus at 1 pm in South Royalton, and men will caucus at 1 pm at Noble Hall, Vermont College in Montpelier. The meetings spring from a December - 15th statewide gathering of nearly 50 lesbians and gay men held in White River Junction. At that meeting, it was agreed to meet again to discuss possible directions for statewide lesbian and gay activities and organization. Topics likely to be covered at the February meetings include the choice of male and female liaisons to the Governor's Office,‘ the challenges of lesbians and gay men working together, and the level of interest in developing a statewide lesbian and gay men's network or organization. On Sunday, March 2nd, there will be a statewide meeting of both lesbians'and gay men to discuss the results of the February 16th meetings and further explore future directions. That meeting will be held at the South Royalton House at Vermont Law School at 1 pm, and is being hosted byithe Vermont Law School Chapter of the National Lawyers Guild. For further 'information on the meetings or organising efforts contact Louise at 763-7112, Susan at 234-9589, or Terje at 658- 0883. Legislation which would prohibit discrimination on the basis of HTLV—3 antibody test results has been introduced in the Vermont House of Representatives by Rep. K. Micque Glitman (D - Burlington) and H co-sponsors. According to Glitman, the bill is designed to "ensure that our policy is based on sound medical facts,common sense and respect for individual civil rights, not hysteria." ' The legislation, similar to laws already passed in Wisconsin and California, covers employment and housing, and refers educational matters to guidelines being developed by state health and education authorities. Unlike the Wisconsin and v California laws, Glitman’s bill does not deal with the problem of health insurance discrimination. Glitrnan cites medical evidence that the HTLV-3 virus is not transmitted through casual contact, the high incidence of false- positive results in the ELISA test, and the threat of widespread discrimination against high risk groups as reasons for the legislation. Rep. Toby Young (D - Westminster), chair of the House Health and Welfare Committee, has promised that the bill will receive "full and fair hearing and consideration" by the committee. According to Terje Anderson, who is informally co-ordinating lobbying on the bill, "we are working to line up support from medical, legal and social service authorities for the committee hearings." Anderson emphasized the importance of making contact with state legislators by mail or phone to urge‘ their support for the bill. "There is a good chance that we can get this bill passed," according to Anderson, "but only if people concerned about civil liberties get actively involved in lobbying their legislators." Anyone interested in working on the bill should contact VLGR at Box 251, Hinesburg, Vermont 05401, or call Anderson at 658- 0883. LIBRA