her no more. When the oldest goes astray, we both
uneasily await the Iudge’s decision after countless

Y Letters to the Editor

Union of Heart and Soul

Dear OITM,

Politicians certainly know the power of fiction

possible today. Tell a story once and it transforms
fact. Soon it replaces fact. If paid professionals
utilize this rhetorical philosophy, I figure it could
work for me. So while Beefy Billy in Washington
says he will not sign my "For Better or Worse
Bill" and hysterical men and women hate, I
proceed undaunted.

Five years ago my Partner and I drove the
long and windy ten hours to All Souls Church By
the Sea along the northern most rocky coast of

I Maine and proclaimed yes yes I do I do, and ever

since proceeded from that literal position.
Fiction? Not if we actualize it. Declare we are

family to blood relatives. Notes and conversations

state the same to doctors, dentists, coaches,
neighbors, violin and piano teachers, riding
instructors, Principals, guidance administrators,
summer camp personnel, sales help in pet stores
or clothing stores or lumber yards. Joint bank
accounts. Joint car insurance. Her name or my
name written along the spouse line on the
approved Costco application, AAA, VISA,
anywhere we can.

My little son comes home from school with
two Mother’s Day macaroni andglue things. My
daughter’s arms hangs around both our necks
screaming MELISSA! at the last Vermont
concert. Both of us wait outside the operating
room for news that the small appendix will hurt

hours speaking to lawyers, cops, lawyers, cops,
teachers, administrators, lawyers. Both of us
understand. Both of us forgive.

Is this a fictional marriage? Not a union? A

(partnership? Abusiness that runsin -the black? A .

‘family? I look at‘ the long lis-tof‘ still ‘denied
benefits with scorn, for our union of the heart and
soul needs no church or state sanction to be valid.
Still, we believe in having all our rights, telling

For me the crux of the marriage issue boils
down to a simple question of fairness. Why
shouldn’t my lover and I have the same options
available to us as any other couple?iIf we decide
marriage is what we want, why should the
government, the church, or “queer” activists be
able to tell us we can’t? '

Thanks for the advice, but I’d rather make
my own decisions.

Chuck K letecka
Waterbury Center

To VT, Bi Way of CA

Dear OITM,

As a bisexual man (formally only—gay until
the right woman came to show me what else this
world has to offer) and a recent visitor to your
beautiful state, I applaud your efforts and
encourage them from faraway California. As a
young man I visited my father’s family home in
Hardwick‘ and fell in love with the beautiful land
that his relatives called home.

Since our trip earlier this summer to visit my
wife’s sister and brother-in—law, we have often
thought about how wonderful living in Vermont
would be. Now that I know that there is an active
openness about sexuality in Vermont, the
thoughts have become a little more than just
thoughts.

I wish you the best of luck on your current
and future endeavors.

Clifi‘

San Mateo, California

Homophobic Kolbe

, Deserved Outing

Dear OITM, 4
The recent stories about Congressman
Kolbe’s (R—AZ) “outing” only mention his vote

against same—sex marriages. In fact, Kolbe’s own
Dec. l2, 1995 rider destroyed funding for an
Indian AIDS prevention program and inserted a
clause to withhold cultural, religious, and
environmental protection laws that protect a
sacred Apache mountain, Mt. Graham. Kolbe
promoted these exemptions so University of
Arizona telescopes could desecrate this sacred
mountain.

I am an openlyigay candidate who ran in the
Democratic primary in the district of Rep.
Regula (R-OH), Interior Appropriations chair-
man. Regula and Kolbe conspired to sneak the
rider in at the last minute.

Kolbe erroneously claimed the homophobic
and racist aspects of his rider were coincidence,

stories ‘til all is true.

Moira

The Right to Decide

Dear OITM:

I felt strongly offended by thejudgmental
stand of D.B. Skeeter Sanders’ article against gay/
lesbian marriages. We have plenty of folks
judging and condemning us already, so I suggest
youjust get in line with the rest of them! Nobody
is asking for your approval or forcing you to
participate should you decide against the marriage
option.

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 Out in the Mountains

     

VERMONT’S FORUM FOR LESBIAN, GAY, BISEXUAL AND TRANSGENDER ISSUES

    

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3

:j::111:11:1:11:1:jJ1jJ“

and the HIV study costly. In fact, he intentionally waited many
months to inject his “coincidence” at the final 1995 joint Senate/
House conference.iThe irony of this non-coincidence is that the

AIDS study cost was minuscule compared to the billions in grazing

subsidies, below-cost timber sales, and coyote killing for private
ranchers in the Kolbe/Regula bill.

Every U.S. university has rejected or abandoned this U ofA
outrage against human rights, the environment, and due process.
Only foreign partners remain. _

Outing is likely for legislators who pursue homophobic, racist
agendas.

Eric Resnick
Canton, Ohio

, LETTERS TO THE EDITOR should be typed ifpossible and sent

either by mail or e—mail to us by the 10th for inclusion in the next
month’s issue. You must include your name and phone number,
even if you wish the letter to be published anonymously, so that we
can verify content and authenticity. Send your thoughts and
comments to: OITM, PO Box 177, Burlington VT 05402 or via e-
mail at 0itm@aol.com.

October 1996

Out and About...

IBM announced on September 19 that it would begin offering
Domestic Partnership benefits to its employees. The new policy
will take effect on January 1, 1997. The company also recently
asked P-FLAG representative Lil Venner to speak to its
employees on National Coming Out Day. . .The Brattleboro.Area

Coordinator and Kendall Clawson as its new Women's
Advocate...The Burlington Women's Council hosted a panel
discussion entitled "The Rise of the Radical Right: Big Brother
Masquerading as Family Values" on September 10th in
Burlington. . Jacqueline Weinstock and Esther Rothblum, both
Professors at UVM, havejust published Lesbian Friendships‘ For
Ourselves and Each Other with the New York University Press.
Look for a review soon in 0lTM.‘..Moira and Mary Jean will
celebrate their fifth wedding anniversary on October 12,
1996. . .0! TM staff member Stacianne Visco has been named to

recent feature story on the topic. She completed a day—long training
with the State Police in Royalton as part of her position...Drag
artists Cherie Tartt and Yolanda recently premiered their new
television variety-show on Adelphia Cable. Check your TV
(TransVestite) Guide for local listings...Biversity Boston
sponsored the 3rd annual BiCamp at the Red Mill Brook National
Forest in southern Vermont on August 2-4.

.Ifyou have news you ’a' like to include in our monthly “Out and
About" column (weddings, anniversaries, births, deaths,
awards, promotions, etc. ), please send them in to. us at PO Box
177, Burlington VT 05402 or e-mail us at Oitm@aol.com. Don ’t
forget to include your name and phone number in case we need
to Contact you for clarifications or verification.

AIDS Project welcomes Michael Fannon as its new Volunteer .

the Vermont State Advisory Board on Tattooing following her‘

Searching for a Realtor with
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