October 1996 ll ' II Defense of Marriage Act Now Law Continued from front page . . In Vermont, the Board of Directors of the state’s Senatorial delegates from California, Hawaii, 11- I n- r DO,..,._,. American Civil Liberties Union has voiced its op— linois, and Massachusetts all opposed DOMA while F L O W E R S 0 D1‘ ti; ,2 ‘ min . . position to DOMA, stating that “the right to marry should not be denied by the state on the basis of A race, religion, nationality, sexual orientation, or any similar category. Whether or not to marry should be solely a matter of personal choice. Laws for- bidding marriage except between a man and a I woman are no more acceptable than those forbid- ding marriage between people of different races or re1igions.’V‘, I Just after ENDA was defeated, Jeffords con- tended that the Senate couldn’t take an effective 8 stand against prejudice unless it stood against all prejudices, including those targeting sexual orien- tation. When questioned on the radio about the apparent contradictions between his-vote for DOMA and his subsequent statements about ENDA, Jeffordsclaimed that America simply wasn’t yet “ready” for thevidea of gay and lesbian marriages. “It’1l take time,”’he replied. Keith Goslant, one of the liaisons to the state government for the Vermont Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights, had mixed feelings about the votes. “I thank Jim J effords and Patrick Leahy for saying to the Senate what Vermont already knew; if you are a good employee, if you do your job well, then ‘who’ or ‘what’ you are does not matter. However, I invite them to come home to Vermont, see our families, the commitments we have made, and then ask them to explain why they are worth less.” its sponsors relied heavily on God and the Bible to defend it. Senator Robert Byrd (D—WV), who co- sponsored the bill, went so far as to say that “the permanent relationship between men and women is a keystone to the stability, strength and health of human society,” seemingly ignoring the fact that the heterosexual divorce rate in the United States cur- rently wavers near the 50% mark. Goslant responded, “It gets tiring to have to con- stantly explain and defend ourselves in the face of the lies, hatred and fear perpetuated by the religious right. Whether we do or do not ‘marry’ has no im- pact on their lives. It does not change or diminish the privileges they are granted. It does not threaten their families. Their lies, however, generate more anger and fear. The price of fear can be our lives.” While the passage of DOMA comes as no sur- prise to many gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered people, the defeat of ENDA merely underscores the political hypocrisy of which many accuse Republicans and Democrats alike. Current polls show that four out of five American voters favored passage of ENDA, a percentage not re- flected in the Senate’s vote. ~ Massachusetts Democrat Ted Kennedy, one of the original sponsors of ENDA, expressed optimism for the bill’s' future. “I’m hopeful this will be one of the first orders of business in the next Congress, and I believe we can pass it,” he said. V AA MEETINGS: BURLINGTON —- Sundays, 5 p.m., Christ Church Presbyterian, Redstone Campus, Uni- versity of Vermont. , — Thursdays, 7 p.m., St. Paul’s Cathedral, Cherry Street, Burlington: Call 658-4221. CONCORD (NH) —Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m., First Congregational Church, North Main and Washington Streets. KEENE (NH) — Saturdays, 7-8:30 p.m. Call (603) 357-4300. MANCHESTER (NH) — Sundays, 7:30 p.m., Unitarian Universalist Church, 669 Union St. NASHUA (NH) — Mondays, 7:30 p.m., Nashua Unitarian Church. BISEXUAL NETWORK OF VERMONT Last Friday of each month, 6:30 p.m., City Mar- ket, Burlington. Call 658-9544 or 863-3062. Discussion group: first Sunday of each month, 4:00 p.m., Outright Vermont offices. Starting No- vember. For more info, call 849-6638. COLLEGE GROUPS: Middlebury GLBA ——- Sundays, 8:00 p.m., Chellis House. - UVM GLBA — Thursdays, 7:30 p.m. For loca- tion and/or more details, call 656-0699. GAY GUY GET-TOGETHERS The Gay Guy Get Togethers are currently under renovation For an update, call 254-8263. HIV/AIDS MEETINGS BRATTLEBORO AREA AIDS PROJECT — For PLWA, friends, and families. 4th‘Floor, 67 Main St., Brattleboro. Wednesdays, 12:30- 1:30 p.m. Call Maryann at 254-8263. SUPPORT GROUP FOR HIV+/AIDS WOMEN — Mondays, 3:30-5:30 p.m., Greenfield MA. Call (413) 773-8888. VERMONT CARES — Support group for gay/bi men living with HIV/AIDS, Mondays, 5:30-7 pm. Call 863-2437. SUPPORT GROUP FOR AFRICAN- AMERICAN MEN living with HIV/AIDS — Alternate Tuesdays, Call Ayana at 863-2437 for dates. times. and locations. Regular Meetings ' Sunday brunches, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Call 864-5595. WASHINGTON COUNTY AREA SUP- PORT GROUP for people living with HIV/ AIDS —- Second and fourth Thursdays, 2-3:30 p.m. Call 229-4560 for location and more info. Support group for family and friends of people living with HIV/AIDS, Thursdays, 5-6:30 p.m. Call 863-8162. , HUNTINGTON OPEN WOMEN’S LAND (HOWL) KEENE GAY MEN’S SUPPORT GROUP Tuesdays. Unitarian Universalist Church, 69 Washington St. Keene, NH. Call Brian at (800) 639-7903. MYRIAD NETWORK For g/1/b/t’s in the Berkshires. Fridays, 7 p.m., First Congregational Church, Williamstown MA. Write Box 288, Williamstown MA 01267. NETWORK NORTH Cheap Movie Nights, Tuesdays, 6:15 p.m. at Wilton Mall Food Court, Wilton NY. Coffee Nights, Wednesdays, 6:30 p.m. at Un- common Grounds, Saratoga Springs NY. Coffee Mornings, Thursdays, 9:30 a.m. at Un- common Grounds, Saratoga Springs NY. OUTRIGHT VERMONT GLBQ youth groups (under 23). Fridays, 7-9 p.m. Young men’s group (under 23): Thursdays, 7-8:30 p.m. Call (800) GLB-CHAT. P-FLAG OF CENTRAL VERMONT 3rd Sundays, 1 p.m., 2nd Floor Chapel, Unitarian Universalist Church, Montpelier (use School Street entrance). Call Jan at 479-9246. SOCIALALTERNATIVES FOR MEN (SAM) Tuesdays, 7:30 p.m. at Hotel Coolidge, White River Junction. Call (603)543-4136. STRAIGHT SPOUSES OF G/L/B PARTNERS Support group, every third Tuesday at the Unitar- ian Universalist Church in Northampton MA. Call Jane at (413)625-6033. 9 /1'.) /1//armmrm flowers lor all occasions. We welcome your busiilt:~a»: 802-863-2300 9 Fax 802-658.2191 350 Dorset Street - South Burlington, Vermont 05403 . WOMENZSYCHOICE GYNECOLOGIC ASS_OC|ATES 23 Mansfield Avenue. Burlington, Vermont 05401 ' 802-863-9001 Fax: 802-863-4951 Cheryl A.-Gibson MD. - 1 Susan F. Smith M.D. Carol L. Thayer, M.D. Family Physician Community 0 Health Plan Georgia Health Center HR #2, Box 1160 - Fairfax, VT 05454 Tel: 802/524-9595 ..@,. Fax: 802/524-2867 Michael Gigante, Ph.D.‘ Psychosynthesis Counseling 8' Therapy (802) 254-8032 15 Myrtle Street, Brattleboro VT 05301 SUSAN M. MURRAY LANGROCK SPERRY & WOOL ATTORNEYS AT LAW 15 SOUTH PLEASANT STREET MIDDLEBURY. VERMONT 05753 BURIJTJGTON OFFICE: AREA CODE: 802 275 COLLEGE STREET TE|£PHONE: 368-G350 ' BURLINGTON, VERMONT 05402 HOME PHONE: B77-3 I 65 802-864-0217 FAX 0: 388-6149 20 Charming Rooms Peace 8: Privacy 100 Acres 0 Pool Hot Tub 0 Trails ‘Hi Irlandcs ‘Inn Bethlehem, NH 05574 (603) 869-3978 A LESBIAN PARADISE Comprelzensive Obstetrical E1 Gynecological Services in a Small Practice Setting Since 1972. VERMONT WOMEN'S HEALTH CENTER 336 North Avenue Burlington ‘Vermont 05401 802 0 863 0 1386