December 1996 Vermont Party Platforms Split on Gay Marriage Issue by Paul Olsen MONTPELIER -- The politically conten- tious issue of gay marriage and differing positions on the matter are reflected in the platforms of Vermont’s Republican and Democratic parties. The 1996 Republican Party platform calls for a legislature and Governor that will “protect the traditional Judeo-Chris- tian definition of family." The platform further pledges support for “the federal Defense of Marriage Act so that a relation- ' ship between persons of the same sex will not be treated as a marriage under the laws of Vermont and that the word ‘marriage’ will only mean a legal union between one man and one woman as a husband and wife, and the word ‘spouse’ refers to a person of the opposite sex who is a husband or wife.” The new anti-gay marriage plank was proposed by Craig Benson of Cambridge. “Within the party there is a range of differ- ences on social issues...l wanted to clarify the issue for the Party,” Benson said when contacted by OITM. While not calling for gay marriage, the 1996 Democratic Party platform supports “individual rights and equality under the law, regardless of race, religion, national origin, gender, age, marital status, health status, sexual orientation, or disability." The platform opposes “any initiative, such as the Defense of Marriage Act, which at- tempts to deny the full and equal rights of any group of American citizens.” The platform further supports “the State of Vennont’s giving full faith and credit to domestic partnership contracts recognized in other states” and “domestic partner ben- efits for all Americans who would qualify for such benefits through legally recog- nized domestic partner contracts.” Vermont Democratic Party Deputy Di- rector Lisa Kelley indicated that support for domestic partnerships and opposition to DOMA was passed by majority vote. “Our platform does not oppose or support Lesbian Co-Parent Seeks Visitation Rights After “Divorce” State Supreme Court Hears Arguments MONTPELIER -- The Vermont Su- preme Court heard oral arguments during early November in a case con- cerning what happens to the children if their mothers — a lesbian couple —— separate. According to Christine Titchenal, she and Diane Dexter were in a com- mitted relationship for several years‘ and tried to have a child together through donor insemination. When those attempts failed, they adopted a baby, with Diane assuming the role of ”adoptive parent.” Vermont law at that time did not permit adoption by two people of the same gender. Together, the couple raised Sarah from the time she was seven days old, and each acknowledged the other was a mother. The couple separated when Sarah was three and a half. Chris pur- sued legal action when Diane severely curtailed her visitation with Sarah and it became clear how damaging this was to Sarah. Although Chris sought a court or- der requiring Diane to allow visitation, a Superior Court judge ruled the court was without the power to hear and re- solve this kind of dispute. The appeal to the Vermont Supreme Court fol- lowed. Iulie Frame of Burlington, Ms. Titchenal’s attorney, commented that the case is in large part ”a child's rights issue,” and that ”no parent should be able unilaterally to destroy a child's relationship with the other parent with ' no redress in the courts.” Mary L. Bonauto, an attorney with Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defend- ers (GLAD), which submitted a friend of the court brief in the case, stated that these cases are becoming more and more common. ”Here, Chris is being forced to seek legal recognition of her now-dissolved relationship of family because Diane is denying the parent- child relationship of the other mother. This is the classic case of what we have been arguing to the courts for years: that birth, marriage, and adoption are not the sole markers of what consti- tutes a legal family, and that agree- ments coupled with an ongoing course of conduct are important evidence of the intent to create a family.” V gay marriage," she said. "However, the platform opposes the Defense of Marriage Act." Kelley noted that the platform com- mittee was chaired by openly gay Vermont State Auditor Edward Flanagan. After a recent meeting with represen- tatives from the Vermont Coalition for Les- bian and Gay Rights and the Freedom to Marry Task Force, Governor Howard Dean said that he saw no reason for the Vermont legislature to consider an anti-marriage bill in the upcoming session. While the 1996 Republican and Demo- cratic Party platforms reflect the national split over the issue of gay marriage, fur- ther divisions most likely exist in the Party ranks. When, or if, the Vermont legislature addresses the issue of gay marriage, the Party platforms will most likely remain only one piece ofthe political equation. V Election Results from page one Gays and lesbians throughout the state wielded a great deal of influence in a num- ber of Democratic re—election campaigns. Early on in the races, Statewide Campaign Coordinator Marty Rouse had worked closely with the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered communities to assure that their voices were heard on all levels, from the Presidential race on down the list. Lo- cal winners such as Jean Ankeney of Chittenden County and Elizabeth Ready from Addison County counted a large num- ber of strong gay and lesbian allies among their campaign workers. Independent candidate Bernie Sanders also had a strong g/l/b/t contingent at work on his campaign. His coffeehouse—style meeting at Samsara Cafe in Burlington with visiting lesbian activist Torie Osborn was a highlight of the campaign for some of his supporters and symbolized his in- tent to continue a meaningful dialogue with our various communities. Not all candidates had cause to cel- ebrate on Election Night, however. David Curtis, an HIV+ candidate for the State Senate, was edged out of his race late in the evening despite a strong show of sup- port throughout Chittenden County. Curtis had received national recognition for his valiant campaign in magazines such as the Advocate and POZ. As Howard Dean returns to the Governor’s office with newly—elected Democrat Doug Racine as Lieutenant Gov- ernor, Vermont’s g/l/b/t community looks forward to continuing strong relations through the efforts of VCLGR’s liaisons to the government, Keith Goslant and Vir- ginia Renfrew. Democratic majorities in both the state House and Senate also led to Vermont’s designation as the “most pro- gressive state in the nation.” That label will most likely be put to the test early in the legislative season as the state grapples with the question of recog- nizing same—sex marriages performed in Hawaii (or here in Vermont, if they choose to be really progressive about the issue). On the national level, the return of Bill Clinton to the Presidency provoked mixed reactions within the gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgendered communities, though it . left many with a hopeful optimism based on his established willingness to hear us out on our issues. Exit polls taken across the country showed a sharp decline in self- declared gay and lesbian voters. National groups attribute this statistic to a sense of disappointment over Cl‘inton’s record on issues such as gays in the military and the so-called “Defense of Marriage Act.” The Victory Fund reported that nearly three quarters of the openly gay candidates they supported had won their races. Many other gay and lesbian groups such as the Human Rights Campaign Fund were pleased to report that the Radical Right’s threats against legislators opposing DOMA (and thereby affirming equal rights to mar- riage) held little sway with voters, who re- elected a number of incumbents despite their pro-gay voting records. And though Jesse Helms was returned to the Senate by voters in North Carolina, the eventual unseating of hostile gay- basher Bob Dornan by Latina challenger Loretta Sanchez in a tense down-to-the- last-minute count of votes was greeted with cheers from the queer community. In remarks following the election, Dornan laid blame for his fall on both the immigrant and g/l/b/t communities, and seemed unwilling and unable to recognize either group as a valid voting contingent. He was quoted in the Wall Street Journal as criticizing Sanchez for receiving “more homosexual money than in any race in his- tory, including from a group called ‘Les- bians for Motherhood?” V fiat‘. t _z, Lesbian Parenting: A Humorous View by Leah Wittenberg . . _ a ti Ano THAT5 N0] 5lGvt\lI'GlCP