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VERMONT'S FORUM FOR LESBIAN, GAY,

)1/It in the Mountains;

BISEXUAL, AND TRANSGENDER ISSUES

Volume Xll, Number 4

June 1997

FREE

The Steph Pappas Experience not on the map --' CD Released

The Steph Pappas Experience is not to be missed! Catch her at
the Last Elm June 11th or at Pride on June 21st.

by Joy D. Griffith

It is exhilarating to take a trip across country with Steph. She’s always on the way,
but has a place here to stay! Vermont is where we can listen to that big, Big, BIG voice as
this woman works her guitar into a technical frenzey rendering hot soul, blues, rock and

I even some of her greek heritage.

A few chords taught to Steph by a loving uncle ignited a child‘s fantasy and this
self-taught, self—realizing and self-DOING musician grew into a guitar goddess whose
double jointed voice commands the listener to experience each soulful moment. “I just
had to come by the radio station and see who that big voice was Ijust heard on the car
radio. Do you mind ifI ask you ‘for your autograph?” said Odetta.

As Steph’s performances carve an arc completely around the country we soon
realize that the meaning of “not on the map” is referring to her mind expansive lyrics
pulling us while her guitar dynamics send us soaring above the ground. I especially like
Do I Dare (in part)— ...rhe devil was last seen in New Orleans where her incredible guitar
technique becomes ecstatically unending and The Lombard Street Renditi(m is a deli ghtul
storytellingjazz phenomenon. ’

Whether Steph is driving trucks, riding a Greyhound Bus, landscaping around town
or cooking at the Last Elm Cafe, her mind, senses and emotions are ‘tuning’ for that next
song. San Francisco, Atlanta, Boston, New York City, Portland, all the clubs in Austin,
and more, we can celebrate that we have that hard hittin’ womyn livin‘ on our turf!

At this printing, you might have missed the May 27th Steph Experience at Club
Metronome in Burlington, but you can catch her act at the Last Elm Cafe on June I lth
andjoin in with the masses on Gay Pride Day, June 21st to watch her cowboy hat bobbin’
and those leather fringes swingin’ from her blackjacket, while she swivels those tight
jeans hips to her phenomenal rhythms. .

_ Ifyou can’t wait for her date, phone (802) 660-0826 or write to The S. P. E., PO. Box
5664, Burlington, VT 05402 to order The Steph Pappas Experience not on the ma/) CD
(with Matt Nerbakfs backing on the drums). V

  

£661 orunr

  

Steve Howard Joins the Ranks
of Out Vermont Politicians

On May 3, Steve Howardjoined the ranks of openly gay Vermont politicians.
Other out officials include former State Representatives Ron Squires and Tom Fleury,
current State Representative Bill Lippert, and current State Auditor Ed Flanagan.

Howard, State Representative from Rutland and head of the Vermont Democratic
Party, credits Ed Flannagan for giving him the support and encouragement to “stop
living a lie”. Flannagan’s example last year, along with discussions over the past
few months, led Howard to make the decision. When asked what made him decide
to come out when he did,Howar'd replied, “IfI waited one more day I was going to
explode. I didn’t want to keep feeling ashamed.” In addition to his personal reasons,
Howard wanted to encourage tnore lesbian and gay Vermonters to be active in
politics and felt that coming out would show people that it was possible to be out
and get elected. He also wanted to show other people who were feeling trapped and
scared that it was possible to be open about their sexual orientation.

The respose to his announcement is described by Howard as “almost

G'11t:imed,page8

    
 

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Send check with name and address to:
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Civil Rights Victories

Maine and New Hampshire Join the Rest of New England

In an exciting week for civil rights activists in New England, both Maine and New
Hampshire passed legislation preventing discrimination against individuals based on their
sexual orientation. Both the New Hampshire and Maine bills outlaw discrimination in
employment, housing, public accomodations and education.

In Maine, a twentylyear battle was won on May 9th when the Maine House of
Representatives voted 84-61 to approve the bill following a three hour debate. The Senate
had voted favorably the previous day by 28-5. Governor Angus King signed the bill one
week later, aying it was not about special rights. but "the most basic rights that all of us take
for granted." With the signing. Maine becomes the tenth state with a civil rights bill. Opponents
have threatened to seek a referendum either to block it from taking effector to overturn it in
a ballot measure next year. King urged opponents to focus on Maine‘s real enemies, “poverty,
disease, ignorance. not gay people." Maineis legislature first passed a civil rights bill four
years ago but it was veoted by then Governor John McKernan. Then in I995 oponents, lead V
by Concerned Maine Families, put a question on Maine‘s ballot restricting civil rights
protections for gays. Following months of hard work byh broad coalition of groups, Maine
voters rejected that referendum 53 percent to 47 percent. “Freedom is-a long time coming,."
said State Treasurer Dale McCormick, longtime lesbian activist and former Democratic
legislator, as she hugged Govei‘nt)t' King after the signing.

The New Hampshire House passed its bill in March by a vote of 205-125, and the
Senate, by a vote of l3—9 agreed on May 6th. Governor Jeanne Shaheen (D), who voted for
an earlier version ofthe bill when she was a state Senator‘, is expected to sign the bill into law.
A broad coalition ofgroups supported the bill. including almost every labor organization in
the state and the Roman Catholic Diocese of Manchester. which had opposed a similar bill
four years ago. Referring to New Hampshire one of the nation‘s most conservative states,
gay civil rights leaders called passage of the legislation an important breakhrough. Matt
Coles. director of the American Civil Liberties Union‘s Lesbian and Gay Rights Project
called the victory “critically important," noting that “If the legislature of the state of New
Hampshire can do this. the legislatures of many other states can do it too."

With Maine and New Hampshire joining the fold, every state in New England now
prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation. The total count of states rises to eleven
plus the District of (‘olumbia.The other states are California, Connecticut, Hawaii,
Massacltusctts, Minncstoa. New Jersey. Rhodc Island, Vermont, and Wisconsin. V

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