I l r _—j T.I.P educate the public. According to Keith Goslant, one of two co- liasons between the coalition’s board of trustees and Governor Dean, ”Some of the things that the coalition is doing is continu- ing an open dialogue with leg- islative leaders in the House and the Senate. [We are] keep- ing track of letters and phone calls to legislators regarding is- sues that may be hostile to our community, and we are con- tinuing to work with the com- missioners and leaders within the state governments... talking about policies and procedures , to ensure that they're agencies are friendly and supportive to II us. Additionally, old relation- ships are being renewed to en- 9 sure that recent progress does not unravel and new opportu- nities are being actively pur- sued. In the near future, Goslant will be leading an in- service at the police academy on hate motivated crimes and VCLGR hopes to remain active within public education, fo- rums, radio shows, and civic organizations. The Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force (VFMTF) is another unit hoping to continue their work in attempting to achieve the right to marry for allpeople. With the case of three couples suing the state for the right to marry now in Ver- mont Supreme Court, VFMTF 9 IT; is diligently spreading the word that ”we are here and we de- serve to be treated equally,” ac- cording to task force leader, Deb Lashman. Points ad- dressed in their conversations with other Vermont citizens in- clude: the distinction between civil and religious marriage, as well ‘as the myths concerning GLBT,people. Also, VFMTF has met with editorial boards of things over the phone,” stated Tami Eldredge, agency director. One step OutRight has taken in preparation for battle is compil- ing a fact sheet including re- search on conversion therapy techniques, ’success’ statistics, and research from the Ameri- can Psychiatric Association. All of this information firmly states that being gay is not .a choice and discredits the propaganda “We are here and we deserve to he treated equally." numerous publications and given them packets of inforrna— tion, which sometimes results in favorable articles. As Lashman stated at a recent emergency town meeting, ” We want to continue doing what we've been doing. I look at this as an opportunity to educate people and promote issues. Be- ing out there and being visible is the ultimate political mes- sage.” A third agency taking steps in response to the recent attack is OutRight Vermont, which continues to battle many extremist groups. While OutRight rarely receives ha- rassing or obscene phone calls, on the day the flyer was re- leased, ”We got five phone calls in two hours where adults pre- tending to be children tried to get us to say sexually obscene initiated by New Ioumey Ex- Gay Ministries, whose leader believes being gay is an illness and can be cured. . Combined, VCLGR, VFMTF, OutRight and other community agencies are pre- sentinga unified front to com- bat the re cent assaults by Take it to the People and other nu- merous Radical Right groups within the state. Community members have been active while attending the recent emergency town meetings and a torrent of ideas have been generated to assist in promot- ing the equal rights directives. However, in order for these messages to be relayed toall Vermont citizens, it is vital for each community member to take part. Only by working to- gether can we hope to right the Radical Wrong. OUT IN THE MOUNTAINS — APRIL 1998 — 19 Notes From. the Task Force by Bari Shamas Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force is pleased to begin a monthly column in OITM. To introduce this column let me share a little about who we are and what ourgoals are. Two years ago, when same gender marriage became a topic warrant- ing in depth discussion, a small group of people formed - Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force (VFMTF). This -group committed itself to securing, through education, full and equal legal rights for gay and lesbian Vermonters including, in particular, the legal right to marry. It's worth noting that not all members of the Task Force embrace the institution of marriage; some do and some don't. The core values that unite the Task Force are the beliefs that gay and lesbian Vermonters should have the same legal choices as our heterosexual counter- parts and that laws which treat us and our relationships as second class deni- grate all of us, regardless of our desire to marry. 8 ' Z ‘ in the past two years VFMTF representatives have spoken with ap- proximately 50 groups. These presentations included churches, colleges, ra- dio and television talk shows and public forums around the state, reaching thousands of Vermonters from Derby Line to Manchester. At these presenta- tions we share personal stories, factual information and encourage dialog in a non-threatening atmosphere. Each time we engage others in a discussion, whether one-on-one or in a group setting, we are surprised, invigorated and encouraged by peoples’ reactions to all the issues (and there are many) sur- rounding same-gender civil marriage. Making personal contact with people is our most satisfying and challenging work. , The Task Force has also produced two videos regarding the freedom to marry in Vermont; distributed those videos throughout the state for broadcast on public access television; provided information to legislators; commissioned anindependentvermont poll on the subject (more Vermonters support us than oppose us at this point); developed a web site; and networked with various Vermont organizations, ranging from gay and lesbian organizatlonsto churches to political associations. in addition, the Task Force has maintained close ties to the litigation in Baker v. State, the marriage case. As you are probably are aware, in July of 1997, three same-gender couples sued the State of Vermont seeking the free- dom to marry. That case is currently on appeal at the Vermont Supreme Court and the parties recently filed a brief arguing that gay and lesbian Vermonters are entitled to the same constitutionalrights asour heterosexual counterparts. We hope to post the brief on-line soon at our web site: www.ireetomarry.com. Largely due to VFMTF’s networking and efforts during the past several years, numerous Vermont organizations have filed amicus, or “friend of the’ court’, briefs in support of the plaintiffs in the marriage case. For example, a consortium of several Vermont religious communities submitted a brief argu- ing that the marriage issue is a civil, not a religious issue, and that many com- munities of faith support the freedom to marry. Appended to that brief was a list of 96 clergy members who have signed the "marriage resolution” supporting equal marriage rights for gay and lesbian Vermonters. Similarly, a consortium of mental health professionals, including the Ver- mont Psychiatric Association (an early» supporter of the Task Force's work), filed a brief arguing that recognizing marriages between same sex partners will help, not hurt, children. The Vermont chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union, Local PFLAG chapters, Vermont NOW, Vermont Organization for Wed- dings of the Same Gender (a group of clergy and communities of faith), the Vermont Coalition for Lesbian and Gay Rights, and the Task Force itself all joined in various other amicus briefs in the case. The Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force will be very busy around the state in the next couple of months. Beginning at 6 p.m. on April 2 we will present at a Johnson State College banquet dinner. On Sunday April 5, Bari Shamas and Lisa Nash will be speaking at the Unitarian Universalists Church of the Uppervalley, Norwich Vermont.We will have an information table atlhe State- house on Wednesday April 15th. Friday May 1, we will have a public forum‘ in Brattleboro. The following night, Saturday May 2, Bari and Diane Shamas-have been invited to join a discussion at the Westminster West Congregational Church. We are also excitedly planning Gay Bingo: a humorous and informa- tive evening with lots of camp and candor, Saturday May 23rd at the West Village Meeting House in West Brattleboro. And to finish out May, on the 30th, we will have a table at the Brattleboro Area Aids Projectrs Walk for.Life rally. During March VFMTF has led a discussion at the Brattleboro Area Aids Project Men's Discussion Group and participated in three public forums in Burlington. Representatives presented at a University of Vermont Woman‘s studies class and at Johnson State College diversity group.monthly forum. There is a lot of work to do to secure civil rights for all Vermonters, and there is no limit to the ways in which interested and energetic folkscan join our efforts. Come to one of the events "listed above or call Wendy Beinner, 802 web site, www.vtfreetomarry.org : , . ‘ i . J‘ *.r~':°e.-'1:-'_~-':~‘2~-‘r Vr : r 1 rs !"t"i'~‘%‘jf'.\"«.":‘ ’cr' “r"'A zV;\ ‘r.Y.r’I7J_ C35? 7.7..‘ nV',.v' .. . A £1 YLV. .x .7 V.._V.>n «. 652-0723 or Bari Shamas, 802 387-5788, email vfmtf@sover;net.or visit our ‘