6 ¥ OUT IN THE MOUNTAINS -IOICTOBER 1998

  
      

"I buy .:iIl niy stuff
.1: the t'c;1cv & _Ii.isticc .Stm*c,
\\-'l1Cl‘t" clsc'."‘ mu.»-. I'Tl‘WOF

 

44,  

    

21 Church St.. Burlington 86341526 Open ‘:'Da_v.w

260 North Alain Street
Barre, VI’ 0564]

Jewelrjv Repairs
("ustom Design

Fine Handcrafted Jewelrjv

phone: 802-4 79-1496

. . -‘I to/I fee.‘ R'"-5517236
. Patricia Palumbo ‘ ‘ r
7' Designer ~ Jeweler email: pat@/ewelers-bench.com
“ web: http:.'¢j‘e»r*eler.s~benchcom

Quite Simply. . .

The finest collection of
Furniture, Carpeting & Accessories
in Vermont

Rutland House Ltd.

162 south main street
rutlond, Vermont 05701

(802) 775-291 I

rtes ll/30 - in the heart of
monchester center. Vermont

(802) 362-2001

from all over Vermont: (800) 649-291 1

ipnuenix rising * .

- spirited jewelry & gilts - ir

   
   
 
   

as
 ‘ ll|'l3ilIllS ilI'E necessary Ill ll_Il3.
— Illlillfi Illlll

I04 main street, one flight up montpelier 802.229.0522

6 ' ‘ - 5 ,9
CYBERCUITUS.
JNTEHRUPTU3,

4-/L’ 1lmI.I,//

W’
/I

I see Yowfe oN~Liue
‘ 80 AM I I

.x;Q'

"T3

ust a few months ago I

wrote here about

”Progeny’s” birth. Since

en, it has not only taken its

first steps, but learned to
speak.

This past summer OITM
did a survey that revealed that
more than one third of our
readers have kids. I'm de-
lighted to have help give a
voice to the parents, children,
and families in our community
and I'm pleased that this col-
umn has been so well received.

In light of my new re-
sponsibilities at Out In The
Mountains, I guess it's time for
”Progeny” to go to daycare.

I will be asking different
people to write ”Progeny”
from month to month. Some
will be professional with lots
of letters after their names, oth-
ers will be queer parents with
stories to tell and opinions to
share.

Don't wait to be asked. If
you have something you'd like
to say or someone you'd like
to hear from, speak up.

PANEL D1scUss1oN AT
VCLGR CONFERENCE

he other day a co-
worker told me that
her sister and her part-
ner have two children, both
products of alternative insemi-

Its me Mom!

 

 

o» G

nation and born during this re-
lationship. If these kids don't
have two mommies, nobody
does. The oldest of the children
is 10 and the couple still refuses
to have The Talk with them.
My friend is concerned for her
nephews and worried about
the emotional stress this puts
on them and I agree.

Sadly, this probably isn't
an uncommon family situa-
tion. In fact, many of us have

‘ basic questions about the best

way to talk to our children
about our queer lives. Exactly
how do we tell them? How
much do they understand? Is
there a right age? How much
do we include them in our so-
cial lives? Should we be con-
cerned when they spend time
at a picnic playing ”Name That
Broadway Musical" with
Vermont's most famous drag
queen? And where do we find
a forum to talk about these is-
sues with each other?

NAMEDROPPER!

can P1‘OVlCl€ an answer lIO

Ithat last question. The Ver
mont Coalition for Lesbian

_ and Gay Rights is holding its

annual conference at UVM on
Oct. 10, and they've graciously
agreed to let me lead one of the
afternoon workshops. "Shar-
ing Our Pride with Our Kids”
will be a panel discussion, so
bring your thoughts and ques-
tions. We will explore the pros,
cons, whys, wherefores, and
even hows of being out to our
kids.

Joining me on the panel
will be Richard Recchio, a pe-
diatrician with a practice in
Milton. When the idea for this
panel was forming, Rick was
one of the first people I thought

to include. A few months ago I

heard him tell a story about

www/.$1'onewa11r‘NN .CoT'n

ENY

Progeny Goes to Daycare

one of his patients coming to
him to ask questions about
sexuality that the boy just
couldn't ask his parents. The
compassion in Rick's handling
of the situation was striking.
His insight into how kids think
and what they need from the
significant adultsin their lives
makes him an ideal contribu-
tor to this conversation.
Iackie Weinstock, psy-
chologist, writer, professor,
and all—round great person will
complete the panel. Jackie's bio
and CV could fill this paper. If
you aren't familiar with her
work or with her personally,
you should be. With Esther
Rothblum, she wrote Lesbian
Friendships: For Ourselves and
Each Other and also co-
authored A Tradition That Has
No Name: N u1'tu1'ing the Devel-
opment of People, Faniilies, and
Conimrmities She is currently
writing about and studying the
children of GLBT parents.
That's it; a panel of three.
You don't need my credentials.
You know me, just a lesbian
with a daughter named
Courtney who is surely grate-
ful that I’m not going to be
writing a column about
parenting anymore. The fine
folks at VCLGR are once again
providing child care, so there's
no excuse to miss this chance
to mingle with and learn from
our community. See you at the
conference, and in the editorial

pages!

advertise in

oitm

802/865-9294 or

ads@vtpride.org

by Eric Orner
E, . '

 

mention Pa
Lgxéineleft tliizliize
I. Tolgometnst. _

si

errcsorner@l.com