1o — OUT IN THE MOUNTAINS — DECEMBER 1998

THE TASK~FORCE

 
    
 

if

REPORT

BY BARI SHAMAS

hew Dang, what a day!
‘   Diane, my partner of
l3 years and I got up at

5 a.m. to begin the journey to
Montpelier where we had hopes
of watching the historic Supreme
Court arguments in Baker v.
State. At the bottom of the drive-
way we fetched our copy of the
Brattleboro Reformer where our
photo was featured along with a
story titled “Marriage Is Missing
For Couple.” Diane, risking car-
sickness, read the story out loud
as we drove into the darkness.
Excepting a few minor inaccura-
cies, the article was positive and
to the point.

As the darkness faded and
morning sun lit the awesome
beauty of the Vermont landscape,
a theme that was to recur
throughout the day took shape:
how grateful we are to live here
in this state. As we approached
Montpelier, now in brilliant
morning light, fellow VFMTF
board member Wendy Beinner
drovejust behind us. ,

We joined the small crowd of
people waiting in the lobby ofthe
Vermont Supreme Court. It was
nearly 7:30 and moments later"
the clerk infonned us that he was
about to begin handing out the 45
available tickets. The mood in the
room was high. I got number
eight. I like that number. In less
than ten minutes the tickets had
all been taken and an overflow
sign-up sheet begun.

Clearly, not all of us who
came so early to secure a seat
were there to support the plain-
tiffs. Looking around the room, it
was hard not to size each other up
and guess who were allies in this
elfort. Notwithstanding the wide
gulfofopinion and moral imper-
ative that separated many of us,
the atmosphere was at all times
cordial. But the police car, parked

We’ve set up three new e-mail listservs to keep you up to
date with everything from the local gossip to national issues.
VT Prid e N et: an e-mail discussion list. LGBT folks from
across Vermont —- and the people who love them — can now
‘ exchange messages I I
‘ If you’d rather get your chatter in one neat package

‘ instead of individual messages, check out VT Pride N et-

 digest. Instead of getting each e-mail separately, you'll get

 one long message that contains all the day’s postings.

I For those who aren’t up for chatter but want to keep up

‘ with major newsevent notices and paper deadlines (of
course), there’s VTPrideNet-announce. There’s no discussion

on this list — just announcements as events warrant.

- mg.

sunnv skies

in front of the building, was a
reminder that even in this civi-
lized state we need to be careful
of the potential for violence. I
was glad the town cared enough
to ensure this would be a peace-
ful day.

Diane took over the task of
getting copies of the postcard
announcing the interfaith service
and rally that was to be held after
the hearing. Ienjoyed a cup of tea
and a chance to get to know
Wendy better. VF MTF is such a
spread-out, task-oriented organi-
zation, that I hardly know the
folks I work with.

All day long, introductions
helped people connect faces with
names they already knew. It was
the first time since a brief gather-
ing before the case began that I
had the chance to see the three
couples on whose direct behalf
the case was filed.

Back at the courthouse, Diane
was passing out postcards and
chatting with folks who contin-
ued to trickle in. Most were able
to add theirnames onto the over-
flow list and to have the opportu-
nity of seeing the hearings on a
TV monitorjust outside the hear-

I wasflbusy getting some last
minute things together for the
rally-and interfaith service which
were to take place at the
Montpelier Unitarian Church.
When I returned to the lobby of
the courthouse it was filled.

The room was humming.

People eagerly talking about the

case. There was so much hope in
that room. So much awe to be a
part of history. So much pride
and so much caring: deep ,deep
caring about this fundamental
right.

The court clerk repeatedly
asked for quiet so that thejustices
could finish the hearings that pre-
ceded ours. We tried to be quiet.
Then our voices would begin to
rise again, a shuush would quiet

the crowd until
we began to whis-
per and talk once
more.

R e p o r t e r s
were scattered
throughout the
room and every-
where they turned
there was an artic-
ulate, passionate
person to talk to.
My heart swelled
with pride and
satisfaction. So
many voices, so
many lives this case touches.

Once more the clerk spoke
and we were invited to move
upstairs. Those with tickets went
first, quickly and quietly filling
the courtroom to its fullest capac-
ity. Supporters filled the right
side of the room first eager to sit
behind the plaintifis and their
attorneys as if the event was a
wedding itself.

The ante room filled next with
those on the overflow list. With
the announcement of the court
bailiff, we rose and the justices
entered. Beth Robinson, attorney
forlthe plaintiffs spoke first. We
witnessed her poise, eloquence

_and intelligence as she'set out her

arguments and responded to a

‘ barrage of questions.

I was barely able to keep
myself from clapping but unable
to keep a broad smile from my
face in the staid atmosphere of
thecourt room. I smiled again
watching the thin arguments
from the state’s attorneys
stretched thinner by the questions
from the justices. To my
untrained eyes it looked like
there were plenty of important
holes in the state’s case. In a rush
of emotion and concentration the
hour was over.

After the hearings, I hustled to
Montpelier Unitarian Church
where about 30 people (including
parents with young children) had

OR

OR

Lois Farrzham and oily Puterbaugh, two 0 the
marriage case plaintiffs.

"accounts of personal

subscribe vtpridenet
subscribe vtpridenet-digest

subscribe vtpridenet-announce

Photo Scot Applegate

already gathered. Rev. Carol
Karlson, joined by Rev.
Catherine Cadieux and Rev. Jane
Dwinell shared inspirational
words and led the gathering in
singing “We are a Gentle Loving
People.”

As I sang the words “we are
gay and straight together,” my
eyes met Carol’s. She and I have
worked in Southern Vermont
together for the past two years
and I was so grateful to be shar-
ing that moment with her.‘ The
interfaith service ended with sev-
eral people sharing their experi-
ences. My eyesbrimmed with
tears as I listened to the moving
pride,
enthusiasm and concern for the
future.

When the plaintiffs, attorneys,
other spectators and press joined
the gathering, 9 excitement
expanded the room. I had the
honor of sharing my reasons for
being present and the honor of
introducing all the other speak-
ers. When Beth Robinson came
to the podium she humbly
received a well-deserved stand-
ing ovation.

Everyone who spoke- the
three litigating attorneys, the six
plaintiffs and representatives
from the ACLU and VCLGR -
gave deeper meaning to the day
and a challenge to each of us to
do our part to move the goal for-

To subscribe to any of the lists, send e-mail to

majordomo@queernet.org

Everywhere
they turned
there was

an articulate,
passionate
person to
talk to.

ward. When Stacy and Nina
shared how they felt Noah’s (the
son they lost to heart disease)
presence because “he loved a
party,” they gave us another
chance to shed tears. Tears for
their loss and for our own long
held pains. They’ offered us the
strength and courage to continue
moving our collective desire, of
having the right to marry, for-
ward.

When the speakers were done,
anyone who wanted had another
opportunity to watch the hearing
on video thanks to Middlebury
Public Access TV (and VFMTF)
volunteer Joseph Watson. In the
back of the room, co-councils
Susan Murray and Mary Bonauto
were at work again, drafting a
press release. I '

With the video was over, and
the church cleaned up, Diane and
I packed up our car and took a
short walk to savor the day
before heading back to our won-
derful children and dear friends.
The answering machine at home
flashed eight times. As Diane
helped our children get ready for
bed, I listened to the taped mes-
sages. Four were in thanks for
our courage in sharing our story
and congratulations for getting to
this place. It was a glorious
day.V

In the body of your e-mail, you should include one of the
following lines to specify the list you want to join:

 

If you need assistance, email us at oitm@together.net

- loin the virtual almcommunitvtotlavl