' I C -- it,-v;)_-~ ,l,1lJ,s‘- 'g;;;l,:,l‘t-‘J-;l‘v'a -fuj II: "75?! . \ 4 — OUT"lN THE MOUNTAINS — APRIL 1999 Flanagan Announces U.S. Senate Candidacy continztedfiomfiont page trouble, there is usually either compromised services or tax dollar waste.” 9 The only person who has filed to oppose Jeffords so far, Flanagan says that he would not “cooperate with the Republican leadership’s agenda.” He acknowledges the incumbent’s record on matters con- cerning HIV and AIDS, but is confident that he will be stronger on every issue concerning the GLBT community. “When Senator Lott dares to say that we are‘ sick and need help,‘ I will raise my voice strongly and clearly.” A-l...\=w_<-» ~ ,-..‘.:l ,-‘ .ur- {A‘it_lr_tii‘t*g”li".1i1"e_; hafs;‘~,‘fie_v';er‘liid‘dén, his»sexi;al’ orientation, in_ I99,-5.the beh‘avio'r‘*of‘nationial’ officials moved him to"b'é”'more"’vocal. “Jesse Helms ways sayingthat the victims of.‘AI.DS, should be punished ‘and Dick Arniey was calling Congressman ‘Frank ‘Barney Fag.’ That tipped me» over the edge»,’_’ he says. He.r_nade a decision to publicly come out. “I thought it was very important to offer the public a per- sonification offer them a”face — as an example of what the gay community is.” . V - His re-election as auditor in 1996 made him the first openly gay person elected to a statewide office in the United States. Despite his proud stance, he says his candidacy is not about his sexual orientation. He believes that Vermonters accept that and are anxious to deal with other issues. ‘ He emphasizes the need for coalition building with other minority constituencies around issues such as retirement, health care, and childcare. “I think it’s in these areas that this election will be decid- _‘ ed.” V jeffords Recognized for HIVIAIDS Record continued fiom front page White Foundation. A-IDS Action. is also recognizingithe efforts of Starbucks and the congressional Black Caucus.’ , ,_ Founded in 1984, AIDS Action is the only organization singularly dedicated to responsible federal policy for improved care and service ‘and robust medical research and effective prevention. This isthe groupis ninth‘/National Leadership Awards ceremony. Past award winners include Vice President and Tipper Gore, Randy ’Shi|t‘s, HBO, and USA Toda V . In a benefit for the Peace & Justice Center Friday, April 30 at 8:00 p Unitarian Universalisl Church, Burlington Tickets on sale now at the Peace & Justice Center (863-8326), the Flynn Theatre Box Office, Pure Pop Records, Middlebury Natural Foods Coop, Vermont Trading Company in Montpelier, or call 86-FLYNN Vi/|LL5gt,CyALL YOU... rrs Nor UIFFICULT. JUST NECESS/-\l'2Y. 1 t continued could not be any lower - GET THIS WASTE OF SPACE OUT OF MONTPELIERIII David Horn N Troy, VT, Sticks and Stones Break Bones; Name-Calling Breaks Us Editor: Recently, a disagreement became violent in the parking lot of the University Mall, resulting in the stabbing of a young man by a peer. Immediately prior to slashing his victim’s throat, the perpetrator called him a faggot. This is not a bias crime, since the victim does not identify, not was her perceived as actually being gay, bisexual, or transgendered, ‘ but it should be unsettling to the gay community just the same. We need to pay attention to the message this sends. The assailant chose more than one supposedly derogatory remark to throw that night, but the final one, the one that dehumanized his peer enough to cut into his flesh was faggot. Applying this label to the other young man, even if he did not actually believe he was gay, demonstrates this boy’s complete disregard for the sanctity of the life of gays and lesbians. Society would side with him. ’ We are still being treated as sub-human. Our subjugation does not always end in violence, but it is still happening. We are discriminated against in hiring, firing, and compensation. Our partnerships are not recognized by law. Our children ‘are taken away. i ‘ With no laws to assert our full citizenship, we are denied our rights to life,-liberty and pursuit of happiness, not to mention security, safety, and privacy. Don’t ask, don’t tell is being used to push us down and out in the military, but I’m beginning to think we have internalized this idea. We are not asking the ques- . tions we should of our leaders, preachers and neighbors. Not enough of us are. asking for equal civil right. It seems we too our deciding not to ask, or tell, not to acknowledge the true picture of our lives. In light ofthis, how can we expect-to be told what we want to hear‘? Maybe other people are satis-, fied with the limited inclusion of gay issues in the media and on, the political agendas. Tinky- Winky is certainly my biggest focus as a lesbian. Maybe other ' people are conten with the rights we have. Lack of employment protection and the right to mar- riage is apparently not important, or as important as children’s tele- vision. Or, maybe we have just become complacent, allowing our apathy to silence us. No matter what the cause is of our silence, we must end it. We must use our voices, and. make our cause be heard. Not all name calling is harmless. We must remember what we are fighting for. We are fighting for our lives. Morgan Sheets Burlington, VT Marshfield Resident Displays Excellent Taste Editor: We have never met —— you don’t know me at all — but I wanted to write to tell you my full admiration and gratitude to you all for the Out in the Mountains publication. I’m an ancient 74-year-‘old lesbian in central Vermont and I find myself sending clippings from Out in the Mountains to friends ‘every- where. -All thanks and all great and continued success and happi- ness, too. Susan Weaver Marshfield, VT V ls ICE the only call paul - ‘ got rust? had an accident? Body W... Brakes eX ll 3. U thing‘ holding your car together? V su‘spEnsiun /Tune up from a friendly guy - cause everybody else due 853-B039 car stuff/ the lowest prices/guaranteed SAVE $$$ With Used Parts _voufwAllT LONG AS. WE CAN l0-I5 fl-IOURS PER Momilr r “ err Tl-IEO ortv AND TAKE CARE or YOU cow BE ADOREP 9 BE ADORABLE I BE ADORING JUST. . at new ETAILS: OlTl\/\é)TOGETl-lER.NET 434-64%