2 -7 ‘Our, IN_ THE 'MO_lJ.tflTAlt‘~lS —’MAYfl999 EDITORIAL This Continues Our Test of the Emergency Broadcast System ast month, our front page I featured a wake-up call about a bill in our legisla- ture that would define marriage as a union between one man and one woman. While we were fairly cer- tain that the bill would never again be seen outside the commit- tee room where it now gathers dust, we thought a reality check was in order. While we are fortunate to live in the most liberal state in the union — the one where the GLBT community is better protected by legislation than in any other — we must stay alert. Although legisla- tion of this type has been intro- duced in Montpelier many times over the past several years and never gotten anywhere, it was important that we take a long look into the eyes of the opposition — or at least at their names. Complacency is, I fear, our most dangerous enemy at the moment. I’m almost grateful that a large and financially sound organization like we all heard from last month in the “Aloha, Vermont” flyer has helped to sound the alarm. l’ve watched Over the past few weeks as even the most comfortable and sleepy of us hasjumped to attention. The phone at the office has rung off the hook and the email box is full of “What are you going to do about this? What do we do now?” Well, first of all, a deserving few amongst us should be taking ' a fraction of a moment to say, “I told you so.” The deafening silence up until now from the "opposition wasp’t fooling them for second. They’ve been cajoling towns for the right to marry the person they love. This is no sur- prise and certainly no overnight sensation to any of these people. Stop for just a second and think about the uncountable hours The phone at the office has rang ofi’ the hook and the email box is full of “What are you going to do about this? What do. we do now?” V and begging and pleading for the.- rest of us to get off our duffs and pay attention. If “What do we do now?” is‘ the question on your mind, then perhaps you should ask the dedi- cated, under-funded, and over- worked group known as‘ the Vermont Freedom to Many Task Force what they have done already. They have been working. on this issue since 1995 — two ’ years before the lawsuit was filed. Speaking of the lawsuit, ask any one of the six people who have endured the tedium and scrutiny that has gone along with tlflélt‘ decision to sue their respective DEADLINES: 5/ I 5 Community Compass to editor@vtpride.org 5/20 Calendar items to ca|endar@vtpride.org Contact editor@vtpride.org or 434-6486 for other newspap--r d iadlines the attorneys have invested in this effort. This isn’t just a job for Susan Murray, Beth Robinson, or Mary Bonauto. They are, I’m sure, eating, dreaming, and breathing this topic more than they care to admit. It’s also not without the support of the law firm -of Langrock Sperry and Woolthat this pro bono work is happening. So, having said all of that, I should add that you aren’t likely to hear anything even faintly self- righteous from any of these peo- ple. They won’t say, “I told you %_o‘” Knowing them, they might not even have thought it — they’re nicer people than I am. But I’ll say it for them. They told us so; they said our opponents in the struggle to gain equality would not go quietly into the night. Not only were they right, but they also have a plan for what to do next, and they didn’tjust put it together two weeks ago when the now-infamous ‘Aloha Letter’ hit Vermont or even last fall at the Supreme Court — the last time we all got excited and ran around asking, “What do we do now?” So, by all means, let’s capital- ize on the galvanizing effect this assault from the right has had upon us, but let’s use our heads — and our valuable existing resources. I’ve said it before and I know I’ll say it again: we must stop trying to reinvent the wheel. We didn’t acquire the rights we enjoy now by osmosis. There are systems in place. There are many people within our community who know what to do next, so when we ask that question, we should be asking them. Get involved, participate, donate money, educate yourself so you can educate others, and thank your lucky stars that we have accessible resources avail- able and do not have to start from scratch. This is not the beginning of the fight by a long shot, but your assistance in the current bat- tle will, most assuredly, be wel- comed.V Be warned: Calendar items are not automatically forwarded to the VTPRIDENET Announcement list. To use this last-minute reminder service, send your announcement to tinag@idirect.com 48 - 72 hours before your event. , McAteer, Rekha Rosha,,Joseph* : OUT IN THE MOUNTAINS Established in 1986 - EDITOR IN CHIEF — Barbara Dozetos — ART DIRECTOR — Donald Eggert — EDITORIAI ASSISTANT - Tina Giangrande 4 PRODUCIION ASSISTANT — I Mack Roark ' no ‘ — OFFICE MANAGER ——>.. Jim Petrie ‘ —— SOURCE /CALENDAR EDITOR- Gary Smith -— CIRCULATION MANAGER — Kevin McAteer Columnists: Skeeter Sanders, » Crow Cohen, Rev. Christine Leslie, Susan Murray, Beth. Robinson,» Esther Rothblum, Miki Thomas, . Thomas Henning, Charles Emond Contributors: Chad Blair, Vincent Downing, Maxwell Stroud, Carolyn Ashby, Hugh Coyle, Cathy Resmer,< Elena Taylor-Garcia, Andra. Corrine, Tina Giangrande, Tim Evans,Laura Miller ; by e . Photographers: Maxwell Stroud, ‘I ScotfApplegate, Cathy Resmer Cartoonistszj/Alison Bechdel, , A . Robert Kirby, Eric Orner I -.Mo,U_NTAIN; PRIDE MEDIA- BOARD OF DIRECTORS Cheryl Carmi, Garrett Kimberly, Bennett Law, Jim Petrie, Kevin Ryan I r Out in the Mountains was founded.in 1986 with start upmoneytrom the Haymarket Peoples Fund. Current funding sources include the Green Mountain Fund tor Popular Struggle, Samara Foundationot Vermont, Haymarket People’s Fund, and individual pri- vate donations. * . STATEMENT OF PURPOSE The purpose of Outin the Mountains is to serve as a voice for lesbians, gay men, bisex- uals, transgendered people, and our support- ers in Vermont. we wish the newspaper to beta source of information, insight, andattir- mation. We also see O/T M as a vehicle for the celebration of the culture and diversity of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered communities here in Vermont and elsewhere. - V «EDITORIAL POLICY. , We will consider for publication any material which broadens‘ our understanding - of our lifestyles and of each other. Views and coin- ionsyyappearing in the paper do not necessar- ily. represent those ot_ Out-in the Mountains. This paper cannot and will not endorsegany candidates or actions of publicojlicials‘ on issues of,;importance’to lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, and transge_ndered persons , Wereserve the right not to publish any mate_-: rial "deemed to be overtly racist, sexist, anti- Semitic, ageist, jclassist’, xenophobicgor homophobic.“ jg ' Y i " g .~ Writers’ guidelines’ are available on request. All materials submitted must include aname and a contactnumber. However, within the pages of the newspaper, articles may appear anonymously upon request, andstricl confi- dentially will be observed. » Out in the Mountains (ISSN 1081-5562) is published on the last Tuesday of each month by Mountain Pride Media, Inc. It is printed at The News and Citizen in Morrisville,VT. _ The‘ newspaper maintains offices on Bridge Street in Richmond, Vermont The subscription rate is $20 per year within the United Siates ‘or America @1999, ,Out in the Mountains soutlinmemountams I . P0 Box’1078~ I § . Richmond VT 05477-1073 ' TEL (302) 434-toinvi Y FAX (302) 434-7046 jg? ;oitm@together.net I .