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22 — OUT IN THE

Community
Compass is _

a service of _Q1_'l'_N_|.
GLBT organiza-
tions from around
the state are invited

to provide brief — 200 words or

MOUNTAINS — JULY 1999

less — descriptions of recent or
upcoming activities and events. Send your submissions to us by email at
editor@vtpride.org by the |5th of the month.

V BRATTLEBORO AREA
AIDS PROJECT

The Brattleboro Area AIDS
Project will hold its second annu-
al Supper Club in Marlboro on
Friday, July 9, 1999 at 7pm. An
elegant North African meal fea-
turing local produce will be pre-
pared by chef Brenda Biddle at
the lovely home of Diana
Bingham.

As they arrive guests will have
the chance to mingle as they sam-
ple hors d’ouevres and listen to
jazz standards from Peter Tavalin
on piano and vocalist Gay
Maxwell.

The mezze will include grilled
fresh sardines wrapped in grape

‘leaves, marinated feta, olives

with preserved lemons and red
chilies, dukhah, baba ganoush
and assorted festive breads. The
main course — bistayalla, a filo
pie filled with chicken, almonds
and cinnamon — will be served
at tables set with fresh salads and
a Berber couscous made with
seven vegetables. A pomegranate
sorbet, fresh fruit and orange
blossom butter cookies — called
graybeh, which means ‘to swoon’
in Morocco —— will follow. Wine,
mint tea and coffee will also be
served.

Tickets are $55 and must be
reservedin advance. For reserva-
tions and information, please call
the Project at 254-8263.

V BURLINGTON R.U.l.2?
COMMUNITY CENTER

On Saturday, May 29, The
Burlington R.U.l.2? Community
Center, a group of people orga-
nizing a gay/lesbian/bi/trans/ally

sub-free social space for the
Burlington area, raised over $150
at its first-ever bake sale on the
Church Street Marketplace.

Chocolate almond cookies,
banana bread, gay-friendly stick-
ers, and even tomato seedlings
were on hand for purchase with
all donations going toward oper-
ating expenses for the new orga-
nization.

In addition to fundraising, the
group hoped to raise awareness
about their movement by talking
to local people face-to—face about
the need fora community center.
Members of the group lined the
street offering free lollipops with
flyers attached which detailed the
mission of the group and their
upcoming plans including a cof-
feehouse evening at Penny Cluse
Cafe on Saturday, June 5 at 7:30
and the next monthly potluck to
be held at the Rhombus Gallery
on Cherry Street at 6pm on
Monday, June 14. _

Mike Bensel, an R.U.l.2?
Director, was very pleased with
the response from bake sale
patrons. “It was really great to
come together as a group and talk
to queer and straight people about
what we’re trying to do. Most
people walked away from our
table knowing more about
R.U.l.2? - and they got some
tasty cookies too!”

Because of their success, the
group is tentatively planning
more bake sales on the last
Saturday of each month until
September. Those interested in
baking to support R.U.l.2?
should contact the group about
dates and logistics.

 
  

“We’re all really excited about
being active in the community
and building coalitions with other
groups,” says Don Eggert, an
R.U.l.2? Director. “Our future
center will be a safe place where
everyone can come together to
meet and move the GLBT com-
munity forward.”

V RADICAL LESBIAN
FEMINIST GATHERING

This year, Vermont will be
hosting a summer Radical
Feminist Lesbian Gathering. It
runs from, Friday, July 30, to
Sunday, August 1, at Parama, a
retreat center in Elmore,.VT.

The focus will be on working
with differences within our com-
munity and also with allies in
other parts of the larger commu-

nity. Bring your stories, your.

frustrations, your songs and
hopes.

There will be a variety of
workshops, singing, swimming
(nearby), and whatever else the
participants create. All food will
be vegetarian. Very limited space.
Camping and indoor accommo-
dations are available.

Fees are sliding scale, $70 -
$120; rio one turned away for
lack of money. For more infor-
mation, call Terry at (802) 865-

V THE SAMADHI SINGERS
.. Many thanks go out to singers,
supporters, and all involved with
the Samadhi Singers’ June 6 con-
cert at St. Paul’s Cathedral in
Burlington."

More than 200 people were in
atttendance at the show, which

was a benefit for Outright
Vermont. Both Outright and the
Samadhi Singers were very
warmly received, and the group
got not one, but two standing
ovations for its perfonnance!

The Samadhi Singers would
like to remind members and
friends that they’re taking a break
from -Sunday night rehearsals
until August 22.

V VERMONT FREEDOM TO
MARRY TASK FORCE

Because of the Hawaii mail-
ing, we have been busy imple-
menting contingency plans for
meeting anticipated backlash as
we approach the time when the
Supreme Court decision could
occur.

Our opposition has been pub-
lishing their supporter lists in
local papers, running anti-mar-
riage propaganda on community
television, lobbying legislators,
and raising funds.

In response, friends of
VFMTF — including the Rutland
Society of Friends and Rev.
Arnold Thomas of the United
Church of Christ — have written
numerous op-eds.

The Task Force has countered
TV propaganda with showings of
A Green Mountain View, Our
Day in Court, the oral arguments
of Baker v State, and this spring’s
Point/Counterpoint debate, in
which Deb Lashman ably
defended the pro-marriage
stance. In Windham County,
BCTV interviewed Bari Shamas
(VFMTF), Rev. Carol Karlson
(VOWS), and Rep. Michael
Gigante for Open Studio.

We gave legislators informa-
tion packets that, among other
things, put the Burlington Free
Press’ anti-marriage stance in
perspective; editorials around the
state indicate that the majority of
editors believe marriage is a right
that should be available to all
Vennonters.

We have intensified fundrais-
ing, starting with the second
annual Gay Bingo in Brattleboro,
another unqualified success. The
Bennington County chapter ran a
booth at Mayfest, a festival in
Bennington, collecting signatures

of supporters and raising funds;
the Burlington chapter has
planned a September Bike-a-
Thon. The VFMTF also gathered
more supporters, volunteers, and
funds on Pride Day.

The Task Force has finished a
successful effort to identify can-
didates for our new coordinator
position. Applications came in
fast and furious, and we hope to
conclude selection by July.

V VERMONT FREEDOM
TO MARRY TASK FORCE
— WINDHAM COUNTY
CHAPTER

On May 29th, a busy holiday
Saturday night, many volunteers
worked together to host our sec-
ond annual Bingo. Everyone pre-
sent had a great time, and this
event went a long way in foster-
ing important goals of VFMTF.

Once again we found terrific
support from the business com-
munity. They supplied fabulous
prizes that ranged from overnight
stays at Saxtons River Inn and
Chester House Inn, a beautiful
drum from Everyone’s
Drumming, and one-month pool
memberships at the Quality Inn
to vegetable plants, flowers, and
gift certificates from area restau-
rants, stores and service
providers.

Many folks got introduced to
the Vermont Freedom to Marry
Task Force and were happy to
learn about our activities and sign
the Vermont Voices for Equality
forms. A

And along with having a good
time and reaching new people,
we raised a significant sum to
help support our educational
work around the state.

Thank you, thank you, thank
you to the volunteers who made
this event possible, including
Deb Jennison, Candy Garrett,
John Dunham, Randy Guy,
Catherine Cadieux, Jelf Herman-
May, Jody Noé, Kathleen Janel,
Lennie Simons, Bari Shamas,
Diane Shamas, Lisa Nash, Carol
Karlson, and our entertaining
callers, Mark Herman-May and
Bill McDaniels —— aka Mama and
Kitty. V

 
  

  
  
   

 
 
 

        
    
 

We are thrilled to announce the start of the
19992000 0lTM Green’Mountain Tour this tour will make a stop near you.

Through 1999 and 2000, well be coming into your

0ITlV\ is Getting
Out in the Mountains!

And out in the valleys, and the towns too.

we hope you'll ;

Vermont neighborhood to lead workshops and meet people, and

an Come to a writing workshop
Em Meet the people behind OITM

ca» Join us for a reception

And we need your help! Please contact Barb at 454-OITM, or oitrn@together.net'if you"d like  involved