2 | Out in the Mountains |June 2000 -'-= news :" Vermonters Hailed at Millennium March on Washington BY KENDRA HENSON “Two, Four, Six, Eight, Civil Unions in our state!” exclaimed Vermonters at the Millennium March on Washington. More than one hundred proud Vermont resi- dents made the journey to Washington, DC, for the April 30 march and rally. Crowds estimated at more than 100,000 people cheered and bowed down as the Vermont contingent made its way through the streets of DC. As supportive bystanders watched and celebrated the march, people recognized the importance of the Vermont marchers by shouting out “Thank you, Vermont!” and “Way to go, Vermont!” One Vermont marcher proudly expressed a feeling of ‘superstardom’ as she passed the supporters. The Freedom to Marry Task Force led the Vermont marchers with a banner and civil rights signs. While there were rumors of a petition floating around to put Vermont at the head of the parade, a group decision was made to all stick together in the parade and turn down the option of just letting two Vermont marchers head up the parade. _ The Vermont group includ- ed a range of folks, from chil- dren to college students to civil union heroes, including attorneys Beth Robinson and Susan Murray, plaintiffs Stan Baker and Peter Harrigan, and Representative Bill Lippert, to name just a few. Although controversy had long dogged the MMOW, with opponents saying the organizers were not focussing on all-inclusive efforts to rep- resent the diversity in the queer community, the crowd grew into a large and power- ful movement through the DC streets. Some marchers who had attended previous march- Burlington church Awaits Decision A ruling A from the Presbyterian Church is expected this week in the case of a local congregation that voted to reject a national church guideline that forbids gay men and lesbians from holding official positions in the denomination. Burlington’s "Christ Church, Presbyterian congre- gation was ordered by a regional church court to com- ply with the national rule and refuse church offices to open- ly homosexual congregants. Its appeal to the denomina- tion’s highest court was heard in late May. A Peter Oddleifson told the court that the entire denomi- nation was agonizing over the issue, and that forcing the rul- ing on individual congrega- tions “threatens to destroy or seriously damage a church.” Representing proponents of the legislation, Gordon Fish argued that it is allowing indi- vidual interpretations of dic- tates that threatens unity. Any decision handed down at this level can only be over- — ruled by the church’s General Assembly, which is expected to discuss the issue when it meets at the end of June. At that time, the assembly is also expected to discuss a same-gender marriage cere- mony performed in a Dobbs Ferry, NY, congregation, as well as a proposal that would forbid same-gender marriages completely.V es on Washington did com- ment that past marches appeared to have larger num- bers of leather, drag, and non- white marchers. . Other points of contention included criticism of the organizers’ lack of queer community demands for the Federal Government. Many critics noted that previous Photo: Max Stroud marches had a greater sense of purpose and direction, while the MMOW appeared to focus mainly on entertain- ment» and corporate sponsor-_ ship. " The Human speakers at the rally also encouraged the movement to register to vote and to learn more about the 2000 elec- tions. One speaker encour- aged more representatives of the queer population to get out and run for office as a way to have a powerful impact on social justice issues affecting the GLBTQA com- munity. While some controversy bubbled up around the orga- nization of the march, it seemed to have no effect on the event that took place the Saturday before the march and rally: the mass wedding held on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. Hundreds of couples participated in the wedding on the sunny Saturday afternoon, which Rights‘ Campaign organized volun-._ teers to register voters during it the march and rally. Many 0‘ was presided over by the Reverend'Troy Perry, founder of’: the Universal Fellowship of Metropolitan Community Churches. A‘?-handflilfiof protesters from""‘an ex-‘gaj7-‘church, hold- ing signs with messages such as ‘Got AIDS Yet’ and ‘Gays Go to Hell,’ were barely noticed during the course of the ceremony. Reverend Jimmy Creech also spoke at the ceremony encouraging the couples to celebrate the joy of their unions. Creech was stripped of his credentials by the United Methodist Church after performing holy union ceremonies for gay couples. The couples participating in the wedding were very aware that they were becom- ing part of a holy union not yet recognized by federal and state governments. As Reverend Elder Darlene Gamer stated during the cere- mony, “As couples, we are human beings without the legal benefits of marriage in 49 states, but we only have 49 states to go.”V Elanagan continued-from pg 1 there is anguish and there is pain, and it affects real peo- ple.” He also pointed to his suc- cessful efforts to encourage tougher enforcement of laws that protect health care con- sumers, insure that tax dollars slated for environmental pro- Iusimzoitm departments World News Briels .................. ..3 on-Ell ...................................... ..8 Letters .................... .. ............. ..8 Milestones ............................ ..18 Health & Welllrelnn ................ ..28 the source ............................ ..3z community compass ............... ..a4 calendar ............................... ..35 Arts ‘& Entertainment ............ ..37 eayity ................................... ..-14 C0 umns 20 something ........... crow‘: news ......... ..... ..22 Faith Matters ............. .... ..30 legal Briels .......... .......19 Stonellenn to 8tonewalI......28 bureaucracy, expose waste in state govemment’s contract- ing practices, and remedy the compromised quality of care at a veterans’ nursing home and the state’s second largest community mental health V center. The 49-year-old Waterbury resident announced his agenda for work in the senate which includes universal health care, a patient’s bill of rights, and campaign finance reform. “This is when I start to get angry,” said Flanagan as he launched an attack on the cur- rent US Senate for what he called “unconscionable” behavior in recent years; “There are decent hard-work- ing Americans who find it more difficult now than 15 years ago to make a living,” he said, “That is the sin which this Senate with its agenda has committed and that I will attempt to change.” “I am running for the US Senate seat because of Jim Jefford’s voting record,” Flanagan told supporters. He said he would be a “different kind of senator,” from Jeffords, who he acknowl- edged as a nice man. “But in the end, a voting record is the final and ultimate work prod- uct of a US senator,” he said. _ Responding to questions about Jeffords’ highly publi- cized support of HIV/AIDS funding and the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, Flanagan said, “Of course, I’ll acknowledge those votes, butthey pale in comparison to the $181 billion he voted to take away from Vermont in Medicare financing.” He also said that Jeffords had not sup- ported the Patient’s Bill of Rights or efforts’ to allow Vermonters to obtain cheaper prescription medicines from Canada. Jeffords also voted to pass "the Defense of Marriage Act, which Flanagan said he would eagerly vote to repeal. He never mentioned his primary opponent Sen. Jan Backus, D-Chittenden, and when asked about her he said, “I think the small group of Democrats who vote in the primary will see I am the bet- ter choice.” The last oficial reports show Backus lagging far behind Flanagan in cam- paign contributions. , In his remarks, Flanagan noted his Vermont roots. He was not born in Vermont, due to his father’s position work- ing for a US senator in Washington. “However, my mother and I have checked the calendar carefully, noting the frequent trips my parents made back and forth” he said, “and it is apparent that I was conceived here.”V