Dean Interview

continued from pg 4

garbage. The reason there is
funding is because I met
with gay and lesbian
teenagers and they said they
had a real problem and need-
ed help. Outright Vermont
only goes into schools when
the schools ask them. I have
nothing to do with Outright
Vermont going into schools.
We just give them some
money because we think
their support services are
valuable. The connection
between state funding for
Outright Vermont and some
sort of homosexual agenda is
just political crap.

OITM: What role, if any,
do you think homophobia
played in the civil union
debate?

Dean: I hesitate to use the
word because many people
confuse homophobia with
bigotry. A bigot is someone
who deliberately manifests
mean-spirited unequal treat-
ment of people because of
who they are. It is very diffi-
cult to deal with bigotry
except with the law. We live
in a culture that is somewhat
homophobic. ‘Homosexuals
become a lightning rod for
all kinds of fears for things
that have nothing to do with
homosexuals. The reason for
that is that, especially in
men, sexuality is a terrible
struggle. It takes some
insight to understand that
your own projections on a

group of people have to do
with your concerns about
sexuality. Homophobia is
widespread; bigotry is not.
There are a lot of people who '
are homophobic but are not
bigots. Those people can be
brought into an understand-
ing that everybody is a mem-
ber of this community
regardless of their sexual ori-
entation.

OITM: You’ve said that it
is time for Vermonters to
come together and heal.
What specifically can the
gay, lesbian, bisexual, and
transgendered community do
to help heal the divisions in
the state?

Dean: Keep doing exactly

what you are doing. The gay ‘

and lesbian community has
comported itself with enor-
mous dignity under terrible
stress. Behave with dignity
and understanding of those
who are fearful. To the
extent that they can reach out
in a positive way to those
who are fearful. and willing
to listen.

0ITM: I-low do you feel
about the decision by the
plaintiffs to drop their law-
suit after the civil union bill
goes into effect? '

Dean: The legal stuff I
don’t know anything about,
but I think it is smart politi-
cally. I certainly think it is a
wonderful gesture toward
healing the state.

US Senate Primary Campaign

continued from pg 4

will get some votes from gay
and lesbian Vermonters, and
Ed will get some women;
there are so many issues and
voting segments that over-
lap,” said Backus.

Flanagan seems to agree
with his opponent in this
regard. “Democratic primary
voters decide who to support
based not on what but who
you are,” said Flanagan.
“Your record and real differ-
ences in positions matter.
Women versus gay is an
insider self-serving game.”

Backus and Flanagan

agree on many issues of
importance to gay
Vermonters and their allies.
Both said they would support
gays serving openly in the
military. Both would have
opposed the Defense of
Marriage Act, and both said
they would introduce a ver-
sion of civil unions in the
Senate similar to the legisla-

Htion passed in the Vermont

Legislature this year. Both
candidates also voiced strong
support for the Anti-
Discrimination Act now
pending in the Senate

Michael Gigante, Ph.D. it

Psychosynthesis V
Counseling, Psychotherapy, 5’ C0”5““““0”

(802) 254-8032

53 Myrtle St., Brattleboro, VT 05301

email mgigante@together.net

'0ITM: How might your
support_ for civil unions
influence your prospects for
national office and how
might it impact your reelec-
tion bid in November?

Dean: You can forget
about that (national office).
It certainly isn’t going to
help it any unless someone is
looking for someone who
says what they think and
sticks to their word. That’s
not as valued in Washington
as it is elsewhere.

There are a number of
Democrats and a number of
Catholics who I have lost the
support of, ‘and I need to get
that support back. The
biggest problem for me (in
November) is (Progressive)
Anthony (Pollina). Anthony ‘
is going to take votes away

from me and he’s not going .

to take any votes away from
(Republican) Ruth (Dwyer).
So actually the better he
does, the more likely it is
that Ruth Dwyer is going to
be Governor.

OITM: Do you plan to
attend Verrnont’s Gay Pride
celebration on June 17?

Dean: I ’Ve never attended
Gay Pride because it always
coincides with a big soccer
tournament that my kids are
in. They always invite me,
and I always say no because
it is always the day of the
Tom Lawson tournament. V

Education and Health
Committee — a committee_
chaired by Sen. Jeffords. V

June 2000 I Out in the Mountains [31

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