Gubernatorial Hopeful Bill Meub Discusses GLBT Issues BY PAUL OLSEN If Republican gubernatorial hopeful Bill Meub defeats Ruth Dwyer in the GOP prima- ry, he is convinced he can beat incumbent Gov. Howard Dean in November. In an interview with On! in the /l/lozmtains, Meub characterized himself as a fiscal conservative who, unlike his primary opponent, is moderate on social" issues. Meub graduated from both Lehigh University and Vermont Law School, and has worked as an attorney since 1978. He’s a member of the Vermont Business Roundtable and the Republican City and County Committees. In 1998 the American Library Association awarded him the John Philip ‘Immroth Memorial Award for “remarkable person- al courage in resisting censor- ship” at the Rutland Free Library. Meub is married and has one child. OITM: Why should gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgen- dered Vermonters support your candidacy for Governor? Meub: lfthey don’t support Howard Dean and they want some other choice, I’m the best choice for them. I’m confident enough to be a leader and to be Governor. I think I would have the best opportunity to defeat Howard Dean in November. People have described me as a (Upstairs 3 Tier Bamboo Cage - $40 Duncan Parking Meter - $20 Oak Serpentine Dresser with Carved Mirror Special This Month - 5590 Good stuff at fair prices. 207 Flynn Ave. Burlington across the street from Whistle Stop Antiques ”Two Great Shops” (302) 859-8966 Store Hours Tue-Sat 10am-6pm, Sun 1-5 very thoughtful, concerned person. l’ve tried to create a different impression of Republicans. There are many Republicans who care about people, care what happens in their lives, and respect people. That’s the position from which I come from. I’m not a reac- tionary. OITM: As Governor, would you appoint openly gay men" and lesbians to the Legislature, state commissions, and/or your Cabinet? Meub: It would depend on the person that is most quali- fied. I don’t believe that I am prejudiced in one way or the other. Therefore, 1 would pick the person who is most quali- fled to serve the particular position. OITM: In the state budget $12,000 has been provided to Outright Vermont for support services for gay and lesbian youth. As Governor, what would your position be on this funding? Meub: I’m against that $12,000 expenditure. Most of the schools already provide what I think is very good sup- port. I know we did in the Rutland City Schools. 1 think , that. is really where it belongs and funding private organiza- tions to carry out something like that is not something that I would favor. OITM: Had you been Governor, what would your position have been on legisla- tion prohibiting sexual orienta- tion based discrimination in housing, employment, credit and public accommodations? Meub: I would been in favor ofit. I don’t believe that they should be discriminated against. I don’t have a problem with that. OITM: As Governor, would you maintain a relationship with Vermont’s gay and lesbian community through an official liaison? Meub: Why would I need an official liaison? I’m a per- son who likes to talk face to face to people. Ifthey identify a person that you want to have as a representative and that’s the person that I’m supposed to talk to, then that’s fine. OITM: How would you characterize the behavior of Vermont’s gay and lesbian community during the gay marriage debate? Meub: I think that there were exemplary behaviors on both sides and I think that there were some examples of behav- ior that were not particularly exemplary. I have a hard time with that kind of broad brush. Since I was opposed to the bill that was passed I would not like to be painted with the same brush as people that I thought acted inappropriately in opposition. I thought that there were some very thought- ful positions in opposition to the bill that was crafted and I wouldn’t want to have any of the bad conduct thrown at me. OITM: What role, if any, do you think homophobia played in the civil union debate? Meub: Certainly it played some role. I think that the [leg- islative] leadership did a very good job at minimizing what was there and the debate itself focused on some legitimate issues. OITM: You’ve called for changes to Vermont’s new civil union law. What are your con- cerns with the new law? Meub: I believe that there are public policy reasons that gay and lesbian unions should be treated differently than het- erosexual unions. 1 see a potential problem coming 0 Investments American Express Financial Advisors Inc. 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