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Each year, the VCLGR organizes a Visibility Day at the Statehouse. This is the GLBT community's chance to share coffee, bagels, and ideas with legislators and generally let folks on the hill know we're here and we care.
This year, Visibility Day is scheduled for February 16. Everyone is invited to come along. The day will start between 8:30 and 9am with the aforementioned bagels, coffee, and chats with legislators. After that, we'll sit in on committee work, meet with our representatives, and discuss issues that concern us. There will also be a brief mid-morning State House meeting with Governor Dean. This is a great time to come to the Statehouse, be introduced to your legislators, and have a tour around this historic building.
As of late January, we have not seen the introduction of a DOMA type bill or a Constitutional amendment regarding the issue of same-gender marriage - but this is still early in the session.
What we have seen is the introduction of a bill, both in the House and Senate, dealing with HIV testing and sexual assault. As drafted, this bill would allow mandatory involuntary testing of anyone convicted of a sexual assault where transmission could occur, if the victim requests it.
The bill and the issues surrounding it make any response difficult. Do we want to allow mandatory testing of HIV in any instance? Does disclosure of HIV on conviction provide any real information to the victim? What if it is the victim who is HIV positive? What about services to the victim prior to conviction of the offender, such as counseling, testing, and treatment? Who pays for these services? Will we be advocating the use of AZT for victims of sexual violence in the same manner we now provide it to health care worker who have accidental exposure?
You may have heard or read excerpts from Governor Dean's State of the State address. The highlight of this speech was near its conclusion when the governor gave an impassioned plea for tolerance and diversity. While the primary focus was on the issue of racism and violence in our schools, Dean has strongly assured us that he means all the ways in which we are viewed as different. To the governor, diversity means all of us, as we have seen by his longstanding support of social and civil rights.
We will see several bills during this session that will also deal with these issues. The first will likely be a bill supported by the Office of the Attorney General to amend Vermont's existing hate crimes statute. As drafted, the amendments will allow victims of hate/biased crimes to obtain restraining orders preventing further contact by perpetrators.
There are also several proposals asking for the creation of a full-time position in the Department of Education to provide assistance and training in schools on the issue of diversity and violence. One proposal includes creation of a position in the Human Rights Commission for monitoring and enforcement.
As youÕve probably all heard by now, March 21 through 26 has been designated Equality Begins At Home Week, when GBLTQ groups all around the country will be hosting events and educating their neighbors. Coordinated nationally by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, the campaignÕs purpose is to show that we are everywhere and we care about our issues.
VCLGR is planning events for this period. Among the suggestions received from NGLTF was that we organize regional "Town Meetings." VCLGR has jumped onto this idea. Town meetings will be an opportunity to organize on a local basis and look at regional needs. These events could also help get people ready for the Supreme Court decision on same-sex marriage - because if the decision is positive, it could turn very ugly in our beautiful state. As before, we invite everyone to get involved in proposing and organizing these and other events.
Our community's lack of interest in the nationwide event thus far is a little surprising. Last year when Take It to the People placed flyers in newspapers around the state, there was an outraged response from our community. Where are all of you who were so offended by the flyer? Do you think that TIP has gone away? They have not. They are planning what to do if the court finds in favor of same-sex marriage. We need to be prepared as well. By organizing a town meeting in your local area you will have a better idea of what concerns GLBT in your area. Whether or not you support the marriage issue, you will be affected by the attack we could all come under. Please get involved.
If you're interested in organizing or proposing EBAH events, looking for more information about Visibility Day, or concerned about the legislation mentioned in this column, please contact us. You can email Virginia or call her at (802) 496-4333 or email Keith or call him at (802) 454-8552. We want to hear from you.
