The demonstration arose in response to posters written, paid for and distributed earlier that week by Brian Pearl, the self-proclaimed Freeman of Grand Isle, Reform Party candidate for governor, and former Libertarian candidate for Assistant Judge.

Pearl’s posters listed the names of area residents supportive of the Vermont Freedom to Marry Task Force under a heading that read: “This List of Names are Those of Yout Neighbors In South Hero, North Hero, Grand Isle and Isle La Mott Who have Publically Joined Governor Howard Dean in the Attempt to Legalize the Sodomitic Abuse of 14 yr. old boys by 50 yr. old men.” (sic)

Mitzi Johnson, an organic farmer who resides in South Hero, was one of the 85 names listed on Pearl’s flyer. She said she could only speculate as to its author’s intentions, but she experienced no negative repercussions. In fact, she said she heard from many people that support gay and lesbian marriage and were disappointed not to be included.

According to Hardy Macia, Secretary of the Vermont Libertarian Party, Pearl resigned from the Libertarian party largely due to a disagreement with the party’s stand on gay rights issues.

Pearl is known in the area for confrontations with local authorities over his right to carry firearms and his frequent and vitriolic letters to the local paper.

“I disagree with Brian’s actions,” Macia said. “He’s gone beyond civil society.”

Johnson said she was stunned by the number of people who turned out for the cadlelight march.

“There were almost as many people there as had gone to town meeting earlier in the week,” she said. She hadn’t expected a crowd of that size because several people had expressed concerns about safety.

Those fears were unrealized. A peaceful group carrying a large American flag walked from the Congregational Church to the Town Hall, where Pearl waited with some companions. He kept his distance and didn’t attempt to interfere with the proceedings as the group sang “America the Beautiful” and speakers addressed the crowd.

Sherry Corbin, a regional organizer for the Task Force, said the gathering was gratifying to her personally, but noted that the absence of some key people was also important. For example, she said John LaBarge, the area’s representative in the General Assembly did not attend.

LaBarge couldn’t be reached for comment, but has made several public statements in recent weeks in an effort to contradict Pearl’s attempt to link their names

Johnson, who recently announced plans to run against LaBarge this fall, said that although she didn’t agree with the way her opponent voted on H.847, the civil union bill, she doubted that he any real alignment with Pearl.

Governor Howard Dean sent a letter to be read to the gathering. In it, he commended the community’s promotion of civility and tolerance.

“I applaud every effort to raise debate and discussion of the civil rights of gay and lesbian couples to the highest ground in Vermont,” wrote Dean.

He said he understood there were differences of opinion on the issue and expressed a hope that the legislature “finds it in its heart and conscience to do the right thing. I cannot and will not allow messages of hatred and bigotry to go unchallenged,” he wrote.

He called Vermont “a small state with room in its heart to agree or respectfully disagree,” and said the state must emerge from this debate with that quality intact.

The message of the demonstration was apparently lost on Pearl. A week later, he produced and distributed a new version of his poster. His message was the same as the first time, but the list of names had changed.