Out In The Montains : OP/ED - The Stakes Are High

For every Vermonter who believes in our state’s historic commitment to freedom and liberty, this is the most important election we have ever had. This fall, the eyes of the nation will be upon us to see if we consolidate our gains – or if the right wing of the Republican Party carries us a giant step backward.

As state auditor, my main responsibilities for the last eight years have been to make sure that taxpayers’ money was not wasted and that government services were delivered effectively to needy Vermonters. But as the first openly gay statewide elected official, I have also been intensely aware of my duty to make sure that equal rights were extended to all Vermonters, regardless of race, creed, gender, or sexual orientation.

Five years ago, I came out publicly as a gay man. I never wanted my sexual orientation to be at the center of my public identity, but I did not want to hide it, either. I believed it was important to myself and to thousands of others like me to be as honest about this subject as I am about everything else.

Coming out was difficult, but after a few months, it was obvious that Vermonters were comfortable with their first openly gay state official; the next time I ran, I was re-elected by my largest margin ever. I felt I had been accepted for the person I am, a legitimate and effective public servant. Then, last year, the Vermont Supreme Court ruled that the state constitution required that same-gender couples who wanted to be married were entitled to the same rights as anyone else who wanted to be married.

Given the divisive nature of this issue, it was clear from the start that I would not reap much political benefit by making myself a point man for gay marriage. But it was equally clear that I had no choice. I knew people would care what I thought, so I said it as clearly and effectively as I possibly could: gay and lesbian voters deserve equal rights as well as the benefits that all Vermonters are afforded through marriage. Although some Vermont politicians were violently opposed to civil marriage and others were virtually silent supporters, I worked hard to convince my Democratic friends in the state legislature to cast the difficult votes in favor of this landmark measure.

The rest is history. Now we are in the middle of a fight for the soul of Vermont, and the votes of every person who believes in the ideals of liberty and justice for all have never been more important.

Since the civil unions measure became law, I have sometimes felt negative vibes from people I have seen on the street. But at the same time, I have felt an incredible surge of support. I often think that people are not as homophobic as they think they “should” be. For many people, denigrating lesbians and gays has been the norm they grew up with, even though most Vermonters are very sensitive to individuality and human rights. But too often, gay people have been the gaping dark exception to that noble tradition.

In an ideal world, my sexual orientation would be an incidental fact in my present campaign to become a United States senator. There are many other issues I hope voters will focus on: the need for quality health care for all Americans; improving our educational system; hundreds of billions of dollars in tax credits given to the wealthiest corporations at the expense of working Americans; freeing the United States Senate from the stranglehold of the bigoted Trent Lott, whom Jim Jeffords supports as Senate leader. I believe that at the moment of our greatest prosperity in the nation’s history, it is unconscionable to leave any American behind.

But now debate over civil unions threatens to drown out debate over all these other crucial issues. Right now, we are all fighting to be the individuals we are, not the stereotypes touted by the far right. I am fighting to be accepted as the whole Ed Flanagan – a consumer advocate, a protector of the Vermont taxpayer, and an advocate of civil rights. I have never asked anyone to vote for me solely because of my sexual orientation; but now I am forced to redouble my efforts to convince people not to vote against me because of it. I want to be judged like anyone else on my entire record. I do not regret anything about this battle. I still feel that it is a great privilege to be out on the front lines as one of the many progressive candidates fighting for the issues that matter to all Vermonters.

When we finally reach that ideal world in which bigotry has been extinguished, people will no longer have to talk about their private lives in such a public forum as a Senate campaign. But until that day comes, I will continue to discuss my personal life as part of my efforts to combat all forms of prejudice.

We face two critical elections in the next three months. I am asking for your support in the Democratic primary on September 12, and again in the November election. But whatever you do, do not stay home on election day! This is the most important opportunity you will ever have to make sure that Vermont continues to live up to its magnificent tradition of freedom and equality for everyone.

Ed Flanagan is Vermont State Auditor and a candidate for US Senate.