Looking Back
The March issue of OITM announced that Gardener’s Supply Company had just expanded its benefits package to recognize domestic partnerships. The expansion was not limited to same-gender partners, but also included non-married heterosexual partnerships. At the time, however, the company could not find an insurer to provide partner coverage at an affordable cost, leaving the partner to find insurance for himself or herself and be reimbursed for part of the premium by the company. The change in policy was brought about when two employees, Margaret Waring and David Graver, approached management with a request to equalize the benefits received by married employees.
Gardener’s Supply is a major garden gadget and tool company located in the Intervale off Riverside Drive in Burlington. In 1991 it had been in business for 9 years and had 153 employees.
In a brief phone interview, Will Raap, the company’s CEO, recalled that “it was just the right thing to do. We have always had a strong commitment to diversity and equity in benefits and pay. Because of where we are, we have a good number of gay employees. We were presented with a need and we said, let’s serve the need. Really, it’s just an extension of who we are.”
Also in March 1991:
- The US was at war with Iraq, and Gene Barfield wrote of concerns over official monitoring and censorship of communications from gay and lesbian service members.
- Rep. Vi Luginbuhl (R-South Burlington) and Sen. David Wolk (D-Rutland) introduced bills to ban discrimination in employment, housing, public accommodations, insurance and banking.
- In Dykes to Watch Out For, Mo and Lois are back from another anti-war demonstration, Sparrow’s spirituality circle is lighting incense and visualizing world peace, and Clarice swears she’s “gonna impeach [George Bush the elder’s] death worshipping ass.”
- And Vermont’s Pride Day celebration would be held in Montpelier again that year.