Different ends of the political spectrum collide in the 2002 race for Vermont’s lone seat in the U.S. House of Representatives as incumbent independent U.S. Rep. Bernie Sanders, a democratic socialist, faces a challenge from Republican Bill Meub. Despite their widely divergent political perspectives on many issues, both men appear to agree on some issues of importance to the lgbtq community.
      Bernie Sanders, 61, has represented Vermont in the U.S. House of Representatives since 1990. He founded the House Progressive Caucus and currently serves on the Financial Services Committee. Prior to his election to Congress, he was the mayor of Burlington.
      Since going to Washington, D.C., Sanders has consistently garnered 100 percent ratings from two national gay rights groups: the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) and the National Gay & Lesbian Task Force (NGLTF). He also received a 100 percent rating from the AIDS Action Council; a group representing more than 1,000 community-based AIDS service organizations.
      In an interview with Out in the Mountains, Sanders said he is proud of his leadership on gay and lesbian issues. “I have always sought to protect and promote the dignity and equality of gay and lesbian Americans,” he said. “I was the only member of the Vermont delegation to oppose the so-called ‘Defense of Marriage Act’ (DOMA). In my view, this legislation had nothing to do with ‘defending’ marriage and everything to do with trying to exclude gay and lesbian couples from fully participating in our society. I supported Vermont’s civil unions law and I have supported federal legislation of interest to the gay and lesbian community, including the Employment Non-Discrimination Act (ENDA) and legislation to give domestic partners recognition under our immigration laws.
      “My goal as Vermont’s Congressman is, and has been, to represent the needs of ordinary Vermonters in an institution that all too often puts the interests of the Big Money first,” Sanders added. “I would be very proud to have the support of gay and lesbian Vermonters as I continue to work for these goals.”
      Bill Meub, a lawyer from Rutland, is a moderate Republican who unsuccessfully sought the GOP nomination for Governor in 2000. In the GOP congressional primary this year, he defeated Gregory Parke, a former Air Force pilot, and Karen Ann Kerin, a transgender engineer who lost to Sanders in 2000. Kerin received 17 percent of the vote in the September primary.
      Like Sanders, Meub, 55, is supportive of gay rights. “Prejudice and discrimination against the GLBT community is wrong,” he told OITM. “Respect is what you will have from me. I will be available to listen to your issues and if I believe that there is something that can be done I will work to help you as I would every other Vermonter.” When questioned about specific issues, Meub says he would both support ENDA and adopt a nondiscrimination statement in his congressional office. “I do think discrimination in employment is wrong and would support legislation to combat discrimination,” he said. He also indicated that he supports “the concept of hate crime prevention legislation.”
      While Meub welcomes the support of gay and lesbian Vermonters, he concedes that competing with Sanders’ record on gay rights is difficult. “I will not be able to match his voting record,” he concluded. “If the only thing upon which gays and lesbians vote are those issues that are directly related to their sexual orientation, then I don’t believe they would vote for me over Bernie Sanders.
      “If there are other issues that you look at – what’s going on in Vermont economically, what’s going on in terms of having a voice that’s actually listened to in Congress, national security and safety, and prescription drugs – those are things that I would do for the state that he [Sanders] wouldn’t do,” Meub added. “I hope that people will keep an open mind to figure out who they trust and who they think will best represent Vermont.”

Political correspondent Paul Olsen also writes for in newsweekly.