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GLAD Publishes VT Rights Guide
Boston-based Gay & Lesbian Advocates & Defenders recently released Vermont: Overview of Legal Issues for Gay Men, Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transgender People. The publication aims to be a comprehensive outline of legal protections for lgbt Vermonters.
“We wrote this publication to ensure that gay men, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people are aware of their legal protections under the law,” said Karen Loewy, Staff Attorney for GLAD. Vermont is not a gay Eden, GLAD staff indicated. “Lgbt people continue to face discrimination in the work place, the housing market, at local businesses, and even in terms of their ability to form families,” Loewy added, although she did not cite specific cases.
Despite the awareness raised by the debate over civil unions, most lgbt Vermonters don’t have access to information regarding basic legal issues, according to GLAD. GLAD served as co-counsel in Baker v. State, the 1999 landmark case that led to civil unions.
The publication’s four sections mirror the concerns of Vermonters who have called the GLAD information hotline. The first section discusses what recourse gay men, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people can pursue when they’ve been discriminated against. While Vermont’s non-discrimination law covers sexual orientation, it does not explicitly cover discrimination based on gender identity and expression. However, transgender people can often seek protection based on other factors, such as sex, disability, or sexual orientation, according to GLAD.
The second section describes legal issues related to relationships, parenting, and families, including civil unions, domestic partnership, adoption, custody, and domestic violence.
The third section focuses on the ways the criminal justice system should protect and might otherwise have an impact on gay men, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people. It explains how to seek protection from anti-lgbt violence and harassment, discusses sexual misconduct laws, and describes the responsibilities of the police to treat all people respectfully, without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity.
The final section provides information to lgbt youth: students should know they have a right to attend school in safety, free from violence or harassment. It also describes protections for student groups, including Gay/Straight Alliances.
Rep. Bill Lippert offered an endorsement of the publication: “This handy, user-friendly tool from GLAD breaks down the most important legal protections available to lgbt Vermonters and helps people understand their rights. It is a tremendously valuable resource for the community.”
Vermont: Overview of Legal Issues for Gay Men, Lesbians, Bisexuals, and Transgender People is available online for download as a pdf file from www.glad.org/publications/civilrightproject/LGBT_Overview_VT.pdf or by calling GLAD’s hotline at 1-800-455-GLAD.
“We wrote this publication to ensure that gay men, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people are aware of their legal protections under the law,” said Karen Loewy, Staff Attorney for GLAD. Vermont is not a gay Eden, GLAD staff indicated. “Lgbt people continue to face discrimination in the work place, the housing market, at local businesses, and even in terms of their ability to form families,” Loewy added, although she did not cite specific cases.
Despite the awareness raised by the debate over civil unions, most lgbt Vermonters don’t have access to information regarding basic legal issues, according to GLAD. GLAD served as co-counsel in Baker v. State, the 1999 landmark case that led to civil unions.
The publication’s four sections mirror the concerns of Vermonters who have called the GLAD information hotline. The first section discusses what recourse gay men, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people can pursue when they’ve been discriminated against. While Vermont’s non-discrimination law covers sexual orientation, it does not explicitly cover discrimination based on gender identity and expression. However, transgender people can often seek protection based on other factors, such as sex, disability, or sexual orientation, according to GLAD.
The second section describes legal issues related to relationships, parenting, and families, including civil unions, domestic partnership, adoption, custody, and domestic violence.
The third section focuses on the ways the criminal justice system should protect and might otherwise have an impact on gay men, lesbians, bisexuals and transgender people. It explains how to seek protection from anti-lgbt violence and harassment, discusses sexual misconduct laws, and describes the responsibilities of the police to treat all people respectfully, without regard to sexual orientation or gender identity.
The final section provides information to lgbt youth: students should know they have a right to attend school in safety, free from violence or harassment. It also describes protections for student groups, including Gay/Straight Alliances.
Rep. Bill Lippert offered an endorsement of the publication: “This handy, user-friendly tool from GLAD breaks down the most important legal protections available to lgbt Vermonters and helps people understand their rights. It is a tremendously valuable resource for the community.”
Vermont: Overview of Legal Issues for Gay Men, Lesbians, Bisexuals, and Transgender People is available online for download as a pdf file from www.glad.org/publications/civilrightproject/LGBT_Overview_VT.pdf or by calling GLAD’s hotline at 1-800-455-GLAD.