Out In The Mountains : News - Gay Campaign Buzz

     The gay caucus in the Vermont House of Representatives will grow by a third, if Jason P. Lorber's hopes and plans are realized. Lorber is running for the seat in the Chittenden-3 House District being vacated by Progressive Steve Hingtgen. Hingten is running for lieutenant governor, facing either Jan Backus or Cheryl Rivers for the Democrats, and incumbent Republican Brian Dubie.
      Chittenden-3 is a two-member district representing just under 9,000 people in central Burlington and the Old North End. Lorber said. The other seat is held by Democratic Rep. John Tracey.
The 37-year-old Lorber moved to Vermont two years ago from California with his partner to open a second branch of the business he founded, Aplomb Consulting.
      Lorber, who holds an MBA from Stanford and authored a groundbreaking study of the nation's top business schools, ranking them on their welcome of gay graduate students, is becoming well known in the lgbt community as a stand-up comedian. Asked whether he thought that would help him on the floor of the House, Lorber joked, "Well, I can take that and my MBA and be sure to detect any funny business that might be going on." (There was no drummer to provide a rimshot.)
     "Seriously, I think having a sense of humor is a way to open doors," the candidate concluded.
     Lorber plans a grassroots campaign, knocking on every door in the district. He has a background in healthcare issues and will focus on affordability and access and ensuring access to medical marijuana for those who would benefit from its use. Currently he is collecting signatures on his candidacy petitions, talking to members of the district, and recruiting volunteers.

Clavelle's Gay Communicator

       Former Outright Director B.J. Rogers has joined the Clavelle for Governor campaign as its communications director. The job description includes being the campaign's official spokesman, press secretary, and issue researcher, Rogers said in a phone interview.
     "I'm really excited about the campaign," Rogers said. "I'm convinced that Peter Clavelle has a winnable race. He offers a vision and a level of leadership that has been lacking in Vermont for the past two years."
      Challenged on the candidate's avoidance of any endorsement of equal marriage for same-sex couples, Rogers stuck to Clavelle's theme of support for "equality of rights." He continued, "Now is not the time for Vermont to engage in that battle. We're facing substantial challenges - economic, environmental, our energy future, and healthcare.
      "Peter's position is one that supports equal access to the institution, or the rights of the institution," Rogers added. "Peter is in the right place on this issue, I have no doubt about that. He is working for the wellbeing of all Vermonters, including the lgbt community. He has been a staunch ally."
      Rogers denied that the candidate's disinclination to issue a statement endorsing equal marriage for same-sex couples represents a political trade-off of lgbt equality for moderate and conservative votes. "Peter is focusing on the most immediate needs: sustainable communities and healthcare," Rogers concluded.